Not Totally Different or Same

In the film ‘Don’t Look Back’ (Ne Te Retourne Pas), Jeanne (played by Sophie Marceau) realises that small but definite changes seem to be taking place in her life in every aspect… from the arrangement of the furniture in her house, to the appearance of her family members. In fact, her own appearance begins to gradually change as well… into someone else very different (played by Monica Bellucci). This strange phenomenon however, is noticed only by her, while others believe it’s a result of stress on her side. Perhaps because we already know these two actresses to be clearly distinct people in real life, this makes it more bewildering for the audience. The proceedings of the story might seem incredulous due to the ‘fast-forwarded’ change… till the mystery is finally solved.

Yet, it is true that we do change all the time, along with our surroundings and the people in our lives. Those who are truly mindful will discern minute changes of mind and matter taking place from moment to moment – even if the majority of others do not see this. One’s ‘self’ in the past and future are linked by a continuum of change. In the process of graduated morphing, we are neither entirely different nor entirely similar from this moment to the next, as causality links the duo. When you do ‘look back’ in time, at how you body and mind developed, you will see this to be true! Jeanne felt trapped by her helpless change into someone else. Liberation from suffering was possible though – by letting go of attachment to being ‘supposed’ to be any fixed ‘self’!

Related Article:
The ‘Reverse’ of the Above; a Doppelganger Film (The Broken)
https://moonpointer.com/new/2009/11/you-versus-yourself

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