Can you be in two places at once?
Going to be brief. I'm still traveling in honor of a certain birthday for a certain someone.
The above movie quote depicts both where we've been and where we are at the moment - in that the scene itself was shot in northern California, but the movie is set in Oregon.
As for this week's movies; they're both recent and I've seen them. Since "the bullshit" started I've mostly been featuring stuff I haven't seen. But due to the aforementioned escapade I'm on, it's unlikely I'll be watching much of anything. Thought it'd be fun to tell you about a couple movies I really liked. Plus, they're recent examples of the great diversity in story telling that can happen when the people in front of, and behind the camera, are more diverse.
If you watch and enjoy (or don't!) lemme know what you think eh? Seen them already? Forward this to someone who maybe hasn't!
Cutoff? Go here, click "most recent edition."
THE FAREWELL
(2019)
I when this came out (almost exactly a year ago) that it's about an individual's issues with duality with regard to cultures, in large part between the idea of the communal and the individual.
Awkwafina, who won a Golden Globe for portraying director Lulu Wang (who based the movie on her own family's true, er, lie story) is excellent. Wang wasn't sure when 'Fina was first suggested to her, which... is fair, considering the actor came to prominence as a comedic rapper with a song titled "My Vag." And yet, she balances the comedic subtlety and dramatic weight really damn well (see: award mentioned above).
Not being Chinese (one of two cultures discussed here) or connected to a recent familial immigration, I enjoyed being brought into an experience that was different than mine, yet totally relatable in many ways. Because mostly it was yet another reminder of how humans deal with human issues no matter the race, culture, age etc. etc. The circumstances may be different sometimes, even foreign, but the love and pain behind them, are not.
Notes: on Amazon Prime / be prepared to cry / in both English and Mandarin Chinese
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
(2019)
If you've been pining for a great new romance during your unrequested for stay at home, go watch this movie right now. It is fantastic.
Conveniently enough (mostly for purposes of my segue) one of the main characters is also sequestered like most of us, except she's on an island where she waits to be shipped off to her betrothed. That is, assuming he approves of her yet to be painted visage. Queue the second main character, the artist who's been hired to capture the essence of the bride to be in a single portrayal. You can imagine that the sparks jumping off the logs heating the country estate where they meet will not be the only ones flying. You can also imagine that I won't be saying too much more as to not give anything away.
An additional note on why the movie is so special is that throughout it there is a clear and strong feminist vibe (manifesto?), without overtly discussing the notions of oppression or equality. They don't need to be mentioned because what happens on screen already so clearly, and emotionally, pushes the ideas forward.
Note: on Hulu / also prepare to cry / in French
Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* What's In Theaters, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
*|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*