Life is an intense struggle of discovering the depths of one’s identity, and often this discovery is only made when all of life’s pieces come together. David Fincher’s movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button delves into this idea of self-discovery and its relation to time. When Daisy reflects on her life through Benjamin’s perspective, experiencing his emotions, encounters, and perception of the world, Fincher suggests that time is of the essence and only when it has run out will one truly understand how valuable life is: how the people shape who we are and how the struggles we face build our character.
The acceptance that life only lasts so long is a theme addressed throughout the film; specifically, Fincher’s placement of Benjamin in a nursing home from a very young age developed Benjamin’s understanding that life should be lived to the fullest extent as he realizes just how temporary it
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Ultimately, these are the facets which promote happiness. Fincher demonstrates this at the end of the film through Benjamin’s adventures in India. Being one of the most diverse locations in the world, India offered Benjamin a fresh start, a place where he could “be who he wanted to be.” The choice of filming locations by the secondary director, Tarsem Singh, further emphasize how the trip gave way to life’s magnitude and opportunity through shooting vast mountains and valleys as set pieces with a wide-angle lens. These scenes were shot in daylight, and they symbolize thevibrancy of life and how Benjamin’s life becomes more vibrant as he experiences new things. The contrast of Benjamin’s mental maturity and physical appearance conveys to the audience that new experiences are essential to self-discovery irrespective of our