Billy Joel’s “Vienna” and My Dinner with Andre (1981 Film)

The morning after a funeral, I was having breakfast with my husband at a local cafe when Billy Joel’s “Vienna” started to play. I did not immediately recognize the artist, but, as great tunes go, the song’s musicality captured my attention. I paused to listen. Then, the following lyrics jumped into my ears—

But you know
When the truth is told
That you can get what you want
Or you can just get old
You’re gonna
Kick off
Before you even get halfway through

I can’t claim to have been close with the individual whose service I attended, but the news of their passing hit me hard. Not even 50. We had had lunch together just a couple days before.

That evening, I spoke to my husband about how I couldn’t stop thinking about “that Billy Joel song we heard in the morning.” He understood. We proceeded to talk some about the transitory nature of life, how we love each other dearly, who cares if you get into that PhD program or I get that promotion, wherever we are in life, we. are. And that’s what really matters, isn’t it?


Feeling restless, I suggested watching a movie. How about My Dinner with Andre?

So we sat up in bed, and for the first time in many months, we spent time enjoying a movie together. And that movie, My Dinner with Andre, was a whole experience. As a viewer you are basically given a seat at the restaurant listening in on a 2-hour dinner conversation between two old friends who haven’t seen each other in years.

There is so much more I could say about the movie (and I certainly did, to my husband, in our post-movie discussion that went on for what felt like a third hour at the dining table) but my final takeaway was simply this:

“If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.”