2010 Sundance Film Festival

Harold is young, rich, and obsessed with death, especially his own, which he persists in staging in new and ingenious ways, mostly to get the attention of his haughty, self-involved mother. Maude is 50 years older, an iconoclastic free spirit determined to live each day to the fullest. Her energy and optimism are infectious. What could the two possibly have in common besides a penchant for crashing funerals?

Hal Ashby’s offbeat comedy about a highly unlikely romance turned few heads when it appeared in 1971 but quickly evolved into a cult classic. One reason is certainly the acting. Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon (who received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance) are delightful together, and nobody plays rich and snobby better than Vivian Pickles. But perhaps a stronger reason is the underlying message: no matter how bizarre it appears to others, when two people find each other, that little miracle has the power to transform both their lives. Thanks to Paramount Pictures for making the print available for this screening.