30 Movies In 30 Days. Day 15 – Curt Henderson
Note: I’m not writing these overweekends (Fri-Sun) because I need a break. I acknowledge I missed yesterday too. I need more free time.
Now this is a bit too personal. And restrictive. The very idea is insidious; by naming someone you reduce yourself to characterture. A duller, fatter, less charismatic version of a paper cutout. My self-esteem is higher than that.
But in the interests of this increasingly flawed exercise (this is the third time I’ve disagreed with the very principle of the question, in case you haven’t been counting) I name a character – Curt Henderson.
Arguably the central character in American Graffiti’s ensemble cast, Curt is hardly a notable character. He’s barely developed and broadly drawn, really only given sparkle by energetic performance from Richard Dreyfuss.
But what he does have is a dilemma. To stay in his hometown, or leave for college.
In terms of Joseph Campbell, it’s the Call To Adventure. Do you reject or refuse it?
I left my small suburban hometown three times before I finally broke away. It took me so long that it’s now become my favourite theme to see in story. I’m somewhat obsessive over it.
It’s also caused me no end of trouble. I now always worry that I’m stagnant. I barely go a day without thinking about what I’ll do next. In fact, next month I pass a record for staying put in the same flat. The record is a year.
So I understand Curt’s dilemma. I’ve left behind friends, lives and family, all in the pursuit of doing something different. Like Curt too, I’ve had doubts. Where the known, safer and easier path is alluring.
I’ve always overcome that. In large part, no doubt, because of the end of American Graffiti. For whilst Curt finally decides to leave, his friend Steve Bolander promises his high-school sweetheart in a moment of emotion that he won’t go away with Curt.
The credits shortly roll. Curt becomes a writer and lives in Canada. Steve sells insurance in their hometown.
I’ll never sell insurance.
Tags: 30_days
