A Celluloid Tribute to J’ville! – by Paula & Terry Erdmann

“J’ville Autumn” by Paula Block Erdmann

The Unfettered Critic – by Paula Block Erdmann & Terry Erdmann

It’s probably the question most often asked of recent transplants to Jacksonville:

“How did you wind up living here?”

The most common response is curiously comical, usually a variation on:

“We’re not entirely sure. One minute we were in—(the Bay area/L.A./Santa Barbara/Boulder)—and the next we were unpacking boxes in J’ville.”

Jacksonville, it seems, is the ultimate unanticipated destination. We all know why we left our old stomping grounds—too much traffic, too impersonal, etc.—but we’re unclear on what made us choose… here. But we finally think we know the answer:

Jacksonville picks its inhabitants.

You’d already guessed that, hadn’t you? You were driving by, touring vineyards or something, when you inexplicably felt an urge to—Stretch your legs. Grab a bite. Look around. And before you knew it, escrow was closing.

It reminds us of the Lerner and Lowe musical, Brigadoon. A New Yorker named Tommy travels to the Scottish highlands and wanders into a magical village that’s accessible to the outside world only once every 100 years. Residents call it Brigadoon. Tommy is dazzled by the place—and by a girl named Fiona—prompting him to sing “Almost Like Being In Love.” He returns to the Big Apple, but realizes that there’s no place like Brigadoon. So he goes back, hoping it will still be there. Sounds like Jacksonville, right? If you don’t know Brigadoon, check out the movie version, starring Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, on DVD or digital download.

Brigadoon isn’t the only movie that evokes the warm feeling we get from living here. There’s also Local Hero, the whimsical tale of Mac, a hotshot oil company exec from Houston who’s sent to Scotland (what is it about that place?) to entice residents into selling their lovely coastal village. The company wants to clear away the village and build a refinery—but once again, quirky small town magic seduces not only the big city guy but also his boss, charmingly played by Burt Lancaster. (A bit reminiscent of Robbie Collins saving J’Ville from highway promoters in the l960s, perhaps?)

And then there’s It’s A Wonderful Life. Everyone knows the plot: Hard-working George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, has one dream: to leave tiny Bedford Falls and explore the wide world beyond its borders. But time after time, circumstances conspire to keep him there. Eventually—through heavenly intervention, no less—he learns that he’s the heart of Bedford Falls, the man who keeps the town’s moral compass pointing in the right direction. Is it sad that George is stuck there? Well, he’s the “richest man in town” in all the things that make life worth living. How bad can that be?

Groundhog Day, a very different movie from It’s a Wonderful Life, makes a similar point. It finds arrogant jerk Phil Connors (Bill Murray) assigned to cover a story in the quaint town of Punxsutawney, PA. Trapped there for a very long time (decades probably), Phil finally opts to reexamine and improve his life. In the process he makes friends, saves lives, and gets close to Rita, the lovely woman who couldn’t stand him. Perseverance transforms selfish Phil into another George Bailey, rich in all the things that matter and a lot happier than he was when he arrived. Is it any wonder that at the end of the film he tells Rita, “Let’s live here!”

These movies tell stories about fictional towns that pick their residents. We’re lucky because Jacksonville isn’t fictional. It’s a real place that allows us to experience real magic every day.

Thanks for picking us, J’Ville! Happy Holidays, everyone.

Paula Block Erdmann & Terry Erdmann

Paula and Terry each have long impressive-sounding resumes implying that they are battle-scarred veterans of life within the Hollywood studios. They’re now happily relaxed into Jacksonville.

Photo: “J’Ville Autumn” by Paula Block Erdmann

Posted December 4, 2013