"Found Memories"

(Note: Unrelated to stuttering)

The movie is called “Found Memories.” It’s set in a small town in Brazil, characterized by unused train tracks, bread making, and a local Catholic church. Life is simple for the people who live there – every day is quiet and routine. The elderly Madalena walks along the train tracks to deliver her bread, argues and drinks coffee with Antonio, attends church in the afternoon, and then has a meal with other villagers.

It is a set pattern in Madalena’s life, each day unchanging, as emphasized by the brief, repetitive dialogue and the camera angles that show the same perspective of each scene again and again.

When Rita, a young photographer, shows up at Madalena’s front door asking for a place to stay for a few nights, it is as unexpected to the audience as it is for the older woman. This is certainly not routine. If anything, Rita’s appearance is exciting and adventurous – the beautiful photographer represents everything uncertain in life. She doesn’t know if she’ll have a place to stay or where she’ll go next. She takes each day as it comes, never nearing the repetition that governs the people of the small Brazilian village.

The villagers don’t accept her at first. They stare, walk away when she approaches them, and talk about her behind her back. However, as time goes on, Rita becomes more and more integrated into the community.

Their story shows us to accept others: in the end, Rita becomes a vital part of the village because of the bread making skills that Madalena has taught her. We never know what we’re missing out on when we exclude another person.

We can also learn to not get stuck in the path that is most comfortable, familiar, and easy to us. Because of Rita’s influence, Madalena learned to accept herself. She was no longer afraid to die or ashamed of her age. She wasn’t stuck in the place she had been for years. She communicated and grew because she reached outside her comfort zone.

Expanding beyond the life you are used to helps not only yourself, but also others. Madalena let Rita into her heart, and received more self-confidence as well as the ability to spread her legacy.

Never get stuck in the easiest routine of life. Never exclude someone who could open countless, unknown doors for you.

(To watch the film, search for "Found Memories" in your Netflix instant queue)