"UP IN THE AIR"

It all started as a game during the RnR ceremony within the team. People had to just pick chits and complete the activity mentioned in that. My boss got the easiest of them all, "Review a movie which you have seen in the recent past". He thought about it for a minute. Chose a movie called "Up in the Air"
One of the reasons my boss chose this movie was he thought being HR professionals, all of us would relate to the movie. The movie is about a guy who fires people for a living. Interestingly, on behalf of others in companies which outsource the activity of "Downsizing" or "Right Sizing" as most of us in HR refer to it..
The next weekend, sitting idle at home, I thought of watching this movie. Liked the way the movie started and started loving it as I continued to watch it. It is actually very rare that I watch a movie without taking a break. But, this movie had me glued to it. As I watched the movie, I could actually relate to the character on screen completely. (Though, firing people is not exactly how I would describe my job as, it still is a part of it).
The main character in the movie is initially depicted as someone who totally lacks emotions. He is extremely good at what he does. However, he is isolated from his family, friends, etc (Choices he has made). He leads a life which is "PERFECT" for him.
He delivers lectures to corporates on the "Excess Baggage" we carry around in the form of material things and most importantly human relationshops.
His life changes totally when he meets a woman who is exactly like him, or atleast presents herself to be exactly like him (bereft of emotions and leading a life with no additional baggage). Though their relationship starts on the premise that there would be no emotional connect and it is simply for a physical need, the lead ends up getting emotionally attached to the woman. When he attempts to change their relationship, he realises that is impossible for the simple reason that he can't and the woman would not accept any changes in the rules laid out by him on which their relationship is based and started.
The change in him is what is depicted the most beautifully in the movie. The end reflects him making changes in his professional life and the ability to handle emotions.
The part which is simply amazing is his pursuit of a "Goal" which is extremely important to him but not seen as wprth pursuing by anybpdy else. The time when he achieves this goal is when he is in a phase of realisation and sees what he has been pursuing. The joy of achieving it is taken away by his learnings.
I can find numerous reasons why I love this movie and just putting down a few of them here. This movie however is one of my all-time favourite movies and I end up watching this on a lot of occasions.
- The story line in brilliant
- Relates to my profession
- I can relate to the main character of the movie not just on the professional front but also on the personal front on some of the choices I made. This ia the primary reason for me to love this movie. The movie did make me think about quite a few choices I had made and would always come to mind in the future as well when I am presented with some choices to make.

A movie worth watching!!!!

KIRAN