English Rose

Gemma Arterton in the Spring edition of "Town & Country" UK

I've often said that Harpers Bazzar UK is one of the most beautiful magazines around. The editor-in-chief Justine Picardie brings an artistry, intellect, and literary slant to this fashion magazine unlike anybody else in the fashion world. She is indeed a literary woman herself, a novelist and biographer who has written several books including a novel about Daphne Du Maurier and a biography of Coco Chanel. And so I find that I read the magazine not just for the fashion but also for the excellent articles on books, writers and artists as well as all kinds of cultural things happening in England, of which there is an abundance!

About a year ago I discovered another magazine edited by Justine Picardie: Town and Country  UK which is published four times a year and not that easy to find in Los Angeles. They are very patient with me at my local new stand as I ask about once a week if they have have it in stock. It is equally beautiful. This month's edition has Jenna Arterton on the cover which is a happy coincidence for me as I've just seen the film Their Finest in which she stars. I was absolutely bowled over by her performance. My husband and I left the theater wondering who she was (she looked very familiar but we couldn't quite place her) and when I picked up the Spring issue of Town and Country she was on the cover.  All I had to do was look inside to get the answer. The photo spread is gorgeous and the article contains some interesting facts about this very talented young woman.

Gemma Arterton is 31-year-old English actress who has been working in films and theater for many years. She has been in several French films, as well as a few Hollywood blockbusters, such as "Clash of the Titans." She is currently starring in the Donmar Warehouse production of the play Saint Joan. She is also working on a new film about Vita Sackville-West and Virginia Woolf in which she plays Vita. It is written by Eileen Atkins. She says she prefers stage over screen and has set up her own production company so that she has control over she what she does. She now has the ability to develop stories she loves for herself and others. One of the things she liked most about the film "Their Finest" is that it is a romance in the vein of the old Hollywood screwball comedies in which two people love each other without knowing it. I think that is such a good description of the film.

Sam Claflin and Gemma Arterton in the new film "Their Finest"

Gemma plays an ambitious Welsh woman named Catrina Cole who lives in London during World War II and works as an advertising copywriter. She gets recruited by the government to join the film industry. Britain wants America to enter the war and decides the best way to rally the cause as well as lift the spirits of weary Britons is to make propaganda films celebrating the virtues of British soldiers. She works alongside a young, dispirited screenwriter named Tom Buckley (played by Sam Claflin) and together they start writing the film within the film.

Sparks start to fly between the two screenwriters but before they ever acknowledge their attraction to each other there are a lot of obstacles and complications along the way. Catrina is married to a penniless artist (played by Jack Huston) and they are living a life of bohemian squalor until she starts to make some money. She quickly rises to the top of her male-dominated film crew as her talent is begrudgingly recognized by the men around her and she begins to come into her own. The story unfolds against the grim backdrop of London during the Blitz, with lots of drama and suspense caused by frequent air raids and explosions. The cast is fabulous and includes Bill Nighy (who practically steals the movie with his comedic turn as an aging actor), Richard E. Grant, and Jeremy Irons. I loved this movie for its sense of time and place, romance, and compelling story of a woman's growing confidence and independence in a male chauvinistic world. I was also thrilled to see the work of this young English actress and look forward to seeing what she does next. Especially in the upcoming Vita Sackville-West film!

Have you seen her new film "The Finest"?

Celebrating Shakespeare

"To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man."
-- William Shakespeare

Did you know that this year is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death? It's hard to imagine a world without Shakespeare. He gave us so many riches -- language, poetry, drama, love stories, tragedies, comedies, and countless memorable characters. His plays continue to captivate us. There are celebrations occurring all around the world to mark the anniversary. Here in the states, the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. will be the most exciting place to celebrate the Bard. The Wonder of Will: 400 Years of Shakespeare will celebrate Shakespeare and his extraordinary legacy through lectures, exhibitions, special events, and performances throughout the year. The First Folio, which is the book that gave us Shakespeare, is going on the road and will be traveling all around the country. Go here to see the schedule. This precious tome will make an appearance in California in June at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. I hope to make it there! Here are some highlights of what is happening at the Folger:

1) "Shakespeare, The Story of an Icon": Despite the fact that there are no photographs of Shakespeare or recordings of his voice, this exhibition creates a vivid portrait of the man through a stunning array of documents from his own lifetime. Go here to see a fantastic time-lapsed installation of this exhibition.

2) "Shakespeare's Life Stories": a lecture by renowned Shakespeare scholar Stephen Greenblatt.

3) "Shakespeare Unlimited": a series of podcasts by scholars exploring why Shakespeare's stories still resonate. They examine how the works, written so long ago, still speak to us today. I have listened to a couple of these and they are fascinating.

Go here to learn more.

And in Britain...

As you can imagine they are going all out in England. Lectures, performances, exhibitions, screenings, you name it. The schedule really is impressive. Go here to learn all that Shakespeare 400 has planned. Some highlights:

1) Exhibitions: "Shakespeare in Ten Acts" at The British Library. This will be a landmark exhibition on the making of an icon, charting Shakespeare's constant reinvention across the centuries.

2) Performances: "Much Ado About Nothing" in London. This production is set in 1945 at the end of World War II.

3) Talks: "The Grace of Plants: Shakespeare and Botany" at the Southwark Cathedral

4) Talks: "Shakespeare on Film." This series of talks will explore the inspirational influence of Shakespeare on filmmakers across the world, featuring films from the silent era, award-winning adaptations and contemporary interpretations of the Bard's work.

Go here to learn more.

