Suburban Kids With Biblical Names

With a name like this, you would think this band would be American, but they are Swedish. I first heard them on my friend Kara's car stereo as she, Rob Gifford, and I explored the lovely Hampshire countryside. What a great soundtrack for our little, temporary "escape" from the L'abri Manor House. Anyway, two fun videos for two fun songs. Hope you enjoy:
"Loop Duplicate My Heart"

"Rent A Wreck"

Web Cam, Good TV, Good Music

Tonight I had a lovely time hanging out with my friends Josh and Jen. Here are my first ever webcam snapshots to document my first ever time to talk to someone (it happened to be Cannon Kirby) on a webcam. I have no idea what that white area on the right in the second photo is there for, but I still love it. Josh looks like an angry Russian (Dostoevsky?), Jen looks giddy, and I look as if I have just spent 100 bucks for hair haighlights (my hair changes color on its own, so no highlights).

Another highlight of the night was being introduced to the hilarious show 30 Rock. Josh and Jen are crazy about it, and I can now see why. At first, I was nervous as the title sounded dangerously close to Third Rock From the Sun (clearly not a good sign). But I was wrong. The writing is quirky, fresh, and extremely clever (thanks Tina Fey). I found Tracy Morgan particularly hilarious, especially when talking about "dropping truth bombs" about the fact that "the white man has been injecting AIDS into our chicken mcnuggets". I think I will soon become a big fan.

Tonight I also learned of a fun new song by another NC band via Josh, Jen, and Cannon.
Here it is: "Die, Die, Die" by the Avett Brothers
What is the deal with all this great music from North Carolina?? It seems nearly every good band I come across these days has some connection to this state. I just remembered that my friend Abby also introduced me to a new (to me) Raleigh band called The Bowerbirds (pictured below). Abby claims that their music is "like a dream", and the more I listen to the following song, the more I feel caught up in the dreaminess. It is mesmerizing, rich, multilayered. lovely. Stick with it till it ends--it will surprise you:
"In Our Talons"

The last exciting discovery of the night was that if you absolutely must shop at Walmart during the busy Christmas season (because you desperately need a new printer cartridge) then 11:30 p.m. is the best time to do it.

Christmas Music that Doesn't Make You Groan

Lots of Christmas music does make me groan--sentimental, commercial, "jolly", yuck. I would usually skip over a post that said "Christmas Music", espcially if it had anything to do with Santa or rockin around the tree or all that crap--any of that overproduced, saccharine schmaltz that is basically muzac for Christmas( although I love lots of classical Christmas pieces)--. But I ask you--yes, you who might even be as cynical as me--to stop and listen to a few refreshing Christmas offerings.
First, a trip back to Sunday School with Half Handed Cloud in these bubbly songs full of childlike wonder and faith:

The * That Moved Around the Nightmp3
Asian Meteorologists Predicted the Heavens to Snow-down a Child to Us (Plant a little Fir Tree) mp3

Next, a lovely reworking of a Christmas classic from Pedro the Lion. Bazan poignantly depicts the co-existence of faith and doubt, thus emphasizing the reality of the human condition. Check out these lyrics:"Now my wife and children dream of gifts beneath the tree/ While I place in the manger baby Jesus figurine/ Sipping Christmas whiskey wondering if I still believe/ Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemenmp3

Okay, I wasn't going to include Sufjan because EVERYONE includes Sufjan and perhaps we are all sick of it. But I just had to come back and edit this post to include this song. "That was the Worst Christmas Ever" is one of the most real, touching Christmas songs I have ever heard. This picture of hope and redemption in the midst of a very dysfunctional family situation speaks reality into the plasticized notions of sentimental, hunky dory pictures of Christmas gatherings depicted in most Christmas related rhetoric. For many people, family harmony and vacuum packed faith are not the reality of Christmas--but Sufjan emphasizes the brokenness, of a family, of an individual, that needs some sort of healing. Listen to the words. For some folks, Christmas is not a happy time. Maybe a great deal of this is due to the fact that the falsified notions of peace, love, and joy embodied in plastic smiles and jolly music highlight the pain of family dischord, questions about faith, the hardness of life. This song does not ignore the hardships,pain, and dysfunction and emphasizes that this is exactly the real reason for Christmas. Part of the strange appeal of Sufjan's music is the constant inclusion of a violence of sorts--physical violence, violence of relationships, of words, of expectations that haven't been met. This tends to offfset the soft, breathy voice, calling attention to the consistent presence of both beauty and pain that is the disturbing mixture of our real lives: "Silent night, holy night; silent night, nothing feels right."..."In time the snow will rise, In time the snow will rise/ In time the Lord will rise, In time the Lord will rise."
I believe in this hope, a hope that doesn't ignore what seems hopeless.

