Feeling Depressed? Just Watch This Movie
Feeling Depressed? Just Watch This Movie
For a lot of reasons lately I've not been feeling particularly cheerful - weather is shitty again, the virus is showing up around here again after almost 2 years absence, mother-in-law just died so my wife's mood is low, the news is disturbing, children starving in Afghanistan, and there's so much death, destruction and displacement in Ukraine, scary hints of WMD being considered, even mention of nuclear war...and there's not much joy showing up on NT either - even a site that had been limited to creativity has gone political as well. So I turned on the TV and a movie had just started, one I had never seen before - The Purple Rose of Cairo. A woman was having a fight with her husband, was obviously unhappy, went to a movie theatre and watched a movie that seemed to be from the thirties. All of a sudden one of the actors was talking directly to the depressed woman, and then he walked right out of the screen into the movie theatre. I damn near fell off the couch. There were conversations between the actors on the movie screen who were upset that the lead actor had walked out, and conversations between the actor who was in the theatre and the ones on the screen. All I can say is it sure as hell pulled me out of the mood I was in This movie was IMO a brilliant creation by Woody Allen, of pedophilic fame.
So my advice to you, if you've not already seen this movie, you really have to watch it. It was released in 1985 when movies were bright enough and the dialogue clear enough, but so many of the newer movies are ones I turn off almost as soon as I turn them on because they're so damned dark, people walking around with flashlights, I can hardly see a thing - seems to be the new cinematography technique, and the actors either speak so fast or mumble mumble mumble and I can't understand a word they're saying. As well, the plots are so mundane, and I don't even want to watch the Star Wars series any more. When Han Solo was killed by his son, as far as I'm concerned that killed Star Wars. I'm not interested in watching that series without Han Solo.
There will be no more movie quizzes for a while - When 15 participants dwindled down to 4 my interest in creating them waned as well.
Maybe these days it's time to do more reading. Spend less time on the computer. At least there are seven 24/7 movie channels here and recently they've been showing a lot of classic movies - usually I can find at least something worth watching, so maybe emulate the heroine in The Purple Rose of Cairo and watch more movies and for sure less news. Who knows, with all the craziness that's happening these days maybe someone will walk out of the TV screen. Fantasyland here I come.
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I'll have to check it out Buzz. I think I'm over the time when I avoided anything created by Allen or featuring Mia Farrow.
At least Woody isn't in the movie. I can't stand how whiney he is in his movies.
Cant remember if I ever saw this movie or not. I may revisit it if i see it show up on the one of the streaming channels I watch.
Hey Buzz!
You're absolutely right about this film - one of Allen's best, and a brilliant piece of art. It most definitely should have gotten more attention than it did. I watch it at least once every two years or so. Like Radio Days, Hannah, and Midnight in Paris, there are some Allen films that just make you feel good about life again. Ironic, isn't it?
Good to "see" you - it's been many years. Hope all is well
PR
And good to hear from you too - all is well for us, hope the same for you. I know you joined us here almost a decade ago, but you've not been posting anything for quite a while.
2013 was a rough year.
You still in the Exotic East?
I believe so, so he isn't usually available to post due to sleep requirements during the day. Sorry Buzz, hope you do not mind
Yep, heading towards 16 years now. Married a gorgeous Chinese woman, love the people, the country and its traditions, more relaxed than ever before. I'm honoured that after all this time your first post on NT was directed to me. What happened back in 2013 that kept you away for so long? You can send me a Private Note if you prefer.
Not at all. Thanks for explaining my delay.
I'm honoured you remember after all these years, TBH
My daughter passed away suddenly, out of the blue, on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon. Hard to explain the impact of losing a child.
I've been lucky enough to spend a little time in China. Just the tourist spots - Bejing, X'ian, up the Yangtzee, the Li River, and Hong Kong. If you don't mind answering, do you live near any of these places?
I'm fascinated with the approach that China has taken to the pandemic, and would really enjoy hearing your take on it. If that's too far off topic, I apologize.
My condolences on your loss and wb. It is good to see you again.
Sorry about your daughter. Both my mother's first child and my brother's first child in both his marriages suffered that same fate and I guess I was just lucky.
Yeah I've done all those same tourist spots and of course an awful lot more. If you went up the Yangtze, did you stop or pass by Chongqing? It was known as Chunking during WW2, and was the base for the American Flying Tigers (who are still honoured and commemorated by the Chinese people). It's my wife's home town, and although I started out living in Zhengzhou in central China for about a decade, I moved to Chengdu for a year, and about 4 years ago moved to and will remain in Chongqing for the rest of my life. My wife (for more than 13 years now) is happiest being with her family and old friends, and unlike some Chinese women who want to marry western men in order to move to America or elsewhere, my wife is very happy to stay here and so am I.
Although the pandemic is sort of off topic I'm the one who determines what's on topic and what isn't on my articles. I've always been very lenient about what's on topic, unless it's contrary to the CoC or ToS. or meant to make me uncomfortable. As for China's zero tolerance Covid policy, I think it's the only way to beat it, and save for some recent surges here it's been a lot more successful than what's been done elsewhere.
Morning Buzz..well sometimes we have to talk off topic..not our fault all the others keep weird hours and live on the wrong side of the world...
LOL At least you and I are able to contribute to making this a 24/7 web site.
Great to see you Physicist-retired!
Hey TiG!
Great to "see" you too! How's things?
Things are good on this roller coaster of life. Looking forward to the opportunity to again (safely) travel abroad (especially a cruise).
I would like to see a war end by removing a Russian war criminal from office and encourage some decent human beings to run for political office in the USA. But I do not yet feel the need to watch a feel-good movie.
Yeah - travel is one of the things I miss most in this pandemic. That and grandkid hugs.
Started serious hiking during the lockdown tho, and I'm certainly enjoying learning about my surroundings. The Japanese have a special name for forest hiking - they call it forest bathing. They aren't wrong.
Here's hoping you set sail soon. CDC says it's okay if you're up to date on shots. Good luck!
My family is fully vaxxed.
One good of the pandemic is that I have worked on myriad projects, learned quite a bit about various topics and acquired several new skills (especially in the area of 3D printing / design). I also made a serious dent in my reading list. Currently reading: