...engaging and discerning culture, as a way of life...

January 01, 2006

The Apartment - 7

This is a great film. I was surprised that a film made in 1960 dealt with this sort of topic that could almost be placed in contemporary times. The basic gist of the story is that a bachelor who works at a mega insurance company has a NYC apartment that he allows his married co-workers to use for affairs. He soon learns that he really isn't getting what he wants in the whole deal. He advances in his job, but is reminded by his neighbor that he is losing his humanity, he is not a mentsh (Yiddish for "being human"). He falls in love with the elevator operator which turns out to be the comedic element of the whole film as all the complications eventually work out and he "chooses life", as it were. This film also won awards for best picture that year, as well as a nomination for Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine.

1 comment:

Jason said...

This is a fantastic film, and I'll say what I always say-- Billy Wilder was one of the best directors of all time, period.