Harold and Maude

Appeals to viewers who enjoy eccentric character studies that turn morbid humor into a life-affirming romance about rejecting convention.

Tone

darkly comic, whimsical, bittersweet

Payoff

amusement, inspiration

Pacing

steady

Intensity

moderate

Structure

linear

Themes

mortality, joie de vivre, unconventional love, family expectations, independence

Setting

early 1970s, affluent suburban homes, cemeteries and open roads