That was the Worst Christmas Ever mp3

Lastly, here is a little surprise treat (although not a video of amazing quality) from the Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers:

Enjoy!
Oh---One more thing!!
Another reminder that for more music of this general ragtag, creative sort, don't forget to purchase the compilation Peace on Earth which includes Christmas offerings from Michael Nau, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Prayers and Tears, David Karsten Daniels, Rosie Thomas and many others. It is only 7 bucks and ALL of that money goes to Toys for Tots. It is only available until Christmas on this blog.

**Okay, so I have another edit/addition. I just found out that there is a free Christmas Collection over at the blog for Sounds Familyre records. These folks--including Danielson, Half Handed Cloud, and Soul Junk among others have given us this little free gift. Check it out! The cool thing is that they are adding a song a day for 12 days--they have added a Sufjan number since I originally posted this.

Okay, that really is it! Please let me know what you think about all this stuff, especially the interesting lyrical content of most.

Sufjan Stevens, a UFO, and the Incarnation

I have been thinking quite a lot lately about the postmodern rebirth of the religious imagination,particularly in the indie music world. This is actually why I am posting the videos and lyrics for these Sufjan and Page France songs. Once I finish all my exam and essay grading, I will be writing an expanded post on the larger subject. This lush, yet sparse, song from Sufjan Stevens' Illinoise takes the contemporary, quirky imagery of a UFO siting to somehow allude to the perplexing mystery of(and the disorientation we feel when trying to understand)the Incarnation. I also really like this guy's little homemade video--hope you do as well.

Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois
When the revenant came down,
We couldn't imagine what it was.
In the spirit of three stars.
The alien thing that took its form.
Then to Lebanon, oh God.
The flashing at night, the sirens grow and grow.
Oh, history involved itself.
Mysterious shade that took its form.
Or what it was, incarnation, three stars.
Delivering signs and dusting from their eyes.

A Wrecking Ball With a Heart of Gold

The song "Chariot" by Page France is one of the most creative, krazily joyful, passionate songs I have heard in a long, long time. Why can't music like this be sung in church? Be sure to check out the lyrics below--they will blow your mind, and make you long for a "happy ending".


"Chariot"

Swing, like a chariot
At the trumpet call
When we're all unsaved,
Swing like a wrecking ball
Like the heart of god
What a mystery
Filled with the wedding feast
For the snakes and bees
With the angel teeth, swing
Come and carry us
Come and marry us
To the blushing circus king
And dance like elephants as he comes to us
Through a fiery golden ring
With a violin and a song to sing
As he brings for us our wings
Now he's one of us
Plays the tambourine
Breaks the bread for us
And sings
Will you wait for us
Will you stay for us
Will you grace us everything
You're a wrecking ball
With a heart of gold
People wait for it, swing
Like a chariot
Swing it low for us
Come and carry us away
So we will become a happy ending
So we will become a happy ending
Fire come and carry us
Make us shine or make us rust
Tell us that you care for us
We need to hear a word for us
Let your body stand with us
Or let our rags be turned to dust
Chariot you swing for us
We think that you can carry all of us
So we will become a happy ending
So we will become a happy ending
So we will become a happy ending
So we will become a happy ending

DKD Again

I am quite in love with this song today, but have no idea what the name of it is. I must investigate.(exciting results below!)

So, I have investigated and come up with some answers. The song is called "Martha Ann", and the reason I had trouble finding it is because it will be released on David's forthcoming fifth album. Yay! His last album, Sharp Teeth, is a real treat, but has one of the most disturbing album covers ever. Take a look here if you are prepared to be freaked out.

Check This Out!

Call For Papers:
The University of Westminster in London, UK, proposes to host a two-day conference on the work and career of renowned Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave on July 5-6, 2008. Proposals for papers are welcomed. The conference will primarily focus on Cave as a lyricist and songwriter, but other perspectives--musical, cultural, critical--will be most welcome.

