The Prestidigitator

The planet is fine. The people are f*cked.

-George Carlin ( 1937-2008 )

There are barely a handful of artists whose music perfectly accentuates whatever state I’m in. The last time I was this moved by an album was when I listened to Jeff Buckley’s Grace for the first time; an underrated (by today’s general public I mean) masterpiece – the kind of music that slowly grows on you and before you know it, consumes you.

Johnny Cash’s (1932 – 2003) American IV: The Man Comes Around is undoubtedly the work of a man relapsing into the cold comfort of religion in his last days but that shouldn’t put you off of it. Some of the tracks do have not-so-subtle religious overtones but then again, the songs are so organic, so heartfelt that you cannot help but go back and take them in all over again. One of the truly brilliant tracks on the disc is his cover of “Hurt” by Trent Reznor (yes, of Nine Inch Nails fame). The song takes a completely different meaning when sung by Cash; lending credence to that Edith Wharton saying, “There’s no such thing as old age, there is only sorrow.”

The video, for your viewing pleasure-

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go]

Heath Ledger (1979-2008)

28 years. Shit. Watching The Dark Knight will be so very surreal now.

“I am not afraid of death, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” -Woody Allen

A recent article on Wired points out that Sirtrius Pharmaceuticals treated diabetic mice by slowing their metabolism or simply by slowing down age related cellular breakdown. There have always been an umpteen number of articles on anti aging research in the past thanks to people’s obsession with death and fear of aging.

The drugs apparently work on the Mitochondria which over time accumulate damage and cause cellular breakdown; so Mitochondria rejuvenators (in lab animals) have halted diseases and extended longevity. So you basically reduce suffering before death but in spite of this it’s still known that animals inexplicably drop dead at the end of their traditional lifespans.

No matter how well anti aging drugs work, death still is an inevitability…but what had me really interested was another Wired article that ponders on how anti aging research will change the way we die thereby altering the way we live. Would we live life more fully if we knew that death was an inevitability that came without warning as opposed to long disease ridden miserable lives that preceded death (thanks to medical advances and all which in effect does nothing more than stall)?

The jury is still out but this is all very mighty interesting stuff.

The art of subtlety died with Keislowski. Unlike today’s filmmakers who underestimate the intelligence of the average person and burden their narratives with superficial dialogues and overly explanatory frames, Krzysztof Kieslowski left most insinuations for the audience to make. This makes the viewing of any Keislowski film a rich and rewarding experience.

Trois Couleurs Trilogy comprises of what were Keislowski’s last three films before he died in 1996. The trilogy encompasses two films which are in French and the other being predominantly in Polish. Critics believe the titles allude to the three colors of the French flag (Blue, White and Red) but according to the interview on the Collector’s Edition DVD of the film, Keislowski stresses that he gave that impression solely for the funding of his films by the French government.

Trois Couleurs: Bleu (1993) is a study of grief. Juliet Binoche plays the widow of Europe’s premier composer who dies in a car accident along with the couple’s daughter. As she regains consciousness in a hospital, she plunges into denial. The emotions are so layered and complex that I cannot imagine how this would have been at the hands of a lesser filmmaker. As her grief slowly manifests into several other emotions, the viewer is treated to life from her point of view. There is a particular scene where the camera focuses on a sugar cube soaking up coffee. The effect this scene has is enormous; Binoche’s character is trying to drown out a piece of music playing in the background that reminds her of her husband. She goes on to destroy all her husband’s notes and sells her home and belongings in a vain attempt to shield herself from the emotional debris. This is far from being a depressing film; in fact the film ends with redemption on a grand scale. The music is an integral part of the film.

Trois Couleurs: Blanc (1994) unlike the other two films is a comedy and like great comedies, arises out of personal tragedy. Zbigniew Zamachowski plays a Polish man whose French wife (Julie Delpy) wants to divorce him because he’s unable to ”consummate the marriage”. His love is comical mostly because it borders on maniacal obsession. As his life unravels, he vows revenge. He reestablishes his life in Poland and proceeds to construct an elaborate ruse aimed at his wife only to be surprised in the end. I like to think Kieslowski intended this to border on absurdism only to let us take a breath before the rousing final chapter.

Trois Couleurs: Rouge (1995), the final film in the trilogy is my favorite of the lot. The film follows the intertwining lives of a beautiful model (Irene Jacob) and her aged neighbor, a retired judge who listens in on phone conversation of people in the neighborhood. As they embark on a tumultuous relationship that has a profound impact on both, lives around them unravel in painful ways. This film is filled with symbolisms and allusions to the previous two films. The plot is unashamedly philosophical and stresses on the role of chance and the random encounters that create a butterfly effect of sorts in our lives. The narrative structure is very straightforward but you will have to pay attention to every single frame to truly appreciate the genius that is Keislowski. The climax brings together characters from all three films and the impact the final frame has on the viewer is so huge that I was left speechless the first time I watched it.

The five hours I spent watching these 3 films have been some of the most artistically and intellectually rewarding hours ever since I began my slightly more serious appreciation of cinema. I cannot claim to have understood everything Keislowski tried to say, but I’m certain that with repeated viewings and further reading, I may be able to to a certain extent. Thanks to Ruhi for reviving my interest in Keislowski and actually inspiring me to buy a copy of the Collector’s Edition.

Ingmar Bergman (July 14, 1918 – July 30, 2007)

Just when you think things can’t get more disturbing, they do.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/haryana-panchayat-murders-couple-over-caste/43916-3.html

“Those who do wrong have to die. Law does not recognize this but society punishes such people.”

Wise words.

How depressed does a comedian have to be to actually kill himself?

Acclaimed funny man, Richard Jeni apparently shot himself recently. Truly one of the greatest stand up artistes  ever. Reminds me of a story Rorschach narrates in Watchmen.

Heard joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he’s depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says “Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up.” Man bursts into tears. Says “But Doctor… I am Pagliacci.”

RIP Richard Jeni…

You’re basically killing each other to see who’s got the better imaginary friend.

                              -Richard Jeni, referring to religious wars