We have certainly had the April showers. But the first two days of May have been more like late March, with cold wind and rain. We are still running the boiler in May. Then, suddenly, we will be at 85 F and turning on the A. C. We were out walking last Friday, and the farm fields were completely waterlogged. We've had plenty more rain since last Friday. Frogs were singing away in the ditches. Though our grass is high enough to cut, it's been too wet.
This Friday is the 3rd piano performance group get together. So far, three is the magic number. The first gathering I was with Alde and Nadia, while at the second I was with our two newest members, Rob B. and Rob S. They are both working physicians (internal medicine) but fine piano players. I've known Rob B since he was a small boy, winning all the local piano competitions. We reconnected on FB and he expressed interest in coming out, and enticed another doctor to join him. This Friday we are at Paula's studio, and it looks like three of us again. I doubt we will ever have all six together at once, but perhaps someday. Paula just signed on to the group recently because she and her husband spend the winters in Florida. She will be with us until late October.
We are hoping to get to Detroit this week, if the weather offers us an opportunity. John King Books, a brewery or three, and perhaps a bookstore and a cafe, along with a walk somewhere. Next week the new astronomy session begins, which will mean very late nights for me, and if it is clear then very little daytime activity will be planned. No other big plans for the next few weeks. A trip to visit family is forthcoming, however.
In film news, there are three to report. Deb's final pick was a short animated feature called Our Sound, from 2019. It's a weird and strange comedy about three high school boys suddenly starting up a rock band. They have two bass guitars and a partial drum set. From Japan, it captures a lot of the tropes about such spontaneous bands, and treats them with humour and a kind of oblique sensitivity. Recommended. Watch for the brief Abbey Road tribute.
Next came the end of the month film festival, which is still in progress. My theme this time was the same as two months ago--films showing on Criterion from the Sight and Sound survey of top 100 films of all time. Up till now I have chosen unseen films, but this time I chose films that we have seen, but not lately. First up was Ugetsu, from 1953 and directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. As is usual with Criterion, there were extras to watch afterwards, too. The story is about two men who are overcome with greed during a period of war and civil unrest. One man wants more than anything to become a samurai, while his friend simply wants more money. They are both led astray, with the money man being seduced by a ghost woman. A sad film in many ways, the ending is unexpected and more than a bit unsatisfying, almost as if the message was not to try and rise above your station in life. That was perhaps true in medieval times anywhere, though. The movie is very good, but it would not appear on my top 100 list. There are several unforgettable moody scenes, including the man's first visit to the ghost castle, and a ferry trip across a river in the fog.
Next came a movie from Roberto Rossellini called Journey To Italy. From 1954, it would not even make my own top 1000 list. Starring Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders as a married couple heading soon for a divorce, they drive to Italy (Naples) to sell off an inherited house. By day she goes sightseeing. He has no interest in anything much. They squabble constantly. Finally, near the end, they go together to Pompeii. They see the uncovering of an adult couple who died in each other's arms during the catastrophe. They go back to Naples, get caught up in a religious festival, and suddenly are in love with one another. Some nice travelogue stuff about Naples here, but not much else. Sanders is like a piece of wood or a stone. Why would she suddenly fall in love with him? Desperation and insecurity at being alone? Not a great film by any measure, Scorsese and a few others swear by it. It did break from the Italian neorealism school and start a new direction for film. While it might be important for film history buffs, it is far from being a good movie. Listed as the 73rd best film of all time, it is at the same rank as L'Avventura. Really?
The 3rd and final film in my festival starts tonight. Until next time....
Mapman Mike
