BY Makoto HASE

When things go too wrong we get tired of ourselves and want throw out everything. I found the heroine from the movie and novel "Bridget Jones's Diary" always felt this way and she finally confirmed it with her New Yearﾕs resolution, "I decided to take control of my life and start a diary."

Bridget lives in London and is a single woman in her thirtyﾕs. ﾒ Bridget Jonesﾕs Diaryﾓ which is written in diary form of Bridgetﾕs everyday life, was serialized in the British newspaper ﾒThe Independentﾓ as a column from January to December 1995. The author is journalist Helen Fielding. She was in her thirtyﾕs in those days, just like the character of Bridget. This column got a great response, and it was published the next year as a novel. This novel became a best seller because it is said that the number of women who are in their twenties or thirties read this novel in the London underground while they went to their offices.

Moreover, the vogue phrase, ﾒVery Bridget Jonesyﾓ appeared and is used when we unconsciously burst out laughing at mistakes like the stupid heroine, Bridget. Later, this novel was translated into 23 languages in the world. The Bridget Jones character struck a chord with over five million women. The film version came to Japan this year.

American actress Lenee Zellweger acted the part of this lovely character. At first, British people reacted against an American actress playing the part. But after the premiere in Britain, a round of applause went up from audiences of various ages in London. Who would act the part of Bridget Jones became a big subject in Britain because she was already a lovable character for the British people.

She lives alone in flat (apartment) in the metropolis, has a job, is a singleton (a single living by myself honorably) and has congenial friends. Everyone would admire you if you were placed in that situation. But in Bridgetﾕs case, she worries about being a singleton. Bridget always made many embarrassing mistakes. As a result, she eats and drinks in desperation. I guess Bridget struck a chord with women who have those same feelings.

The home party scenes often appeared in both the movie and the novel. The first scene was of a party at Bridgetﾕs parentsﾕ house; it showed how terrible the New Yearﾕs beginning was for Bridget. In Britain, people often entertain their friends and acquaintances. There are many different kinds of reasons for parties such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries or childﾕs graduation, as well as having a party on weekends without any reasons. It is common for people to turn up for the party as a couple when the party is more formal. So for this reason, if you are single like Bridget, you often feel small at the party.

In the original novel, the story begins with Bridgetﾕs family and friends. But in the movie it picks up mostly on Bridgetﾕs own romance and happenings. I recommend that first you watch the movie and laugh, then read the novel and laugh out loud.

She goofs repeatedly, and she eats and drinks in desperation. When morning comes she regrets it, but renews her efforts again. This pattern repeats itself many times. In Bridgetﾕs case, even if her efforts donﾕt persist in her efforts for a long time, she never gives up on challenging herself. The reason why Bridget struck a chord with many women is that she was a friendly character for women and she never put herself down. Bridget Jones is the energetic friend we can carry on our shoulders into the future. If you believe in yourself, you will surely be happy. I think she shows us that the most important things for us are often the things we tend to forget easily.