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Day 1 Assignment
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Julia’s analysis of GROUNDHOG DAY
What I learned: How it is possible to package an allegory about the human condition/Everyman’s journey into an entertaining, unpredictable, fun movie!
1. CHANGE/Transformational Journey of this movie: From feeling stuck in the same boring, self-centered, meaningless life to finding meaning and happiness in love and giving to others.
2. Lead characters:
– Change AgentRita Hanson. She’s the one Phil loves, and Phil needs to open up to love more than anything. Also, she embodies kindness, and that’s the trait that Phil needs to acquire: kindness to others and to himself.
– Transformable Character
Phil Connors. He’s the right character because he suffers from so many human problems/conditions that we can all relate to: he’s deeply self-centered; he has vulgar, violent impulses; he sees the people around him as objects; he’s bored by his job and thinks he’s too good it; he’s depressed to the point of being suicidal; he’s unwilling or unable to open up to love. I think what makes him likable, at least for me, is that he is aware of all this – but still too depressed and stuck to do anything about it.
– What is the Oppression?
Being forced to live the same day over and over. (It’s never specified what exactly causes this in the movie – I was hoping it would be Ned Ryerson having some magical fun with Phil – but it could be the blizzard or lack of love.)
3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
I’m instantly lured in by the first scene, in which Phil gestures over the empty weatherboards, showing how bored he is with his work and how he’s done this a million times. I’m also hooked right after that, when announces that he’s up for another job. We (or most of us?) can connect with being bored with our jobs, feeling overqualified, and thinking that there are better opportunities out there for us just around the corner. We (most of us?) have felt at one time or the other Phil’s sense of meaninglessness, of feeling stuck in our lives.
4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.”
Identify their old way: Phil is profoundly self-centered
Identify their new way at the conclusion: Phil is open to love, kinder, more expressive (piano), and more altruistic
5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
1. Depressed/stuck/cynical, and aware of it/unhappy about it
2. Becomes literally stuck – denial phase (I think this can be mapped on 5 stages of grief) – sees doctors
3. Anger phase – acts out in car, with police, on people
4. Bargaining – tries to kill himself using multiple methods
5. Depression – can’t kill himself – gives in to despair
6. Acceptance – starts to use his knowledge to prevent accidents/mishaps for others, learn to play the piano, start wooing Rita in a less self-centered way
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
Phil’s old way is dealing with the situation (same day over and over) is characteristically immature and self-centered: he indulges his senses (violent car chase, random sex, drinking, smoking, eating desserts); expresses his mean/dark id (being mean to the homeless guy and guy in the hallway); exploits the situation to manipulate/seduce people (including Rita).
New way: he’s kinder to people and finds joy in helping them and open to love/commitment/marriage/kids/making snowmen with Rita.
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
– Phil giving the perfunctory weather report at the beginning
– Bowling alley conversation that shows how EVERYONE feels this way (at one time or another)
– Suicide attempts
– The poem Rita quotes in the diner – sums up not only Phil, but all self-centered people
– Trying to save the homeless man and seeing that some people just die if it’s their time
– Phil’s speech to the camera at the end
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
Phil: What would you do if you were stuck in one place, and every day was exactly the same, and nothing you did mattered?
Guy he’s drinking with in bowling alley: That about sums it up for me.
Rita: Sometimes I wish I had a thousand lifetimes. I don’t know, Phil. Maybe it’s not a curse. Just depends on how you look at it.
Rita: “The wretch, concentered all in self,/Living, shall forfeit fair renown,/And, doubly dying, shall go down/To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,/Unwept, unhonored, and unsung.”
Phil: Can I be serious with you for a minute?
Rita: I don’t know. Can you?
Phil: It’s cold out there every day.
Phil: I’m going to give you a prediction about this winter: it’s going to be cold, it’s going to be dark, and it’s going to last you for the rest of your lives.
Phil: When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn’t imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter.
Phil: Whatever happens tomorrow, or for the rest of my life, I’m happy now…because I love you.
