The White Countess

>> Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Nobody told me that Ralph Fiennes starred in a movie called The White Countess with Natasha Richardson and the Redgrave sisters and that this movie was shown last year. My dad bought the DVD last week, and I got coerced to watch it last night. It just goes to show that the hole I have burrowed for myself is really deep and that I need to get out.

Anyway... The White Countess was set in Shanghai in the 1930s, just at the eve of World War II. The title refers to the name of the bar set up by Todd Jackson (Ralph Fiennes), an ex-diplomat who lost his family and his sight in a series of tragedies. The title also refers to Sofia Belinskaya (Natasha Richardson), a Russian countess who was displaced by the Russian revolution along with the rest of the aristocracy, and who was forced to work as a taxi dancer (and probably a prostitute) to support her daughter and the rest of her family.

To me, the movie is full of contrasts. A blind man who sees perfection in a woman supposedly tarnished by the work she does. A woman who faces hard reality squarely to keep a family whose members cling stubbornly to memories of wealth and indulgence, which shall never come again into their lives, from starving. A bar that stood by itself, the realization of a dream of all that is balanced and beautiful, amidst chaos.

The White Countess is told simply, understated and yet poignant. The cinematography is marvelous, sometimes whimsical, sometimes sensual, but never harsh even in the portrayal of hardship. It is a beautiful movie, and I yearn to watch it again.

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Shut Up, Raul Gonzales

>> Sunday, September 03, 2006

I have read this article before, but it is only now that it sinked in: Gonzales: UP breeds destabilizers, naked runners.

You know, Secretary Gonzales, our mothers often teach us that if we do not have anything good to say about someone, it is much, much better to just shut up. You've only just made yourself look stupid, IMHO.

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Horizontal Growth

>> Saturday, September 02, 2006

Ten years ago, I had a 24-inch waistline and 35-inch hips. I could wear skinny jeans without any trouble. But since I was such a nerd at 18, I never gave it a single thought.

You only miss the things you take for granted once they are gone. I would give anything to have a 24-inch waistline again.

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One Million Love Messages

I got a comment from 1 Million Love Messages last month, but only got to visit the site today. Almost unforgiveable, but hey, I've been very, very busy these past couple of weeks or so.

The idea is cool, nonetheless, and hey -- we do need a lot of love in the world right now.

Fill the world with love.

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