Harold and Maude

Is it corny to say that this movie is a 'must see'?

It's the story of 19 year old (hearse-driving, death-faking) Harold who falls in love with 79 year old Maude (prison camp survivor with a zest for life.) The story could be hokey - he's depressed and obsessed with dying, and she shows him how to be happy before dying herself, by choice, but in a good way, on her eightieth birthday. Somehow though, all the bits that might be cliched are treated with such originality and humor that it feels real, and fresh, and beautiful.

Some lines that I would just like to repeat:

Therapist: So how many of these 'suicides' have you done?

Harold: I'd say about 15.

Therapist: And all for the benefit of your mother?

Harold: No... No, I would not say benefit.

In a later scene:

Maude: What flower would you be Harold?

Harold: I don't know. Maybe one of these.

Maude: Why?

Harold: Because they're all the same.

Maude: Oh but they're not! (Expounds on how some are bigger, some smaller, some are missing petals.) I think many of the world's problems stem from people who are this (gesturing to a single flower in her hand) allowing themselves to be treated like that (gesturing to the field of flowers.)

The movie ends (don't read this part if you want to watch it yourself) when Harold proposes to Maude on her eightieth birthday and she tells him that she's just taken the tablets that will end it. He tries and fails to save her. Cut to a shot of Harold driving his hearse up a hill and the hearse flying off a cliff. But then, there is Harold on the top of a hill, holding the banjo Maude gave him and insisted he learn to play. He walks away strumming as Cat Steven's 'If you want to sing out, sing out' plays on the soundtrack. Brilliant!

The best thing about this movie is that it is a sure-fire cure for the blues.