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Friday, March 07, 2003 Have been lost in my thoughts today, reflecting on the state of my little life and all that. Something which insists on being done now and then. Coincidentally, went and saw The Hours yesterday afternoon. A light comedy about life, death, desperation, holding on, letting go, allowing joy into one's experience, and big moments in the guise of the little moments that compose the passing days. I have to confess I'm a teeny bit surprised to see the recognition it's getting -– good for us movie-going humans. Two things: 1) On the way to the film, I passed a clown trudging in the other direction. Bright lime-green wig, black tail-coat, classic baggy Harlequin pants (material printed in a design of many-colored diamond shapes). No clown shoes, I'm sorry to say. Just black, sensible jobbies. He checked his watch as he walked by, frowning, shoulders drooping, mouth compressed so that his red lips protruded tightly. Not a happy clown. 2) The cavalcade of advertisements/previews before the film reminded me of the unbelievably lengthy pre-film ad-fest I saw at two movie theaters in Rome -- a good (or bad) 20 minutes of ads/trailers, an outrageous example of audience abuse. Here in Madrid it tends to be more like 10 minutes. Less abusive, plus I get some language practice out of it. There are times, though, when I feel like Malcolm MacDowell in A Clockwork Orange, mid-aversion-conditioning. What the various advertisers don't seem to get is that I'm being conditioned to avoid purchasing anything they advertise (given that I've handed over a few euros to see a film only to myself being subjected to ten minutes of ads). Blah blah blah. I am blessed with a life that currently affords me the leeway to spend an occasional day reflecting on my existence, go sit at an outdoor café for a while, soak up some sun as I think, maybe write for a bit, maybe take in a movie for some relief/distraction, then vent about the ads if I feel like it. I am extremely grateful, extremely fortunate, and take none of it for granted. So. To wrap this up with a heartfelt nonsequitor: My favorite part of the end-credits for Punch-Drunk Love: "Score Recorded at 2 Beers + Everyone Sings" rws 1:24 PM [+] |