Kate & Spencer: October 2005

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Amélie: One Of The Truly Great Wonders Of French Cinema Is A Film That Most Americans Will Love!

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Amélie, or "Le Fabouleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain," a French film from director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, ("Delicatessen," "City of

Lost Children," and "A Very Long Engagement") is the kind of film you just can't find in Hollywood. It's enchanting, magical and gorgeous, a fairy tale confection with a very endearing story, imaginative visuals and the perfect actress in the perfect role.

The movie starts off with a butterfly fluttering through the air and alighting in the center of a street, then very quickly getting run over by a speeding car. That same day, Amélie is born into the world. And, in an odd way, she seems to be the reincarnation of that butterfly: both her beauty and her spirit attest to this throughout the film.

Amélie, played by the lovely Audrey Tautou ("Dirty pretty things") is a young woman living by

herself in the Montmartre section of Paris. She works as a waitress in a café near the Sacré-Coeur. On the day of Princess Diana's death she finds a small box of toys behind a loose tile in her bathroom. She decides to anonymously reunite the toys with their owner, who she discovers is now a man in his late 40s.

After she tracks down the owner of the toys, she leaves the toybox in a phone booth that he passes every day. As he passes, she calls the booth causing him to stop and find the box. Amélie stops at a local bar and the man also stops there, talking about the curious events of his day. He proclaims that he will call his

daughter and grandson, because he hasn't talked to his daughter in many years. Gratified, Amélie begins to do small anonymous favors for the other people in her life.

Indeed, she decides to dedicate her life to helping others be happier. Thus, Amélie embarks upon many a project to help her father, her neighbors, her friends and her co-workers find greater happiness. One of the charming and wonderful things about this film is that not all of her good deeds result in the exact consequences she had hoped for; nor do all of them have the profound effects which are achieved by her greater successes. Despite the fairy tale aspect of the film, this helps it seem more real and gives the message more resonance.

However, Amélie is not really happy, as she has not yet found true love for herself. She needs a man who shares her dreams and her outlook on life. Soon, her path crosses with Nino, played by Mathieu Kassovitz, ("Birthday Girl," and the director of "Gothika") a strange young

man who collects discarded photo booth pictures. She is attracted to him, but completely unable to introduce herself. Over time, Amélie follows Nino and tries to arrange for him to meet her, in one of the most romantic cat & mouse games ever conceived.

Director's Jean-Pierre Jeunet's use of colors and of unusual camera angles gives an incredible visual style to this movie, enhancing the magical elements of its story. The vividly colorful film appears to be washed in a sepia tint giving each frame the appearance of an older photograph.

Although this 2001 film is set in 1997, its settings look like they were pulled from the 1930s or 1940s. With the exception of a modern video camera in one scene, much of the movie is devoid of modern technology. Few of the characters drive cars while one of them uses a small motor bike to get around. This lack of technology serves to make the film appear even more of a fairy tale.

Amélie and her friends also inhabit a Paris that is extraordinarily, unusually clean. No graffiti and little dirt appear in any of the frames as she travels to and fro. This helps attain and retain an idealized vision of Parisian life that in turn helps the viewer happily live inside this marvelous fairy tale.

Nominated for five Academy Awards-- although, rather ridiculously, the Academy members failed to award any to this great film-- including Cinematography, Foreign Language Film, Art Direction, Sound, and Original Screenplay, Amélie is a movie you will cherish for the rest of your life.

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--Spencer

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Two Children's Books by Jon J. Muth

Following up on a recommendation, I discovered this unique picture book and promptly bought it for my collection. Jon J. Muth's book Zen Shorts offers an introduction to the Zen tradition for young readers accompanied by beautiful watercolor illustrations. In recent days I've become "panda-obsessed" now that I can watch pandas live at the Smithsonian Zoo compliments of this site. Thus Muth's book featuring Stillwell, a giant panda bear is an added bonus.

When Stillwell moves next door he shares traditional Buddhist and Taoist tales in turn with each of his three curious young neighbors: Michael, Karl, and Addy. They first discover their unusual neighbor when he appears just outside their door clutching an umbrella.

