"Harold & Maude" dir. by Hal Ashby

The protagonist of the film, Harold, has a dark and morbid affinity with death and destruction. He is introduced to the audience committing one of his 'suicides' which Harold's mother, Viviane, is more than accustomed to. She refers to these episodes as Harold's "sense of the absurd."

The opening scenes of the film, through the aristocratic home and elegant wardrobe, suggest an opulent and wealthy lifestyle. This is juxtaposed by the behavior of such a serious issue as death, especially suicide, by this odd mother and son duo and introduces the comedic value to the film.

Harold's psychiatrist asks him, "what do you do for fun...?" To which he replies, "I go to funerals." This leads us on to the 'Inciting Incident', which occurs when Harold first notices Maude (Dame Marjorie), while attending a funeral.

Harold attempts a further 'suicide' attempt, by drowning in the pool and Viviane nonchalantly swims past her son's lifeless body. This asserts the character traits of this pair. Harold: morose and fascinated with suicide and Viviane: absent and inattentive.

Maude is introduced as the polar opposite of Harold, in both age and her carefree, impulsive behavior. She tells Harold that "I think we're going to be great friends, don't you?" A 'plant' is also used in this scene when Maude asks her if he sings or dances and replies no. There is a 'payoff' later in the film when the two both sing and dance together.

Harold has another 'suicide' when his mother gives him a personality test for an online dating service. The comedic aspect is used here to highlight the absentminded character trait of Viviane. She starts out by asking Harold the questions but soon starts answering them, in a very puritan manner, herself and ignoring Harold when he shoots himself.

Religion plays a reoccurring theme through the film. The character of the Priest reading the Lord's Prayer at the funerals and his questionable damnation of Harold's 'sexual' union with Maude. This can interlinked with the fact that suicide is treated as sin in Christianity and merely an embarrassing social faux-pas by Viviane and her moneyed friends.

Plant life and living creatures is another central theme of the film. This is introduced when Harold drives Maude back to her apartment, which is full of things she has collected over her eight decades. After feeding the birds she claims, "How the world so dearly loves a cage."

The central dramatic question starts to become apparent here. The film raises the issue of living a life outside of the cage; the cage of societal norms and expectations.

Harold's character is showing to slowly being developed after his psychiatrist asks him if he has any friends and to which he replied, "Maybe one..." It becomes clear that Harold is enthralled by Maude and this adds a new dynamic to the film.

The recurring theme of suicide is explored once again, when Harold pretends to self immolate to scare off this first of three potential 'computer dates.' The fourth wall is also broken when Harold stares into the camera with a vulpine smile.

Harold's character further developed when he returns to Maude's apartment and there is sexual tension and flirting. He states that, "this is definitely a new experience for me." Maude asks Harold what else he likes to do when he is not attending funerals, to which he takes her to a building being demolished by a wrecking ball. This highlights his fascination with destruction and his limited outlook on life, in general.

The first 'Plot Point' comes immediately after this scene, when Harold and Maude roam through a botanical garden. Reinforcing the theme of mother nature and living things, Maude tells Harold - in complete opposition to his fascination with destruction - that she likes "to watch things grow." The pair walk through an enormous field of daisy flowers and Maude, holding a daisy in her hand, states, "I feel much of the world's sorrow comes from people who are this, yet allow themselves to be treated as that."

This wide shot of fields and fields of daisies is juxtaposed powerfully with a wide shot of endless white gravestones in a field. These images speak volumes as they show Harold's eyes being opened to a new perspective of the world and the how each individual is different.

Harold and Maude share some intimate details with each other, especially Maude's late husband, Frederic. This shows the relationship between the pair becoming closer and more trusting. The payoff always comes here, from when the pair first meet, as the end up singing a song together. A new plant is introduced as well, as Harold starts to learn the Banjo, which is paid off in the final scene of the movie.

Harold's new car, a Jaguar E-type, that he modifies into a sports care come hearse, is an interesting symbol for his growth and progression as a character. His experiences with Maude so far have given him almost a new lease on life, they have modified his perception of the world.

This is highlighted after Harold and Maude plant the tree in the forest, Maude states that, "The earth is my body. My head is in the stars."

The second 'Plot Point' comes when Harold and Maude are sitting talking at her apartment and he tells her, "I haven't lived. I've only died a few times." This shows the change in the Harold's character, as he becomes self aware for the first time about his behavior. He continues and a psychological breakthrough about the origins of his suicide complex and starts to sob.

His second 'computer date' with another typical, dull girl, ends with Harold pretending to chop off his own hand. This, again, shows character growth as Harold doesn't fully commit suicide, but rather opts to just lose a limb. But his behavior results in his mother threatening to draft him to the army.

Harold ask's Maude for her help and they come up with a ploy to convince his Uncle Victor that he is a psychotic young man with a penchant for cruelty and unnecessary violence.

The plan work and Harold ends up doing somersaults in the park in delight at Maude's encouragement. She tells him, "You can't let the world judge you too much." They watch the sunrise and again talk about the theme of nature and birds and life. Maude concludes, "there will always be glorious birds."

The final 'computer date' girl is an interesting use of reversal in the story, as she indulges in Harold's 'suicide' and takes away any shock factor or meaning behind the act.

Harold announces to Viviane that he is getting married to Maude and there is another use of plant and payoff. The pressed daisy on the back of the lamented picture of Maude that he gives to Viviane.

The Priest, the psychiatrist and uncle Victor all abhor against the idea of this marriage. It highlights the themes of social normalities and expectations that also works well as a comedic aspect to the film, especially the Priest's sexual discourse.

The 'Climax' of the film comes on Maude's birthday, when Harold throws a party for her. The dance (payoff) and there is cake and champagne, which Harold insists is "all right, it's organic" - another payoff from an earlier plant when they first enjoy a drink together. During the scene Maude tells Harold that she will be dead by midnight, herself having committed suicide by swallowing pills. An ironic reversal.

Maude tells Harold to "go and love some more!" before he rushes her to hospital, where she later dies. The final scenes are split against Harold driving in the rain and him at the hospital. It shows a separating of parts of the character of Harold.

The final scene the modified Hearse Jaguar is driven off a cliff and explodes at the crags on the bottom. The camera pulls up and reveals Harold standing at the edge where he starts playing the banjo and walks back from the edge.

Throughout the film Harold is offered solution to change his behavior, from a psychiatrist to marriage to the army. But in the end the only thing can could change him was love.