All Things Coupland

I have not really immersed myself in any Coupland web surfing or research (or reading for that matter) since the completion of my dissertation last December--it's finally time to start again. I am just now reading his new book, The Gum Thief, and will post a review once I am finished. Yesterday I had the rewarding experience of doing a Coupland surf and came up with some really, really, cool stuff. First of all, Coupland's 1996 short, bizarre, fascinating film called Close Personal Friend is FINALLY fully available on Youtube. Here are parts ONE, TWO, and THREE.

Next, Coupland has created quite a few video companion pieces to The Gum Thief and you can watch them all here.
Also, take time to browse through the finally archived and freely available Coupland New York Time blogs which are called "Time Capsules". These are both hilarious and insightful (as usual).
Lastly, here are a few video interviews for you to take a look at:


Enjoy!

Other Things I Have Been Listening To...a LOT

**You can download mp3s here for all of the following except for the Laura Veirs song which I can't make work--so the link for that song goes directly to her Myspace page which immediately plays the song.**
SONGS THAT MAKE ME GIDDY-HAPPY:
"Don't Lose Yourself" by Laura Veirs

"Sun in an Empty Room" by the Weakerthans


SONGS THAT MAKE ME MELANCHOLY-HAPPY:
"Kookaburra" by John Vanderslice

"Boy From School" by Hot Chip

"Hold On, Hold On" by Neko Case

THIS POST JUST KEEPS GROWING:
I know the following are older offerings, but I am so in love with Neko Case's strong, mesmerizing voice right now that I went and found two of my favorite New Pornographers' songs. I only seem to "get" this band when Neko sings; can anyone recommend a great song of theirs in which she doesn't sing the lead vocals?

"The Bones of an Idol" by New Pornographers
"These are the Fables" by New Pornographers
What do you think?

Good Music You Might Not Have Heard Before--Lots of mp3s

Over the past year, I have really gotten into some great music from a group of various artists in Chapel Hill NC called the Bu_hanan collective (they are also their own indie record label). This group of 5 or so guys and their friends make amazing, collaborative music together. I have included ELEVEN mp3s from 3 of these fantastic groups/ musicians that make up the collective: Kapow! Music (John Ribo and co.), The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers (Perry Wright, Alex Lazara), and David Karsten Daniels. I am not going to say much about this as I want you to spend your time LISTENING. I would love to know what you think!

KAPOW! MUSIC:

I will need to re-post these again later, as I made a mistake in how it was done the first time. For now, check out the tunes on the Kapow! music Myspace site.

THE PRAYERS AND TEARS OF ARTHUR DIGBY SELLERS:

1)"Lisa"
2)"Concerning the End of the World" (my very favorite--lyrics are painful and profound)
3)"Concerning Lessons Learned from Aliens"
4)"Come Ye Sinners"
5) "Against Pollution" (Mountain Goats Cover)

DAVID KARSTEN DANIELS:

1)"Siamese Hearts" (Another favorite)
2)"Jesus and the Devil"
3)"The Dream Before the Ring that Woke Me"

Finally, here are links to the above musicians individual sites, so you can download and/or buy more music--as well as see if they are playing near you. I know that both Prayers and Tears and David Karsten Daniels have new albums coming out relatively soon, so I am guessing they will be touring. Here are the sites:
The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers (this site in particular has TONS of good FREE music to download--plus some fascinating commentaries)
David Karsten Daniels
Kapow! music

**I am ashamed that I forgot to mention that music guru Jeremy Huggins introduced me to the Prayers and Tears over a year ago on his blog. Jeremy's fantastic blog "Junkmail for Blankets" has to be my favorite blog out there, full of excellent writing and music, movie, lit recommendations. Be sure to take a look at it at some point. His recent article about Page France (which happens to mention the Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers) has profoundly effected me on many levels.

Self-Indulgence: Photos and Update

Bill Rice, Stephanie Oswald, Rob Gifford and Me.