"'I am sorry for arriving unannounced,' said the bear. 'The wind carried my umbrella all the way from my backyard to your backyard. I thought I would retrieve it before it became a nuisance.' He spoke with a slight panda accent." (frankly, that last line made me chuckle)

The curiosity of the children causes each to seek out Stillwater and in turn he offers each of them a story. The stories are actually short meditations from two Zen traditions, Zen Buddhism and Taoism which introduce the virtues of generosity, the nature of luck, and the dangers of anger and materialism. This children's book produces a calm, serene effect on the reader. I love it.

The Three Questions is an earlier book by Muth that borrows from Tolstoy and the author has some fun with the names of his characters. A young boy named Nikolai wants to know the answers to these three questions: What is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? He discovers the answers when he seeks the advice of an old turtle named Leo. Equally as beautiful and wonderful as Zen Shorts, I must treat myself to this one next. A children's book based on a Tolstoy short story begs to be bought and treasured.

--Kate

Friday, October 21, 2005

In my world... there are only two Olivias.

The Newton-John variety was first known to me by this album and her rendition of "Me and Bobby Mcgee" reached my ears before Joplin's more notable version. I always liked this album because it was released in my birth year and I had fond memories of listening to it on the record player in our guest room.... belting out the lyrics to "Let Me Be There" and "Help Me Make it Through the Night." Later when I discovered the movie Grease I was struck by the film and walked around for ages saying... "tell me about it, Stud" and singing about those "Summer Nights."

Ian Falconer's creation is fast becoming an iconic character in children's literature. A closer examination at the advance praise on the back of the first book suggests a big future and Olivia has more than fulfilled that. Her loveable antics will leave you smiling long after the book is put away.

--Kate

In My World... There Are At Least Seven Olivias

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--Spencer

Thursday, October 20, 2005

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold -- Great Book, Great Motion Picture!

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--Spencer

I'm Like A One-Eyed Cat Peeping In A Seafood Store

Well, I Can Look At You And Tell You Ain't No Child No More
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Celebrating the birth of Rock And Roll!

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Shake Rattle And Roll

As Performed by Joe Turner
Written by written by Jesse Stone (using the name Charles Calhoun)

Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands
Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands
Well, you get in that kitchen, make some noise with the pots and pans

Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shining through
Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shining through
I can't believe my eyes, all of this belongs to you

I believe to my soul you're a devil in nylon hose
I believe to my soul you're a devil in nylon hose
Well, the harder I work, the faster my money goes

I said, shake, rattle and roll, Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll, Shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won't do right to save your doggone soul

Yeah, blow Joe!

----- saxophone -----

I'm like a one-eyed cat peeping in a seafood store
I'm like a one-eyed cat peeping in a seafood store
Well, I can look at you and tell you ain't no child no more

Ah, shake, rattle and roll, Shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll, Shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won't do right to save your doggone soul

I laid over the hill and way down underneath
I lay over the hill and way down underneath
You make me roll my eyes, Baby, make me grit my teeth

I said, shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll
Well, you won't do right to save your doggone soul

Shake, rattle and roll!

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Honey Hush

As Performed by Joe Turner
written by Lou Willie Turner

Ah, let 'em roll like a big wheel
In a Georgia cotton field
Honey hush

I said, come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
I said, come in this house, Baby, stop all that yackety yack
Come fix my supper, don't want no talkin' back

Well, you keep on jabberin', talk about this and that
Well, you keep on jabberin', talk about this and that
I got news for you baby, you ain't nothin' but an alley cat

Turn off the waterworks, baby, they don't move me no more
Turn off the waterworks, baby, that don't move me no more
When I leave this time, I ain't comin' back no more

Honey hush

----- saxophone -----

Blow Joe! Blow Joe!

I said, come in this house, stop all that yackety yack
Come in here woman, stop all that yackety yack
Don't make me noivous, 'cause I'm a-holdin' a baseball bat

Singin', hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(hi-yo, hi-yo silver)

Say, Hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(hi-yo, hi-yo silver)

Say, Hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(hi-yo, hi-yo silver)

Singin', Hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(hi-yo, hi-yo silver)

Singin', Hi-yo, hi-yo silver
(hi-yo, hi-yo silver)

Say, Hi-yo, hi-yo silver, away!

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