Sunday, February 28

Thought

collage by VUHwex @ deviantart
"a word is a microcosm of human consciousness"
- L.S. VYGOTSKY

Saturday, February 27

Somersault


I don't intend to only be writing about films lately. There just happens to be a lot of powerful movies that I have watched recently that I have so many thoughts about! So I shall continue commenting on them...

Although released in 2004, it wasn't until this week been that I finally had the chance to view Cate Shortland's film Somersault. I didn't have a clue what to expect with this movie, I just knew that it was Aussie, it starred Abbie Cornish, and that Decoder Ring made the soundtrack for the film. In fact, I purchased the soundtrack so long ago, I've been intrigued to see the imagery that goes with what I'd recognised as somewhat whimsical music.

Somersault is barely whimsical. Aside from the scenery and cinematography you experience via Heidi's walks and her drive home, the movie proves to be more of an occer, sex-centred, smack in the face. But not in a bad way.

It speaks about adolescence and egocentricism; the choices you make at this time in your life, and amongst all of this; an exploration of sexuality.

Though seriously engaging, it wasn't until the following day that I thought, 'shit, I love this film'. Well, probably not just like that, but you get my meaning.

From my own personal reading of the film: I loved the inclusion of the boy with Aspergers Syndrome. Heidi originally doesn't know what this "disability" is, and seems to be very contemplative about it once it is explained to her. I like to think that she finally understands the consequences of her actions and how they effect others (how she hurts people) when meditating on this. My reading, of course, would differ to others who have seen the film.

And then there's the soundtrack I mentioned... Just amazing. I forgot how much I love Decoder Ring.

Somersault just goes to show, Australia's got talent.

Thursday, February 11

Song


"...the origins of speech lie in song, and the origins of song in the need to fill out with sound the overlarge and rather empty human soul."
David Lurie in Disgrace - J.M. Coetzee

Above artist unknown

Monday, February 8

Cause and Effect

An overcrowded car park at the Burswood had us abandon seeing 'Nowhere Boy' at the outdoor cinema in the Parklands there, only to go on an adventure to UWA's Sommerville Auditorium:

to sit;
to eat;
to see the extremes that love and relationships can push you to.

And by extremes, I mean the utterly insane things you will do for a lover, and your own happiness.

Leaving (a French film playing for the Perth International Arts Festival) attempts to put you in the shoes of a middle-class woman who is in a boring relationship with her husband of 20 years, finding herself in a position of falling for another man who is far less well off. For me, it challenged what's considered "right" and "wrong" by social standards, by having you connect with this woman and her emotion for this man, and boldly contrasting it with the relationship she had with her husband.

While adultery, stealth and murder are all crimes frowned upon by society, the film made me think... Well hey! I can't say I wouldn't be so crazy to want to do all of those things for the person I so loved either... And I would not put up with an abusive psycho husband either...

And then of course you end up confused because you'd hope you'd have more brains than this woman if you did find yourself in this position, because she really just fucked things right up now, didn't she?

It's a bit of a Catcher in the Rye moment - and is definitely a film that will just as easily stick in my mind for some time.