The Best Director - Chapter 429

Chapter 429: Chapter 429: The Perfect Romantic Comedy (Vote for Monthly Tickets)

“Oh——”

The most crowded theater in 3351 North American Cinemas was again flooded with the audience’s sighs. On the screen, the split image showed Tom on the left, riding the tram with an indifferent expression, while on the right, Summer’s wedding was in progress, her face beaming with joy as she embraced her groom, his back to the camera, “My goodness!” It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over everyone’s head, no dramatic wedding interruption — Tom & Summer were 100% over! Was this a tragedy? What on earth was Wang Yang thinking!

How many high-grossing romantic comedies end with the leads not getting together? Not “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” not “What Women Want,” not “The Whole World’s Enemy,” “Pretty Woman,” “There’s Something About Mary”… Which of them doesn’t have a happy ending? And yet, one would be born here.

“What the heck does he want!?” Evelyn and other Yang fans were somewhat depressed. Could it be that Tom would end up alone in District 9 like Wikus? Impossible, this is a romantic comedy! Wang Yang had also said “everyone ends up okay”; he never fools his audience.

“Very well, very well.” With a smile on her face, Jessica relaxed completely. Tom and Summer had finally messed up completely. After tossing and turning all night, she could now watch with pleasure. What an extraordinary movie-going experience. “Elaine, Elaine…” Natalie murmured the name of “The Graduate’s” female lead. She was now Tom.

“Hey, Tom!” Whether film enthusiasts, critics, or industry people… all the viewers quietly looked at the screen. That day, Tom and Summer had a chance encounter at Union Square in the city center, a place they used to like to come to, and sat down on a long bench by the road to talk.

Summer was pleasantly surprised to hear that Tom had quit his job, and she was happy to see that he had cheered up, but she also realized that he was still very unhappy, not having let go of their relationship which had ended long ago.

“Why did you still dance with me?” With a close-up shot, the audience could see through Tom’s calm countenance to his bewilderment and anger. That “he” had not proposed to Summer, but had already entered her life. Summer smiled slightly, speaking with ease, “Because I wanted to.”

Were Summer and her husband also in some ambiguous “best friends” relationship before he proposed? Many in the audience considered this possibility; thus, Summer could do as she pleased.

“So you just did what you wanted, huh?” Tom shrugged and laughed, his voice laced with mocking confusion, “You never wanted to be anyone’s girlfriend, and now you’re someone’s wife.” Summer unconsciously exhibited happiness, “I was surprised too.” Tom laughed, shaking his head with a mixture of bitterness and humor: “I’ll probably never understand. I mean, it doesn’t make sense.” Summer smiled, “It just happened.” Tom looked at her, “Sure, but that’s what I don’t understand, what happened?”

“Tom, I think I really enjoyed our ambiguity,” Summer said, tilting her head to gaze at the clear blue sky before turning to look at him. She laughed, “I just woke up and then I understood.” Tom asked, “Understood what?” Summer laughed, “Understood that with you, I could never be certain.” After a moment of silence, Tom suddenly said, “Do you realize what’s disgusting?”

Watching Summer’s calm face, he got a bit worked up: “When you realize that everything you believed in is bullshit, it’s disgusting!” Summer asked, “What do you mean?” Tom frowned and glared, “Ugh! You know, fate, soulmates, true love, those fairy tales and nonsense… You’re right, I should have listened to you from the start, all that is just lies, fantasies… Why are you laughing?” Summer shook her head with a smile, “Tom, I think you’re wrong, now wrong.”

“What?” Tom furrowed his brow even more puzzledly. Summer’s eyes were tender, her tone lighthearted as she reminisced: “I think… back then I was in the bookstore reading ‘Marley & Me,’ and then someone came up and asked me how the book was? And now, he is my husband. Like… what if I hadn’t gone into that bookstore? Didn’t pick up that book? Or had gone for lunch? Or had been 10 minutes late? One minute of difference and we might have missed each other, it seems… it seems like it was meant to be, and I just kept thinking, Tom was right.”

Tom couldn’t believe it and laughed, “No, no…” Summer nodded with a smile, “Really, really.” She lifted her left hand and, showing off the ring, said, “What if he hadn’t struck up a conversation? What if he hadn’t proposed? Tom, think about it, it’s like a spaceship, he left me on his planet; I won’t fly to the next one, we’re settled.” Summer’s face showed a comforting smile, “It stopped whatever was supposed to happen next for two people, unless someone breaks their vows. But you won’t stop, without Summer, there will be Amy, Kelly… you know.”

Her hand pressed against Tom’s, letting him feel the peaceful and happy power within the ring, feel her destiny, and she smiled, “It’s just that the person isn’t me, it’s just…” She paused, then said, “You were wrong about me…” With that, her smile also faded.

Suddenly, Tom’s face gradually took on a thoughtful look, his eyes sharpening as he seemed to have an epiphany.