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
Phil’s speech to the camera (about winter, the cycle of life, and being with the people of P.) pays off the setup of his perfunctory, repetitive comments to the camera earlier.
Phil suggests moving to Punxsutawney, after commenting on how he wouldn’t even stay an extra second in that town
Phil says about Rita, “She’s fun. But not my kind of fun.” Payoff: he asks her to stay in P. with him!
Phil is rude to Ned vs. Phil buys every kind of insurance from him
First glimpse of Phil: talking basically to a wall vs. last glimpse of Phil: going out (even through a gate) and into the world
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
In the darkness/uncertainty/meanness/coldness/tedium that is our lives, we find meaning and joy in the present moment, through loving and giving to others.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by Julia Bucci.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by
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1. Combine the universal themes all humans share with the specifics of these unusual Americans in a fantasy-infused real world.
2. Rita, repetition, fater and other circumstances transform Phil.
3. I don’t personally connect but the themes are universal in terms of job repetition etc.
4. Phil becomes a better person.
5. I agree with the gradients that Julia listed that remind me of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’ acceptance of terminal illness something that forces change no matter what.
6. The old ways are exaggerated into vices that have plagued humans for centuries.
7. I too like the suicide and the poem but kept wondering how the structure would have changed if the homeless man had been saved because I have been writing a trilogy in part about homeless people.
8. The weather reports could be turned into poems that symbolize the throughlines of the characters.
9. The camera to the audience frames the entire story from inciting incident to conclusion. The relationships between main characters are twisted upside down usually for the better.
10. With the right choices and action, anyone can become a Jesus, Buddha, Siddhartha, Kisele, Moses, Mohammad etc.
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Here are my thoughts on Groundhog day:
What is the CHANGE this movie is about? What
is the Transformational Journey of this movie?Phil is learning the world is not all about him. His attitude toward life has pushed people away from him and he is profoundly lonely. He transforms into a caring person: seeing everyone has value.
Lead characters:
Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the
change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?Rita is the change agent because she is the one who affects Phil the most, the one he most wants to be with. Also she is the direct opposite (behaviorally) of him.
Who is the Transformable Character (the one
who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver
this profound journey?Phil stands to gain the most by changing on the journey.
What is the Oppression?
The oppression is the same day repeating over and over.
How are we lured into the profound journey?
What causes us to connect with this story?The use of Bill Murray’s excellent sense of comedic timing brought the character to life for me. He turned a character that could have been on the cusp of unlikable into someone I felt for. The annoying friend selling insurance. Didn’t we all have one of those? Imagine that day after day. Jeeze when Phil decked him, I cheered.
Looking at the character(s) who are changed
the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of
being.” Identify their old way: Identify their new way at the conclusion:Phil – changes from someone who uses everyone else for his benefit to someone who is genuinely concerned for others.
Rita – learns to let go and trust.
The town – accepts this wacky weather guy as one of their own, like the groundhog, he becomes theirs.
What is the gradient the change? What steps
did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?He went through the 5 steps of grieving: Shock/denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. These are what we go through when confronted with loss, so his journey was a loss of control in his life, not knowing why he was trapped in this loop, or how to get out of it.
How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs
are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and
make the change?He changes the way he interacts with people, especially women. His old pick-up lines just don’t work. He sees them as people, not just things there for his personal ‘enjoyment’. His “new way” involves honesty about his feelings towards people with himself. He allows himself to care.
What are the most profound moments of the
movie?When the old man dies and he realizes he can’t save him. He realizes he can’t save everyone. He’s NOT God.
What are the most profound lines of the movie?
“Sometimes people just die.”
How does the ending payoff the setups of this
movie?The fact that Phil is in the bed with Rita, NOT trying to make out, and just telling her how he feels is a polar opposite to the beginning of the movie. Such a satisfying show of character growth.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
Showing your feelings for someone you care about is risky, but it makes life worth living.
