The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain

A rich and mesmerizing film, Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain ("The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain") was worthy of all it's praise, and more. It's hard to believe that the role that catapulted French actress Audrey Tautou to international fame was not actually written for her (it was written specifically for Emily Watson, an American actress who didn't speak French) - Tautou seamlessly convinced me that she WAS Amelie.

***May Contain Spoilers***

Amelie is a shy waitress that embarks on an ambitious journey to change the lives of those around her with random acts of kindness. Some are devious, some are simple, some are whimsically silly and fun. All the while, she struggles with her own isolation from those around her. None present this to her more than her reclusive neighbor, Raymond, a painter who suffers from a brittle bone condition. His painting become reflections of her isolation, forcing Amelie to consider working on her own life and not just meddle in others lives (with good intentions).

*** End Spoilers ***

The rich colors almost make you feel as if you were watching a cartoon; yet, you are very much watching live interaction between Amelie and her surroundings. Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who originally started collecting the stories and memories as far back as 1974, (wonderfully) introduces characters with their idiosyncasies and simple pleasures. The Two Windmills is not only staffed, but patronized by a gang of eccentrics, and is a real cafe in the city of Montmartre - the setting of the film. It's not hard to see why Amelie won best film at the European Film Awards, four César Awards (including Best Film and Best Director), two BAFTA Awards (including Best Original Screenplay), and was nominated for five Academy Awards (a feat in itself considering it was entirely in French).

I cannot say enough great things about this little gem - it has remained on my top ten since my initial viewing. A true "feel-good" film, Amelie is imaginative, beautiful, rich in color and plot; and, perhaps one of the most creative films I will ever see.

Sweet is Never as Sweet w/out the Sour

There are moments in our lives that, if rated, rank very high - and - very low. In taking stock of late, I realized that it was only in the face of the very high moments that the recent ones can even manage to dip so low on my ranking scale. And perhaps, if I were to appreciate the food, shelter and creature comforts I have ... they may not be so bad after all.

While taking stock of all the things that have transpired in the last year or so, I find my greatest joys have been in the company of others - some even in the face of misfortune. As each year has passed, I've craved certain people in my life more than things, coveting the connection more than a collection of material items. The last year has come with its own set of heartbreaking choices and a new feeling of 'independence' -- that has never felt quite as isolating as it does now.

Remember in the film Vanilla Sky when Brian, (played by Jason Lee) warns David (Tom Cruise): "the sweet is never as sweet without the sour, and I know the sour." I know that I felt sweet last year, but I definitely felt it's slow and painful removal over the last few months. Was the sweet taken away to once again balance out the sweet-sour scale? I guess time will tell. If this is the case, I suppose I'll just have to be patient for the sweet to come back around.

Ironically, I blogged it.

"People don’t write anymore - they blog. Instead of talking, they text, no punctuation, no grammar: LOL this and LMFAO that. You know, it just seems to me it’s just a bunch of stupid people pseudo-communicating with a bunch of other stupid people in a proto-language that resembles more what cavemen used to speak than the King’s English.”
Californication

How Boredom is a Choice

During a recent conversation, I made the following observation (which I've often said/thought of our current society):

"Unfortunately, the sheer volume of choices we have of things to do have made people indecisive. The indecisiveness has led to boredom -- the boredom to apathy."

I was told to "save that, it's brilliant." Brilliant, perhaps. Sad, a little. The first time this sentiment planted it's roots was in 2002, when I stumbled upon the last few episodes of "Frontier Life" on PBS. Three families were chosen (out of thousands of applicants) to travel back in time to the days of the Wild West, living as settlers on the frontier back in the 1880's. Located in a valley in a remote corner of Montana, each family took a 160-acre plot of land where they would be observed completely immersed in homestead lifestyle. From spring to early fall of 2001, they built their own homes, made their clothing, tended their lifestock, planted food, fished and hunted their land, and more -- all without modern technological assistance. One of the main goals of the show was to see if each family - through trading, surviving and preparing - would be able to survive the upcoming winter (without actually staying there for the season).

The families accounts of their time on the show varies from missing modern life, to learning self-sufficiency.

Kristen Brooks, age 28, recounts "the cabin was very small, and the daily routine was monotonous," and she suffered "from isolation and lack of socializing".

Mark Glenn, 45, says, "I don't miss phones, beepers, and having foolish conversations with foolish people. I'm a real movie buff, so I miss watching movies at home with my wife. I think I've kicked my TV addiction, but I really miss the movies. I also miss pasta and Polish kielbasa. And playing softball, which I used to play on Thursday nights in my church league."

Tracy Clune, 15, shares, "I feel more responsible and more confident. I could take care of myself if I was left alone. Before I was afraid to go out at night, and [now] it doesn't bother me at all. I have no regrets about being out here. I don't think I'll be the same person when I return. I'll be less materialistic, less into make-up and clothing, and I really want to get to know the members of my own family better. I'm not the same person, and I'm happy about that."

The reason I remember the program is because the follow-up segment showed the Clune girls (Tracy & Aine - cousins in real life), splashing around in a jacuzzi in Malibu ... bored. They looked directly at the camera and said they thought they'd missed this life until they returned to it. They found that all the things that had kept them occupied and busy on the frontier, had prevented them from being bored; and, that returning to the life of luxury -- full of choice -- had actually led them directly to boredom.

With the books, television, internet, friends, movies and MORE -- how can anyone be bored? Recognize that boredom is really only the product of a lack of creativity; and perhaps, inability to enjoy your own company. There is always something to do.