“What if Tom had suddenly proposed back then?” In front of the big screen, Evelyn and many other viewers had this thought—would Summer have accepted? “Actually, Summer always wanted to settle down.” Clair pondered the true face of the film, Tom lacked courage, was complacent, believed too much in her words, was too afraid of offending her, trusted in fate with complacency… “So is there such a thing as destiny or not?” Linda and quite a few viewers were also puzzled, if Tom had proposed and Summer had accepted, then what was her and her husband’s destiny?

Because Tom didn’t keep her. Seasoned film critics had a clearer perspective on the film, believing that destiny, soulmates, true love, all existed, but destiny was limited to the encounter, and happy, beautiful life needed to be actively pursued. Was this the view of love presented in “500 Days of Summer”?

“I should go now, seeing you’re doing well, I’m really happy.” Summer said, patting Tom’s shoulder and smiling as she stood up to leave. “Summer!” When she was a few meters away, Tom stood up and called out to her, looking at the smiling face that turned around, he gave his blessing, “I truly hope you can be happy.”

On the big screen, Summer smiled and then turned and walked away as Helen’s eyes moistened slightly, as if receiving Wang Yang’s sincere blessing. Yes, he spoke very well, very correctly… Suddenly, she loved the movie so much, not just because it was fun, unique, beautiful, but also because it was memorable. “Thank you,” Helen said, taking a tissue from her husband next to her and drying her tears, leaning gently on his shoulder.

“This is what’s interesting…” Natalie finally felt the warmth of tears in her eyes as she watched these scenes, which she had personally experienced, replay on the screen. It wasn’t filming on set, nor was it the same feeling as back then, but her heart was moved by the romance and fun… It was a pity that the shoulder beside her wasn’t hers to lean on.

“My dear,” Jessica asked, leaning on Wang Yang’s shoulder, her voice tender, “Is it my turn to appear yet?” Their hands were tightly interlocked, and Wang Yang smiled, “Yes, the Angel has come.” Jessica whispered almost silently, “I’ll tell Keke that although daddy had a few relationships, he only loved mommy.”

Actually, neither of them had appeared or made cameos in the film. The final female character was played by Rose Byrne. From the time she joined the “500 Days of Summer” crew to filming her only scene, both parties kept it low-key and mysterious according to plan. The outside world was unclear about her role in the movie, and most people assumed she was Tom’s close friend’s girlfriend, Summer’s close friend or something along those lines, almost forgetting about her.

“Many days in a year are mundane, starting and ending without leaving any memories, most days don’t have much impact on life.”

In the theater, with a few rustles, the big screen moved on to the 500th day! The audience was all perked up, what would happen on the 500th day? Another fateful encounter? Under a pleasant, gentle score, Tom, in a black suit, smiled as he walked out of the office building, with a big briefcase and several rolls of blueprints in his hands, seemingly successful in an interview, the colors and lighting of the image much brighter and warmer, the desolation gone.

Gulls flew freely in the blue sky, and Tom went to the beach near the Golden Gate Bridge. He had told Summer that when the bridge was shrouded in fog, it was the most beautiful fairyland in the world, one of the reasons why he wanted to become an architect.

“`

Waves crashed against the beach where few people treaded on the soft sand. Following Tom’s gaze, the beauty of the ocean and the distant Golden Gate Bridge filled the screen. He was calm, seemingly lost in thought, and continued walking forward with his briefcase, not noticing one of the rolled-up blueprints attached to it had come loose and flown out due to the swinging motion and the breeze. In a close-up shot, the unfolded blueprint gently fell onto the sand, revealing a flowing black and white architectural design.

At that moment, a delicate hand picked up the design, and the camera angle rose to reveal a sweet-looking young woman with long, brown hair draped over her shoulders, dressed in casual and pretty clothes. She glanced at the blueprint in her hand a few times and started walking forward, calling out, “HEY! Wait up! Sir!”

“That’s her!” The audience had already realized something, regardless of gender—Evelyn, Clair, Adam, Joshua… countless hearts were pounding with tension. Come on, Tom! Look how beautiful she is, don’t be a fool!

Hearing the call, Tom stopped in his tracks and turned around, just as the sweet-looking woman caught up with a smile and handed him the blueprint: “You dropped something.” Tom immediately took it and thanked her, “Oh, it’s mine, thank you.” The woman pointed at the blueprint and, while brushing back the hair the wind had tossed, smiled and said, “This is beautifully drawn, a very pretty modernist villa.” Tom couldn’t help being surprised, “Thank you, you seem to know it… quite well.” The woman nodded with a smile: “I also study architectural design—heh! I really like modernist style. I think it’d be nice to try a sloped roof for the garage… Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine,” said Tom, seriously examining the blueprint in his hands. The woman suddenly seemed to remember something, “Have I seen you before?” Tom looked at her confusedly, “Me? I don’t think so.” The woman frowned thoughtfully and asked, “Have you ever been to Union Square, over by Powell?” Tom was both surprised and enthusiastic, “Of course, I often ride the cable car past Powell Station, it’s one of my favorite places.” The woman nodded in confirmation with a smile: “Then I’ve seen you there.”

