THE YELLOW BIRDS

Just finished this beautifully written book by a Michener MFA graduate, Kevin Powers.  Also a veteran who spent 2004-2005 in Iraq with the U.S. Army.  Insight into the inner workings of a very young soldier told through the eyes of a poet.  Insight into this endless war that has claimed so many souls.  Will write the President later today and asked if he's read this.  Will recommend.

THE PROUD VALLEY/Austin Film Society

I am an easy touch for films about social injustice, workers' solidarity, resistance to corporate greed, and any film I've ever seen about miners.  Last night, guest curator Jim Kolmar, brought us The Proud Valley, starring Paul Robeson, an icon of a great  American who symbolizes the clear and beautiful voice of a fighter of injustice.  Mr. Robeson  was a London dweller for many years and was just loved by the British.  He lived with Welsh coal mining families to prepare for this role and it is obvious he was admired and embraced by them.
I loved this film for many reasons.  What was most striking was the role of women in this Welsh coal mining town.  A mother is an outspoken crusader who throws a snobby shopkeeper out of her home, who stands up for her son's and husband's right to be treated fairly, who raises a little girl who is bold, audacious and unafraid.  I also loved the coal miners embracing Mr. Robeson's character who comes to town to work, and of course to sing (it's Paul Robesen!) with the men's choir.  While it's a fair criticism to note this is a sentimental view of a strong character, willing to sacrifice everything for people who helped him, it's best to remember it's 1938, Hitler is advancing and I'd say sentiment is a fine emotion given the times.  And today I woke up to read  Jim's notes.  It's like taking an online course in Welsh cinema!  Thank-you AFS for these wonderful films.  And Chale I can't wait for that series on Paul Robeson.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

Yikes!  I rarely, rarely write a thumbs down post.  And particularly for a film that so many people raved about at Austin Film Festival. We got the last two seats when I went on line to reserve at the Violet Crown so for sure I was pumped!  But yikes.  I found the screenplay given to the actors annoying.  And while I honor the extraordinary performance of Jennifer Lawrence and just loved that her dance number with Bradley Cooper reflected them perfectly, I found myself annoyed and irritated with the explosions, football fights and De Niro's relationship to his friend, football, and betting.  I am  comfortable with the world of mental illness having worked with so many diverse people as a social worker.  But truth be told, it's not on my hot list of topics for viewing.  While the arguments between family members were real the ultimate consequences for the characters were not.  Thank-you Dr. Patel for portraying a psychiatrist with some sense and warmth and humanity!  Enough of this negative review!

LINCOLN

Did you know that Sally Field implored and begged Steven Spielberg to give her the role of Mary Lincoln (called Molly by Abe)?  After her assertive posturing he agreed to  screen test her.  She admits it wasn't stellar.  He called her and told her he just didn't see her with Daniel Day Lewis.  The next day Daniel Day Lewis phoned her to say he'd fly to L.A. from Ireland to screen test with her. They met for an hour, improvised "something", did a screen test and on the way driving home Steven and Daniel called her and said "you're our Molly."   And oh what a Molly.  And oh, what a film.  Each of the well known actors brings this extraordinary period of time to us with the assistance of extraordinary photography.  The theater was packed. The story was about the dividing wound of the Civil War and slavery. I was aware I was viewing it in the South.   This is a monumental film with Spielberg's signature throughout.  You know the story, it's never been told so artistically.

SLEEP FURIOUSLY/Austin Film Society

I wanted this film to go on for a week!  Have you ever sat in a dark theater feeling so sad that you knew something was going to end?  This is how I felt about this documentary from Wales about what goes on in the small town of Trefeurig.  Much of what I'm about to say about this film has me in debt to Jim Kolmar the Guest Curator, a Welshman himself.  (Adorable too I might add.) This film is described as a "rigorously observed  ode" to this tiny Welsh community.  The filmmaker, Gideon Koppel, uses his camera as a microscope to bring us moments in people's lives and surroundings that are visual and aural  masterpieces (birthing of pigs and calves; movements of sheep; sounds of farm equipment, teens using glowsticks, elderly women baking for each other and reminiscing, dogs barking).  My favorite theme throughout is the mobile lending library with a man who brings all kinds of books to all kinds of characters.  People in this exquisite film LOVE their animals and are so kind.  It made me ponder about a life filled with the routine of daily living without a lot of external stimuli.  When an older woman (who teaches ceramics to children, has a beloved owl she has stuffed upon it's death ) asks the mobile librarian if he has a book about computers for idiots one can sense the turning of a tide.

As a good film does, it made me ponder my own life.  Those afternoons I am by myself listening to music and cooking or baking are an essential part of my existence.  But there is always a pull to "do something."  This is a film where people are content to keep the "do something" familiar and loved and routine.

It was a gift to wake up this morning and read Jim Kolmar's program notes.  I learned that Gideon Koppel was born to Jewish Hungarian artists in Liverpool where he was rejected and bullied for being "different."  The family moved to this tiny Welsh town where his "otherness" was not emphasized as he immersed himself into the landscape.  His parents fit in as well, and felt comfortable in this environment.  And so a lesson in the Jewish diaspora was a perfect birthday gift brought to me today by the Austin Film Society.  AFS has had a hand in softening the cultural divide I have felt in my own diaspora.

It's A Wrap

Finished my role as a revenging murdering grandma and now on to preparation for a homeless bicycle thief.
Love the reaches the UT RTF students ask of me.  Love what I learn from them and am appreciative that they allow my interpretation of characters' motivations.  It's quite an experience working with such young people.  It's made me appreciate my life's experience.

PATAGONIA/Austin Film Society

We began the new Essential Cinema series this evening with a stunning film that comes to us from Wales.  If you weren't aware of the Welsh connection to Argentina (like me) you will be well educated about this after reading the detailed program notes provided by Jim Kolmar, a native of Wales.  This is the second time Abe and I have encountered Welsh films in Austin.  The first was with the Welsh director and producer of GIN AND DRY, a lovely short film we saw at SXSW.

PATAGONIA is a visual masterpiece, well cast with a beautiful narrative of two women's journeys.  An elderly woman journeys with an adolescent neighbor to find her childhood home.  His coming of age on this journey is exquisite and their relationship makes you hunger for this kind of relatedness between people.
  A young couple struggle with their relationship, fall out of sync with one another, separate and find themselves along the way in this beautiful landscape.  Once again we left the theater so enriched by this AFS offering.  The name is perfect for this series, ESSENTIAL CINEMA.  These films are truly essential if you're interested in a larger picture of the world.