History Heartwarming / TheChangeling1980

!! The 1980 film

* It's refreshing to see GeorgeCScott play the role of a genuine NiceGuy. Without seeing the film, it's hard to imagine that the man could be so pleasant. The fact that Scott actually TookALevelInKindness in real life makes things all the more better.

* It's refreshing to see GeorgeCScott play the role of a genuine NiceGuy. Without seeing the film, it's hard to imagine that the man could be so pleasant.

* It's refreshing to see GeorgeCScott play the role of a [[NiceGuy genuinely decent and personable individual]]. Without seeing the film, it's hard to imagine that the man could be so pleasant.

* Claire's relationship with John. It's apparent from the very first time they meet that Claire is determined to improve their acquaintance to a friendship, [[RelationshipUpgrade if not more]]. Presumably, as a friend of the Lingstroms, she is well aware of the recent tragedy and wants to bring John out of his grief. On his part, instead of being an unapproachable recluse, John is happy for her to become his friend, even though he shows [[JustFriends no romantic interest]].
* John's students are clearly a bit in awe of him. It's testament to his fame as a composer that hundreds turn up to attend his first lecture, even though it's supposed to be a class of 23.
* It's also nice to see how easily John handles his audience and how well he gets along with his students.
* John's readiness to get over his grief. Most films that involve a grieving hero devote the entire plot to the hero's recovery. But John clearly wants to move on in life and doesn't indulge in self-pity. He is happy to let his friends reach out to him and is grateful for their help, instead of dishing out the expected response of DontYouDarePityMe.
* The ending shows [[spoiler: a rather shaken John sitting down while Claire places a protective hand on his shoulder. It leaves open the possibility of a RelationshipUpgrade for the two and [[MaybeEverAfter may be a life together]].]]

* Claire's relationship with John. It's apparent from the very first time they meet that Claire is determined to improve their acquaintance to a friendship, [[RelationshipUpgrade if not more]]. Presumably, as a friend of the Lingstroms, she is well aware of the recent tragedy and wants to bring John out of his grief. On his part, instead of being an unapproachable recluse, John is happy to become her friend, even though he shows [[JustFriends no romantic interest]].

* It's also nice to see how easily John handles his audience and how well he gets along with his students. The man's a thorough NiceGuy and a GentlemanAndAScholar.
* John's readiness to get over his grief. The man's lost his entire family but by the second scene, he's already moving on in life. Most films that involve a grieving hero devote the entire plot to the hero's recovery. But John clearly values an active life and doesn't indulge in self-pity. He is happy to let his friends reach out to him and is grateful for their help, instead of dishing out the expected response of DontYouDarePityMe.

* John and Claire's relationship is one of the sweet things about the film. It's apparent from the very first time they meet that Claire is determined to improve their acquaintance to a friendship, [[RelationshipUpgrade if not more]]. Presumably, as a friend of the Lingstroms, she is well aware of the recent tragedy and wants to bring John out of his grief. It's refreshing to see that instead of being an unapproachable recluse, John is happy to become her friend, even though he shows [[JustFriends no romantic interest]].
* John's students are clearly a bit in awe of him. It's testament to his fame as a composer that hundreds turn up to attend his first lecture, even though it's supposed to be a class of 23. It's also nice to see how easily John handles his audience and how well he gets along with his students.
* John's keenness to get over his grief is pleasantly surprising. The man's lost his entire family but by the second scene, he's already moving on in life. Most films that involve a grieving hero devote the entire plot to the hero's recovery. But John clearly values an active life and doesn't indulge in self-pity. He is happy to let his friends reach out to him and is grateful for their help, instead of the expected response of DontYouDarePityMe.
* The ending shows [[spoiler: a rather shaken John sitting down while Claire places a protective hand on his shoulder. It leaves open the possibility of a RelationshipUpgrade for the two of them and [[MaybeEverAfter may be a life together]].]]

* The last scene shows [[spoiler: a rather shaken John sitting down while Claire places a protective hand on his shoulder. It leaves open the possibility of a RelationshipUpgrade and a [[MaybeEverAfter may be a life together]] for the two of them.]]

* The last scene shows [[spoiler: a rather shaken John sitting down while Claire places a protective hand on his shoulder. It's implied that she will be there at his side to help him recover from this second ordeal. It leaves open the possibility of a RelationshipUpgrade and a [[MaybeEverAfter life together]] for the two of them.]]

* John and Claire's relationship is one of the sweet things about the film. It's apparent from the very first time they meet that Claire is determined to improve their acquaintance to a friendship, if not more. Presumably, as a friend of the Lingstroms, she is well aware of the recent tragedy and wants to bring John out of his grief. It's refreshing to see that instead of being an unapproachable recluse, John is happy to become her friend, even though he shows no romantic interest.

* John's keenness to get over his grief is pleasantly surprising. The man's lost his entire family but by the second scene, he's already moving on in life. Most films that involve a grieving hero devote the entire plot to the hero's recovery. But John clearly values an active life and doesn't indulge in self-pity. He is happy to let his friends reach out to him and is grateful for their help, instead of the expected response of DontYouDarePityMe.

* John and Claire's friendship. It's apparent from the very first time they meet that Claire is determined to improve their acquaintance to friendship, if not more. Presumably, as a friend of the Lingstroms, she is well aware of the recent tragedy and wants to bring him out of his grief. It's refreshing to see that instead of being an unapproachable recluse, John is happy to become her friend, even though he shows no romantic interest.
* John's students are clearly a bit in awe of him. It's testament to his fame as a composer that hundreds turn up to attend his first lecture, even though it's supposed to be a class of 23. It's also nice to see how well John gets along with his students.

* One of the pleasant surprises in the film is how determined John is to get over his grief. The man's lost his entire family but by the second scene, he's already moving on in life. Most films that involve a grieving hero spend the entire plot in having the hero recover. But John clearly believes that he needs to continue living and doesn't indulge in self-pity. He would have every reason to shun his friends but instead, he is pleasant to them and willing to let them help.