When I was a kid, I had a friend named Dan. Dan had a heart condition. I never really saw him sickly, but he was often lethargic and morose. I thought of him as my personal Eeyore. We used to watch “Batman” together at his house after school. Eventually, we attended different schools and it was harder to connect. We grew apart. I have a very vivid memory of the following: it was months since I’d last seen Dan, and one day after school I came to his door and asked if he could play. His mother answered. She said, “no, Jim. I’m sorry. Dan can’t come out to play. He will never come out to play again.” Sad, right? Devastating, right?
That didn’t actually happen. It wasn’t real.
Yes, Dan did exist, and we did indeed enjoy the “Same Bat time, same Bat channel” for a period of my childhood. From what I understood, however, Dan actually survived until 18 or so before his heart gave out. When we grew apart, however, my mind invented a story for closure and then believed it. To this day, I cannot say whether this is good or bad. It just is.
And with that I introduce It’s Such a Beautiful Day: the philosophical journey of a stick-figure not long for this world. Bill has something. I can’t tell exactly what – Cancer? Leukemia? Whatever it is, it is crippling his mind as well as his body. Of course, it’s hard to tell either because Bill never says anything himself – his story is told entirely in narrative voice – and because he’s a poorly-drawn stick figure.
I, too, was put off by the stick figure part. Dude, seriously, I have invested more in take-out than what it cost to make this movie. And, let’s face it, who can’t draw a stick figure movie? “Got that action scene for me, Phil?” “Haven’t started yet. Wait. Ok. Done.” Only after you let sit for a while do you see the genius of the simplicity –- for one thing, we’re allowed to focus on the details of the deterioration independent of the visual. This is important. When Bill’s new medication claims four teeth while he sleeps, we won’t sit there staring at his mouth; we can move on.
Bill is dying. Dying ugly, too– In and out of the hospital. Losing memories. Slowly finding paralysis an issue. His mind is clearly going; we get this from description of past relatives, all whom were debilitated in some form and then somehow succumbed to “death by train.” I kid you not – this is a funny movie. Never silly-funny (of course) and not all that often, which will by itself land a strong blow when it happens.
The stick figure on paper is usually presented in bubble form and contrasted with stock footage of nature. This deliberate juxtaposition successfully captures the detail that isn’t there. When the narration talks about the
sadness in discovering a single woman’s shoe filled with leaves on the sidewalk, the image is that much more powerful precisely because it isn’t on screen. Or am I just making excuses because I liked a stick figure film? I dunno.
It’s Such a Beautiful Day will come off as depressing to most. In very simple observation, writer/director Don Hertzfeldt examines mortality and the inevitability of death. Most of the stick figures introduced in the film end up dead by the end of the hour. I loved the introspection here. I immediately considered my own mortality and shortcomings: I will very likely never be a published writer … just as I will never play CF for Oakland Athletics. There is a 99.9% chance that fewer than 100 people will ever read these words. There is 75% chance that fewer than 20 ever will. I have squandered many opportunities in my life; I have also alienated many people. I will die. But I’m ok with all that. Life isn’t about glory so much as observation and as long as we can observe, it can indeed be such a beautiful day.
♪The heart, it is doomed
You’ll be six feet underground
Passing loomed
Regardless what cure you found
You’re just a stick
Two dimensions, it isn’t fair
Life plays a trick
Without pen, you’re going nowhere
You thought you’d found the end
To take the pain you avoid
But here you are, my friend
Forever on celluloid
It’s a beautiful day
Sky falling, agony
Philosophical way
Open mind and be free♫
Not Rated, 62 Minutes
D: Don Hertzfeldt
W: Don Hertzfeldt
Genre: Stick figure philosophy
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: People who can’t draw
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Optimists
♪ Parody inspired by “Beautiful Day”
