I've watched "It's a Wonderful Life" in 3 different decades of life and thought differently about it each time.

In my early years I didn't really understand any of the concepts. Just thought it was funny, "I wish I had a million bucks! Hot dog!"

Was just an old black and white movie my mom liked. She never TALKED with me about it though. Never gave me principles or values as to WHY it's a good movie.

In my twenties I revisited the movie. I thought it was terrible. George is basically being forced into things with no regard for his own wants and needs. He's basically dragged along through life and never says, "screw this town I'm leaving." This was also in the height of my atheist phase.

In my thirties I watched it again and was completely blown away with how different it hits. Now I'm married, and attending church regularly. And I felt it in my soul how crushing it must've felt for George to be trying to hold everything together, and one mistake felt like his entire family that DEPENDS on him is about to be on the street. I couldn't stop the tears as he hugs his son tight knowing he failed them.

It describes the male experience of having a family so freaking well. The enormous pressure, that God built men to be able to handle, that falls upon men as head of the household. We make decisions and take risks for our wives and children, knowing that our sacrifices are needed for them to be happy and grow, and we pay that price gladly. But there are times when it seems like things are getting out of hand. We shield them from the burden of the knowledge that we might be one fuck up away from disaster.

There's no one else that truly understands this EXCEPT other good husbands/fathers. It's a unique burden that we men are meant to carry. But it also gives us the most happiness, knowing that we successfully navigated our family through the dangers of life, and got appreciation from our wives and kids on the other side.

While I'm sure it also shows the female burden, I'm a guy, and don't fully realize the responsibility on the traditional woman/wife shoulders. But it's a great movie and I highly recommend it.