Discussions Questions for “Stranger Than Fiction”
1) Is Harold Crick free? Does he control his own life? What forces push and pull on him?
Harold: I’m somehow involved in some sort of story; like I’m a character in my own life.
2) What does Karen Eiffel have to choose between, what choice does she make, and what factors does she consider as she is making her decision?
Karen: Because it's a book about a man who doesn't know he's about to die. And then dies. But if a man does know he's about to die and dies anyway. Dies- dies willingly, knowing that he could stop it, then- I mean, isn't that the type of man who you want to keep alive?
3) How does Professor Hilbert help Harold with his dilemma?
Harold: I mean, who in their right mind in a choice between pancakes and living chooses pancakes?
Prof. Hilbert: Harold, if you pause to think, you'd realize that that answer is inextricably contingent upon the type of life being led... and, of course, the quality of the pancakes.
4) What role does Ana Pascal play in Harold’s life? What role does he play in hers?
Ana Pascal: Did you like the cookies?
Harold Crick: Yes. Thank you for forcing me to eat them.
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We love this movie! I'm glad it was one of our CatM choices this year.
ReplyDelete1) I'm going with yes - with hesitations. Our definition of freedom is corroded by our narrow field of vision, which is exactly what Harold loses when he begins hearing Karen. When all we see is what is directly around us, freedom basically *means* being in control. For most of us, I'd say freedom usually acts as a sort of protecting buffer between what we do and what we are; we desire and go to great lengths to keep our routines ignorant of our purpose.
But when what we see is a "grand design," freedom means something entirely different. We, like Harold, are in a unique position... we've been told how it's all going to end! Our freedom takes on a whole new meaning, then, because NOW we can choose whether or not to BE the story unfolding...
...gotta think about the other questions now. :-)
-kw
4.)I think it is interesting that Pascal was both a mathematician and a mystic. It is not an accident that Ana shares his name. Before Harold met Ana his life was governed by routine and was highly rational. Love changed everything for Harold. The eating of the cookie Eucharistic moment. The heart shaped cookies at the end of the movie reminded me of this quote of Pascal which I think sums up Ana's and Harold's relationship:
ReplyDelete“The heart has reasons which reason knows nothing of.” ~Pascal