Sense and Sensibility

I am so blessed to have a man who loves really good chick flicks as much as I do. Plus he doesn't make fun of me when I inevitably cry over the pains or trials of one character or the joy and happiness of another.

Now that is love.

One of the most romantic movies that I love to watch a couple of times a year is Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility, a magnificent adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic, even if lesser known, book. It’s a beautiful story full of endearing characters, believable plots and twists, heartache, and most importantly – a happy ending.

And deep down, we all want our own happy endings.

Who doesn't want to find true love, to burn with it as Marianne, one of the lead characters says to her mother when discussing Elinor (her sister) and her choice of romance.

Mrs. Dashwood: Why so grave? You disapprove her choice?

Marianne: By no means. Edward is very amiable.

Mrs. Dashwood: Amiable? But?

Marianne: There is something wanting. He's too sedate. His reading last night...

Mrs. Dashwood: Elinor has not your feelings. His reserve suits her.

Marianne: Can he love her? Can the soul be really be satisfied with such polite affections? To love is to burn - to be on fire, like Juliet or Guinevere or Heloise...

Mrs. Dashwood: They made rather pathetic ends, dear.

Marianne: Pathetic? To die for love? How can you say so? What could be more glorious?

Mrs. Dashwood: I think that would be taking your romantic sensibilities a little far.

To die for love?

It seems so extreme, but I get her drift. I willingly would sacrifice myself for Mr. Right or my children. That is the ultimate example of love, not to mention a daily practice for any parent.

Do you not go without something needed for the benefit of your child? Have you never given up sleep to comfort a sick one? Have you never given your kid the choicest part of something just to see the smile that would follow? Did you not read a story “one more time” even though you were sick to death of it just to have your baby snuggle up to you a little longer?

These are all acts of sacrifices that occur without thought or struggle because you love them.

I hope you shall watch this sweet, simple, yet detailed, love of life story. You will find yourself laughing at its easy humor, crying at the bravery of a young woman’s heart and sighing at the hope of love within each person’s being. You will be rooting for goodness and plainly despising those with better opinions of themselves than they ought to have.

One of the most divine, choice parts in the film is the rendering of this William Shakespeare’s sonnet (116), used not once, but twice, each time conveying love in a different light.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments; love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O, no, it is an ever-fixe`d mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

May your Valentine’s Day and each day that follows be full of this same love, either from others or from within yourself.