When I had first heard of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button from a friend, I was given the impression that it was nothing more than a romantic fantasy drama.

Looking back, I now see that what at first seems like fantastical story about a man aging backwards through time holds intricacies that no classification can describe.

On December 25, 2008, Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. released The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to the public. The movie is directed by David Fincher and features an alternate take on the short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was a sensation, going on to receive thirteen Academy Award nominations and winning three Oscars.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button opens up in a clichéd setting, with a scene shot in a hospital filled with tension, anxiety, and anticipation. An aging Daisy Fuller is found beside her daughter Caroline. As she feels her life seeping away, Daisy directs her daughter to read a mysterious diary. Although Caroline is at first unsure of the identity of the man named Benjamin Button, the author of the diary, she quickly commences to narrate the story of a man who was born with an unfortunate condition: despite having a normal mind, Benjamin ages backwards.

The movie immediately thrusts into a dream-like meditation on life and death as the story unwinds. The boy, Benjamin (Brad Pitt), grows up in a nursing home after being abandoned by his father. His foster mother, Queenie, acts as the perfect caregiver, loving him to no end. As the story develops, he meets a young girl, Daisy (Cate Blanchett), whose grandmother is staying at the same nursing home as he. She acts as his closest friend as he learns that despite his physical appearance, he is really a child inside and will age like any normal person. Even though Benjamin ages backwards, she treats him no differently than any other peer. Through the years, they begin to see through the barrier of physical time, and a fragile love develops. Each new scene introduces a new stage that tugs Benjamin and Daisy closer together and brings them on a fantastical journey through time and space. From a tugboat in the Pacific Ocean, to the Cold War in Russia, viewers will not cease to be amazed not only by the steady and subtle plot, but also by the characterization and deep emotions that are portrayed in the storytelling.

At first, I had my doubts about this film. The idea of aging backwards seemed to be cliché, and paired with a trite romance I could have strutted away before even watching the movie. I am grateful I did not. Instead of cheesy dialogue and plot holes, I was hit head on with an allegory about the fragility of life and death that left me speechless. Although the idea of love may seem to be imminent, the darkness and perceptual twilight of the scenes seems to suggest a deeper story. The film team did an excellent job with the production of the movie. Never before had I seen a film with such trance-like progression of age and time. The ending of the film left me feeling empty, yet warm; it ends with the message that although life is short, living it to the fullest is all that matters.

Even so, the heartwarming message and beautiful direction might not be right for you. Many scenes in the movie depict extreme violence, strong language, drinking, and smoking. I would strongly recommend kids ask their parents before watching this movie.

Otherwise, I found that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a tear-inducing film, and I would recommend it to kids above 13 and all people who enjoy a deep meditation on life, time, and all qualities of the human psyche.