having fun is cool: you are my valentime
hello friends, happy valentimes month!!
valentimes may be over, but love is forever probably.
even though I am still doing considering of what I am feeling about this newsletter and the state of sharing etc., I received an extremely kind email in response to the last missive, that was encouraging, and so when (as recently as sunday) I understood this month is basically over and that my newsletter reminder had been red for exactly three weeks, I thought about what I would tell all of my valentimes that I recommend from the last month.
so here it is. hopefully short. definitely sweet.
BOOK: how to write an autobiographical novel, by alexander chee
essays? for me? who could have seen that coming. I was recommended this book by a friend whose taste I extremely trust, and she was right. this book slapped. it probably helps that I read the autobiographical novel in question (edinburgh) but also this book of essays really got me by the throat. there is a quality of prose that I found dizzying. and that is what I have to say!
MOVIE: the list
I have been making a concerted effort to watch more movies, so I'll give you a little run down to see if any would strike your fancy, too.
paris, texas: insane colors. here is the synopsis mark gave me: silent guy shows up in the desert and then reconciles with his family. the dialogue was a little bad on purpose I think but it works with the style. good job to that guy, wim wenders for making this movie and robby mueller for making it look beautiful. now I have to watch dancer in the dark to see more colors please.
fire of love: a documentary? who me?? another friend told me I would like. I said I will try!! how do they make archival footage look like wes anderson movie? I guess the real question is how does wes anderson make his movies look like amateur french vulcanologists' archival footage. I talked with a real vulcanologist about the movie, and he told me that his colleagues all have beef with the couple in the film because of the dangerous things they did (spoiler alert!!) that led to their death and the death of the ~real~ scientist who nannied them around the world. anyway, it's still really fun to watch the lava flow.
summertime: katherine hepburn later in life. yes, that's right, she goes on vacation to venice and finds a lover. the original play was written by the guy who wrote west side story, and directed by the guy who did bridge on the river kwai, doctor zhivago, and lawrence of arabia. simple, slow, old, venice. it was very pleasant to watch.
decalogue I-IV: I'm working my way through the decalogue, which is ten, one-hour made for tv movies loosely related to the ten commandments but in Poland in the '80s. I have enjoyed them all, and I can't wait to finish them so that I can rewatch another series by the same director: red, white, and blue.
TÁR: I can't stop thinking about this bad lady based on a real bad lady. I like that the director invented big league chew gum and then said now that I am rich, I will direct films. that is a cool rich guy thing to do. the pacing of this movie was outstanding. I am thrilled to have seen these ghosties and think about playing music again and how messed up the classical music world is. and every world is, I guess.
bicycle thieves: I wanted to know why this was meant to be one of the best movies of all time, so I finally saw it. I think it's the deceptive simplicity and the poetic nature of its accessibility and its quotidian nature that really makes it special. if you're in the mood to listen to Italian, I say give it a go.
decision to leave: from the guy that did the handmaiden comes a way less fucked up movie. I liked it, but it's not quite as twisty turn-y. I think it's a pretty good mystery, but I imagine there are better.
funny girl: my first barbra film. she is exactly as incredible as I imagined. she is funny and I laughed. she looked incredible and I cannot wait to read her one thousand-page memoir.
GOOP: r&r undefined sun serum
constantly in search of the best sunscreen for acne-prone skin, I came across this one that I described as thin and my friend described as thick. it's a sunscreen serum with ~body~ and I like the tint but if you're very fair or darker than medium skin it might look weird. I find that it gives me glow without full tin man. it's mineral based but no white cast because it's tinted. maybe it will work for you!
BONUS: something new, something new
do you ever think everything has to change just a little bit and maybe unsmoothing the brain could be helpful and that going to some new events, new people, new places could be helpful to prod yourself into having some new thoughts? it's true. it works. so catch me outside in the places and spaces. see you there.
xo
