DESPAIR
About Schmidt is a film that focuses on despair. As Schmidt seeks some identity and meaning for his life, he falls deeper and deeper into despair. The end of the movie is somewhat open-ended. It could be interpreted as having some hope, but for me it was even more despair. By the end of the movie there is nothing left to give any joy to his life. He has searched for meaning and comes up, as his office was at the beginning, empty.

It seems this is the season for movies about despair. The Hours and Far From Heaven also deal with a great amount of despair. About Schmidt is a comic look at despair (as incongruous as that may sound). All of these may offer some small sliver of hope in the end, but each (including About Schmidt) sends the viewer out of the theater with the taste of despair still in his or her mouth.

But what am I? An infant crying in the night;
An infant crying for the light,
And with no language but a cry.
--ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON (1809–1892)

At the edge of despair dawns a clarity in which one is almost happy.
--JEAN ANOUILH

Beware of desperate steps; the darkest day,
Lived till tomorrow, will have passed away.
--WILLIAM COWPER (1731–1800)

Despair itself, if it goes on long enough, can become a kind of sanctuary in which one settles down and feels at ease.
--CHARLES AUGUSTIN SAINTE-BEUVE (1804–1869)

God be praised, that to believing souls
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!
--WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564–1616)

MOSES' DESPAIR
Numbers 11:15
I'd rather you killed me than treat me like this. Please spare me this misery!"

JOB'S DESPAIR
Job 3:1-8
At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth. He said:
"Cursed be the day of my birth, and cursed be the night when I was conceived. Let that day be turned to darkness. Let it be lost even to God on high, and let it be shrouded in darkness. Yes, let the darkness and utter gloom claim it for its own. Let a black cloud overshadow it, and let the darkness terrify it. Let that night be blotted off the calendar, never again to be counted among the days of the year, never again to appear among the months. Let that night be barren. Let it have no joy. Let those who are experts at cursing—those who are ready to rouse the sea monster—curse that day.

ON HOPE--

INSIGHT FROM G. K. CHESTERTON:
"As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is a mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength. Like all the Christian virtues, it is as unreasonable as it is indispensable."

INSIGHT FROM SAINT FRANCIS OF SALES:
"Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He is your Keeper. He has kept you hitherto. Hold fast to his dear hand, and he will lead you safely through all things; and, when you cannot stand, he will bear you in his arms. Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. Our Father will either shield you from suffering, or he will give you strength to bear it."

Psalm 43:5 -Message Translation
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I'll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He's my God.

Psalm 146:5 -Message Translation
Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,
put your hope in God and know real blessing!

Psalm 31:24 -New Living Translation
So be strong and take courage,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!

OFFICIAL SITE
About Schmidt © 2002 New Line Cinema. All Rights Reserved.

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