Hello all,
If you're still here reading this blog then it means you knew me back when...you know...back when I used to post regularly.
It took me several weeks to feel "at home" again at home, and I just didn't feel like writing about it. This is a time of big changes in my role as mother/housewife/woman and some days I seem to be completely lost. Miss Cb is working in America for a few months, Master Cb is very independent and happy in his own world of school and friends, and for the first time ever I'm suddenly reminiscing about the "early years" of the family and wondering what exactly my role is in the present years.
I watched this film last week - "Only Yesterday" - and I had the most wonderful cry at the end of it. Such a wonderful feeling to cry at the end of a movie, really it is! I think the Japanese audience especially loves a good cry, and I'm so thankful for that. It's all very well to watch clever, fast-paced, witty or three-dimensional Hollywood films, but sometimes all you want is a good cry.
I love the idea of a woman in her mid-twenties taking along her younger self as she travels to her summer destination. I love the interweaving of the two love narratives - her first love with the school's baseball star and the deep love which she slowly discovers while picking safflowers. And then there are all of the perfect, tiny details which are added in the animation (painstakingly hand-drawn by the wonderful Studio Ghibli) - the father's puff of cigarette smoke, the cat walking past, her glancing at the mirror while talking on the phone, and best of all - the catcher's mitt glimpse when the little girl and little boy agree on their favourite kind of day.
Thought it might brighten your day as well.....
9 comments:
welcome back.
I've been wondering what you've been up to these days.
I love all the desaturated colours - it looks entrancing!
And did you see her little red back pack - which every Japanese girl carries throughout primary school (the boys have them too but I think black) - I have one of those!
I have sensed your presence even if you are not posting much.
I could listen to that piano music all day long.
I've missed you. When are you coming over for tea and scones?
It sounds like you are going through an interesting transition, E. All pointing towards more independence and possibilty for you even if it isn't much fun to go through.
Wishing you well,
A
Welcome back indeed. You know you've been missed. Go and enjoy that tea and scones with Kim!
Hi, I have never seen this movie but I would love to watch it! Looks like the movie was released while I was studying in Australia. Among Ghibli movies, I love "Totoro" because it gives me nostalgic feeling every time I watch it...
Dear Eleanor,
The Lost Mother syndrome? I've been there - in fact there are days when I wonder if that is where I am now. But if it wasn't for blogging I would be a whole lot more lost.
Oh Eleanor. I feel lost myself, and somehow it helps that I'm not the only one, or that not fitting in my skin in this country is not the only way to be lost. I hope you feel better soon. Thanks for the gentle and beautiful movie clip.
Where oh where is our sweet Eleanor?
Having tea and scones I hope. Did I tell you my subject this semester is a film studies one?! We can trade notes.
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