the nine cities of theophilus north

i am happily diving back into two hobbies: watching films and reading books.

i am hoping to return to being a voracious consumer of both.

thanks to netflix. (bowing and suplicating myself to these online geniuses!!!)
i am able to watch films from around the world.

here's what i've most recently watched:

The Barbarian Invasions, 2003 (canada- french language film)
an interesting look at life by studying the act of dieing

Being Julia, 2004 (english)
anette benning is beyond brilliant in this role. she is subtle and radiant!

Born Into Brothels, 2004 (american documentary shot in calcutta, india)
an interesting look at a very different world but it raises the question:
how does be a westerner skew our perceptions and ability to help those who are different from ourselves?
i was very impressed by the sheer number of hours that the filmmaker spent in dealing with red tape and standing in never ending lines only to be told to go to another and another and another long line. she loved those children.

March of the Penguins, 2004 (french documentary team, shot in anarctica, for national geographic)
fascinating.
the short film about the french filmmakers was the best part. it was supposed to be about them but ended up being more about the penguins.

Tortilla Soup, 2001 (usa)
shhhhhhhh, i am in love with hector elizondo!

Zelary, 2003 (czech republic)
wow.
a must see.
amazing.
it should have won the oscar.

The Mother, 2003 (english)
a study in solipsism.
my pain is worse than your pain.
my joy is better than your joy.
no one seems to be empathetic in this film. a group of self-involved people leading very self-involved lives which don't take into account the feelings of others.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, 2005 (usa)
amazing.
i laughed.
i cried.
i laughed til i cried.

Sex Is Comedy, 2002 (french)
the film that made me a black sheep at the american red cross.
i wonder if i am the reason they moved the apheresis chairs. hmmmm.
perhaps the HUGE male cock that is flaunted about in it!!!


i am just finishing "theophilus north" by thornton wilder.
lovely novel.
it's my second reading of it.
a delightful read. it's like reading a series of short stories connected by the thread of being told by a single narrator.
i am reading through my library in order to start setting a number of my books free. (www.bookcrossing.com)