Welcoming November with the spirit of Invictus

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

(1849-1903)

This has been a favourite poem of mine for almost thirty years, inspiring me through rougher patches in my life, urging me to be brave, and reminding me that I too am the captain of my unconquerable soul. It's quite earnest but I love it.

And I'm so excited about its apt association with this forthcoming release. Nelson Mandela, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood - along with an inspirational true story - an illustrious collaboration for movie majesty (Matt Damon's not too bad either).

I remember this moment in history well. I'd never been a fan of rugby, still am not, but on that day of the Rugby World Cup final in 1995, I cried as President Mandela walked out onto the field wearing a Springbok rugby shirt and I was swept along (with most of the country) as he again broke down barriers previously thought to be cast in stone, and united a nation divided for decades in one euphoric sporting moment. It was something I'll never forget.

If anyone embodies the spirit of Henley's poem, it is surely Madiba. And even though it might be a little bit Hollywoodised, the combined gravitas of Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood I hope will avoid it being overly trivialised. I can't wait to see Invictus the movie, rugby and all.

And I'm happy it's November.

[My current quotation notebook's from here - these products are so beautiful, just browsing the site makes me happy and, at last, they are starting to appear in UK stores. I'm planning to start a collection...]

Sweet Paul tries a little tenderness

I'm a big Paul Giamatti fan but I was unaware of this... 

He can sing too.

Do you remember this movie? I missed it at the time but caught it at a friend's place recently on dvd and I'm thinking of ordering it to add to my dead-cert-feel-good-happy-ending movie shelf (oh yes, I really do have one) to sit alongside (amongst others) The Breakfast Club, Moonstruck, Fried Green Tomatoes, Monsoon Wedding, Mamma Mia and Amélie. What can I say? My tastes are eclectic and I have no shame. 

Like several of those it would be joining on that shelf, this is cheesy in the extreme but it does makes me want to head out and find a karaoke bar, for some sing-along fun. Or to dance around my apartment singing at the top of my voice. I cannot sing. Truly. I like to sing but I am musically tone deaf and cannot carry a tune. It's a standing joke amongst the few family members who have ever heard it. And not without reason. My karaoke would be more in the style of Cameron Diaz. Almost too painful to watch and listen to. But don't worry, my singing is not something I'll ever subject you to. I promise.

But Paul can sing. And this is a classic sing-along song for me. I think it was banned from covers night at my university local, along with the likes of Piano Man and American Pie, because it was just done to death - mostly badly. But I like it. And I like Paul Giamatti and Andre Braugher's version.

Just what I need to get me through this compulsory Finance and Audit Workshop May Tuesday.

Marigold and Monsoon love

I grew up disliking marigolds. Poor little things. They never did me any harm but I associated them with stiff and unimaginative municipal plantings and a weird smell, which apparently keeps flies at bay. And in my mind's eye they were always yellow. I love orange but I've never been that fond of yellow. Don't hate it especially, just don't love it. Except for that canary yellow jumpsuit I had in the '80s... but that's a story for a different day.

So, the marigolds... how our relationship has evolved since then. I travelled beyond municipal flower beds and encountered them in different contexts. And when I think of them now, I think of markets, of temples, festivals, garlands and the combined smell of jasmine. I think of sunlit adventures and orange-hued joy, of henna, of celebrations and of dancing. Funny how that happens, isn't it? Horizons stretch and tastes change as we are changed.

I changed. And now I love marigolds - unusual smell, sometimes-yellow petals & all. I am transported by the sight and scent of them to warm and happy places.

And this weekend, I was reminded again of my love of marigolds when I re-watched one of my very favourite movies - Monsoon Wedding. It never fails to make me laugh and cry and dance around the room, but it's worth watching for the marigolds alone.

[Credit for Flickr loveliness here and movie poster found here]

Escape into fairytale beauty...

I've been looking forward to seeing this movie since I first saw it mentioned last year. Today I finally watched it on dvd. And I loved it.

