A Walk to Remember

               "Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful."

                After a zillion times, I found myself watching the movie A Walk to Remember, AGAIN. And countless times I caught myself crying a river AGAIN over this very sad movie.

                I remember the first time I saw this movie. I was in third year high school and I live in Laguna, that part far from the city and where theaters and cinemas are not really a hit. So I dragged my mother to come with me and watch this flick in SM Megamall. Manila is actually 3 to 4 hours away from our place so it’s not a normal thing an ordinary family would do. There are only two instances I can recall when I begged my mother to come with me because I wasn’t really allowed to travel with a friend. My companion has to be older than me and knows his/her way around the metro. The first instance was when I was a first year high school and I really want to see Cogie Domingo in person and that was Cool Dudes 24/7’s premier night at SM Megamall too. And the second was this one. 

                Going back to the movie, I love how Landon changed for the better and made everything on Jamie’s list come true from befriending someone she doesn’t like; to being in two places at the same time; to getting a tattoo; and to witnessing a miracle.

Landon:                         I'm sorry Jamie never got her miracle.

Reverend Sullivan:          She did. It was you.

                The saddest part for me when I first watched it was the ending. I was really drowning in tears when Landon Carter was walking and reminiscing with the voice over saying “Jamie saved my life. She taught me everything. About life, hope and the long journey ahead. I'll always miss her. But our love is like the wind. I can't see it, but I can feel it.” I was so sad that I was worrying about Landon even when they’re already showing the names and the credits and even when we’re already out of the movie house. I was thinking that maybe it was so painful for Landon living without Jamie. Just when he found the love of his life, just when he changed for the better then he’ll discover that Jamie is dying. That was so painful I can feel him. I can cry for him.

                After watching the movie I bought the cassette tape of the official soundtrack and every time I play it I can still feel Jamie and Landon’s, especially Landon’s suffering. It has officially become my most favorite movie, maybe of all time. I bought the DVD and I keep a copy in my iPod so I can watch it every time I want. I also bought the book version where I also poured a lot of tears and Nicholas Sparks become my favorite author alongside John Grisham. Can I just say that the essence of the “walk to remember” wasn’t emphasized in the movie but it’s okay since this might bring too much drama for the.

                Since then, I have been watching this movie over and over again and the point to crying a river changed from the ending to that scene where Jamie confessed her sickness to Landon to that scene where Landon thanked his father for paying for the home nursing. I remember imitating Jamie and deliver my favorite lines like:

Jamie:                I'm sick.

Landon:              I'll take you home. You'll be better tom…

Jamie:                No. Landon! I'm sick. I have Leukemia.

Landon:              No. You're 18. You - you're perfect.

Jamie:                No. I found out two years ago and I've stopped responding to treatments.

Landon:              So why didn't you tell me?

Jamie:               The doctor said I should go on and live life normally as best I could. I - I didn't want anybody to be weird around me.

Landon:              Including me?

Jamie:                Especially you!

                That father-and-son scene is one of the most poignant. How can a simple hug and a simple “thank you” can make me cry so hard? That part where Landon looked at his father and didn’t know what to say but managed to whisper “thank you” is heartbreaking. I always try to suppress a sob every time I see it. Then in the middle of the tight bear-hugging, shirt-ripping part, Landon let go an emotional “sorry” to his father. Ah, I was moved. It was so touching.

               

                Another poignant part is that scene where Jamie is in the hospital and his father asked Landon to go home because he needs a little time with his daughter so he gave in. The father and daughter were recalling the latter’s childhood and hatred of gravity. And the daddy goes, “the reason why I keep you to close is because I want to keep you longer.” He remembers losing Jamie’s mother and now it’s his daughter. How miserable is that? They say losing a mother or a father is hard but nothing compares to losing a child. Of all the characters, maybe the father’s was the most painful. He spent his life with Jamie. He raised her. She was his life. But then I remember Jamie’s lines to Landon, “I don’t need any reason to be angry with God”. Maybe Reverend Sullivan was holding to that too that’s why he remains strong and faithful, because of love.

                "Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful."