Private screening

I don't mind watching movies with someone else for the most part, as long as they don't mind my one particular viewing quirk. Any possibility of a gunshot or an extremely bloody or gruesome scene will have me watching behind my fingers, or with my hands clasped over my ears (yes, I am five), asking for updates on "is it over yet?" which is, I realize, rather annoying. (My family says it is endearing. My family lies, of course.) So if you are fine with that, and unless you are truly obnoxious during the movie and are moving about, making noise, or talking, beyond my tolerated threshold (and my threshold is pretty high, since I spent a good many years watching English movies back home while simultaneously translating and answering questions for anyone I was watching with, usually a group of people), then I don't have a problem with seeing movies with someone.


*I should make the distinction this mostly applies to private viewings at home. I am rather picky about who I see a movie with in the theatre; again, I am pretty tolerant of undercurrents of conversations, etc. coming from around me, but for some reason, I really don't want to engage in any verbal back and forth in a theatre other than maybe a few random words. Physical exchanges--shoulder nudges indicating shared appreciation of a humorous scene, or hand holding during particularly gruesome scenes are all welcome, of course. (There other kinds of exchanges, from years long past, I prefer in a different venue now. What can I say, old age requires a comfort beyond cramped, folding seats for certain things now. )

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There are a handful of movies I don't like watching--and won't watch--with anyone, though. I suppose there are a number of different reasons for each one, but mostly it boils down to each movie having made an impression on me that I don't want to share and which I definitely don't want marred by someone else's interpretation. I usually don't have a personal connection or reaction to movies--not the way I do with books and certainly not anywhere near how I do with music--so when something comes along that really hits me hard visually, I tend to be far less likely to want to share experiencing it than I do the others. I'm not sure why, except perhaps because it's a much more open and direct way--maybe less cerebral?--way of sharing something about myself, which always makes me cautious.

But just because I won't watch a certain movie with someone doesn't mean I won't talk about it or recommend it. I just don't want to hear about what you thought of it, or have you ask me too much about what I thought of it, mostly.

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I will tell you this much about The Piano: I think Michael Nyman did a brilliant job of composing music that really does sound like it could have been written during the time the movie is set and--this is especially important--written by the character Ada. It's is her voice, after all, and it doesn't feel contrived or forced.

It also has probably one of the most romantic love stories I've ever seen (and I am not romantic by nature), and definitely, hands down, no doubt about it, the best--and most heartrending--love note scene ever shown on screen.

(Any search on the movie will also invariably bring up mentions of feminist symbolism etc. Which is certainly applicable, and it is fine if you want to go ahead and interpret it that way. It has nothing to do with--no real bearing on, I should say--why I love this movie the way I do. Once again, in this particular instance, to each his or her own, and quite separately.)

The Sacrifice - Michael Nyman (music and excerpts from the movie The Piano)



P.S. Holly Hunter played her own pieces in the movie. Just like Emily Watson--who did the same for her pieces in 'Hilary and Jackie'--knowing this adds a completely new level of respect--and hotness--to their talent.