So, people keep writing and asking me why I don't post photos of myself on my blog. I always feel weird about stuff like that--just like I feel weird about going on vacation and having people take snaps of me in front of historical sites (I NEVER do this). Anyway,I caved and have now provided few photos from last summer. These are with friends in the UK/ from L'abri etc.
I will go ahead and use this self- indulgent post to update you on my life: First of all, I am living with my dear friends, Ann and Larry, and their two little girls, Meg and Taylor. Ann and I have been friends for over 15 years now--she and Larry are such dear folks and have really welcomed me into their home. This worked out really well as I need a sort of "temporary" place as I apply for jobs for next academic year. And my finances are also being helped by this (student loan payment--arggghhh). Life in this house is quite exciting--two nights ago we had a BAT in the house. Ann and I (Larry was out of town) called the police to come and kill him! I love having eight year old Meg and two year old Taylor around. Taylor is a hilarious pop culture toddler--she loves to repeat things such as "dot com" and "diet coke" over and over--and over and over. Meg is awesome--she slips cute little notes under my door that say things like "Mary, will you please color with me tomorrow? I love you. Meg".
I am currently slaving away teaching five university general ed classes (Rhetoric and Composition and Western Humanities). It is good to be back in the States and teaching in a US university, but I am eager to begin teaching classes in my specialization area (modern and contemporary literature; religion and literature; all things pop culture related). I am currently applying for next year's jobs like crazy--from postdoc opportunities to Assistant Professorships in Contemporary Lit. I am praying that something cool will come through. I am pretty excited about travelling to South and North Carolina over this long weekend (Fall Break) to meet friends and check out universities. Other than that, things are pretty "normal". I have been far to busy grading papers and applying for jobs to have a social life. Maybe one day.

David Dusenbury and Me.

Sufjan covers The Innocence Mission

Oh, how lovely.

The Flying Cup Club

Beirut's new album The Flying Cup Club has just been released; you can see the band's scrappy, yet stylized homemade videos (one for each of the twelve tracks) here. My favorite song this far is "Nantes", which you can listen to here. "Elephant Gun", which is also on that site, is a fantastic older one.

New Book/ My Encounter With Douglas Coupland

So, Coupland's new book, The Gum Thief,came out in the States just yesterday. You can read a synopsis of it here. The last time I was able to spek with Coupland (after a book reading in London) he told me that this book was about the interior world of Staples employees. I can't wait.

Speaking of speaking with Coupland, I dug out an old e-mail I sent to friends after my most memorable encounter with Coupland. Here it is:
I have finally met the key subject of my PhD dissertation, Douglas Coupland!! He wrote and starred in a play that was performed at the RSC in Stratford upon Avon. One of my French friends, Stephanie, and I explored Stratford and then went to Coupland's play _September 10, 2001_. My story(not Coupland's play!) is quite a long and sordid tale that involves getting kicked out of a pub called The Dirty Duck--I'll try to make it short.After speaking with about 5 folks associated with Coupland, I met the play's director who went to ask Dougie if he could meet me. This very nice director guy came back with a large note (written in bright red ink) from Coupland that said I could meet him at the cast party later which would take place at the Dirty Duck pub across the road. So, my friend and I wandered around a very dead Stratford, hopping from tudor pub to tudor pub, until our meeting time, when we went back to the Dirty Duck. I saw a large table with a reserved sign on it and, assuming it was for the cast party, I sat there. The next thing I know, a stumpy, red faced little publican came aggressively towards me, aslking me what I was doing there. The table was apparently reserved for the cast of King Lear; I tried to get up and move and explain this confusion, but this was immediately misinterpreted as a demand to sit there. So, my poor little FRench friend, once again embarrassed by her loud mouthed American friend, tried to quietly leave. I, on the other hand, demanded to know why we were kicked out!! By now, the entire population of a very crowded pub was looking at Stephanie and me, and we were asked again to leave and to "Never Come BAck!"So we went back to the theatre and waited until we saw Coupland coming down the steps and heading for the pub. I introduced myself and, rather than complimenting his play or speaking about my PhD work with him, I proceeded to tell him the saga of the Dirty Duck pub. Thankfully, he was just as shocked as we were and asked us to come back to the pub with him. We ended up having a nice time hanging out with Coupland and his entourage (of course were just sophisticated, friendly intellectual on-lookers, not groupies!! hmm hmm). It was a great, if traumatic evening, and the big man ended up giving me his e-mail address so I could write and ask questions about his writing.
The end.

