Watching movies with family: Then and now

When we think back on growing up, one cherished memory stands out above all others: the simple yet profound pleasure of enjoying movies and television shows as a family. We cannot forget when we used to wait for Friday and watch movies in the afternoon. Those evenings spent jammed around the television, sharing laughter, tears, and amazing memories remain imprinted in our minds. One such cherished tradition was watching movies together as a family. Over the years, this simple yet heartwarming activity has evolved significantly.

Friday movie afternoons used to be highly anticipated events. Families huddled around the television, adjusting the antenna for the best reception. Sometimes, we watched movies by renting a CD or DVD from the store. The selection process for the movie was an adventure in itself. Selecting a movie was a collective decision. Family members would argue and discuss the alternatives, often devoting more time to picking than watching.

In the past, movies were crafted with a strong emphasis on family drama. They were designed to appeal to a broad audience, from young children to adults. They were filled with emotion. People used to cry together with heartfelt emotion or laugh together with delight. These movies were educational and entertaining because they promoted moral principles, love, and friendship. Family get-togethers in front of the television would be comfortable because the programming would be appropriate for all age groups.

Md. Altaf Hossain, a former banker who worked at Karmashangsthan Bank, shared his memories with this writer. He said, "Back in the '90s and early 2000s, we used to watch TV as a family together. BTV was the only option we had. So everyone in the family used to watch TV together. TV shows like 'Ittadi' were our all-time favourites. But now we have the world at our fingertips. Everything is easily available. We don't watch TV together any more. Sometimes I miss those days."

In the era before on-demand streaming, there was a certain excitement to waiting for the TV advertisements to stop and the movie to begin. The whole family gathers around the television on Friday afternoon. Excitement and last-minute guessing about what movie would be broadcasted were fun.

Nowadays, the TV-watching experience has gotten incredibly easy. Digital streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ have replaced traditional media. Families can access a vast collection of films and TV series with a few taps on a smartphone, clicks on a smart TV remote, or on laptops. Every streaming platform uses algorithms that offer personalised recommendations according to the audience's choice. So it makes it easy for the viewer to choose a movie. There is no need to wait for a specific time slot to watch your favourite show. You can watch anything at any time.

The selection of movies in the past was limited to what was available at the rental store or what was airing on TV. But now, modern television and online streaming services expose families to shows from all around the world. The enormous amount of content available might lead to separation. Family members' desires and interests could vary, making it difficult to pick a program that everyone will love. The shared experience of watching a single show with the family has grown less common.

Safin Sadat, a student in class 10 at Scholars' School and College, Dhaka, shared his experience of watching TV with his family. He said, "Watching TV with family nowadays is rare. We rarely get the time to watch any shows together. Personally, I like to play video games or watch my favourite movie or YouTube video whenever I am free. Unfortunately, outdoor opportunities are limited these days, so online video streaming or video games are my go-to free-time activities."

Nowadays, screen time maintenance has become a huge challenge, especially for children. Kids spend a lot of time on mobile phones or laptops. YouTube and other streaming sites provide so many eye-catching videos and movies that it becomes difficult for parents to maintain their kids' screen time. Every type of content is now available on the internet. Appropriate and inappropriate, both types of content are easily available now. It's hard for parents to always ensure parental control on every website. In the past, families would gather around the television or go to the movies, knowing that the content would suit audiences of all ages. Family-friendly movies and shows make the family bond stronger. But the tradition of watching television together and making core memories has diminished.

In this modern world, everything is changing at a great speed. People are busy. They rarely have time to match their time with everyone else in the family and watch TV together. Maybe the '90s kids are the last generation to experience that family tradition and enjoy quality time with their families.

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