TV Tuesdays 8: Otto

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Welcome to the eighth TV Tuesday!

I watched A Man Called Otto with my dad, stepmom, and sister last week. Spoilers ahead.

It made me think a lot about a lot of what I’ve been writing about. How men are lonelier than women on average. How men are much more likely to kill themselves. How men tend to rely on their partners for social connection. How middle-aged men who aren’t working are especially susceptible to deaths of despair. How masculine gender norms exacerbate these problems.

Is it a good movie? It’s schlocky at times. It’s definitely saccharine. I cried the whole second half. I have embraced my inner sappy cheeseball in my old age.

On the one hand, I’m irritated at being manipulated. On the other hand, if something this un-subtle gets to me, that shit’s on me.

I related to Otto, hard. I also used to rely on my partner for most of my emotional needs. I find other people annoying. I like my house to be fastidious. I get irritated when things aren’t where they’re supposed to be and people aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing.

I think what the movie gets at is that everyone needs to be needed. Otto sought to be needed by doing the things that came easily to him. His job. Sorting the recycling. Like many men.

But what the world needed was different than what came easily to Otto. Otto had to let himself become uncomfortable so he could learn how to meet the needs that actually existed around him.

Which has been my journey, and continues to be my journey, as well.

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