All things Scottish

I had grown quite tired of Belle and Sebastian, but my love and appreciation for them was resurrected this morning as I drove to school and listened closely to the lyrics of "We Rule The School" from Tigermilk. The best bits:
"Do something pretty while you can
Don't fall asleep
Skating a pirouette on ice is cool

Do something pretty while you can
Don't be a fool
Reading the Gospel to yourself is fine"

I also realized how much listening to these guys makes me long for Glasgow, my favorite city in the UK--a place both earthy and electric. My favorite aspect of Glasgow is the imprint that architect/designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh left on the place. Here he is:

Every time I visted that city (and I have been many times), I endeavored to see a different Mackintosh building. The highlights of all these sitings are definitely the library in the Glasgow School of Art and Design (Macintosh designed both the interior and exterior of the building--and they also have a lot of his furniture and paintings on display).
The library:

The front of the Art School (take a tour if at all possible):

My second favorite place is the music hall in the "House For an Art Lover":

**I hope to find a better photo of this later--I think I might have one somewhere.

Love, Love, Love The Man

My dear friend Lisa Short just sent me a link to this video and I am in love once again. The footage in this is brilliant--there is nothing better than the Elvis of the Fifties--the Rockabilly, pelvis-banned, ball of energy young Elvis. Can you get much cooler than this or, even better-- this?

Maybe some of my love for Elvis comes from my Memphis roots--and from the fact that my Mom was friends with him. I grew up hearing my grandmother exclaim, "Oh what a sweet boy!" whenever Elvis' name was mentioned. She actually hired him twice to play for a fundraiser in Forrest City, Arkansas. One day soon I want to formally interview my mother and grandmother about their Elvis experiences and post them here.
I also love thinking about Elvis not only as an icon not only of energy and style, but also as a symbol of a movement forward in American race relations (in fact, I gave my composition class a mini lecture on this the other day).
I have one question concerning Elvis' legacy that has always bothered me: why are Elvis impersonators always characterizing the 70's, tacky, fat, white Jump suited Elvis? I have never seen a sleek, twisting 1950's Elvis. Why?

Aaron Belz and Ectoplasm

I had a privilege of seeing my good friend Aaron Belz give a fantastic poetry reading last Thursday. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time (not at Aaron, but at the poems--okay, maybe a little bit at Aaron). I encourage you all to check out and purchase his new book (pictured above). You can take a look (it's searchable) and buy it here on Amazon.


Here is one of my favorites from the reading the other night:

The One About the Ectoplasm and the Osteoblast
Aaron Belz

Some ectoplasm sits next to an osteoblast
at a bar. The ectoplasm asks the osteoblast,
"Why do you form bones?" And the osteoblast
responds, "Why are you the outer relatively
rigid granule-free layer of the cytoplasm usually
held to be a gel reversibly convertible to a sol?"
And the ectoplasm is like, "Wow, that is such
an awkward question." And so the osteoblast
goes, "Seriously, why are you? I form bones
for the same reason." The bartender, an osteoclast,
asks them what they want to drink. The ectoplasm
asks him what he recommends that's on draft,
and he says the Dead Guy Ale, it's a fresh keg.
They both break into fits of laughter. "Oh my gosh!"
says the osteoblast, "Dead Guy is a German-style
Maibock that's deep honey in color with a malty
aroma, rich hearty flavor and a well balanced finish.
Now does that sound like the kind of beer we drink?"

Very Exciting!

Wow--long blog silence. Sorry. I have just been reading about the first full length study of Douglas Coupland--written by Lancaster University Professor Andrew Tate. I have known about this up and coming book for quite a while as Andrew was my external examiner for my PhD Viva. I am thrilled to finally be able to order a copy and read the whole thing!! Yipee!! You can read a bit about the new book on this guy's blog.

L'abri

L'abri, originally uploaded by dimbles7uk.

Just testing the "Blog This" feature on flckr. So, I am back from L'abri and ready (sort of) to begin teaching. Here is my favorite photo from Bill's time at L'abri--with Andrew Fellows.

Click in the above photos to see many more photos from this summer.
**The sweater that Bill is wearing in the photo has had an amazing, almost mystical short life. Bill, please share the sweater's tale with the Blog readers if you will!

Simone Weil and Blaise Pascal: Entry into "The Moment"

As mentioned before, the writings of both Simone Weil and Blaise Pascal have been very important to me of late. I think it fascinating to look here at the words they use to describe their initial and profound encounters with God--mystical experiences, "the fullness of the moment" as Kierkegaard says. Both of their accounts indicate instances of passivity on their part, testifying to the weight and glory of the experience, the Presence being forced upon them.
Simone Weil even claims that she was "possessed by Christ" while reading George Herbert's "Love". Weil, a thinker and activist who had no interest and perhaps little previous exposure to Christianity, was struck by the strange, unexpected reality of this "possession". She claims that:
"God in his mercy had prevented me from reading the mystics, so that it should be evident to me that I had not invented this absolutely unexpected contact."