At a Los Angeles hospital in the 1920s, a little girl called Alexandria is recovering from a broken arm. She befriends Roy Walker, a suicidal movie stunt man with legs paralysed after a fall. Roy tells her a fantastic story about five men of widely varied backgrounds: a masked bandit in a blue cloak, a highly fictionalised version of Charles Darwin (who has a monkey named Wallace), an Indian warrior, an ex-slave named Otta Benga, and an Italian explosives expert called Luigi. All of these men are on a quest to kill a corrupt provincial governor named Odious, who has harmed each of them in some way.  And they unite forces to achieve revenge. Between chapters of the story, Roy persuades Alexandria to scout the hospital's pharmacy for morphine...

The story Roy tells is drawn in the images of Alexandria's imagination and the characters, including the heroes, are the people who inhabit her real life transported to a beautiful, colourful, stylised world. In this world a Native-American Indian warrior becomes an Asian Indian because the only Indian Alexandria has ever met is from the Indian subcontinent. The story also includes Alexander the Great, exotic cities, tropical seas, orange deserts, a swimming elephant, a beautiful nun... Who can resist?

The film contains almost no special effects, only clever cinematography, and was filmed in in 26 locations in over 18 countries (including South Africa). 

If you haven't already seen it, you might like to. It's beautifully acted. And beautiful.

Escapism at its best.

Lost in gentle, genteel Cranford...

So Christmas came and went. It was pleasant enough and I achieved two of my key aims - to relax and to eat too many mince pies. A good day.

Today I'm ticking off a few more things on my holiday to do list:

• Sleep beyond sunrise (a recent record of 5 consecutive hours)
  
• Wear pyjamas all day (is there any greater pleasure than changing into fresh pyjamas and snuggly socks for the day? Something SO deliciously decadent about this for me)
  
• Eat breakfast at lunchtime and lunch (leftovers from yesterday) for dinner
  
• Read (a Birthday present I've been looking forward to starting) and nap at will
  
• Start watching some of my saved and favourite movies and series on dvd...

If you enjoy a good period drama, as I do, this one can't be beaten. Superb story-telling, incredible actors and that production polish that the BBC do so well. It is a subtle, rich, emotional beauty of a piece. Almost 5 hours of it. 

I saw this series when it ran on the BBC and was gifted with the dvds a little while ago. I do so love being able to watch a whole series in one sitting. It's like getting lost in a great book and staying up all night to read it to the end. Becoming an inhabitant (albeit in the role of observer) of that world for a little while. I'm about half way through and I've already laughed and cried. And that's a good sign.

I hope you're having a great time doing whatever's on your to do list for the days after Christmas...

How to make yourself smile

If you haven't already done so, and you need a little lifting of your spirits or just want to enjoy an hour or so of happy escapist nonsense, I'd highly recommend going to see Mamma Mia!

I was lucky enough to see the stage production a couple of years ago, which was great fun. I am not a particular fan of Abba but enjoyed the way they used the music to tell the story and had a great night out with a friend. I wasn't sure how well it'd translate to movie format though. But if it's good enough for Meryl Streep... I reckoned it was surely worth checking out. And I loved it!

All they have really done is employ a great cast, find a fab location, and let them recreate all the silly fun and joy that the stage show managed to generate. It's a cinematic stage show. But it works somehow. Is it a little overblown and cheesy? Yes. Can Pierce Brosnan sing? No! Can you help yourself from being drawn in and swept along by it? I'd be surprised.

Audiences in the cinemas I've seen it in (yes, ok, I admit it... I've been to see it twice already. But you know, it's one's duty to accompany various friends to these things) have been clapping and cheering an toe-tapping! Literally! And this is the UK - home of the stiff upper lip and pride in a reserved demeanour. Cheering and clapping! It's a blast. And virtually irresistible I'd say. Even if you aren't an Abba fan. And Meryl Streep is awesome. I want to be like her when I grow up!

When it comes out on dvd I am going to buy it and watch it whenever I need to have my heart lifted and a good old sing-along. Or when I'm doing the ironing! I'm sure it'll make me smile. Again.

It might not be for you (really?!) so please don't hold me accountable if you go and hate it but, if you do go, or have been, let me know what you think... I'd be interested to hear, either way.

Pictures from Starpulse