Lady in the Water

 

 

"Man thinks they are each alone in this world. It is not true. You are all connected. One act can one day affect all."

 

 

Before I could even begin to talk about the movie Lady in the Water, it is first imperative that I talk about fairy tales in general. There is not a better story to be told in this world than your classic fairy tale. Looking closer into the definition of what exactly is a fairy tale was a bit overwhelming. It is amazing to see exactly how much is out there regarding defines these stories we all loved as a child. Without being any sort of expert, the conclusion that I have come to is that a fairy tale is any story that has its roots set in some sort of oral tradition. They contain some sort of magical element and clear characters set for good and evil. Many times there is an element of 3 or 7 somewhere in the tale. There is also always some sort of conflict that is presented and needs to be solved. Many fairy tales where presented with lessons or morals that directly related to the society which the story originated from. Last but not least, most all fairy tales begin with some sort of special beginning words like "Once upon a time..." or "A long time ago..."
"Once" is exactly how M.Night Shyamalan's 2006 movie, Lady in the Water, begins. The movies prologue talks about an ancient time when man and the people in the water being linked. It gives us our history with the Blue world and why it was so important to us. It goes on to talk about how man became disconnected with the people and the water because we forgot how to listen, and we became even more separated from these people who inspired us. The prologue tells us that the people in the Blue world are still trying to reach us by sending out their young who are hunted by beings that  wish to stop them from connecting with the humans again and inspiring us.
What is so frustrating when discussing this movie with people is their ignorance towards it. Many people went into this movie believing it was a horror movie of some sorts, and when they walked out of the theatre, they hated it and couldn't understand what it was that they had just watched. What Night does not get enough credit for is his wonderful ability to tell an amazing story. This movie was nothing more than a modern day fairy tale with a simple but important lesson.
The basic plot of the movie focuses around Clevland and his journey to help this mythical creature who has fallen into his lap named Story. Story has come to our world from the Blue world so that she can inspire her vessel who will help to create great change within our world. Simple story with a strong message that was so wonderfully delivered.
The overall message that Night was trying to get across was about the connectivity of all people and how each persons actions affects the others. All of us have a purpose, but it is many times not clear to us what our purpose is. What I thought was so amazing, is that as the characters around Story begin to find their purposes in life, Story too begins to understand just how important she is. She says that she is nothing special, but it is Story that will in turn inspire the man who will create the drastic change that is needed in our world. She will return to her world as a Madame Narf., one of the most important narfs of her people. She is realising her purpose, and it scares her.
This fear that Story holds is one that we all hold. Many of us are afraid of our own destiny's, we are afraid of failing, and we are afraid that we are not good enough. It is often times hard to see the impact that you are having on the world and your importance in it. We are all important no matter how insignificant you may feel. This is what Cleavland also learns through the story as he feels that being the buildings Super, he doesn't really matter. In fact, Clevland matters a great deal to the people around him and the job that he is doing.
It is an amazing lesson and a beautiful story that we told is such a wonderful way. Night is such a talented story teller and I feel that he truly has been lost behind this idea that all of his movies need to have twists and turns. He pays true homage to Hitchcock in his ability to bring characters to life, and make you feel for them. This particular story was very close to his heart because it began as a simple bed time story that he was telling to his young children.
There are all the fairy tale elements that anyone could hope for. There is your mythical or magical being in the narf, Story. There are clear good and evil characters with the people of The Cove (the apartment complex in which the story centers) and the  evil scrunts that are there for kill Story. There is the number 7 when the gilded is called upon to help save the day, and of course their over all moral.
The characters and actors in this film did such an amazing job. Bryce Dallas Howard was a breathtaking Story. Everytime she talks you cannot help, but want to hear what she has to say. Even with her silences she says so much. Paul Giavani was fantastic as Clevland. There is one scene that makes me cry everytime. When he finally begins to face his past. It is so heartfelt, so genuine, so raw, and so beautiful.
There is so much that can be said about this movie, and I know that I am all over the place. There is not one detail that Night overlooked. Each thing had a meaning and a purpose, from the blank slated apartment complex, to the positioning of the pool, to the blue world itself, and the use of the eagle was not mistake. The eagle symbolizes many things, freedom, inspiring, revitalization, and healing, are just to name a few. That was no random bird that he placed that the end of the story in order to take Story back to The Blue World.
As many people will argue that Night is an over rated director, I will continue to stand in his corner. I think that he is trying to do old things in modern times, and people have truly lost sight of what movies are. I can only hope that he will continue to make movies through the years, and that one day people will look back and appreciate what it is that he has done and understand that THIS is what movies are about.
So take a break from reality for a bit and become a child again.....all it takes is a little "Once upon a time..."