The English Patient

After a long and amazing weekend I came home today and woke up and watched The English Patient. I haven't done anything else, particularly none of the things on the long list of things I desperately need to do, but I don't care.

This movie is amazing. I haven't watched a movie that really made me feel anything for a very long time. And to be honest I never really appreciated and understood the devastation of war until I watched this movie, because although the movie focused on love and pain within the context of war without concentrating on it explicitly, I never really got it until now. Sorry for the sentimentality, I'm still caught up in that massive wave of euphoria that follows a really damn good movie. The emotions in The English Patient; love, pain, guilt, freedom and regret, were just so subtle and yet huge, really really huge.

The things that I really loved about this movie:

It was unpredictable, through the entire movie I kept imagining what would happen next, that it would follow the typical routine of two forbidden lovers running away together and that the tragic ending when they are found out and separated. But it didn’t. I was never shocked at the plot turns, but it was highly original and the fact that I didn’t expect anything was very enlightening.
The characters were flawed, there were no heroes or bad guys; each character was stripped back to exactly what they are, human. There were so many in-depth characters and the audience is able to empathise and connect with even the minor ones while our connection with the major characters is huge.
The timing, the movie cuts between past and present seamlessly, by connecting and juxtaposing moments of emotion; gradually unfolding the epic love story with patience and tenderness, like a parent reading a fairy tale to their small and eager, beloved child.
Everything else.

Watching this movie today made finally certain that it is film and television that I want to be studying next year. It also made me desperate to read again, of course first beginning with The English Patient, by Michael Ondaatje which I understand is quite different to the film but I’m sure will be equally brilliant.

Finally, I’m too young to know but am now eager to find out if a love exists like those explored and portrayed in The English Patient.

Now To Me

Surprisingly, today I did some productive and social things! Firstly, a friend and I went to this!

It was the first "Gallery Opening" that I've ever been to, so I had no idea what to expect. Despite my lack of expectation, I was still surprised! The exhibition space was a very chick basement bar in Collins St, and it was gorgeous, low lights, modern geometric decor and giant crosses everywhere. Although the place was beautiful it had me wondering what this bar and others will do when the religious cross goes out of fashion. Moving on to the art! What there was, was great! But there wasn't much. And I wouldn't go so far as to call it art art, I would say it is more illustrative art, which is still art but a lighthearted form of it. I do recommend going to the exhibition, but not only to see the illustrations; more to have visually stimulating evening of drinks with friends in a super-gorgeous location. Unfortunately we didn't stay for long, Ash couldn't afford to fork out $9 for a beer. This is what I wore! (Sorry about the crappy photo, Ash isn't the greatest photographer and I don't pose seriously.)

The dress is from Sportsgirl, it was on sale for $29 and although at first I wasn't at one with the print, the cut is amazing and now I can't get enough of it! For curvy girls like me this dress is incredibly flattering, and to prove it I was complimented by four strangers tonight. FOUR! What a flattering night. The other productive thing I got up to was some sewing. I bought a large off-cut of thick upholstering fabric that I had planned to turn into a DIY ultra-shaped skirt. Unfortunately I have already run into a few setbacks but I'm going to see what I can do and I'll post photos later. Bonne nuit!