– Rev. Lynn Benson, Director of Legacy Giving, UMF
“Happy are people who grieve, because they will be made glad.” Matthew 5:4 CEB
I haven’t cried at a movie in a long time, but on Valentine’s evening as Marty and I left the theater, I had to dry my eyes and powder my nose because this movie really struck at my heart strings. Based on the #1 New York Times bestseller “A Man Called Ove” the movie “A Man Called Otto” tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a grump who no longer sees purpose in his life following the loss of his wife. Otto is ready to end it all, but his plans are interrupted when a lively young family moves in next door, and he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol. She challenges him to see life differently, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world around. A heartwarming and funny story about love, loss, and life, “A Man Called Otto” shows that family can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.
Any movie that stars Tom Hanks is going to get a thumbs up from me, but this one came at a tender time in my life. You see we lost five family members in a six-week time frame between Christmas and early February. Two of those were my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, his wife, within six days of one another. While their illnesses were debilitating, their deaths came very suddenly. It seems we have been either been at the hospital, funeral home, or a funeral service with too much regularity recently. The truth is I would not have any of these five family members back because they were all so sick. But if I did have them back for 5 minutes it would be to thank them for who they were in my life.
I was glad for the two-hour hiatus of movie-watching with my sweetheart on Valentine’s. However, what I realized was that the overwhelming loss we’ve experienced was very close to the surface. I really needed a good cry, about a lot of things if I’m honest. These last few months as a United Methodists have been very difficult, fraught with loss and emotion. As I followed my husband home in my car (we met at the movies after work), I cried again, all the way home. That 20-minute cry was really what I needed for lots of reasons.
I’m glad we went to the movies that night; it was the first time in a long time. I’m glad we saw this movie. And I’m glad for the emotional release it brought forth. It really is a great story, with some funny parts, too. You might not cry at all. But if you do, it’s okay. It might be just what you needed.