Wands Up

 

We are not all things to all people. 
No we are snippets of things to people some of the time.
I was  Marilla Cuthbert  to Dorothy’s Anne ( with an E) overnight when she endeavoured to slip under the duvet at the coolest part of the night ( Mathew would have given in) I as Marilla did not, but I did give her a tap on the head for trying.
I love the way television and cinema allows the audience to subtlety empathise with its characters.

In the remake of Anne Of Green Gables ,crabby Spinster Marilla has to face a garrulous and hysterical Anne who has just experienced her first period. After the expected conversation the camera silently observes Marilla’s hand centremitres away from Anne’s shoulders, hesitant before alighting .

I’m not a Harry Potter fan but this audience reaction to Dumbledore’s death ( Michael Gambon only passed away yesterday) in a special anniversary showing is quite beautiful to watch.
There will be a few wands lit up at his funeral no doubt.


I’ve also been watching the mini series Five Days At Memorial an account of how the staff of an isolated inner city hospital coped after hurricane Katrina made for an emotional and thoughtful watch.


I will leave you with another minute scene which takes the audience anywhere they want to 
Film is so useful when we realise it’s power to unleash empathy 
And without, empathy, true empathy
We have nothing

The other day I was talking to a neighbour over the garden wall and a small white feather landed between us, at my feet. 
Someone is saying hello to me I said

And I so wanted that to be true

49 comments:

  1. Thank you for reminding me of the feather sequence in "Forrest Gump". It was quite lovely.

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    1. The music by Alan Silvestri was inspired and instantly memorable

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  2. An essence of emotional understanding

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  3. So true. I feel that way about books, live theater, movies. And huge Harry Potter fan (not a fan of JKR). The books (and movies) helped my kids and I through some extraordinarily difficult personal times. And to this day, we adore them.

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    1. I can understand that, from what I can tell Harry Potter is about loyalty friendship and good behaviour and choices

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  4. I would have given in to Dorothy, as well. If I were there, she'd be more in control than she already is.

    We often talk about people we meet who don’t appear to have any empathy.

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    1. Being overly empathetic has its problems too…boundary issues, difficulties in establishing relationships, stress, overload,

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  5. Oh gosh, that audience reaction was very moving. So true that without empathy we have nothing. Sadly these days so many are proving that they have limited empathy or just none at all ... thank goodness for the ones that do.

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  6. Anonymous12:16 pm

    A complex post guised under simplicity .

    The scene of the nurses battling up the fire escapes with their patients was terrifying. The scene of the phones all lit up in an emotional gesture of respect was awe inspiring and the feather scene held hope.
    You seem “ too full “ of emotion today which is the downside of being an empath

    Have a good cry if you need one

    Lee

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    1. Anonymous12:34 pm

      I’m sensing a great deal of emotion just sitting there today

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  7. That scene from "Forrest Gump" always makes me think of the quotation made famous by medieval Christian nun and mystic Hildegard of Bingen -- "We are but feathers on the breath of God."

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  8. Your comment about the feather reminded me of when my very poorly FIL, was being cared for by a wonderful team of carers at home. A small white feather appeared on his pillow, from where, who knows, his pillows weren't feather ones. His carer saw it and said, " That's S (my late MIL) come to say hello." as she tucked the feather under his pillow. I can still remember the weak smile on his face. He was a hard-headed business man, not given to fancy, but I hope it gave him a little comfort.
    RIP Michael Gambon. A fine actor. xx

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    1. We all need a bit of fancy at those dark times, we crave them sometimes

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  9. No mention here of the marvellous Pennies from Heaven and The Singing Detective, only Dumble something. He and Dennis Potter were treasures of their time.

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    1. I hated both dramas HATED them I’m not a fan of potter

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  10. sillygirl12:43 pm

    This is off topic but somewhat related - last night we watched Phantom Thread - what a well-done and well-acted movie!

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    1. Another one of my favourite Lesley manvile movies

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  11. The scene with Dumbledore's death gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. I need a wand.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Theatrical and interactive , ideal to twist the heartstrings

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  12. The mystical feather shows up regularly and carries a message of thoughtfulness and even inspiration sometimes. We all need more empathy, compassion and understanding. The big often screen models this nicely.

