The Empty Life (1963)

This 50s film claims to be about boredom, but it's actually about the depression, angst, and neuroticism that lay just under the surface of many middle class families. Hugh Marriott is bored with life, but actually he's angry and depressed because his wife disapproves of him doing the kind of work he loves, and he's too much of a wimp to go against her wishes. He's the main case study here, but other "bored" people in his neighborhood are mentioned as well, including a neighbor woman who's an alcoholic, a local grocer who's a sex addict, and a teen hot rodder who's headed down the road towards being a grim traffic statistic. The film is bizarre and jaw-dropping in some moments, and quite realistic and sensitive in others, especially the portrayal of how Hugh's "boredom" affects his son, leading to problems for the boy. The narration is relentless and deadpan, and the soundtrack music is wailing, angst-ridden jazz, giving the film a dark, heavy feel that resembles the leaden pain of depression. This combination of good and bad qualities results in a film that is hard to evaluate one way or the other, being both campy and weird, and realistic and sensitive by turns. At any rate, it's far from boring. I hope I eventually find the sequel: Boredom II: The Search for Zest (and if you think I'm making that up, watch the movie). Production Company: Oklahoma State Department of Health