Skunkeye enjoyed a fantastic Easter weekend. Caught up with visiting old friends, and when it turned all lovely on Saturday afternoon, we lolled about Meridian Hill Park, walked around the hood, and admired all the pretty flowers. Went to St. Matthews with MJ, who just got back from Argentina, on Sunday – the mosaics inside are really quite spectacular. Unfortunately, the weather has turned and we were standing by the drafty open door, and caught quite a chill. Fancy brunch was thwarted – too wet and cold to walk back to mi casa – so we grabbed some epanadas and caught a matinee. Despite the uncomfortable conditions, it was a memorable and fun Easter.
Skunkeye also thoroughly enjoyed Dogville. I seemed to be the only one in the theater who did. MJ was squirming and scoffing throughout, others cheered when the final chapter was announced. The film was long, heavy, and slow but it was a completely engrossing experience. Refreshing even. And the cast was stellar- every one found just the right tone for the material. Really dig the homespun/morality tale/parable, Brechtian/Our Town qualties. (Can't seem to artculate today sorry.) I guess something in my head when I sat down decided not to take it too seriously. Certainly Dogville was presented in stagey, half high school production, half experimental theater, rather than a realistic style. So how could one take it too literally? I found a lot of clever dark humor – a bit like Edward Gorey - in the dialogue, structure, characters, and their actions – all building up to a brilliant finale. It just got nastier and more over the top and I thought it was just hilarious. One has to remember that Hans Christian Anderson is also from Denmark - his Little Mermaid was some pretty dark stuff. Lars von Trier has reportedly never even been to the United States and is well known as kind of a nut-case so whatever perceived anti-Americanism or misogyny just has to be leveled with a grain of salt. It’s just a movie, baby, …just sit back and take in his unique vision. It is certainly more different than any thing that has played on the screens recently and at the very least, leads to heated dialogue and debate after the show, which is what all art should do.
Howver, I felt the "Young Americans"/dust bowl/hillbilly/poor folk photo montage at the end was not really necessary or effective and just stoopid really.
Cooked a wonderful Easter dinner for my grandmother. Last year she was spending the night in the ER, the beginning of a long stay in the hospital. We have a lot to be grateful for this Easter.
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