In the Eyes of the Real Children

A curious thing about the movies we have these days is that there seems to be an inclination to go back to the basics. Hence, film adaptations of fairytale stories like Alice in Wonderland to Rapunzel consistently stressed the curiosity we once had as children innocently and creatively experiencing and exploring the world. In particular, the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” touches that chord of our hearts which has long been asleep. Why do we grow the way we do? What happened to our curiosity and selfless adventure?The movie is thus full of allusions and lessons why growing up must not bury the lovable curiosity and daring we once had as innocent children

Charlie Bucket at first glance may not appeal to our hearts because we find more differences than similarities. Because we are adults now, our criteria to answer who he is in our lives are a little bit unclear. But Charlie is a part of us that tells us to believe in people and be bold and creative when looking at the world. At least four times, Willy Wonka described how he made people happy with the way he does with his chocolates and a least four times, Charlie found himself appreciating these things that made people happy. In wonder and amazement, Charlie never ceased to find what is good in his family, the sweets of the factory, and in Willy Wonka himself. A heart that knows kindness as a rule rather than an exception, he chooses to see beyond chocolates and finds himself immersed in admiration because these sweets in their uniqueness made people happy. Towards the end of the movie, it is this very same heart that guides Charlie to let an out-of-touch Willy Wonka get in touch with the natural feeling of children to find and love their parents. Are you in touch with your “Charlie”?

The other children, Veruca, Violet, Mike and Augustus were described as rotten in the film. It may appear that these characters are children but in fact, are not, and are instances of maturity gone awry - the spitting image of their parents. While we find Charlie to be growing in the direction of simplicity and curiosity, the attachment of the other children are distinctly moving towards the direction of vice and excessiveness. These children have ceased to be children and have become children living as adults out of touch of their own “Charlie” moments, failing to appreciate small joys.

What happened to the children inside us? Why are we more cynical and lonely now that we are adults when being adults gives us the power to be the captains of our own fate? Why have we stopped the curious brailing of the world that we once had as children? We must, if we want to find true happiness find that “Charlie” within ourselves for it will allow us to look at the world in the eyes of a curious child.

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Here are some photos from GEO 9's Movie Night - Roald Dahl's 1964 children's book to movie adaptation, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"