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    1. I totally agree on a day of emotional romping

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  13. I read Anne of Green Gables as a girl and have seen every film and television version out there. AnnE (with an E) has to be my all time favorite. The actors truly make it.
    My grandmother always said finding a feather was a message from a missing loved one too.

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  14. Barbara Anne2:27 pm

    Morning tears here and a bit hug for all!

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  15. weaver3:23 pm

    I am an Anne of Green Gables fan John - if I am off colour and too weary to read I get Anne down off the shelf - I nearly know her off by heart. One of my grandchildren bought me a quotation in a frame years ago 'kindred spirits are not as rare as we might think'. Very true but we have to go looking for them. Years ago I went to the house of the author - Nova Scotia I believe it was.

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    1. I’ve never read the books, being gay doesn’t give me an immediate pass to do so……but I love the recent tv adaptation ANNE with an E. with the extraordinary Amybeth McNulty in the title role and Geraldine James as Marilla

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  16. I loved Michael Gambon in The Singing Detective in the 80s, Maigret in the 90s, and Quartet (2012?)
    Whatever he appeared in, he always gave a great performance, be it as Winston Churchill, Lord Marchmain, Dostoyevsky, George V, The Storyteller of Greek Myths, and of course Albus Dumbledore.
    I have to admit that I preferred Richard Harris as Dumbledore, but Michael Gambon was a great replacement who quickly made the role his own!
    May he rest peacefully.

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    1. I was never a big fan but I was impressed with him in Gossford Park

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  17. Anonymous4:28 pm

    Landed between you at your feet? But you'd just said there was a wall between you. Quit the elaborate story telling flowery additions, they're not needed and just make everything seem made up.

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    1. Anonymous4:42 pm

      You stupid troll of course something can land at his feet , he was standing up for Christ’s sake!
      You are a fucking moron for challenging such a comment , a fucking moron

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    2. It really must suck to be as miserable as you are. And making sure that all who read John's blog know it. What a fucking coward you are, hiding behind the "anonymous" label. Fuck off, go away.

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    3. Anonymous6:40 pm

      Nothing to do with “hiding behind” and Anon label. they could easily call themselves Igor/Sue/ Norman/ Bolingbroke or whatever….but they would still be a nasty piece of work, who, for some reason wants to dump on John’s fab writing.
      Fred from Alaska, Joan from Hamburg etc etc….names are but names…alll part of the mask

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    4. Anus from Assholeville

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    5. Or perhaps it’s some closer from home?
      Someone who thinks they are helping the blog in some way?
      That wouldn’t be right would it ?

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  18. Oh John, that feather was likely from my mother. She knows how much I love your blog and I'm sure she is looking out for you. I was surprised that she travelled all the way over there, but I guess when you are at the Other Side Camp, travel isn't an issue. :)

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    1. I encourage readers beyond the grave xxx

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  19. Forrest Gump: one of my favorite movies; I cry through the whole thing whenever I watch it.

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    1. Not a fav of mine , but it has its moments
      Gary sinise and sally field

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  20. I never go to the movies or the theater anymore. I just can't hear the dialogue well enough. I like to watch on Netflix where I can use the closed captions.

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  21. Not long before my mother died she said that if she wished to contact me, she would appear in the form of a four leaf clover. I still haven't found one since.

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  22. Anonymous6:35 am

    Just a random comment — the moon through the mist was brilliant tonight. Guess where I am

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  23. Reading Cro Magnon's comment, my mother died at the end of June - she was described as a butterfly in a poem at her funeral. A month later a butterfly landed on me whilst on a walk with a friend whose mother was also dying at the time. It was happenstance, but l also felt - but haven't expressed (except on this blog! ) that the butterfly was a message. Rationally it's bunkum, but we find comfort in such thoughts.
    Michael Gambon - the Singing Detective, still such a memorable tv series ( and of course Joanne Whalley but I'd best not go there...)

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