Across the Universe (Cultural Arts Summary)

Across the Universe, the most distinctive and enchanting film of 2007, is critically known as “the kind of movie you watch again, like listening to a favorite album” (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). The film reinvents the time of the 60s in which a politically war was fought on foreign soil and at home in America. The movie unfolds the story of two young lovers brought together by fate and divided by the growing tension of the anti-war movement. Intertwined with the film are numerous hits by the world renowned Beatles. Each song assists in the telling of the character’s triumphs, downfalls, and passions.

The film begins with the journey of Jude, a young man from Liverpool, England, jumping ship to meet his father at Princeton University. While residing with his father at the university, Jude inadvertently meets Max, an indecisive college student. Unsurprisingly, Max eventually decides to drop out of university and live life as a free soul. As a result of his foolishness, Max and Jude eventually agree to move to New York’s Greenwich Village to live in an apartment owned and occupied by the infamous Sadie. The following year, Lucy, Max’s sister decides to join him [Max] and Jude in New York. Eventually, as expected, Jude and Lucy fall in love. Unfortunately, around this same time Max is required to attend an induction ceremony for the United States Army. While the war intensity seems to increase, political tensions go from straightforward pamphlets to radical protest. Lucy ultimately becomes involved and obsessed with the efforts of the anti-war group. Regrettably, the escalating violence eventually destroys the delicate relationship between Jude and Lucy. The complex plot becomes profoundly passionate until the viewer sees an ending that was perfectly designed to appeal to all audiences. [Sorry, I just could not permit myself to uncover the ending of such a fantastic movie].

The plot combined with the astounding covers of the some of the Beatles #1 hits creates a non-traditional, but remarkable movie. As an independent film, it stunningly surpassed the rating of some major motion pictures. Across the Universe is not only vibrant and captivating, but a film that depicts the social and political turmoil that occurred during one of America’s most contentious periods in history. It is a story that defines the meaning of love, friendship, and the hope needed to endure a time when the world was flipped up-side-down.