werckmeister harmonies

Forewarning: This may not be interesting to any of you. I may simply be talking to myself. If you're not really into film, you might want to stop here as this may bore you. However, if you like to hear about/talk about/read about amazing, artistically done films, keep reading...




Last week, I watched a movie that I think forever changed my view of foreign movies. Up until now, I haven't had much experience with foreign films. Oh, I had seen "Life is Beautiful," and "Run Lola Run" and "The Princess and the Warrior" and even the foreign animated feature "Triplets of Belleville." The last foreign film I saw was "God Is Great, And I Am Not." The movie should have been titled, "Film Is Great. This One's Not." It was a terrible movie, hence the bad taste left in my mouth.

This semester, I am in an Eastern European Film class. I was incredibly nervous about taking this class as I know absolutely nothing about eastern Europe, but I figured it'd be interesting none the less. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the first couple of films we watched. "Gorilla Bathes at Noon" was a bizarre, yet somehow intriguing film. Not really the best quality - a little cheesy - but amusing none the less. I really enjoyed "Goodbye Lenin" which inspired me to rent a movie with the same lead male actor - Daniel Bruhl - entitled "The Educkators". Great flick. We then watched a film that was part of a trilogy entitled "Three Colors." We watched "White." Not a ton to say about it - I wasn't necessarily impressed. Then we watched two Jan Svankmejer films, who relies heavily on stop animation... I'm not going to waste time writing about them. I hated them.

Then came Werckmeister Harmonies.

This Hungarian film by director Bela Tarr made absolutely no sense to me at first, and yet it had this magnetic force I couldn't resist. I absolutely loved it, though I couldn't explain the movie to save my life. There was something about this film that made me so emotionally moved that I wasn't even able to process it fully for a couple days. The cinematography is absolutely stunning. If any of you have seen Gus Van Sant's "Elephant," know that that movie had to have been based on Bela Tarr's work. He sets up these shots that last forever. The first scene - possibly the movie's most magnificent - is 11 minutes long, I believe. One cut. Amazing. The film is black and white, which most of the time is very dark and yet displays extremely high contrast. The score is by composer Mihaly Vig, and is so completely haunting and beautiful at the same time. As we rewatched specific scenes today, shivers ran down my spine.

What is the movie about? I couldn't tell you... It's pretty abstract. It's about human cycles of construction and destruction. It's about order vs. chaos. It's about light vs. darkness. Yet, it's much more than a simple "this vs. that." The one thing I can say... It captivated me.

Here are what other people have said about the film.

"The pacing is slow, but the film is entrancing and earns a permanent place in the viewer's mind." - Andy Klein, NEW TIMES

"The kind of picture that slowly grows with such emotion and transcendence that its ultimate effect is shocking." - Kim Morgan, OREGONIAN

"Perhaps Tarr's greatest gift is his merciless sense of cinematic economy and an ambiguity that springs not from some intellectual conceit but from the sheer honesty of his gaze." - Josef Braun, VUE WEEKLY (EDMONTON, CANADA)

The film was released on DVD in the US today. I'm hoping to be able to pick up a copy of it, and study it more closely. If you have any interest in film, or want to dive more deeply into the realm of foreign films, this is a must see. It is so artistically done, and provides many questions with few answers - but one's well worth talking about. This movie is mysteriously moving and well worth the watch.

(Quotes taken from Rotten Tomatoes)

map

I just finished watching Elizabethtown again. I love that movie. I know, some of you probably didn't. But I did. It's slowly becoming one of my favorite movies for many reasons. And, as usual, it got me thinking...

As I've mentioned numerous times before, I absolutely adore road trips. Love them with everything there is within me. There's something so amazing about seeing a place you've never been before, a place people call home and yet, to me, feels so strange and unfamiliar. A place filled with history, with stories, with things just waiting to be discovered. And there's something about being on the open road - something so liberating, creating a sense that anything is possible.

Watching Elizabethtown tonight made me want to take a road trip again. But you know what it made me want to do even more? For those of you who have seen the movie, I want to make a map. Whether it be for me or for someone else, I love the map that "Claire" makes in the movie. I especially love how she makes it for "Drew." What an amazing thing to share with someone. I know it's a movie, and it's not real... But to make that sort of a "gift" for someone, or to receive that gift... THe thought of that makes my heart happy.

Another thing a lot of you may know about me is my deeply rooted love for music, and my disappointment that real life doesn't have a soundtrack. However, her "map" is about as close as it gets. In the past, I have made playlists based on the music I listened to on a road trip (mostly based upon either what was popular at the time, or popular music of the specific location), but I've never made an "intentional" road trip playlist, where each individual song had a very important reason for making the list. For example, my LA playlist has a lot of The Clash on it because one of the popular stations in LA plays a ton of The Clash, and I heard probably 3 different songs quite frequently on the radio. However, "London Calling," "Clampdown," and "Rock the Casbah," don't necessarily hold a particular meaning for me.

