Floating Leaf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
floatingleaf) wrote2010-05-30 11:55 pm
floatingleaf) wrote2010-05-30 11:55 pm
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So what have I been up to this lovely long weekend? Shopping, mostly. Groceries, toiletries, underwear, sleepwear, shoes... basic stuff, really. I just realized I hadn't actually gone clothes-shopping since 2008 (!). I was so freaked out by the gradual, mysterious decline of my bank account balance that I decided to put ALL unnecessary purchases on hold; but then I think I went a bit too far and ended up wearing stuff that had already started to come apart at the seams. Seriously, I was beginning to look like a hobo.:/ My financial situation is not THAT bad, for heaven's sake. I CAN afford a few pieces of clothing every once in a while, or a new pair of shoes to replace those old black loafers I had bought in Poland about 10 years ago. I kid you not - I still wear them, even though they are terribly scuffed, and the soles are cracking in a few places. The thing is, I LOVED those shoes, and I didn't want to part with them until I found a new pair in a similar style. Which I finally did. Today.:) So the old loafers can be eventually put to rest. After so many years of faithful service, I think I should give them a funeral.:D
Oh, and btw, the "excuse" for most of these shopping trips was trying to find a gift for my dad's upcoming birthday. Needless to say, I didn't find anything that he might possibly want or need - but I found a lot of stuff for myself instead.:) Like those pretty frilly nightgowns, or the fancy bar of organic French soap smelling of verbena. *inhales ecstatically* ;) Not a necessity, I suppose (a plainer, cheaper soap would do) - but a woman NEEDS to indulge sometimes, right? No matter how little money she has... RIGHT?
Also, I have seen some amazing movies lately. I don't feel up to writing extensive reviews, but I just need to mention a few titles briefly before I forget to do it.
1) XXY - the story of a 15-year-old hermaphrodite, struggling with her/his adolescent hormones and gender confusion (as well as the feeling of isolation that comes with keeping such an unusual secret). Despite being regarded by her parents and friends as a girl, the kid finally decides he might actually, emotionally, be a boy - and a gay one at that. Compelling and full of surprises. Made in 2007 in Argentina. The main part is brilliantly played by Ines Efron.
2) Live and Become - a Christian boy from an Ethiopian refugee camp is sent by his mother to accompany a Jewish woman, whose real son had died, to Israel, where the Ethiopian Jews are being evacuated. The boy doesn't speak Hebrew or understand Jewish culture - and his Jewish 'mother' dies soon after arriving in Israel. The culture shock and alienation transforms the bewildered 9-year-old into a classic "problem kid", withdrawn and violent. He is finally adopted by a nice couple with two kids - who, of course, have no idea that he's not really Jewish (all the kid knows is that he can't tell anyone, or they'll send him back to Ethiopia). Or that his real mother is still alive back in Africa. So the boy grows up Jewish, then falls in love with a girl whose orthodox family rejects him because he's black. In the meantime, he never stops trying to secretly get in touch with his mother. Finally he goes to Paris to study medicine, joins Doctors Without Borders and returns to Ethiopia. So, the role is actually played by three different actors - child, adolescent and adult. All three are amazing. And so are others - notably, Yael Abecassis who plays his adoptive Jewish mother. A heartbreakingly beautiful story throughout, with haunting music and an impressive cast of believable characters. Filmed in 2005.
3) Before the Rain - a Macedonian photographer, living in London, tries to make amends for the death he inadvertently caused while covering the war in Bosnia. Meanwhile, in his native village in Macedonia, there is escalating hostility between Christian and Muslim (Albanian) families. An Albanian girl, accused of killing a Macedonian, seeks refuge in a monastery, where she is protected by a young monk who had taken a vow of silence. The photographer is torn between his troubled homeland and the married British woman he loves. The absurdity of violence and pointless revenge escalates into a terrifying mayhem that defies all understanding. The film is, however, more than just a statement on the wrongness of war. It goes deeper than that. It is profoundly symbolic, carefully structured and so beautifully shot it leaves you gasping. The violence is deliberate and disturbing, like in Cronenberg's films - it makes you FEEL how utterly terrible and unjustifiable it is. The rugged, idyllic beauty of Balkan landscapes stands in stark contrast to the unfolding tragedy. The music is stunning too - I would love to get the soundtrack, if I can ever find it. The film was made in 1994, and I think I saw it on TV in Poland many years ago - but I didn't remember much of it. Now it's firmly stuck in my head, though, never to be forgotten again.
