Martha Brooks 'Plastic Bag'

Young naive love is pure. The vulnerability that comes with it is an awakening when it finally ends. “Paradise Cafe” written by Martha Brooks, is a coming of age short story about Lulie, a fifteen year old girl who deals with the challenges of first love. While “Plastic Bag”, a short film by American director Ramin Bahran, follows the life of a plastic bag and what happens after his “maker” deems him useless. Both stories question the problems and feelings we have growing up, using the perspective of two young and naive teenagers and presenting with it the struggles that come with first love.

Naivety is a gift most children possess. However, it is only through being sheltered, that it can last. Lulie from Paradise Cafe is a perfect example

of this. The naivety she carries blocks her view of the problems the people around her have. She doesn’t notice when Graham forgoes eating so he can pay for her food. Nor does she notice how her best friend is embarrassed by her family's lack of money. Her naivety ultimately led to the end of her first love, since she never questioned Graham’s actions and never wondered for the reason behind them. On the other hand, the Plastic Bag, maintained his naivety throughout his relationship with his maker. He assumed they would stay together forever and once he was introduced to her dog or the “beast” did he question his worth. But it wasn’t until he fell in love and realized he didn’t need his maker anymore “I didn’t need a maker anymore I only needed her”, that he realized his worth.  

Furthermore, the plastic bag’s love for the other plastic bag awakened him from his quest to return to his maker. He had found a new purpose. Unfortunately, it only lasted a short while before “the winds drifted us apart and I was alone again.” But that love, however short, made him start to question who he was, where he was going and what his new purpose would be. In contrast, Lulie didn’t awaken until after her and Graham had broken up. Even then, she still held the hope that she would see him again, “when I casually mentioned that we hadn’t seen Graham there. Lulie did, however, begin to realize the harsh truths of life that your first love can open your eyes to.

Both Lulie and the plastic bag experienced feelings of vulnerability and loneliness after their love had ended. Lulie became quiet and sombre, never questioning the reasoning behind Grahams betrayal but rather easily accepting it. She never shed any tears, choosing instead to clean the ring he had given her and sending it back. Even after she had agreed to go out with Graham's best friend and he kissed her, she barely had a reaction, keeping her eyes open the whole time. The plastic bag, as said prior, started to question his role in the world. He was lonely after his love had blown away, but unlike Lulie, he became stronger from it. He found others like him and although he never discovered his final purpose, he found a home he was happy in.

In the end, both stories show the struggles of first love. How naive we can be when blinded by those we trust. The awakening that happens when our love ends and the vulnerability that comes with it. Lulie became a shell, not truly understanding the reason for her love to be over and the plastic bag become stronger, although he never found his true purpose. Both struggled with their feelings and the pain of losing our first love can be unbearable, but it's something they will never forget.