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Cindi’s Analysis of Groundhog Day
What I learned doing this assignment is that this film is far more than a comedy. Because it follows the profound model, GROUNDHOG DAY actually inspired me to be a nicer, sweeter, kinder person because it showed how being that way inspires others to be the same.
Questions to Analyze what makes this a Transformational Movie:
1. What is the change this movie is about? What is the transformational journey of this movie?
Groundhog Day is about changing from being an ego-centric, sarcastic, judgemental, mean, negative asshole to being loving, kind, and happy.
For the audience, it’s about how to become truly happy and love life and be worthy of love. How to inspire others.
2. Lead characters:
A. Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change? Rita is the Change Agent because she is kind, sweet, pretty, loving, and Phil is the opposite, but he is in love with her. Eventually, he realizes he can’t manipulate her into loving him, he himself must change to be truly worthy of her love.
B. Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey? Phil is the transformable character, and he is so negative and mean and self-centered that we want to see him change. We see how miserable he is (and perhaps recognize our own misery in our own lives) and we want to see him change (as do we ourselves).
C. What is the Oppression? The Oppression is the fact that Phil wakes up every single day on Groundhog Day and he can’t escape it. He’s miserable and hates it until he changes.
3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
We relate to Phil because of his misery in his life, his judgments of others, and we are curious to see what he’ll do when he’s trapped in the same day over and over again. We relate to Phil bc we are often frustrated by our work, by other people, by things not being the way we think they should be. We also relate to Phil in that he likes Rita, who is beautiful and kind. There’s some intrigue about Punxsutawney and Groundhog Day, this strange place and odd people, but mostly the intrigue is about why and how Phil keeps reliving the same day. What will he do? (What would we do? And this is where it’s brilliant bc many of us are reliving the same day over and over…until we change and see things differently!) How will Phil get out of this “nightmare?”
4. Looking at the characters who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.”
Identify their old way: Sarcastic, selfish, self-centered, judgemental, mean, rude, uncaring, asshole.
Identify their new way at the conclusion: He’s changed so he now loves something he couldn’t stand, tried to kill himself to escape. “Let’s live here!” He’s now genuinely kind, loving, respectful, giving, and happy. (Ah, so the other profound message is “You CAN change!” If an asshole like Phil can change, be happy, and find love, so can you!”)
5. What is the gradient of change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing? (I am in awe of how others in this class picked up on the 5 stages of grief! I did not think about that!)
1. Thinks the problem is with other people and places, not within himself.
2. Tries different ways to leave, realizes it’s futile.
3. Sees what he can get away with, does bad things bc no consequences. (yet the consequences are in his own misery)
4. Tries to kill himself, still can’t escape.
5. Uses the situation to his advantage by learning about Rita then using it to manipulate her into loving him, but she catches on bc he still hasn’t changed.
(5A. he does try to save the homeless man, but it still doesn’t work. Not sure what that was about–maybe trying to leave through being nice, but it doesn’t work because his intentions still weren’t genuine?)
6. The dilemma: If he wants to ever have Rita’s love, he has to give up his old ways, his old ways have to die. He must be willing to change.
7. He succeeds at changing and winning Rita’s love but thinks he’ll lose it once the day ends.
8. However, once he has changed, his life can now move forward, his lesson is learned, and he oddly no longer wants to leave. Says, “Let’s live here.”
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective… and make the change?
He starts with a mystery. Why does this “awful” day keep repeating? (Somewhere along the way he realizes the day isn’t awful, his beliefs about it and others are)
Lots of great lines about being stuck in the same miserable life that really make it clear this goes deeper than Phil’s situation.
Somewhere along the way he gives up, feels there’s nothing he can do, but then he realizes he can change. He wants to change. I think Rita inspires him to change, the way she is inspires him. He wants to be like that, live in her world, be worthy of being loved by her. He goes thru a manipulative stage but then he genuinely changes.
Rita says, “Maybe it’s not a curse. It’s just how you look at it!”
By the end, he thinks it’s beautiful there and he wants to live there.
7 & 8. What are the most profound moments of the movie? What are the most profound lines of the movie?
