Issue #10: Sandy's Reflections on Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

About a year and a half before Guardians of the Galaxy, my mother died. I think it was the most life-altering moment in my life. 
 
You see, my mom had cancer, and although it was blessedly quick, it was an awful, painful, and emotional end. As an only child, I grew up in a pretty happy, carefree, and loving framework. We didn’t have much money, and I lived in a small town, but boy—did I ever have a great childhood, most of which revolved around my family. My mom was central in my life as a stay-at-home mother who did everything. She taught me to read, to write in cursive, to cook, and to be a thinker. We did most everything together, the three of us, and I consider, even now, my mother to be the best friend I ever had. I’m sure you already see where I’m going.
 
So when she left us, I was a bit lost. It was up to me to pull everything together—from the funeral to taking care of the house to making sure my dad knew how to do laundry (that took a while). In short, I didn’t get to grieve much because I lived five hours away and had to make sure my work and house were taken care of while simultaneously helping a man who lost his wife of almost 47 years learn how to manage on his own. 
 
When this film came out, needless to say, I was just barely hanging on. So this film was not on my radar.
 
When it came out on DVD, my friend Courtney brought it over for a movie day. I’ll never forget the moment: Pulling it out of her bag, she gave me a look and said, “If you can make it through the first ten minutes, I think you would love this film.”
 
I did.
 
Not only is this film a happy joy of a movie with great characters (who knew?) and zippy one-liners, I really connected with Peter’s struggle to move on and enjoy life while grappling with the loss of the key person in his life. I get it.
 
In addition, what also resonated with me, besides the obvious connection to a kid losing his mother to cancer, was the idea of how music is like a balm in the film. James Gunn was explicit with the song selections, focusing on how the song connects to the scene’s message or feel. Recently, he released all the unused songs for quarantine listening, stating: “Whatever the case, I never intended on sharing these songs, as I might use them in future movies. But I think the need for all of us to have some joyousness in these difficult times outweighs all that” (https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/guardians-of-the-galaxy-unreleased-songs-playlist/).
 
In the series, it’s Meredith Quill’s music, and it’s her gift to Peter that crafts the soundtrack. The music is not only connected to her memories—but also his memories of her. The songs, so happy or bubbly or emotional, are what ties Peter to his memories of her and the bubble that he has of his time on Earth as a kid. 
 
In an article on BBC.com, a scientist named Cretien van Campen provides insight into this connection between music and memory: “Notably, memories stimulated by music often come from particular times in our lives…Psychologists have called it the ‘reminiscence bump’. It may work this way because this is an especially important and exciting time in our lives, when we are experience things for the first time and when we become independent. Everything is new and meaningful” (https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140417-why-does-music-evoke-memories).
 
And so it is for Peter. It’s part of why he is stunted in his maturity at the beginning of the film. It’s like his body grew—and his emotions and thoughts are still at his childhood stage when he was snatched from Earth. He keeps listening to the same songs, over and over, and they bring him comfort—and connection with his mother.
 
Maybe that’s why I enjoy this film upon re-watch so much. I find myself thinking about my mom, about how far I’ve come now with healing the hole in my heart. For my family, movies were a major bonding time—from Charles Bronson to Chuck Norris to Clint Eastwood to endless horror movies, we watched them all. My mom made movies special, much like how Meredith makes music special for Peter. I can watch Jaws and be immediately brought back to watching with my mom—and saying all the lines along with her as we made pie in the kitchen. Pop culture brings us joy—and just like “Escape” or “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” in Guardians of the Galaxy—it bridges time to help us heal, soothe, feel inspired, or laugh. Or, in the case of this film, it helps me remember my own mother fondly and with a smile. 
 
Maybe that’s why I’m writing this blog right now. I “fooled around and fell in love” with movies as a child. Music, movies, memories, and mothers are a powerful combination. 
 
Maybe next I’ll listen to the soundtrack again—or pull out my Blu-Ray of Footloose. I watched that with my mom, too!