"Suddenly, time travel seems unnecessary because every detail of life is just delightful."
- Tim Lake
The chance to undo what has been done. The ability to go back and do what was not actually done. These possibilities make time travel such a hit for many people, which is why it always makes an interesting story line for a film.
About Time, a romantic-comedy-drama film released in the latter part of 2013, tackles the impact of time travel capability on a regular-looking, nice-but-boring, ordinary guy who went through life making good things happen for himself and his family with a little help from the special talent that he acquired from his dad (as it was passed on from the men in the family). He met and had a family with the girl of his dreams, looked after his little sister and spent quality time with his parents especially with his dad, who was actually diagnosed with cancer and was using his own ability to time travel to spend more time with his family.
While time travel is not proven to be scientifically true, numerous speculations have been brought in the open about it, ranging from its actual possibility, its nature and its consequences. After all, every action comes with a corresponding reaction. In About Time, time travel was more like an option, which results to its own series of results. Going back to a time prior to a child's birth, for instance, eliminates the chances of said child's birth. It is in such cases where one has to choose between two important things. In making such a decision, it is not about who is more important but the nature of the situation and determining which is less good than the other. The protagonist chose the existence of his first child over the accident of his little sister. After all, the incident involving the latter might have been necessary for her to learn certain lessons in life. At the latter part, he also had to choose his third child's life over that of his father. The latter has lived a full life. It is, however, quite an emotional moment when prior to the third child's birth, he took the time to travel back to a time when his dad was alive, and they spent moments of father and son bonding.
The greatest realization in the movie is about how, at certain points in time, there is actually no need to desire or even think about time travel simply because "every moment is delightful", which is exactly how the protagonist felt. Though there are stresses, pressures and struggles each day, it is important to accept them as a part of existence. This way, one gets to appreciate them as well as the days that are free of such. In the end, time travel cannot solve all problems as it can also bring its own set of concerns. In the end, it is all about how one perceives the situation and just face it head-on.
Probably the best thing about this movie is the fact that there is no need for a time machine. All the effort of building something to take you back in time is unnecessary. All you need is a dark space and the power of your imagination. I wish I can have that. Or maybe not. Whatever.
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