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.
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.
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
Thank you for reminding me of the feather sequence in "Forrest Gump". It was quite lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe music by Alan Silvestri was inspired and instantly memorable
DeleteAn essence of emotional understanding
ReplyDeleteThere’s a mouthful
DeleteSo 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.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that, from what I can tell Harry Potter is about loyalty friendship and good behaviour and choices
DeleteI would have given in to Dorothy, as well. If I were there, she'd be more in control than she already is.
ReplyDeleteWe often talk about people we meet who don’t appear to have any empathy.
Being overly empathetic has its problems too…boundary issues, difficulties in establishing relationships, stress, overload,
DeleteOh 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.
ReplyDeleteIt was wasn’t it?
DeleteA complex post guised under simplicity .
ReplyDeleteThe 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
I’m sensing a great deal of emotion just sitting there today
DeleteYou sense right
DeleteThat 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."
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quote.....Rall
DeleteYes I like it too
DeleteYour 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.
ReplyDeleteRIP Michael Gambon. A fine actor. xx
We all need a bit of fancy at those dark times, we crave them sometimes
DeleteNo mention here of the marvellous Pennies from Heaven and The Singing Detective, only Dumble something. He and Dennis Potter were treasures of their time.
ReplyDeleteI hated both dramas HATED them I’m not a fan of potter
DeleteThis is off topic but somewhat related - last night we watched Phantom Thread - what a well-done and well-acted movie!
ReplyDeleteAnother one of my favourite Lesley manvile movies
DeleteThe scene with Dumbledore's death gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. I need a wand.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Theatrical and interactive , ideal to twist the heartstrings
DeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree on a day of emotional romping
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother always said finding a feather was a message from a missing loved one too.
The adaptation is perfect
DeleteMorning tears here and a bit hug for all!
ReplyDeleteIndeed xx
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteI’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
DeleteI loved Michael Gambon in The Singing Detective in the 80s, Maigret in the 90s, and Quartet (2012?)
ReplyDeleteWhatever 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.
I was never a big fan but I was impressed with him in Gossford Park
DeleteLanded 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.
ReplyDeleteYou stupid troll of course something can land at his feet , he was standing up for Christ’s sake!
DeleteYou are a fucking moron for challenging such a comment , a fucking moron
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.
DeleteNothing 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.
DeleteFred from Alaska, Joan from Hamburg etc etc….names are but names…alll part of the mask
Anus from Assholeville
DeleteOr perhaps it’s some closer from home?
DeleteSomeone who thinks they are helping the blog in some way?
That wouldn’t be right would it ?
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. :)
ReplyDeleteI encourage readers beyond the grave xxx
DeleteForrest Gump: one of my favorite movies; I cry through the whole thing whenever I watch it.
ReplyDeleteNot a fav of mine , but it has its moments
DeleteGary sinise and sally field
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.
ReplyDeleteNot 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.
ReplyDeleteJust a random comment — the moon through the mist was brilliant tonight. Guess where I am
ReplyDeleteReading 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.
ReplyDeleteMichael Gambon - the Singing Detective, still such a memorable tv series ( and of course Joanne Whalley but I'd best not go there...)
That butterfly was she x
Delete