In the bar when he asks the guys what they’d do if stuck in one place and every day was the same and nothing you did mattered. That’s when we realize he could be talking about our own lives.
If you only had one day to live, what would you do?
He tricks her into falling in love with him, but it’s manipulative and she figures it out. He has no choice but to truly change if he wants to have a chance with her or to be happy.
“it’s going to be cold, grey, and it’s going to last for the rest of your life!”
Tries to kill himself, but still can’t escape that day.
“Maybe it’s not a curse! It’s just how you look at it.”
When he tells the sleeping Rita that she’s the kindest, sweetest, prettiest person. I’ve never seen anyone who’s nicer to people than you are… I don’t deserve someone like you, but if I ever could, I swear I’d love you for the rest of my life.” So then he changes to try to be someone who would deserve her. And she does finally love him. He’s happy.
And it’s finally a new day because he has changed and his perspective has changed, so he no longer has to relive the same miserable experience again. Love it! “It’s so beautiful! Let’s live here.”
9. How does the ending pay off the setups of this movie?
Phil hates it in Punxsutawney, hates everything about it, the people, the places, etc. At the end, after he has changed, he loves it. He spends every day trying to escape that wretched day, but by the end, he loves it and wants to live there.
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
Phil is miserable and hates his experience on Groundhog Day until he changes, and then he wants to live there!
The only way to escape a miserable existence is to change yourself and your perspective. I also think the profound truth is that it IS possible to change, and then everything else will also change.
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Christopher Carlson’s analysis of GROUNDHOG DAY
What I learned doing this assignment is that the character’s journey can include choosing to do terrible things that at first glance aren’t funny, i.e., multiple attempts at suicide, but if it is part of the Transformable Character’s journey and helps lead the character out of his depression, then even suicidal action is acceptable.
We are looking at this movie from the perspective of the change that occurs for the lead character and the audience.
What is the CHANGE this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?
The CHANGE dramatizes the transformative journey from not caring about anything to caring for all fellow beings.
The Transformational Journey depicts the character’s movement from egocentric, selfish behavior to loving, compassionate behavior.
Lead characters:Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
The Change Agent is Rita. She’s the right character because she represents a loving and caring individual.
Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
The Transformable Character is Phil Connors. He’s the right character because he begins the movie as absolutely cynical, selfish, egocentric.
What is the Oppression?
The oppression is the repetition, i.e., forcing the character to confront himself and his relationship to the world day after day, with no visible way of ending the ‘day that never ends.’
How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
In my opinion, the comedy – the pure antics of the Phil Connors, the Bill Murray character – lures us into the profound journey. In the repetition, we get to see how Phil Connors will respond to each encounter as it gets crazier and crazier.
We connect to the story probably because we can sometimes feel ‘stuck’ in our own lives – things not changing, not knowing how to make things better.
Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.” Identify their old way: Identify their new way at the conclusion:
Phil Connor’s journey from selfish, cynical egotist (“old ways”) to someone who cares about others and treats them with compassion (“new way of being”).
What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
Phil Connor’s begins his journey by generally insulting and looking down upon every person he interacts with. His favorite choice is making fun of others, denigrating them, insulting them. After many days of this, Phil becomes depressed by his situation and seeks psychiatric help. Soon he becomes suicidal and tries to escape by killing himself. Nothing works. Finally he accepts his situation and begins to dedicate himself to self-improvement: studying French, learning to ice sculpt, studying the piano. This represents positive change for the character. When he’s able to show Rita all the new elements in his life, she can’t help but be attracted to this talented, giving man. Phil’s final step is being able to declare his love for Rita. He expresses this in a genuine manner, not trying to get over on her, fool her, trick her. When Phil is able to offer love, and receive her love in return, he’s released from the terrible oppression of a life where nothing changes.
How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
When living in the ‘old way,’ nothing ever changes, nothing gets better. Finally Phil realizes that he’s stuck and his usual manner of responding to the world isn’t helpful. When he accepts that nothing in his life is going to change, he reaches his lowest point – feeling that life isn’t worth living – and commits himself to positive action.
