You Need to Rewatch One Battle After Another

I remember, vividly, the speakers in the theater booming with each gunshot, with each explosion, with each car crash when I first watched One Battle After Another. I remember the bouts of hope that were injected into me after each effort of desperate resistance. I remember the nervous laughter, I remember the cathartic laughter, and I remember the remaining horror that washed over me every time a scene hit on exactly the present reality in America, hit a little too close to home. I remember leaving the theater supercharged in surfacing repressed emotions. I remember being amped to fight fascism, to scream “¡Viva la Revolución!”, to express more, to be more annoying, to socialize more, to not grow doubtful, to not get ashamed, to not become fearful, to take care of loved ones, to trust my intuition, to be more careful, and to be more aware. “They want you isolated,” I thought. “They want you to be scared,” I thought. “They want you to be quiet, preferably dead.” I remember asking myself for more forgiveness, I remember asking myself for more patience, I remember asking myself for more compassion, I remember asking myself for more understanding, and I remember asking myself for more, more, and more! I needed to take up space, I needed to voice my needs, I needed to fill my cup, and I needed to stand up for myself. I really need to be the person that my inner child needs to the fullest extent of that cliché. 

I remember putting something similar to this in my class Discord channel: “Leonardo DiCaprio gives an Oscar-worthy performance, which I’ve come to expect from him at this point. Teyana Taylor is the best part of every scene that she’s in. Sean Penn gives one of the best performances of his career! Chase Infiniti is going to be a household name in the near future. Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, and the supporting cast are unbelievably solid. 2025 has been a great year for film, but I think this film is one of the best of the decade. It’s 3AM, and I’m overstimulated. I’m eating a bagel with peanut butter and a carrot right now.” I remember tussling with the fear of being seen, the fear of being perceived, and the fear of being known. I remember trying not to grow dubious or ashamed of my thoughts and actions. It’s really a practice, loving yourself and standing by yourself; it’s a lot easier said than done; it’s really one battle after another. I remember being drawn towards doing things that scared me, but I also remembered not to tear my nerves to shreds in the process. Acting from a place of rest and strength is a lot more effective than being at a hundred miles per hour all the time. Again, it’s a lot easier said than done. With the attacks on democratic institutions, social safety nets, minority populations, and civil rights, it’s the hardest it has ever been to rest. However, it is also the most important time to be well rested. Find the respites in your life no matter how small. Don’t let them shrink you. Follow the pleasure. 

¡Viva la Revolución!