Laowai

Bea and I had our first movie night yesterday while Brian was away in California. We watched Marie Antoinette – directed by Sofia Coppola. I loved it. I thought it deserved a lot more attention than it seemed to get. I loved that it wasn’t like other historical films that try to depict the time period exactly. It was a stylized, lush, beautiful to look at film. And it was surprisingly modern. The way that it was done – with a sort of hyper focus brightness gives you a better idea of what Marie Antoinette’s life and personality were really like than if the film had been a stiff reproduction of all the historical details of her life.

I recently read Abundance, a historical novel about Marie Antoinette. The book was enjoyable but didn’t seem to have much substance. I think I enoyed the movie more because I had read the book and knew a little of the story going in. The movie is based on another book. I’d kinda like to read it but it seems like Marie Antoinette overload at the moment.

The other movie that we’ve seen and loved by Sofia Coppola was Lost in Translation. I love a movie that leaves us talking and laughing for a long time. Here’s a quote from Lost in Translation and a photo of a delightful little person.

“The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born. Your life, as you know it… is gone. Never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk… and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life.” – Bill Murray as Bob Harris in Lost in Translation