The Day, The Movie, The Stories
I usually hate to watch a movie more than once, but I make an exception for Groundhog Day. Which is odd, because why would anyone want to re-watch a move about a day that replays over and over?
Perhaps because:
- People love for the guy to get the girl.
- It’s a little like a “what’s the differences in these two drawings” games.
- We realize there are so many different outcomes possible, depending on how we act.
That last point is why writers can continually come up with different stories. A game of “what if?” written down in story form, although seemingly this works best for those that write in the sci-fi or fantasy genre. I write historical fiction, so I can’t change the past. When I write, I must not only come up with a good story, but I need to make certain there is a reason my story is taking place at that particular time. There would be no reason to have a story told in the past if it could just as well have been told in the present or even the future. And still, it must be relevant to today.
I like like Groundhog Day precisely because the past does affect our future. How we act today will impact tomorrow, just as yesterday impacts today. And even if we don’t realize it, actions taken in the past, such as the 1960’s, the 1600’s, and even before, all impact us now. I hope my stories show that.
One of the most interesting novels I’ve read was Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/1026/jean-m-auel/) The actions of our ancestors, even in prehistoric times, are reflected in our modern world. That’s why I love historical fiction. So many possibilities, and each one has changed our world into what it is today.
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