September first was the last night of the Festival Des Films Du Monde. We found this out by accident when running around the city with a few fellow active kids and decided to tell the entire house about it. In no time we had amassed a sizable collection of people who all trooped down the mountain to see the last free outdoor screening of La Vie en Rose. It was a pretty cool concept - so many people crowded in a public space in front of the Hyatt hotel, lounging around on the ground watching a film together. In a typically Quebecois move, however, the organizers decided to omit subtitles, with the credo that subtitles make one weak. (That may not have actually been what they said, but I am allowed to make this up as they did not repeat it in English.) Now, I like subtitles on when I watch a movie in English, despite being quite fluent in the language. In this case, I simply did not understand the plot, and that was excellent! La Vie en Rose is a very powerful movie with amazing scenery, composition, and music. Not being able to listen to the words, I was free to experience it at a lower (?), more imminent level, just enjoying the flow and intent of people I couldn't understand.
Things I got:
-The movie's heroine was Edith Piaf.
-She grew up in a whorehouse.
-She sang chantons.
-She occasionally freaked out.
-At one point she had eye problems.
Things I did not get:
-Edith Piaf had a child.
-This child died.
-Edith Piaf took heroin.
-Edith Piaf died.
Among many others. I feel that I essentially missed the plot, but that's okay. It was a bit surreal, because I was thinking of my own things while watching an intense movie and it all kind of merged. The morning after, I had classes, which were intense. I am caught between panic and euphoria. Last night we sat around the common room playing Leonard Cohen on guitar and singing, just for fun. And it was breathtaking in a completely unassuming way. Last morning I ran around trying to get my paperwork together feeling so stressed I nearly cried. And it was horrible. Life will be good. I hope.
And I take a bow and exit.
