mixedmedia

I saw two movies in the theater this past weekend. Woo-hoo! It's rare that I even catch one. I loved both of them.

Once 10/10

This is an Irish film that takes place in Dublin about a street musician and a Polish immigrant who find in each other a remarkable musical intimacy and friendship. It's filmed in a cinema verite style which makes the very natural and unassuming performances of the two leads all the more immediate and realistic. And the music is fabulous! I loved it. I've already purchased the soundtrack and the two stars of the film also have a group and have released an album with some of the songs from this film. If it's playing in your area, I highly recommend seeing it.

Here's the trailer:


La Vie en Rose 10/10
Another music film...this one about the life and career of the French chanteuse, Edith Piaf. It is an incredible film all around. Not only is it a completely gorgeous cinematic experience but the performance by Marion Cotillard as The Little Sparrow is jaw-droppingly sublime. I didn't know much about Edith Piaf before this film, but now I am totally enamored of her music. She led a quite an amazing, if often tragic (and tragically short-lived), life.

Here's the trailer for this one:

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Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats. - Diane Arbus
PESSIMISM, n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile. - Ambrose Bierce