This post is meant to be about Japan. Well, so is this entire blog, in fact. Hah. Well, rest assured that is the case. And, no. Things won’t be changing -much everything will remain very Japan.
But being one of, one part in Japan does not mean that I cannot enjoy the frigid and welcome waters of the rest of the world. Movies, too. I am talking about film and film plays a big part in my life.
Without digging deep into the pit of why, and what, and how -all regarding film- let me spout for just a moment. This last week was a hard one. Things were tough. The struggled-jugglings of keeping in touch with family and friends abroad, navigating a fresh work environment a fantastic but foreign country -Japan.. well, maybe you get the idea.
The side-long part of working at not just one workplace but several -four, in fact, you can imagine that you have to deal with four/five bosses, numerous supervisors, and loads of fresh faces, needy faces -children, students and BAM. There you have it. I suppose I should be open to the fact that I can and do feel a little stressed at times. All of this leading to the makings of a busy and bursting week.
The week did have its highlights. Highlights including a stellar taiko practice. Learning and teaching a new taiko song from home to the wonderful members of our local group. I almost tore myself away from going to practice. I almost said, no. But because I went I was granted the ripping workout that taiko provides; and because I was given the straining directive of our fearless taiko group leader I now feel rewarded. Nothing like a Japanese taiko teacher saying (all after the fifth playthrough), ‘again’. Play it again.
So the week had its rough bits. And yeah, I admit that is bound to happen every now and again. Welcome to life, you would no doubt tell me.
But okay. Here is the bit. My weekends are sacred. And on this sacred Saturday night, well, Saturday-day, I don’t think I left my house once. I did however watch a few films.
The first film blew me away. I have been wanting to watch Ben Affleck’s THE TOWN for some time. And no, the film did not disappoint. I was dragged along through the watching moments right up to the last bit. The sappy ending. But the ending theme song fit though I felt they could have ended the film five minutes earlier without reassuring me that all the happy details in the film were indeed ‘happy’ right up until the end credits rolled in.
Fine.
But the real cake-taker was Darren Aronofsky’s BLACK SWAN. Now do me this favour and count me this fair. Yes, I am here in Japan to do the whole Japan thing, but it is -let me swathe this at you- in my job description to share my culture with the world. To share my culture with Japan. How can I share my culture if I don’t keep up to date on things non-Japanese as well?
So, BLACK SWAN has the music, the acting, the flash-frame scene scapes -all the tell-tale signs that I director knows what he’s doing with the camera -and everything else that you are no doubt experiencing. All in ball the film blew me away. I think that I actually clapped out loud as I sat by myself on the floor of my apartment/house-thing as the end credits rolled. There is nothing more straining and shatter-braining then a director cutting the film-to-black and rolling the credits as you are gaping for breath during the last scene.
Do you disagree with me? Was either of these two films something that you have maybe seen and hated? Or just maybe not liked -even a little. Well, thank you. That makes these films all the better for me. Films, like paintings, pictures, or arts speak volumes if only to those of us who have a heart for them. Everybody loves something we don’t -or something like that.
Well, with my ravings aside -and in case you couldn’t tell that I was really swept away by film this evening.. let me end this post with a photo unrelated to what I’ve been talking about -in true blog fashion. Enjoy this picture of food. Because food photos have I promised to many; and with food am I far too obsessed.
Oh, and if you have a sensitive mind, please do note that the above-mentioned films do have some prickly content..
Good night and when I have my head back in the world-real, I will write you again.
Ciao.
The Traveller's Typewriter 