Btw, The Road DVD doesn't have all that much extra material on it. The Making Of featurette is very short, and there are a few deleted scenes (even shorter). As well as director's commentary, which I haven't listened to yet (might do that tomorrow). Haven't had the guts to rewatch the film itself yet, either - might be easier with commentary, though. I need to know more about the sacrifices Viggo made for the integrity of artistic vision. That's a topic I can never possibly get bored with... LOL.
Oh, and btw, the "excuse" for most of these shopping trips was trying to find a gift for my dad's upcoming birthday. Needless to say, I didn't find anything that he might possibly want or need - but I found a lot of stuff for myself instead.:) Like those pretty frilly nightgowns, or the fancy bar of organic French soap smelling of verbena. *inhales ecstatically* ;) Not a necessity, I suppose (a plainer, cheaper soap would do) - but a woman NEEDS to indulge sometimes, right? No matter how little money she has... RIGHT?
Also, I have seen some amazing movies lately. I don't feel up to writing extensive reviews, but I just need to mention a few titles briefly before I forget to do it.
1) XXY - the story of a 15-year-old hermaphrodite, struggling with her/his adolescent hormones and gender confusion (as well as the feeling of isolation that comes with keeping such an unusual secret). Despite being regarded by her parents and friends as a girl, the kid finally decides he might actually, emotionally, be a boy - and a gay one at that. Compelling and full of surprises. Made in 2007 in Argentina. The main part is brilliantly played by Ines Efron.
2) Live and Become - a Christian boy from an Ethiopian refugee camp is sent by his mother to accompany a Jewish woman, whose real son had died, to Israel, where the Ethiopian Jews are being evacuated. The boy doesn't speak Hebrew or understand Jewish culture - and his Jewish 'mother' dies soon after arriving in Israel. The culture shock and alienation transforms the bewildered 9-year-old into a classic "problem kid", withdrawn and violent. He is finally adopted by a nice couple with two kids - who, of course, have no idea that he's not really Jewish (all the kid knows is that he can't tell anyone, or they'll send him back to Ethiopia). Or that his real mother is still alive back in Africa. So the boy grows up Jewish, then falls in love with a girl whose orthodox family rejects him because he's black. In the meantime, he never stops trying to secretly get in touch with his mother. Finally he goes to Paris to study medicine, joins Doctors Without Borders and returns to Ethiopia. So, the role is actually played by three different actors - child, adolescent and adult. All three are amazing. And so are others - notably, Yael Abecassis who plays his adoptive Jewish mother. A heartbreakingly beautiful story throughout, with haunting music and an impressive cast of believable characters. Filmed in 2005.
3) Before the Rain - a Macedonian photographer, living in London, tries to make amends for the death he inadvertently caused while covering the war in Bosnia. Meanwhile, in his native village in Macedonia, there is escalating hostility between Christian and Muslim (Albanian) families. An Albanian girl, accused of killing a Macedonian, seeks refuge in a monastery, where she is protected by a young monk who had taken a vow of silence. The photographer is torn between his troubled homeland and the married British woman he loves. The absurdity of violence and pointless revenge escalates into a terrifying mayhem that defies all understanding. The film is, however, more than just a statement on the wrongness of war. It goes deeper than that. It is profoundly symbolic, carefully structured and so beautifully shot it leaves you gasping. The violence is deliberate and disturbing, like in Cronenberg's films - it makes you FEEL how utterly terrible and unjustifiable it is. The rugged, idyllic beauty of Balkan landscapes stands in stark contrast to the unfolding tragedy. The music is stunning too - I would love to get the soundtrack, if I can ever find it. The film was made in 1994, and I think I saw it on TV in Poland many years ago - but I didn't remember much of it. Now it's firmly stuck in my head, though, never to be forgotten again.
