In the 2004 movie Shall We Dance (2004), a movie I admit I have not seen, Beverly (Susan Sarandon) and Devine (Richard Jenkins) are at a bar having a drink. Susan Sarandon nails this speech, which I love:
Beverly: All these promises that we make and we break. Why is it, do you think, that people get married?
Devine: Passion.
Beverly: No.
Devine: It’s interesting because I would have taken you for a romantic. Why then?
Beverly: Because we need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion people on the planet. I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you’re promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things. All of it, all the time, every day. You’re saying your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed because I will be your witness. You can quote me on that if you’d like.
Devine: Sure I will.
What a wonderful description of what marriage should be.
