HOW TO LIVE | Omeleto

Опубликовано: 05 Октябрь 2024
на канале: Omeleto

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A man searches for purpose.

HOW TO LIVE is used with permission from Ari Frenkel. Learn more at https://arifrenkel.com.

Ariel is trying to get through life -- with a self-help book and the companionship of his dog, who also functions as his therapist. The book is full of platitudes like "let things go," "spend time with family" and "practice gratitude," but in everyday life, with a pile-up of annoyances, red tape and distractions, it's easier said than done.

Ariel's dog therapist helps him realize he needs more than simple advice. Ariel needs a goal, something to work towards. But though Ariel is creative, he doesn't quite know what he wants. His search to figure that out takes him in all directions, none proving fruitful or satisfying. But just as he's ready to give it all up, he receives a key insight that pushes him forward -- and helps him reach his destination.

Directed and written by Ari Frenkel, who also plays the lead role of Ariel, this warm and empathetic short comedy is both exuberant in its style and thoughtfully introspective in its content, making for an entertaining, fast-paced exploration of the search for meaning. Ariel is an artist and creative, but his frustration and aimlessness have less to do with his artistry and craft. Instead, he's at sea existentially. He seems to be doing everything right: he meditates, enjoys spending time with family and keeps healthy. But it's just not enough.

Ariel's search for "more" guides the film's arc, structured by the chapters of the book he is reading. Though the subject matter of inspiration, self-realization and creativity can be ethereal or abstract, the storytelling and style of the film keep things entertaining, mixing home movie footage and archival clips with scenes from Ariel's life, which include funny interludes between him and his dog-therapist.

The writing is infused with a self-deprecating, self-aware wit, as well as a genuine sense of sincerity that makes it relatable to anyone who has wanted something more in life but doesn't know where to start. Frenkel also finds this balance in his performance; some moments clearly hit comic notes and zingers, but overall it's understated in a way that suits the film's underlying earnestness. Ariel is genuine in his desire to contribute in some way to the world, after all. He feels the pressure of having to produce something unique or new.

But Ariel realizes he's been too focused on the result or goal, a key insight that forms the spine of HOW TO LIVE. Goals in and of themselves are great, he learns -- but more as directions to put one's energy into, not as achievements that affirm one's worth or value. When Ariel takes the ego out of it all and learns to appreciate the process, he finds flow -- that state of losing track of time and self and being completely immersed in something. When he does finish his project, he finds a sense of satisfaction, even without knowing how successful it was. As the self-help narrator states, "And for God's sake, enjoy the doing -- that's the best part."