Check this Music Out: The xx

Mar 25, 2013 by Sami

What do I wish for when I hear The xx? That they’d play at Lollapalooza this year. After all, I’ve missed them when they were here in Chicago last year because I was on my way to Tokyo. Funny thing, they just left Tokyo before coming to the US. Some where over the ocean, we might have crossed paths.  

I then fantasize about meeting them in person to thank them for what they’ve accomplished. Their music is the type of stuff that gets you through a rough breakup or a 2 hour train ride. In my opinion, it gives your heartache an appropriate level of drama. Admittedly  I was introduced to them when they came out with their second album, Coexist. Maybe it was because the first one I heard but I prefer their sophomore album to the first one (or maybe it’s the missing band member). It’s one of the few albums that I can play on repeat for a while and I will never realize where it finishes or starts—some might think it’s because every song in the record sound like the one after but I disagree. I love this album because of its ability to teach the listener to let go and accept. It’s not about giving up on love or being happy after a loved one has left. To me, Coexist is about accepting reality and dealing with the awful feeling of being utterly lonely and coming out of it being able to breath better. 

Sunset might be the standout for me. Hearing “When I see you again// And I’m greeted as a friend// It is understood// That we did all we could” absolutely crushes me but then makes me happy—very much like a sunset does. Then again, I don’t think I can pick a favorite, the entire thing is absolutely amazing. Give is a listen on Spotify then go buy the album! If you’re lucky, check them out live, you’ll be blown away. 

 

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305 days, 305 films – Broken English

Jul 7, 2010 by Sami

“Most people are together just so they are not alone. But some people want magic. I think you are one of those people”

Film #10- Broken English

The first time I saw Broken English I left the theater feeling uneasy about Guillaume, a French man who speaks little English and spending few days in NYC. Why? Because I felt he was a bit un-understanding with Nora, that he kept asking her to explain things that couldn’t be explained. I blamed it on the language barrier, I blamed it on his lack of empathy and I blamed it on the French people. It wasn’t until a friend told me that the point was that even though he spoke “broken English” he was still able to communicate with Nora very directly. It was her that over complicated things. It then hit me, we live in times where we do over-complicate feelings involved in relationships. Guillaume is there to show the audience how easy communicating between people can be. Things are a lot more straightforward than our head tends to lead us to believe. You either want something or you don’t, everything else is an excuse. Yes you can’t just pack your bags and leave but you can work towards that goal without blaming other factors that are irrelevant.

Nora is stuck in a funky place. Meeting a man at a party she almost didn’t go to changes a big part of her life. Sounds unrealistic? I don’t think so. I think that sometimes things do happen when you’re at the right time, the right place…and life is all about taking chances. I don’t think I have witnessed such a relatable character in some while. I’ve always enjoyed the quirkiness of Parker Posey and she does a fantastic job with Nora.  It’s the kind of character that you have to experience to come to the realization that you might have lived in her shoes at some point in your life.

This film is very sweet and at times very funny.  Broken English is available at your neighborhood video rental store and at Netflix. You can even watch it instantly on Netflix!

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305 days, 305 films- The September Issue

Apr 5, 2010 by Sami

Film #9 The September Issue

Just because you like to put on a beautiful Carolina Herrera dress or a pair of J Brand blue jeans instead of something basic from K-Mart it doesn’t mean that you’re a dumb person- Anna Wintour

I didn’t know what to expect when I started watching The September Issue except that it will be over-saturated with fashion and that was good enough for me.  I watched it and it was indeed over saturated with fashion and that made me happy. If that was the end of it I would have been satisfied but it wasn’t. The September Issue is actually a good documentary. Any person would enjoy watching it but it’s an even bigger joy if you’ve heard of Anna Wintour and the power she holds in the fashion industry.

Besides pupils dilating due to the abundance of fabulous fashion there were some interesting things going on in The September Issue.  Like the use of the “silent treatment” the film makers inflicted on some of the interviewees. When confronted with silence, often times, people will keep on talking and eventually say something that they did not intend to say. Furthermore, the use of music to manipulate the audience’s moods is, at times, too obvious. That said, I would not say it was a bad move, necessarily.

There is a point of The September Issue where you get to experience a  glimpse of Anna’s true feelings. I think that she wishes her family would recognize her importance in the world she lives in. Her 3 siblings are heavily involved with non-profit organizations and they are “amused” by what Anna does for a living. I respect her for going for what she wanted, growing up, and not falling in the trap of following foot steps of her family. She is desperate to get her family’s appreciation but knows that she wouldn’t be happier doing anything else.

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Sympathy for Lady Vengeance

Jan 19, 2010 by Sami

Let me tell you about why Lady Vengeance is one of the greatest films ever made. I say this over and over again, something magnificent happens when watching East Asian cinema, especially Korean cinema. Even more specifically are the masterpieces of Chan-wook Park. After all, he is responsible for why this cinematic romance started, when I wrote about Thirst. Film makers in East Asian cinema are able to communicate with me through so many other means than the spoken dialogue. That is exactly it: the films are so much more than just a script that’s being read. It is so beautiful, so inspiring. I wish there were other words that are not so trite for maybe then you might side with me and understand what it’s like to watch a film like Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. I feel that now, certain words are used more often which in turns takes away the sincerity of those particular words. Enough about this though. Let me tell you about why Lady Vengeance is one of the greatest films ever made.

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A Place of One's Own

Oct 15, 2009 by Sami

I have two entries, one for Plastic City and another for Raging Sun, Raging Sky. I wrote them, read them and rewrote them again and still was not satisfied for what I have given birth to. Just like any sensible parent would do, I hid them away from the world so no one would be see them. I was not sure why I wasn’t happy with the results…until tonight.

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