Jan 15-21.
Film(s) watched:
Screenplay(s) read:
- This Side of the Truth (aka The Invention of Lying) – June 8, 2007 Draft script by Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson
Book(s) read:
- Love Sabotage by Amelie Nothomb (not adapted into a film, so it does not count towards my 24 books goal)
Harvard Film Archive
American Library Association’s Mid-Winter Conference took me to Boston, and what a great city!
I was also excited about the Alain Resnais films series at the Harvard Film Archive, even though I could go to only one of the screenings. Braving the snowy weather, I went to see Providence, a film that is not available on DVD, at least not in the U.S. As I settled into my seat, I noticed that an older man was coughing rather loudly behind me at the back of the theatre. He went on for a while. Not that there was anything wrong with coughing. But there was an air of self-absorption in the way the man coughed, a disregard of the people sharing the room with him. Even so, like I said, there’s really nothing wrong with coughing. If you have to cough, you have to cough.
Then the light dimmed. The film was beginning. The old man at the back began ruffling some plastic bag. Sounded like he was trying to open a bag of chips. Within seconds, a loud and long and aggressive “SSSSHHHHHUSH” from a middle-aged, tweed-jacket type (to be honest, I wasn’t sure if he was actually wearing a tweed jacket, but he seemed the type) in the row in front of me. “Show some respect! We’re watching an art film here,” the Shush implied. I should have felt grateful to him since he took action (almost too quickly) for all of us in the cinema. But at that moment, I actually disliked that Shush man more than the old man making all the noise. Maybe it’s the way he shushed – so eager to pounce, and so ready to express his displeasure. Isn’t it just another kind of self-absorption? In any case, the ruffling didn’t stop. So, the Shush man turned around and said, “No food or drinks allowed in here.” No reaction from the man at the back – the ruffling of the plastic bag continued for another 10-15 seconds, well into the opening credits before he would stop.
At the end of the film, I was curious to see what the Shush man would do. As he walked towards the back to exit, he approached the old man and was about to say something. Then he noticed that the old man was in a wheel chair in the Disabled space. That took the Shush man by surprised. He thought about it for a second and eventually decided not to say anything. There’s no question that he was rather disappointed that he couldn’t vent his frustration. It’s also obvious that the old man had awareness of what’s going on. All in all, oblivion won the battle of the Harvard Film Archive.
If only we’d all follow Debrett’s, the etiquette authority, on how to behave at the cinema.
Films:
Alain Resnais' Providence
I was quite surprised by the sense of humor of Alain Resnais‘ Providence. Assuming that Michel Gondry had seen this film, then I can see its visual influence on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, especially how Resnais visualizes various fragmented memories and imagined pasts by using the panning camera.
Vacuuming Nude in Paradise
Danny Boyle has style. There’s no question about that. This made for TV movie, however, is just too over the top and too in your face for me to enjoy.
"The Invention of Lying" was originally titled "This Side of the Truth"
The screenplay of The Invention of Lying was a quick read, which is a high compliment in screenwriting. There are many humorous moments, and a few laugh out loud ones. I like that it parodies a grand idea without being too obvious in the beginning. I still haven’t seen the movie yet.
Book:
Love Sabotage by Amelie Nothomb
Even though Love Sabotage has not been adapted into a film (I don’t see how it could be), and it would not be counted towards my goal of reading 24 books that have been adapted into movies, I still wanted to read it. I’ve become such a fan of Amelie Nothomb’s that I just wish more of her works are available in English.
Pick of the Week:
Providence
2010:
Total films watched: 21
Total books read: still 0, since Love Sabotage doesn’t count.
Total screenplays read: 3
