Somewhere in Time

One of the central aspects of human existence is that the untrammeled passage of time flows only in one direction. To make sense of this seemingly incomprehensible verity we compartmentalize our lives into three protean categories: past, present and future. Empires rise, empires fall, but what is true of one, is true of all. The story of our lives is written on the sand, destined to be washed away by the sea. All human politics, all human schemes, a chasing after the wind. And so it is written: nothing against time’s scythe can make defense.

But in a materialistic world where almost everything was made to be expendable, one thing can last forever, or at least, a lifetime. The Great Bard describes it as an ever fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken. A rebellious force so indomitable that it defies the linear progression of life. So indomitable that it questions the pale tyranny of time. Described by four deceptively simple letters that contain more meaning than any other word.

Somewhere in time is the story of a couple who swore an undying allegiance to such a word. A couple who traversed a seemingly endless ocean, all for a brief interlude that proved to be both transient and eternal, the only true paradox of the human condition. It stars Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer. John Barry deserves special plaudits for the memorable score and the unforgettable rendition of a Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. I first watched this movie as a child and my appreciation for it has not abated throughout the years. For those still looking for an eternal summer that shall never fade, you might find it somewhere in time.