AMARCORD at the Paramount/Frank's

I know why Fellini took four Academy Awards for best foreign film after seeing AMARCORD (I Remember) today with Abe.  His view of family, school, friends, townspeople, teachers is presented without protective filters and they are  real, funny (sometimes hysterical) and so personal.  He doesn't hide that his parents fought at the dinner table each night, that his grandpa farted, that his self-centered gigolo uncle could continue eating while holding his plate regardless of any catastrophe.  His adolescent friends are quirky, hipster and goonieish, and the sexy women in his town are presented like he remembers...big boobs, big tushes, very flirtatious.  The actress who plays the town prostitute/crazy is brilliant in her performance.  I just loved this film.

Took Abe to Frank's afterwards on 4th and Colorado.   That big ol warehouse reminds me of our loft on 12th St.  Good and cheap food.  Great drinks served in jam jars.  Great service too.

MAO'S LAST DANCER

We saw this at home on dvd this evening.  A remarkable true story based on the autobiography of Li Cunxin, a world famous Chinese dancer who defected from China in the 1970's.  His story of sacrifice, determination, perseverance and his mother's willingness  to let him go to find a better life for himself is one that I always find appealing.  Shot in China and Houston, with Chinese and Texans facing off at the embassy regarding Li's deportation, all made this film  personal and spell binding.  While the acting isn't perfect the dancing sure is!  We both loved it and cried when Li's parents are brought to the U.S. to see their son dance.

Earlier in the day I auditioned and was called back in to read again by The Trinity Street Players for a role in THREE VIEWINGS.  I did not get cast (phooey) but was very pleased to learn of this community theater so close to home.  Will keep trying.

Dinner was at the SNACK BAR at So Congress.  Disappointing.  Otherwise, a full day filled with the good life. 

Students of the World

For two summers Elizabeth traveled as a UT student with a group of UT students to document global issues for this non-profit organization.  First Thailand and Cambodia to make a film about a woman who runs a school that protects children from  trafficking.  The next summer she went to Paraguay where she used her skills as a photographer to document a farm where teens from the countryside learned sustainable farming and marketing of their produce.  When people asked me if I was afraid for her safety I let my pride  help me put my fears aside.  Abe fully supported her  work with SOW and her travels and shared my pride.  I can't endorse this program enough.  The Students of the World summit is here in Austin this week-end.  There's been a flurry of activity for fund raising and promoting this amazing program.  AFS hosted a doc- in- progress at their studios.  The students from the universities that are alumni of SOW have gone on to do amazing things with their lives, to benefit the world and document their activities.  Check out the Students of the World website...you won't be disappointed.

Students of the World - Home

SARAH's KEY at the Violet Crown

I cried and cried and cried and cried some more during the first half of this film.  To see the French families treated with absolute brutal disregard , cruelty and violence by their countrymen because they were Jews makes one shake fists at the screen and the heavens.  I pictured Abe and me, Josh and Elizabeth in these deportations and cried some more.  The novel by Tatiana de Rosnay tells a great story and the movie does more than an adequate job in telling this tale on film.  Kristin Scott Thomas and Melusine Mayance are fine actors as the journalist and Sarah.  Aidan Quinn was a surprising cast member and I liked the role so I ended up liking his performance.  This is a sad tale of  France's shameful participation in the multitudes of Jews sent to their deaths in Auschwitz.  I came home to my family and made dinner.  How fortunate we are. 

PICKPOCKET at the Paramount

An old French film (1959) directed by Robert Bresson who does not believe in actor's emoting.  He is a devout Catholic who refers to his actors (lay people) as models.  He instructs them to just read lines and not emote at all.  They follow his direction and the result is flat, flatter, flattest. All of this is no explanation for my desire to pull my hair out while watching this  film.  I would have given anything for Pacino to have played the pickpocket with a NY accent (Italian or Puerto Rican).  As you may deduce this film was not a favorite of mine. Abe thought it was  "interesting."  Night y'all.

Warren Jeffs Gets Life Plus 20

Forgive the seriousness of this post which is not about culture, the arts, food and wonderful people I've met in Austin.  This last month has brought me right back to my work, my identity, and the world I lived in for 36 years.  I had been a social worker for 36 years back in NY with a specialty in the abuse and neglect of children and oftentimes their mothers.   The cases of Casey Anthony and Warren Jeffs have brought me right back to all of the kids I advocated for.  Bear with me.  I had babies as young as 18 months who presented to the hospital with positive gonorrhea cultures, 5y.o. boys turned out as chicken prostitutes with flaming dyed blonde hair, 3 month olds left in the care of 8 year olds with severe burns to the face; numerous drug addicted neonates, adolescent mothers who were illiterate and the mothers of multiple incestuous births.  Babies who were malnourished, infected with preventable diseases and hearing impaired kids thought to be retarded.  I LOVED my work.  It's the world Abe and I lived  with as we raised Josh and Elizabeth.  And while I hated the circus of the Anthony trial  today I found comfort as a Texas jury did the right thing in less than 30 minutes.  They found Warren Jeffs,  this HORRIBLE pedophile, guilty.  I hope forever that his victims find peace.

Lasagne For Reed

A farewell dinner for Reed before he heads off to Missoula for 2 months.  Reed drives off to Midland, NM, Nevada (a favorite Basque restaurant) and then rents a place for a bunch of time in Missoula.  So tonight we feasted on olives, garlic bread, salad, lasagne and drank lots of wine.  Laughed and learned more about our friend who had the courage to separate from the oilmen Republicans from his hometown. It's always a pleasure to hear his stories about his journey.  Josh and Liz really enjoyed this new found friend as well.  We'll miss you Reed.