The Silver Linings Playbook

     Have you ever known you would like a movie before you went to see it. That's how I felt about this movie and I was not disappointed. It was everything I hoped for and more. There were moments of laughter, but also the moments that I cried.
    The Silver Linings Playbook tells the story of Pat, a man who has had a breakdown and has been in an institution. As the story goes you find out what led to his breakdown.
     He returns home with the hope of reconciling with his estranged wife, he is obssessed with the idea of it. Forbidden from having any contact with her he resides at his parents house, with a father who has his own dysfunctional problems and a mother who tries her best to be the mediator.
     As the story progresses he meets Tiffany who has her own emotional issues. But she challenges Pat with her honesty and causes him to examine his own heart. The attraction is instant between them but Pat realizes he can't take advantage of her even when she offers him the chance to have sex with her because of her own loneliness. What Pat doesn't realize is that he is falling in love with Tiffany. He has an epiphany and sees something that she has done and it causes him to realize his love for her.
    There is such hope in this movie and I wept at the tender scene between Pat and his father, played by Robert DeNiro, when his father acknowledges his love for Pat.
     Most of all this movie was about the love of a family, even though people are imperfect, love is not, love brings healing for our imperfections. But it was also about the love between two people and how love challenges us to dare to risk our hearts and allow another person inside, sometimes there's pain, but there is great joy in loving another. The rewards of love outweigh the risk of being hurt, if you have hope and believe, life will bring you a silver lining.
     This song was in the soundtrack of the movie, one of my favorite songs, I know my friend Teddy would have loved this, so in my love and memory of my friend I include this song.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n42umTaVbjU