Spring break brings a slower pace, extra yoga classes, long family hikes, and picnics at the park with the kiddos. Yesterday I seized the chance to catch a matinee movie - alone! It was a wonderful film based on W. Somerset Maugham's novel, The Painted Veil, which was inspired by Shelley's sonnet, Lift Not the Painted Veil. The movie was beautifully filmed with glorious scenery of China. Lang Lang performed on the piano for the soundtrack. Like the movie of my blog's namesake, it was full of sublime religious symbolism. 'Twas most romantic, in a deeply profound way.
Lift not the painted veil which those who live
Call Life: though unreal shapes be pictured there,
And it but mimic all we would believe
With colours idly spread,--behind, lurk Fear
And Hope, twin Destinies; who ever weave
Their shadows, o'er the chasm, sightless and drear.
I knew one who had lifted it--he sought,
For his lost heart was tender, things to love,
But found them not, alas! nor was there aught
The world contains, the which he could approve.
Through the unheeding many he did move,
A splendour among shadows, a bright blot
Upon this gloomy scene, a Spirit that strove
For truth, and like the Preacher found it not.
~Percy Bysshe Shelley
Catch a good flick and call your mother!
7 comments:
I remember reading "Of Human Bondage" in college and loved Maugham then. I will have to see this one, though I will probably wait until it is on DVD. Thanks for the review.
My last movie was Amazing Grace, very well done and a marvelous history lesson. In addition, one of the sponsors and research sites was Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. Asbury is where my parents went to school and met, marrying one week after Mom's graduation, some 56 years ago this June.
I must read this book first, before seeing the movie.
Have a relaxing spring break.
Oh, yes, do have a good spring break...good for the body, soul, and mind. I haven't yet bought Babette's Feast, but I intend to.
I went to see Miss Potter last weekend. I found it delightful.
I dunno. Looks like a "chick flick" to me. Any good action scenes?
Hea, my Spartan buddy and I are at odds. I compared MSU's winning the NCAA hockey championship to Michigan's b-ball team winning the NIT a few years ago. Considering the numbers of schools participating, the relative popularity of the sports, the unpredictability of what happens on ice, etc., I figured it a fair comparison. But my buddy's in a huff, thinking I'm belittling his schools' accomplishment. You're on my side, aren't you, ole' blogging buddy?
This is just the sort of recommendation I need. I love Edward Norton and I have a couple weeks of relative solitude as the other half hits the road. Speaking of which- I've already book that island B and B. I like thinking about you sneaking off to a matinee on your own. When BCMA would take in a matinee we packed wonderful delicacies under our coats to eat throughout.
A matinee all by oneself is almost as wonderous as a yoga session with a favorite teacher. Now I'm imagining going to yoga and then directly to a matinee. Throw in a massage and shower in between and that would be a little bit of bliss.
Hmmmm....how to arrange that? My spring break is the inverse of yours. And when school's in session, my break ends before the matinees start, by noon.
Maybe on a Saturday?
I will look for The Painted Veil.
My next paper will be on Ben Franklin and printing...still looking for a good angle on that.
Before I start I may need to do some fasting (detoxing, the more stylish phrase these days) and resting.
I rarely get to the movies, although this one in particular looks delightful.
It makes me want to take an afternoon off whilst the kids are in school...
I just might do that. :)
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