Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Last Night at the Movies

Went to see The Reader last night (after our Sunday cancellation). It was really well done. I'm not giving the plot away to any of you who may not have read the book, but it is a movie that will make you think. There are several moral dilemmas, and the movie covers them beautifully. Neither the book nor the movie tries to manipulate your emotions (which is good, because the moral questions should engage your intellect, and it would have been so easy to have made this an emotional miasma).

Amelia and I read the book about 14 years ago, and neither of us remembered the part about the daughter. It was a lot of books ago, and I could easily have just not registered that as important; but neither of us were sure if it was an addition or if we'd simply forgotten. It has no effect on the story, so it is simply a matter of curiosity.

Kate Winslet was excellent as Hannah and David Kross did a wonderful job as the young Michael. Ralph Fiennes is also good, but his role as the adult Michael was somewhat smaller.

Today has been very low-key. I didn't feel great today; not terrible, but not good, so I've read most of the day and finished Resolute and Chakra Yoga.

Jan. 7 -- A Year of Living Your Yoga: It's not about what comes in but what comes up. "
We often believe that what we learn from the outside makes us better yoga students. Today when you practice, pay more attention to your own wisdom as it comes up."

5 comments:

  1. Oh, I really want to see that movie. I was hoping to read the book first, but I doubt I will have time...

    Hope you feel better soon :)

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  2. Id like to see this. i have vague memories of a french film of the same name - years and years ago. i wonder if it is the same one. I dont think it will be showing here for a few months - i havent seen it advertised yet

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  3. Genie - The book is very, very short and reads fast. Both the book and the film are excellent.

    Paula - The novel was first published in 1995 in Germany and in translation soon after. As far as I know, this is the first film version.

    I hadn't heard anything about the film until Amelia said it was showing at the Film Center, which usually gets those movies that don't go to most theaters.

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  4. thursday i'm heading down to spend some time with my parents....my mother is a big movie buff and the reader is on the top of her list of flicks to see with me....i'm happy to read your thumbs up!

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  5. Kim - Eager to hear what you and your mother think of the movie!

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Good to hear from you!