People are always harping on the importance of being present. It’s a basic tenant of personal growth and psychology that we’re supposed to remain in the moment. To not do the dishes just to get them done, but for the simple pleasure of doing the dishes. But here’s the thing: doing dishes sucks. In fact, a lot of the moments you’re supposed to stay in are annoying, painful, or just plain boring. I can’t in good conscience advise you to stay present during your next dental procedure or DMV experience. In honor of the upcoming film Austenland, a frilly rom-com about a modern woman whose entire internal life is set in Jane Austen-era England, I’m advocating for the benefit of living in the past. It may not be practical, it may not be possible, and there’s always a chance you’ll show up to work in a crinoline petticoat, but it still beats the pants off of casual Fridays.
The Village
I’m not spoiler-alerting you here, because by now you should know what to expect from M. Night Shyamalan-a-ding-dong and his twist endings. Even if you’re sick to death of the device, you must admit it worked pretty well here. This film is essentially Austenland but with giant porcupine monsters, and the lesson is the same: while the present moment is the pits, the past was just dreamy. Maybe it’s worth the occasional bout with typhus and the lack of indoor plumbing to avoid the incessant horror of Facebook poking.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Break-ups, painful as they are, are supposed to help us grow as people, and evolve into healthier future relationships. But who really wants to do that? Given the choice, I think we’d all skip the hard parts and go straight back to the comfort zone of our past partners. What’s a little emotional abuse and a dash of brain damage if it means you always have a date for your cousins’ weddings?
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
What if you fell asleep in the late 60s and woke up today? True, you would have missed out on a lot of fun and excellent television, but think of what you’d have gotten to skip! No Y2K panic for you, friend. No need to have worn acid-washed jeans or spent the next decade cutting the evidence out of snapshots. Plus, when you come back you’re the cool cat who still has the original Stones albums and can tell everyone how Monterey Pop wasn’t that great in person.
Indian Summer
While I can’t think of anything more depressing than a group of thirty-somethings trying to rekindle their summer-camp romances, I can certainly see the attraction. A reunion lets you live in a constant state of sunset-y nostalgia—and who doesn’t want that? If you’re not ready to take the plunge into actual time travel, your high school, summer camp, or college reunion will do just fine. Consider it a vacation back to a time before you had neck wrinkles and credit card debt, when your biggest worry was getting hair stuck in your lip-gloss.
Groundhog Day
Audiences generally fall into two camps with this movie: love it, or hate-it-so-much-you’re-screaming-at-a-restaurant-on-a-first-date-because-just-the-title-fills-you-with-rage. I belong to the former. Though it is endlessly frustrating to live yesterday over and over again, Bill Murray still gets to be a superhero in this movie. He is suddenly psychic, wealthy, talented beyond measure, and capable of wooing ladies in three sentences or less. Measure that against the constant monotony of eternal life in mid-winter Pennsylvania, and you come out even.
Need a good scream? Got an un-fixable problem? Or some really good gossip? I’m listening!
Email: comeinandhaveaseat@gmail.com
Twitter: @mskelseymiller
Or comment below!
Dear Kelsey,
I am so pregnant right now that all I can do is lay on the couch and eat. Any movies I should be watching? How can I use this time effectively?
Alison
Dear Alison,
Yes. Prepare yourself.
Xo
Kelsey
Kelsey Miller works in media and is the co-editor of The Pudding.