Btw, The Road DVD doesn't have all that much extra material on it. The Making Of featurette is very short, and there are a few deleted scenes (even shorter). As well as director's commentary, which I haven't listened to yet (might do that tomorrow). Haven't had the guts to rewatch the film itself yet, either - might be easier with commentary, though. I need to know more about the sacrifices Viggo made for the integrity of artistic vision. That's a topic I can never possibly get bored with... LOL.
no subject
Omg, no clothes-shopping since 2008! Wow!!
Awww.. and the Faithful Loafers - I vote for a sparkly funeral!! *places hand over heart*
As always, I love your movie-recs; you have a taste in films much to my like and these all seem very intrigueing!
*cough* The Road has made its way into my home on Blu-ray. My father surprise!bought it but I stubbornly refused to watch it; I´m walking circles around it still, though I WILL come to it in time - just need to prepare myself muchly before.. *meh*
SMOOCHINGZ
no subject
So true... lol.
Omg, no clothes-shopping since 2008! Wow!!
I know. I can hardly believe it myself. It was a test of sorts - trying to overcome the addiction of mindless consumerism in the face of serious financial shortage. I had to rethink priorities. "Shopping as bad-mood-therapy" simply wasn't on the list anymore.:/
The Road has made its way into my home on Blu-ray.
I can't watch Blu-ray. My laptop doesn't have the capacity. So I haven't been able to judge the difference. Is it really all that much better than regular DVD quality, or is it just a way to make people spend more money?...;)
no subject
You are a very interesting lady. But I´m sure you know that already.
Blu-ray/dvd - honestly I have no idea.. I mean, I suppose it has something to do with the quality - but to me I could have watched it on an old VHS and felt the same way..
I really don´t think it is that much of a difference!
Blu-ray seems like something completely unnecessary to invest in anyway. I´ll stick to DVD´s myself. In the future, when there´re 3D-movies, I´m fairly sure there is a difference worth to be mentioned. But Blu-ray.. nah.
*prepares to be whacked by father*
no subject
So I've been told (and it didn't always sound like a compliment, I might add ;). But I don't have a problem with being reminded of it every once in a while.:P
I could have watched it on an old VHS and felt the same way..
Hah!... Welcome to the club, dear. It's the content, not the form of delivery, that matters when it comes to art. Some of my favorite music, for example, is still on cassette tapes, which are already becoming obsolete - I don't think they even sell tape-players anymore, so once mine breaks down, I will probably have to "digitize" whatever's available... or lose it forever. But until then...
no subject
It's the content, not the form of delivery, that matters when it comes to art.
*orgasms from total Sentence!LOVE*
Oh yesss, the cassette tapes.. so much nostalgia hiding in them! Not even the same litening to something that was once on a raspy-sounding tape. Hmm..I wonder where all of mine are - I´ve been moving far too many times, but I know I´ll get overwhelmed when I find them sometime in the future.
I hhave a tape-player (fairly modern one) that haven´t been used in ages. You are safe dear =)
no subject
See, I am probably the most sentimental person you will ever meet.;)
You are safe dear =)
That's good to know. *clings to you, your tape player and all the memories we can share or create together* <333
no subject
You must have been Greek in another life.
See, I am probably the most sentimental person you will ever meet
Nothing wrong with being sentimental, dear. All we have in the end are memories to cling to and I think it´s lovely that Life contains those things to look back on and refer to - they shape us into unique beings, make us who we are.
*clings to you, your tape player and all the memories we can share or create together*
Awwwww.... *dusts it off, recovers your lost tapes and morphs into Zorba*
no subject
Yes, and I lived on Lesbos.:P
recovers your lost tapes and morphs into Zorba
You don't need to morph into anyone, darling. Just be your own wonderful self. *Greek-dances with you into the sunset*
no subject
Of course, that´s where the wild things grow.
*tries figuring out the wonderful self & simply loves you for even trying*
*sunset!sparkles*