Movies… and more!

Pinch and I have been watching a lot of films lately, thanks to Netflix. While most of our selections have been really good, some have turned out to be not so happening. I read the script of Le Grand Bleu that talks of a deep sea diver’s fascination for the ocean. It beats a normal person’s love any day. Jacques is so much in love with the deep sea and her inhabitants that everyone calls him half-dolphin. What happens when a full-woman falls in love with a half-dolphin? The film was originally made in French and was a commercial hit. It was remade in English and did poorly at the box-office. Small wonder, the dialogues appear artificial, the actors look stiff and the only saving grace is the fabulous photography. The film features sweeping shots of the deep blue sea, lovely aquatic life and the vast expanses deep below. Btw, this was my contribution to our list.

On to Pinch. Someone recommended Empire of the Sun to him and we finally got it in mail. Settled down to watch it with a friend and he was too polite to say that the film was going nowhere. We ultimately gave up after an hour and a half, I think. The film seemed to drag on interminably and I couldn’t really fathom where it was going. Maybe someone can tell me if I missed out on anything.

He loves me, he loves me not, another French film and one starring the winsomely cute Audrey Tautou. The film starts off like an innocent romance and somewhere mid-way, you realise that things are not as simple and innocent as you thought. Behind Angelique’s sweet smile is a mind working overtime and the end result is nothing less than surprising, even chilling. The film has a very fresh feel to it and Audrey Tautou is delightful.

Another French film, namely Monsieur Ibrahim. I think this film ranks among one of my all-time favourites. Omar Sharif plays an old Arab shopkeeper in Paris who takes a liking to Omo, a young boy who lives across the street. One sunny morning, Omo’s father leaves home and then on, Omar Sharif takes care of the kid. The film has some fantastic dialogues, great one-liners and really good performances. The simplicity and wisdom that mark the Arab gentleman’s words and actions leave one breathless. Such a beautiful performance, I am raving, I know.

Kandahar, a film made in Afghanistan about a woman travelling alone in the country to find her sister. Afghanistan is recovering from the war and she takes help from various people to fulfil her objective. The film is different from others in that it is a cross between a documentary and a feature film. I fell asleep towards the end and so can’t comment much. There are some interesting snatches of Indian music that form part of the soundtrack. In fact, one of the pieces of music sounded like a prayer to Sai.

Philadelphia, yes, I am probably the last person to watch this much talked about film. Quite liked it. What I liked was how the film made a definitive point and didn’t go on sermonising about the various issues surrounding AIDS and homosexuality. Somehow I couldn’t help wishing that the film had ended with the Pink Floyd track ‘Wish you were here’. Felt like it would be a fitting song to grace the home videos of Andrew Beckett in the last reel. Especially the opening lines, ‘So you think you can tell heaven from hell, blue sky from pale…’. Love that song.

In other news, I have got accepted for TTC. In December, I’ll be leaving for Montreal where I’ll attend Phase 1 Sri Sri Yoga Teacher’s Training Course. Am mighty kicked about it! Of course, that is probably the worst time anyone could choose to go to Canada but what the heck, I am going for TTC! Had planned to do this earlier but it didn’t materialise. People have asked me, “Do you like yoga that much? That you want to be a yoga teacher?” My answer is, “Yes, I adore yoga and would love to teach it someday. I enjoy yoga and I am sure that I can teach others to enjoy it too. To share with them that feeling of exhiliration that comes from relaxing so totally and completely in oneself as one can never imagine. To experience that joy that comes from simple fluidity of muscles, clarity of thought and length of breath. To feel that sense of life and vitality throbbing within. Yes, yoga is an extraordinary thing and if I can guide someone to get even a glimpse of it, it’d be one of my biggest achievements.”