The (500)th day.

I watch films because they give me insight into myself and the people that I deal with.  One of the films that I believe does this well is (500) Days of Summer.  When I saw it for the first time, I felt emotionally connected to the main character Tom.  I related to him because I had gone through heartbreak similar to his previously in my life.  However, because of recent developments in my own life, I feel more connected to that character then ever before.

When I first saw the film, I knew right off the bat that I disliked Summer’s character.  I couldn’t exactly pin-point the reason that I disliked her at first, but after many conversations with my friends, I discovered what it was.  I dislike Summer Finn because she toyed with Tom’s heart.  A few of my friends have argued that she wasn’t really that bad because she did warn him that she was not looking for anything serious.  I personally don’t believe that this absolves her in the slightest.  Yes, being honest and upfront is the best thing that you can do, but you must also ensure that your actions back-up that honesty; hers did not.  Tom puts is best when he gets into a fight with Summer and she tries to say that they are just friends; “No.  Don’t pull that with me.  Don’t even try.  This is not how you treat your friend.  Kissing in the copy room, holding hands in IKEA, shower sex!  Come on, friends my balls.”  In fact right after she tells him that she is not looking for a serious relationship, she reaches out and holds his hand while walking through IKEA.  Who does this?!  Who tells someone that they do not want to be in a relationship and then starts acting like they are in a relationship?  At that point in the film, Summer’s so called “warning” had lost all credibility and purpose.

Another argument that my friend Karolina originally made when she saw the film with me was that Tom was to blame as well, because he knew that Summer was not interested, yet continued relations with her anyway.  While I do agree that it was bad judgment on his behalf, I believe that he is afforded a level of reprise because of his weakened resolve from being in love.  When someone is in love, they become intoxicated with the promised of the future.  Just as our judgment is compromised by the intoxication of alcohol and drugs, so is it from love.  That being understood, the moral burden of prudence is then placed firmly upon the person that didn’t want the relationship to begin with.  Seeing as they are the one with the more acute mental clarity, they should be the one expected to make the better decisions.

Thought Tom was severely emotionally hurt by Summer’s actions, he was able to open his eyes and see the situation for what it truly was.  Once this realization was made, he was able to move past Summer and focus his attention on other things in his life.  His ability to finally lose the illusion that Summer’s behavior was acceptable was what eventually set him free.