)(( hannah mello ))(

Film & the Sea. ~

FILM.

Both summers following year 1 & 2 in Italia,
I had to catch up on films that I had missed.
Sure, cinema existed in Italia, but they were "selectively" released.

America releases a SLOUGH of films-- and the ratio of American films to films released in Italia is severe. ---- and, of course, no matter what, the Italians love their overdubbing.

On that note, I must say a word about the power of Language.

I found that when a different language overdubs a film, suddenly the culture that the language inhabits comes alive-- in spite of where the film was set. I found this to be true true true. An actor that looked generally Caucasian suddenly felt Italian-- and a slough of cultural "givens" seemed plastered over the screen and its backdrop. Cultural givens like the machismo mentality of men/women, sexuality, and gender roles. Cultural givens like their view of wealth and affluence. These cultural givens that exuded from the film were Italian, not American.

I felt this most strongly when, as year 2 came to a close of Italian living, I saw "The Departed". By that stage in Italian acculturation, I had really gotten a sense of "cultural givens" in Italia and had conversed many many many times with internationals (Americans, British, Dutch, Italians) about the differences between Italia and America, as well as other nations. So, when I saw "The Departed" in Italian, an Italian worldview exuded. After my housemate gave me a downloaded version of it in English, I repeated the viewing (having deeply deeply loved the Italian version). The film was almost a different film. Perhaps I'm too sensitive, but I can't deny what I felt.

One unique aspect of being an American, I discovered after living overseas, is the approach & life-integration of film appreciation.

In Italia, films are art accessories that you can choose to seek or not to seek. My housemate Sofia, an Italian woman of origin, deeply appreciated the art of film but was highly selective with what films she would see or appreciate. I feel like the Europeans are less easily excited when it comes to the Arts in general... and then ESPECIALLY film, because it's a new medium (and, in their eyes, justifiably so on many levels, often artistically "abused"-- moving from being art to being just blah expression).

In regards to the European view of Art in general, I felt the differentiation strongly with my first Italian boyfriend Piergiuseppe. When we walked the halls of Capodimonte in Napoli, looking at art pieces, he would schluff (is that even a word?) most of them aside-- explaining their periods and symbolism (gotta love how all Italians are SCHOOLED in art history) and then saying why he couldn't relate to it.

For me, all the art was just FRESH and OLD and a time capsule. A TIME CAPSULE. For him, Italia IS the past and present always. Rome, for example, has all the old (the Colosseum, Roman Forum, etc.) integrated with the new (the shopping streets, cafes, housing). Sofia felt similarly about film, less excited about just any version of expression. It had to be GOOD/right/relate-able to her. That's great!

That's why I miss Europe in a lot of ways. The foundation of the ancient and HISTORY underneath all of the modern experiences. It's rooting/grounding and contextualization --- SUCH HISTORICAL CONTEXT-- that brings more of a relaxed, objective, relative perspective.

Every single time I met an American while traveling, it was inevitable, somewhere in the course of conversation, film would come up. Film would surface inside jokes, life commentary, emotional commentary, etc. Film truly is the American medium of art. Sure, the French are huge cinema artists. Sure, the Italians dabble. But the American culture has a brick in its foundation called "film". You may not agree with me, but seriously, it's been a revelation from my abroad experience.

And, connecting with the above commentary about Americans liking Time-Capsules of Art
versus Europeans judging its quality because of their context,
I will say that as an American, I AM more patient with films that aren't quality or meaningful meaningful art expression (like the films: "Friends with Money", "Just Like Heaven", "Life or Something Like It", "Liar Liar", etc) because of their broader strokes of theme-introduction or touching on a subject in a fresh, although imperfect or even flawed, level. Maybe that's why so many lay Americans have more of a deep connection with more modern art as well...?


& the Sea.
(a film as commentary on the sea of relationships)

So, one of the films I caught up on this last summer was: "The Last Kiss". I had heard of it before leaving for Italia the year before, and since I had appreciated Zach Braff's "Garden State" so much, I thought I might appreciate this one as well. (Ironically, by the way, I'm in Jersey now. THE Garden State. :)...) Sure, he didn't write it, but I trust his film-participation selectivity.

It happened.
Deep appreciation.
"The Last Kiss" is now a possession of mine.
A really really significant film to me-- a window into relationship realities and life realities that are seldom pictured in such an honest and dedicated way.

A window into TENSIONS in the sea of relationships.
The Rising and falling.
The Effects of weather.
The dichotomies and paradoxes that exist in hues of grey.
The decisions and their challenges.
The times to stick-to-your-guns & when to open your mind.
The not-giving-up.

If you see the film, MAKE SURE and see the extras on the dvd-- specifically the ones about how they chose the cast. In those extras, they really talk about how the characters do have a lot going on-- a lot of grey. Not black and white-- right and wrong-- moral and immoral decisions/emotions/actions. They chose the actors who could really help paint those realities. I LOVE how they articulate it.




The couple that can't share life together but is sharing a child.







The couple that is navigating the challenge of lifetime commitment and really expressing love to each other.







The couple facing a path linked to so many other paths... the fears of predictability and the loss of surprise/spontaneity in life.






Also, in the extras, they talk about how they bought the rights to this Italian film (which I need to see!) "L'Ultimo Bacio / The Last Kiss" and re-worked the ending of the film to really shape the thrust of the film thematically/philosophically. Fascinating.






SO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Film & the Sea.

I am so grateful for Film.
and I'm so grateful for the Sea of Relationships.

I am so grateful for all the textures and nuances of different people in this life.
I am so grateful that those textures & nuances get to intersect with my own & therefore change my life context, life path, life decisions, and everything that this life is.

So. A toast. Cheers to the Art of Film. However flawed & abused it is-- it is a source of philosophical/thematic life commentary that I value and appreciate deeply.

Cheers to the Greys of relationships that are so frustrating and absolutely heart-wrenching and terrible. Cheers to all that they build in us as individuals. Cheers to all that relationships give to this lifetime.

posted by )(( hannah mello ))( @ 11:10 PM