Anyway, I think her map idea is amazing. It includes pieces of her, pieces of US History, pieces of silliness, pieces of memory, and pieces of life. The pictures, the music, the drawings, the journaling - so great. I would love to make a "map" like that. Maybe someday, I will.

not interested

The UW Milwaukee Union has become my own mid-day place of refuge. The chalk walls, plastic tables, and muted tile floors don’t really offer what I would consider paradise, but during a day filled with fluorescent lights and cinder block walls, the hang-out hub with the hustle and bustle of hungry students, sunlight shining in through large picture windows, and room to spread out is warmly welcomed. And this is the place I seek during my forty-five minute relief period – otherwise known as lunchtime. I have to say that those forty-five minutes are probably the most protected minutes of my day. I typically nab a table off to the side or tucked away in the corner, take some time to myself, plug in the headphones, eat my lunch and gear up for the second part of my day. This past Thursday, however, provided a different set of circumstances.

As usual, I was sitting at a table enjoying some Blue Bunny yogurt and reading Genesis for my Hebrew Lit class, when I saw a woman enter the Union. I saw her approach a student about fifteen feet in front of me. Due to my coveted “alone-study-lunch” time, as well as a slight fear of strange interaction, I slid my headphones on, hoping to avoid an approach. The woman wandered over to my table completely oblivious to the fact that I had headphones on and was “reading,” and began talking to me. She waited a moment for me to take off my headphones, and then continued with her speech. She held out something for me to read, but due to the awkward angle she had positioned, I couldn’t read what it said. She also had very quiet and muffled speech, and I could only make out every other word. I had no idea what she was trying to convey. Slightly embarrassed by my lack of listening skills and the fact that I was absolutely clueless as to what she was telling me, my brain refused asking her to repeat what she said, fearing it might frustrate her, but more so, embarrass me. Therefore, I simply said, “I’m not interested.”

“I’m not interested.” Probably the worst three words I could have uttered. Even if she was selling something – which I’m sure she wasn’t – I’m not sure why my brain decided those three words would create the best response. No matter what her cause, or what she was hoping for, I can’t believe I responded to her with such a reckless remark. How hurtful to say “I’m not interested” in someone – no matter what it is they wanted me to be interested in.

Imagine if Jesus had said to those who sought healing, “I’m not interested” or when asked the greatest commandment, he’d said “I’m not interested” or to any interaction for that matter. What if when Christ had learned what God’s plan for him was, he’d simply said, “I’m not interested.”

I am in no way comparing myself to what Christ did on the cross, but I was designed to be his image bearer. The only thing I reflected on that day was a cowardly girl who was too scared to simply say, “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. Would you mind telling me again?” I know to some extent, there is a line between naivety and being smart about situations. I cannot say “I’m interested” in everyone and everything. But I felt as if I brushed off God’s creation, that I ignored a fellow neighbor – the very neighbor Christ has shown me how to love.

I wish I had a happy ending to my story. I wish I could say I rectified the situation, sought out the woman, and had hours of amazing conversation with her, but that didn’t happen. I don’t have that shiny red bow to put on top of my story. I packed up my books, finished my lunch, tucked my iPod back in my bag, and headed to film class. However, those three words – “I’m not interested” – stuck with me the rest of the day. It made me realize that I treated her like a sales pitch, not a sister. It challenged my love level – how much do I really love people? How do I express that? Do I express something else?

I can’t take it back. And I’m sure it had a more profound effect on me that day than it did the woman I interacted with. I’m sure she’s probably completely forgotten our interaction by now. Maybe not. But I had the opportunity to create a lasting impression – an interaction that could have stuck out amidst all the other negative ones. I can only pray that I will remember that woman and our interaction, and when presented with another situation, I can genuinely say “Yes, I’m interested,” giving them the love and attention they deserve…


(photo found here)

anonymous

I've been thinking a lot more about the whole "anonymous" trend that seems to be all over the blogosphere. I read my fair share of blogs on a daily basis, and obviously have a blog of my own. And I've noticed that "anonymous" seems to pop up everywhere. Here are a few observations I've made about "anonymous."

1.) What they have to say never seems to be neutral - there's always a twinge of sarcasm, flirtation, bitterness, silliness, or they just out right take pot shots. I rarely read a post by "anonymous" that simply says, "Well put." or "I'm not sure I understand." "I agree." or "I disagree". Usually, what they have to say is loaded with something other than what your average joe has to say.