Tom smiled oddly, “I haven’t seen you.” The woman pursed her lips and shrugged, “You must have been looking at something else.” They silently looked at each other for a few seconds, and everyone in front of the big screen held their breath, until the woman suddenly burst into laughter, “Goodbye!” With that, she turned and walked away.

“If Tom had learned anything, it was that you can’t ascribe cosmic significance to mere earthly events; nothing is fated, only coincidences and the butterfly effect. Everything is just so, nothing more.”

As the voiceover sounded, the big screen split in two yet again—the left side in a close-up of Tom, staring mesmerized after her; the right in a side panorama of the sweet woman stepping across the fine sand. When the voiceover ended and the camera returned to Tom’s back, the woman was already far in the distance.

“What the hell was that?” The audience’s hearts were painfully tangled—damn it Yang, stop playing games with us! Suddenly upbeat and rousing music filled the theater, and Tom grabbed the blueprint and briefcase and started running towards the direction she went. The audience’s spirits lifted immediately, exhilarated by Tom’s sprint, their feelings stretched between relief, anticipation, and excitement! Eve couldn’t help but shout, “RUN!” Kelly whispered, “RUN!” Others around them joined in, “Tom, RUN!”

“RUN! TOM! RUN!” voices filled theaters throughout North America with such excitement; in the Shalan Theater, Jessica nervously clenched Wang Yang’s hand, RUN! Hurry—!! Natalie, Rachel, Helen… everyone was cheering Tom on.

In a distant side shot bathed in sunlight, the blue sky and sea merged, with white waves lapping the beach, as Tom quickly caught up with the sweet woman.

“HEY! Wait up! Miss.” The woman stopped, turned around, and was surprised to see a slightly out-of-breath Tom: “HEY, it’s you again.” Tom’s smile was somewhat goofy as he lifted the blueprint in his hand, “Yes, I just wanted to say… I also really like the modernist style…”

“Hahaha!” The theater suddenly erupted in the audience’s laughter, filled with joy and mirth. “Hehe, you can tell,” the woman glanced at the blueprint and rolled her eyes playfully, then asked with a smile, “Did you run over just to say that?” Tom laughed, nodding foolishly, “Yes, yes.” He spread his hands and smiled, “I think your suggestion was good…” He finally mustered the courage to say, “Maybe we could go have a cup of coffee, tea, or something together?”

“`

The woman paused, “Oh, I’m so sorry, I think I have an appointment later…” Tom nodded calmly, and as he turned to leave, the woman thought for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter and called him back, “Alright! OK, why not?” “YEAH” cheers erupted in the auditorium, and Tom happily showed his smile, a bit goofily extending his left hand holding the blueprints, “I’m Tom.” The woman laughed as she shook both his fist and the blueprints, “Nice to meet you, I’m Autumn.”

Autumn? Hearing her name, Tom glanced at the camera with a pondering look, and amid the cheerful and gentle music, in the long shot that pulled away, the two walked towards the Golden Gate Bridge. The big screen then transitioned to a hand-drawn architectural drawing that indicated the number of days, and with a swish, “Day 500” changed to “Day 1,” a radiant sun leaped into the sky, seagulls soared, trees bloomed, and two happy bluebirds hopped on a branch.

Awesome! The film critics found themselves unable to resist giving a thumbs-up; it was a perfect romantic comedy!

Truly conquered! Stephanie Zacharek of Salon magazine, with her face full of admiration, clapped vigorously from the heart, a perfect 100! Whether it was the close-ups or the long shots from the side, that sequence of Tom’s running liberated the audience’s suppressed gloom. The beautiful scenery and the significance of his actions in learning to actively pursue happiness pierced the soul like sunlight, making one feel so warm and so joyful.

But it was far more than just that; the entire ending scene was brimming with symbolism. Tom hadn’t seen her before because his eyes were only for Summer, but in reality, there were many more “Summers” in this world.

When Autumn said, “You dropped something,” she was naturally referring to the architectural drawing, which represented Tom’s ideals, belief, and pursuit of love, his life, his passions… and all the positive emotions and attitudes. Now, she had picked them all up and given them back to him. Autumn commended his drawings, understood them, but what was different was that she offered her own perspective, and Tom happily accepted. They shared similar passions but were not an exact match.

This time, it wouldn’t be just him drawing up the blueprints alone; it would be a canvas jointly painted by the two of them, just as when they shook hands upon meeting. The blueprint of love should be something that two people discuss and build together, not something idealized or turned into a riddle by a single person.

Looking at the whole film, its perspective on love suddenly stood vividly tactile – love is not a fantasy. Whether you believe in it or not, it exists and will find you at any time, but you need to actively seek it out because nothing in the world is predestined. Facing the coincidences arranged by fate, what follows in the trajectory of events depends only on your momentary thoughts, your instantaneous decision, and then the whole world changes. It’s all like this, depending on how you choose.

“I love this movie!!”, “Whew, it’s so good!”, “Classic!!”… Without waiting for the end credits to roll, the audience was already clapping eagerly, thunderous applause and cheers filling the Xuelan Theater and resonating across North America.

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PS: Begging for monthly tickets!! I hope to stay in the top 50. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian () to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)