My Dinner with Andre

i’ve been wanting to see this ever since i first watched that episode of community where it’s abed’s birthday and jeff has to take him to his surprise pulp fiction themed party but abed insists they have dinner together, as a secret homage to my dinner with andre. i always thought the premise was so fascinating! (what horribly bland person would find a two hour conversation between two middle-aged men so interesting?) maybe it’s because i’m sometimes drawn to seemingly mundane stories and somehow find likable qualities in the most ordinary characters, but i felt genuine intrigue. usually media is most memorable when it’s relatable, or touches something in you; we tend to try to identify parts of ourselves in the characters and stories we know. not even a quarter through, i thought “damn i am totally wallace.” his eye contact, soft smile, engagement with andre’s storytelling, asking questions to urge him along. this is usually how i am, the “good listener.” i love stimulating conversations, and being able to think deeply with another person. i want to believe i have lots to contribute, but sometimes i get so worked up in thinking of the right thing to say that the moment passes. at this point in the film, wallace is still getting comfortable with andre again, and shows patience and slight hesitation in his demeanor. i felt a familiarity in this, though perhaps our actions are fueled differently. fast forward toward the end, wallace and andre have reached a minor discussion about the ability to do nothing. i am a huge proponent of this, but wallace, my supposed parallel, starts to disagree; says if he finds himself doing nothing, he’ll reach for a book, or if someone is in his company, they’ll find something to do together. and andre thinks about this and says he feels the opposite. in this moment i begin to realize i’ve been a fool! that both of these people have unique and somewhat opposing views on so many things, such as the nature of the universe, and if things are meant to happen to you, or if chance is simply chance, and i find myself feeling… relieved? that i don’t have to be just one type of person, i can be so many! and i can believe everything or nothing and it won’t matter because the next person’s perspective will be something completely different. it’s wonderful! i don’t think any of this makes much sense and i definitely have a lot more to say but i am quite fond of this! very thought-provoking and so pleasant