MovieChat Forums > Harold and Maude (1971) Discussion > I had a roomate like Maude a long time a...

I had a roomate like Maude a long time ago

posted 12 years ago by EmilioCacao
4 replies | jump to latest

...it lasted one year. A 55-60 year old woman who at the beginning was wonderful to have around. Went to parties, had great friends... the typical former hippie from the Woodstock generation. Very nice lady at the beginning. That summer was pretty cool and she was definitely a gem.

Heh.

Then Bush won re-election and she got all depressed, lost her so-called job, and started accusing me and my other roommate of stealing her stuff. One time she even accused me of stealing her a pink jacket, Small size. Every time I told her to chill out or try to get some help, she started talking about not life, peace and love, but cancer, depression, poverty, and the war in Iraq. She was running into people who were asking her about court dates, collection bills... and then i started to worry, since my other roommate and I had her on the lease and the landlady

The landlady decided not to deal with her anymore and tried to kick her out. She threatened to stay and later I found out it was her way of staying for free in lots of places. They had to call the Sheriff to get her out. I still do not know if she settled with the landlady or she was taken to court. After moving out, it was pathetic getting calls from her threatening me to pay her, for instance, $4.50 for gas for the time we went to a party... and if I didn't pay she'd take me to court. Pathetic.

This being said, I enjoyed the movie, but Maude reminded me too much of my ex-roommate. Even her driving reminded me of her and I almost thought, at some point during the movie, that she was after the kid's money. And no, I didn't have any romantic involvement with her.

[–] boib8inla 12 years ago

Doesn't sound like Maude to me...

Maude takes every day as a chance to revel in life but she doesn't need to scam people out of money. Even the car-stealing thing comes out of her unique and off-beat understanding of the Social Contract rather than any self-interested motives (well, OK, free wheels, but as a way of thumbing her nose at a society that she thinks doesn't work right, not as a means of selfishly scamming her friends).

What a pity that your roommate experience tainted your enjoyment of this brilliant movie.

[–] EmilioCacao 12 years ago

I think my roomate probably saw the movie and based her behavior on Maude's in order to get away with stuff. Maude probably inspired a lot of people not only to get up and do good in the world, but also to take advantage of others. That's the beauty of movies and art in general: It inspires all of us, in all ways.

The movie, lest not forget, is very good and everybody is great in it.

[–] MargeGunderson-Brainerd 12 years ago

Sorry about your former friend/roommate, but it sounds like dementia. One of the classic signs is constantly thinking (trusted) people are stealing from you, probably because of the helpless fear of losing control of your mind and well-being.

Her calling you and yelling about $4.50 in gas money was just a painfully failed attempt at reaching out to you, having an excuse to contact you. Kind of similar to the third-grade boy who punched you in your stomach on the playground because he didn't have any better or other way of expressing his feelings that he liked you.

Maude didn't seem to have any concept of ownership or personal property. Other than stealing every car she drove, (that minor detail, ha-ha), she wasn't really a thief. She didn't care about fancy stuff, acquiring a lot of possessions, expensive jewelry and clothes, etc.

[–] Theotisnixon 11 years ago

Absolutely,,,you KNOW someone as freaky as maude has got a dark side,,,,,,,,,most hipsters do...and Maude was DEFINATELY a hipster