What are the most profound moments of the movie?
I think the series of beats when Phil wants to help others – from saving a man who’s choking, to catching the boy who falls out of the tree, to helping the ladies change a flat tire. It goes deeper when he tries to help the old man who he originally met begging on the corner. When Phil finds him homeless and dying, he tries to restores his health with nutrition. In the end, he accepts the idea that all of us one day must leave this plane, when it becomes ‘our time to go.’ Perhaps the most rewarding profound moment was Phil speaking genuinely to Rita, and touching her heart.
What are the most profound lines of the movie?
Phil to Rita, “I need help.”
Phil to Rita, “If you only had one day to live, what would you do with it?”
Phil to Rita, “Is there anything I can do for you today?”
How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
Phil and Rita are now facing life together, sharing life, whereas in the beginning Phil was focused solely on himself with no regard to others. He particularly hated Punxsutawney, PA and now it’s the city he proposes they move to and start their new life.
What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
We find happiness only when we begin to search for ways to help others. In caring for others, we can create a deeper happiness in our own life.
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What Is Profound:
What I learned from this assignment: How important gradients of change are in character yet how subtly they can be introduced.
ANALYSIS GROUNDHOG’s DAY
1. What is the CHANGE this movie is about? What is the Transformational Journey of this movie?
The movie is about realizing how meaningless life is if we do not make each day count. We can live the same day over and over again (intellectually, spiritually, mentally) if we do not grow a little each day to a high plane of existence.
2. Lead characters:
Phil
Rita
– Who is the Change Agent (the one causing the change) and what makes this the right character to cause the change?
Life itself or the weird twist of fate it brings is the agent of change, but Rita also represents an agent of change because he wants her. Life itself is the right agent in this movie because Phil can’t escape its limits.
– Who is the Transformable Character (the one who makes the change) and what makes them the right character to deliver this profound journey?
Phil – He is the right character because of his self-righteous, move out of my way peons perspective on life.
– What is the Oppression?
He is forced to live the same day over and over again until he learns its lessons.
3. How are we lured into the profound journey? What causes us to connect with this story?
We’re lured into the journey and connect to it because we each know what its like to get stuck in life’s meaningless activities.
4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.”
Identify their old way: Arrogant, self righteous, Treats people poorly, corporate climber doesn’t care who is hurt along the way, into one night stands.
Identify their new way at the conclusion: Knows and has helped everyone in town, philanthropic, understanding, wants to hang out with the folks… he cares.
5. What is the gradient the change? What steps did the Transformational Character go through as they were changing?
With each day Phil experiences we see things change. First he is in denial, then he is angry, then he is depressed (tries to kill himself) then he believes he is god (he can never die) , and that the situation is hopeless, finally he decides its time to go for the bucket list and by learning to live again himself he becomes motivated to reach out to other who are dying or in trouble around him. It becomes his work.
6. How is the “old way” challenged? What beliefs are challenged that cause a main character to shift their perspective…and make the change?
Because he begins to see the results of his normal ways of doing things are fruitless. There is something more to life than what he has experienced.
7. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
When he realizes he will never have the girl of his dreams if he doesn’t change. (There dates) When he begins music lessons. When he first helps the bum. In the restaurant when everyone knows him, has a story to tell about him and all like him.
8. What are the most profound lines of the movie?
“Do you know what today is? Today is tomorrow.”; “What if there were no tomorrow, we could do anything we want”; “I’m not going to live by their rules anymore, you make choices and you live with them.” “I could never love someone like you … because you’ll never love anyone but yourself.”; Maybe its not a curse, depends on how you look at it.”
9. How does the ending payoff the setups of this movie?
His change is rewarded by getting the girl and the love and admiration of the whole town. He’s free from the corporate chains that drug him down. “Let’s rent a car…”
10. What is the Profound Truth of this movie?
Life no matter how short or long is what you make of it. Today is the day we must live… don’t wait for tomorrow (it may not come.)
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