Daily life isn't like life in the movies. Books and plays are also full of characters who don't do, or say, what you or I would do or say. Nor is any of this due to the writer's lack of realism. Even the most gritty, down-to-earth productions need an element of the artificial... else they would be too tedious to watch.  You know. But in  life, are we not comparing an acceptable, if imperfect, situation to an ideal fantasy?  
WhyBefore the dawn? The darkest hour. Before the awe-inspiring silence? The overwhelming crescendo. Before the dive, the climb. Before the period of prosperity? The era of struggle and sacrifice. Once we pass that point, something will turn around in  world. What's been bad will start to get good. And what's already good will get better.
  People  don't listen to each other? Usually, the reason is because they fear that if they pay close attention, they will end up hearing something that upsets them. Sometimes, we feel so sure that someone is going to say something harsh to us that we start to hear that before they have even said anything. They just open their mouth and we imagine what is going to come next. Then they do the same to us in return. Real communication requires listening - and being seen to listen. That could change it all.