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When one searches out the utopia of all films, though there are many that are almost up to par, the only one that can fulfill the requirements of perfection is Harold and Maude. One can try, but will not come across even a trifle of fault contained in Hal Ashby?s masterpiece. The only words to describe his flawless direction, the cast?s splendid acting, Cat Stevens? superb and fitting soundtrack, John A. Alonzo?s cinematography skills, and William Sawyer and Edward Warschilka?s precise and ideal editing, are that of true genius. A young man, Harold (Bud Cort), and a seventy-nine year old woman, Maude (Ruth Gordon), find each other while living in a confusing, insensitive, and complicated world. As well as their love not being conventional, neither of them as individuals is truly accepted by society. Harold feels that he is shunned by his mother, and in turn, acts out by performing mock suicides to get her attention. He is an introverted young man, who has not yet learned how to live. Maude, on the other hand, embraces the society that rejects her. She tries to celebrate life, while using her eccentricities to keep the world on its toes. She teaches Harold how to live. The two meet, while attending the funerals of strangers. Harold?s overbearing and pretentious mother, Mrs. Chasen, (Vivian Pickles) endlessly tries to find him a ?perfect? mate. All of these arranged dates end in disaster, as Harold repeats his performances of death. She also sends him to a mundane psychiatrist, (G. Wood), whom Harold continuously mocks. Harold?s bloodthirsty Uncle Victor, (Charles Tyner), tries to help Mrs. Chasen tame her son, and shows him what the life of a soldier can be like. With Harold?s acting abilities and Maude?s free spiritedness, Harold is kept from being drafted when the two stage a ?deathly? funny argument. Maude is the only person who can help Harold to accept the world that he was born into. ?A lot of people act like they?re dead, but they?re not,? says Maude, hinting to Harold that he should not fall into the accepted mold of society and to instead, ?greet the dawn with a breath of fire.? Though Harold and Maude succumb to their passions for each other, the audience is shown that their relationship is destined for disaster, making the relationship significant in another way. Harold, no doubt truly in love, is also able to finally defy everyone around him, and take part in something that is socially forbidden. Maude, also feeling love for Harold, uses this fateful romance as one last message to the world; that she is free to love whomever she wants to and that she is free to do whatever she wants. With that being said, Cat Stevens creates a score where each song fits each specific scene by helping to add to the general theme of the film. The cinematography (John A.
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