Then she goes onto say some beautiful, fascinating, challenging, important things:

"Yet I still half refused, not my love but my intelligence. For it seemed to me certain, and I still think so today, that one can never wrestle enough with God if one does so out of pure regard for the truth. Christ likes us to prefer truth to him because, before being Christ, he is truth. If one turns aside from him to go toward the truth, one will not go far before falling into his arms."
To read Weil's full account look here.
Pascal's famous close call with death/conversion moment beautifully coloured his life, writing, perspective until his death, when a piece of cloth detailing his encounter was found sewn onto the inside of his jacket. It said this:

"From about half past ten in the evening to about half an hour after midnight.
Fire.
God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob.
Not the God of philosophers and scholars.
Absolute Certainty: Beyond reason. Joy. Peace.
Forgetfulness of the world and everything but God.
The world has not known Thee, but I have known Thee.
Joy! Joy! Joy! Tears of Joy!"

I wish I could say that the above photos were my own--they aren't. Kurt Simonson, professor of photography from Biola Univeristy, was just visiting L'abri and took many beautiful photos--these are a small sampling. To see more of his wonderful work look here.

It Makes Me Feel Schizometric

I am up in Newcastle for the week and watched Michel Gondry's The Science of Sleep last night. Brilliant. For the first hour of the film I was delighted--it was was whimsical, creative, fresh--then the saturation of delight, fantasy, whimsy began to take its toll. The film became prfound, frightening, even tragic. I don't even know how to speak about it without giving too much away. But I can say that this is a rare film which enters the world of dreams in a very poignant, beautiful, yet frightening way--its creativity is astounding. But its accuracy is even more so. The main character, Stehane, lives inside his head--constantly between the moments of waking and sleeping. His dream world continually merges with "real" life, and he lives according to his most base, subconscious impulses, hs primal, childlike desires. This iability to edit the self, to tame one's deepest urges proves to be tragically isolating. Watch this film--let me know what you think.

It's a Sad, Beautiful World

We watched Jim Jarmusch's wonderful Down By Law this Tuesday night at L'abri (L'abri worker Jim Paul is a big Jarmusch fan). I like Jarmusch, but often feel impatient with his slow, rich, minimalism; because of this, I think I have passed over this film in the past. I am so glad that I finally watched it--it was much more rich than slow. Roberto Benigni's frenetic energy (hiccup, hiccup) alongside Waits' smooth coolness was a consistent treat. The sleek, stylized black and white photography, especially in the opening shots of gritty (yet somehow romanticized) New Orleans life, are wonderful. We had an excellent discussion after the film (I was surprised--how do you discuss a Jarmusch film?!). My favorite line of discussion concerned Jim's comments about Benigni's character (Bob!) playing the role of the Shakespearian "holy fool" who brings a reality of sorts (through communication, childishness, joy in life, true statements about life) to the other fumbling characters. This is quite evident after thinking through his relationship with Zach and Jack, his prison cellmates, who are lost, whose characters are, in some ways, interchangeable. Bob is the only one truly guilty of the crime he has been convicted for (murder) while the other two have been framed. Ironically, the story of this most "real" of characters, the jester who infuses playful reality into the lives of the other two men, ends like a fairy tale. His story is complete, romantic, both true and untrue--while the other two are left to wander. Anyway, the film is hilarious and beautiful--well worth watching.
Other films that have been shown this term at L'abri:
1) Heaven--Tykwer's beautiful realization of Kieslowski's vision
2) As It is in Heaven-(notice a theme here?!) fascinating, yet extremely and annoyingly melodramatic Swedish film about a famous musician returning to the town of his youth and becoming the choir director in the local church.
3) The Return--Breathtaking cinematography, heartwrenching story. It was beautiful but a bit too much for me--very hard to watch.
4) Jesus of Montreal--did not actually watch this one but have been curious for ages. Lots of negative comments from folks about it.
5) Blue--one of my very favorite films of all time--never loses its beauty or emotional impact. I do want to mention that only last year, after rewatching it in a British cinema, did I realize that the text of the film score is I Corinthians 13. The American film version does NOT subtitle the music text for the final montage sequence, but European versions do. This changed my entire reading/experience of the film--absolutely stunning.