2.) They have a lot of free time. I'd be curious to find this out, but sometimes I will read actual CONVERSATIONS between "anonymous". Are they one in the same, answering their own questions? (See my "Words" post comments) Probably not, but wow, there's a lot of them.

3.) They want something. A reaction. An apology. An explanation. A blog entry that is molded to their every interest. Typically, their comments invoke something. Granted, most "comments," anonymous or not, invoke something. Just seems that most of the "anonymous" comments are more than just conversational.

I have a few more thoughts on "anonymous", but I think that's enough for now because I wanted to write a couple thoughts on why I think people might post "anonymously".

1.) One reason, which I think may actually be pretty valid, is that your name gets attached to what you've said. I remember once being with a friend, and we decided to Google our names to see what different things came up, and who else we shared a name with. I found a comment I had left on a band's website a while ago (Born On Sunset - small band from Cali). Granted, I didn't leave anything I regret, I just found it interesting. And I've heard that a new trend within the business world is that sometimes after an interview, they will Google a candidate's name to see what they find... So part of me wonders if people just don't want to responsibility of standing behind what they write because of what sorts of consequences could come from it.

2.) Freedom. If the scriber's name is not attached to the comment, they won't be held to it - that my friends, provides a tremendous amount of freedom. They can say whatever their little heart desires, and no one will come knocking on their door.

3.) They're lazy. It takes all of 10 seconds to change the little circle from "anonymous" to be able to type in one's name. That's all. Not that hard. No account to sign up for (like blogger used to have). It's pretty simple. Therefore, I'd like to think it's a little bit of laziness.

4.) They have split personalities, and can't commit to one.

5.) The cling tightly to their mysterious personnae and refuse to ever give up their identity because being anything less than mysterious is simply out of the question.

6.) Their a CIA agent. Enough said.

Those are just a few of my thoughts on the whole "anonymous" trend. Where would be without "annonymous?" My guess is we'd have a world full of alter-egos if the "anonymous" button was every taken away.

Anybody else have any thoughts on "anonymous"?

driving

Alright folks... I've been MIA for a while...
No good excuses. Just busy.

However, I wanted to write about being the queen of driving. I will write something deeper (well, hopefully) within the next day or two... But for now, you get to hear my story about feeling like the queen of driving.

Let me preface this by saying that I've done a lot of driving in my 25 years of existence. Granted, my actual "driving" years are narrowed to roughly 10 years, yet I'd say I've gone lots of places during that span. I drove out to California one summer. Last fall I drove out to Massachusettes, then down to DC. Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Indianna... These are all states I've driven to. So why did I feel like the queen of driving today? Why when compared to California where I drove a total of 31 hours, does 7 hours in a car feel like so much more? Here's my story...

Every Friday, I commute down south to Illinois to work in the Sonlife Ministry offices in Elburn. It's a decent hike - 2.5 hours. I leave the house at 7:30 in order to get to work by 10. So, as usual, I left the house this morning and drove 2.5 hours to work. After work, I drove northeast to Waukegan to see my cousin's school fundraiser variety show. Mapquest told me it was an hour and a half. Chicago traffic and no "Milwaukee Avenue from the northbound direction" told me two and a half. After the show, I couldn't find a "southbound" exit for Chicago. Someone needs to talk to the tollway creator, and ask why there are places where only one direction ramp exists. Lame. After thinking I'd be smart and learn to get to the freeway a different way, and driving around for a half an hour, I figured I'd just hop on the northbound ramp, get off, and hop back on the southbound ramp. An hour and fifteen minutes later, I was back in Elburn.

The reason why I find this so strange is I spent nearly 7 hours in the car, and didn't get much further than 95 miles away from home. Tomorrow will be interesting as well. Drive from Elburn to Wheaton for breakfast, Wheaton to Schaumburg for lunch, Schaumburg to West Dundee for afternoon coffee with another friend, West Dundee to Elgin to babysit the most awesome Angelo Novelli, and Elgin back to Elburn to crash! Sorry for those of you who aren't familiar with Illinois - I'm sure I just bored you with a whole bunch of random places. Oh and then Sunday, dinner with a friend in Schaumburg again. CRAZINESS! Seriously, despite the fact that I've driven all the way across the country, today felt like an unbelievable amount of driving, without really getting anywhere.

But I had a blast, and am stoked about tomorrow, so it's totally worth it... I'm just pooped. So with it being 12:36 now, I'm going to sleep.

I'll post something more worth reading tomorrow... Well, at least more interesting than this one.

(photo found here)