The Forty-Year-Old Version: A Story Never Told

Radha Blank’s The Forty-Year-Old Version is a must-watch for anyone looking for a film with a complex protagonist and a comedic storyline. I really recommend this movie to anyone looking to sit down and laugh at several comedic scenes. My favorite character in the entire film is Radha. Radha is a teacher, rapper, and play writer. Radha juggles so many things in her life, as many of us do on a daily basis, and it is inspiring, to say the least. I think what makes Radha’s character so compelling is that I have never seen a character like her before in film. I think so many films focus on the obvious in society but fail to show the story of the lives of people who are often never presented in film. For instance, Radha is going through a midlife crisis which I think is what makes the film have a comedic twist. At one point in the film, Radha sits down, and her knees crack. I found this part of the film to be extremely comical. I think Radha’s character is also complex because she is not a character that has everything, but rather she is a character who is like the ‘common person’, I think. Radha battles problems daily in her day-to-day life, such as not being happy in her career. Overall, I find Radha to be a character that is so relatable that it is funny to a certain extent. Radha is also inspiring because, despite all the issues she faces, she still is able to persevere through everything. I think Radha’s perseverance is inspiring and like a breath of fresh air for the audience. I think Radha’s relationship with D is comical and interesting. I find Radha’s relationship with D to be interesting because their relationship is pure and perfect for the time in Radha’s life. The relationship is pure because they say so little but click right away. I definitely would say D and Radha have chemistry. I think the relationship is perfect for the time in Radha’s life because I think Radha needs a person in her life to confide in and trust. I think that Radha is at a point in her life where she expected her life would be perfect, but she feels like it is anything but perfect. Likewise, I found the relationship between Radha and Archie to be interesting yet playful because they treat each other like friends but are colleagues. I think when Radha fires Archie, it is a moment in the film where Radha is finally accepting her life for what it truly is. I think Radha realizes she is content with her life. Archie tells Radha, “I quit,” and Radha states: “You're fired.” I really thought this moment was pivotal for Radha because she finally overcomes her conflict with her career not being what she wants. I was really happy with the ending of this film because it made sense to me, and I think if I were in Radha’s position, I would have done the same thing. I felt like everything wrapped up nicely at the end when Radha and D are walking.