Another weekend, another notable movie to share with the 18-year-old. This
time it’s THE GRADUATE.

I’ve always thought of this movie fondly because of how much I identified
with it when I was the age of the protagonist. In 1967 I was close to
graduation from college and still uncertain about the direction my life
would take. In many ways Benjamin reminded me of myself. So imagine my
satisfaction when I heard from over on the couch yesterday, “He reminds me
of myself.”

It had been a long time since I had seen the movie. Of course I remembered
all the high points but some of the little things, some of the gags, were
fun surprises again. We both enjoyed the movie even though I had to hit
pause once or twice for an explanation. (When Benjamin’s Berkeley landlord,
Norman Fell, accused him of being an “outside agitator,” the kid needed a
little help processing 1960s campus protests. “Oh yeah, I heard about that
in history class.“)

The kid thoroughly enjoyed this movie; no spells of antsiness like
sometimes happen. And then came the end with Benjamin screaming “Elaine“
“Elaine“ and the Robinsons cursing soundlessly and Benjamin fighting off
the crowd with a sword-sized cross and all I could hear coming from over on
the couch was, “oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.”

So there were Ben and Elaine sitting on the backseat of the bus with their
happy faces slowly becoming, what? Thoughtful? Regretful? Terrified?

“Is that the end? That can’t be the end! So what did they do? Did he go
back to school in Berkeley?”

“You tell me, kid.“

--
Bill Anderson

I am the Mighty Favog