Alice and Little Children: A Comparison

I watched Little Children a week ago and today I watched Alice (an older Woody Allen film). When I watched Little Children, I understood its message of letting go of some childish emotions that can be irrational disruptions in an adult life but I was disturbed just the same. In both films, an adult questions their role as a spouse to a successful mate, they start to consider why their dreams disappeared and they look for a way to change the future so that they don't feel inhibited. The adult character in Little Children, after his fantasy skateboard experience followed by a serious injury, resolves to ignore his frustrations and settle for his responsible and faithful wife. Alice, a woman who as a child dreamed of living like Mother Teresa, begins to feel uncomfortable with the values her children are being raised with and the husband that is responsive but empty of emotions for her and their life together. In the end, she knows that nothing will change unless she changes herself so that is what she does and it is beautiful. We all expect such monumental life changes to be too much work but that is all in our heads. Especially when we are talking about something intangible like values or attitude. Alice got herself to Calcutta but other than that, she did not need money to change the course of her life. Both were mediocre films, neither would I watch again, but I must say that the contrast between both perspectives of how life can be lived is unique.