Lily James and Richard Madden in the upcoming production of Romeo and Juliet

This summer Kenneth Branagh is directing a production of Romeo and Juliet in London starring Lily James, Richard Madden, and Derek Jacobi. This should be fabulous. Go here to learn more.

Ralph Fiennes in "The Tempest," 2011

I began to think about the memorable live performances of Shakespeare I have seen over the years. Here are a few that were breathtaking:

The Tempest with Ralph Fiennes at Theatre Royal Haymarket in London
A Midsummer Night's Dream with Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson at the Mark Taper Theater in Los Angeles  

King Lear at the Ashland Shakespeare Festival in Oregon

Much Ado About Nothing at the Globe Theater in London

Othello at UCLA in Los Angeles

I also adore Prokofiev's ballet of Romeo and Juliet and see it whenever I have a chance.

And there have been so many beautiful film adaptations -- Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet and Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet and Henry V. Kenneth Branagh has given us many great Shakespeare productions, both on film and on the stage. His upcoming stage production of Romeo and Juliet will continue the tradition.

By the way, researching this blog post was a perfect example of falling down the rabbit hole of the Internet. But it turned out to be a good thing. After sitting in awe (and feeling a bit overwhelmed!) as page after page of links on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare came up, I whittled it down to a few that looked fabulous. I then saw one from the Huffington Post which I almost skipped. Thank goodness I clicked that one as it led me to the discovery that right here in Los Angeles there will be a fabulous one night only performance An Evening of Shakespeare: Murder, Lust, & Madness  in honor of the anniversary. If you live in L.A. and love the Bard, be sure to get a ticket before it sells out. This should be amazing!

I hope all this whets your appetite for attending some of these wonderful events in honor of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare. It should be a glorious year-long celebration and a look into why Shakespeare continues to matter. It is sure to remind us of why the Bard still inspires, enlightens and entertains!

"Suffragette"

Photo via here

Have you seen the new film "Suffragette" starring Carey Muligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep? I saw it last night and was moved to tears. It tells a story that many people don't know about -- the movement in England in 1912, led by Emmeline Pankhurst, to obtain equality and votes for women. You may remember the brilliant television series "Shoulder to Shoulder" from many years ago which was about this same topic. Women in Britain became frustrated by the lack of progress they were making in obtaining the vote. The laws were made exclusively by men and women had no rights. Upon marriage a woman's property became her husband's and, if she separated from him, her children became his as well. She had absolutely no rights regarding them. For impoverished women, the situation was a nightmare. They worked endless hours in horrible conditions and for little wages; they had to tolerate sexual harassment from men with absolutely no recourse.

When Carey Mulligan's character tells the chief of police of the abuses that she and others have suffered under their male supervisor, he tells her that no one will care what she has to say because she is nothing. And in the eyes of men, that was literally the truth. As Pankhurst concluded, women would have to become militant and partake in violence to draw attention to their battle for the right to vote. After all, nothing had worked up until then. They blew up mail boxes and smashed windows, never harming people, but destroying property. Many of them were incarcerated and went on hunger strikes. They were force fed. This movie tells the story of a group of working class women who got involved in the movement and their contribution to the eventual victory in the fight for women's votes. The cast is fabulous and the story is riveting. I highly recommend it.

Photo via here

This photo (above) is a portrait of the stars of the film, including two members of the Pankhurst family (second and third from the left on the top row), that was taken for International Women's Day which will be celebrated in March. Go here to read more.

I hope you get a chance to see this important film. It will remind you of the brave women who fought and sacrificed for the many rights and freedoms we take for granted today.

Valentine's Day, Casablanca and One Good Book

We just got back from a lovely holiday weekend in the beautiful wine country of Sonoma, California. It was the perfect place to celebrate Valentine's Day. Our "home away from home" was the Farmhouse Inn. It is all about rustic elegance at this inn, with plenty of beauty and a laid back vibe. They grow their own vegetables and keep chickens. Breakfasts were delicious and I am certain that the eggs in our frittatas were from the resident hens. There were several lazy afternoons spent reading on the beautiful deck. Not to mention lots of wine tastings! There are so many wineries to visit in the area as well as the delightful town of Healdsburg, that there is never a shortage of things to do. Though it seems that my favorite occupation just may be hanging out in the room in front of the fireplace.

In this relaxing atmosphere it was easy to finish the book I've been reading -- All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. It is a gripping novel about the lives of Europeans during World War II, told from the perspectives of two young people -- Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind French girl living in German-occupied France and Werner Pfenning, a young German orphan whose talent in electronics gets him recruited into an elite Nazi training center. What is powerfully brought home is that both these children have very few choices in life as they get swept up into history. The book looks at the traumatic experiences of ordinary Europeans during the war.

Once the Germans were in power, all freedoms were gone. Anyone refusing to comply with the new rules were imprisoned or shot. For many people, that meant a life of subterfuge. The book shows how this played out in France. There is tremendous suspense as several characters get involved in the Resistance movement. There is also a 133-carat diamond at the center of the story that is hidden by Marie's father -- he is the locksmith in charge of all the keys and vaults at the Museum of Natural History in Paris -- and whose location only she knows. One of the Nazi officers makes it his mission to track this diamond down. All the stories converge in the walled seaside town of St. Malo in Brittany.

I was touched by the loneliness, despair and survival instincts of the central characters. It was particularly moving to watch children endure so many years of devastation. This story is gripping and the unique narrative style adds to the fast-paced nature of the novel. If you haven't read All The Light You Cannot See, be sure to get yourself a copy of this beautiful and poignant book.

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After a delicious Valentine's Day dinner at the hotel on Saturday night we returned to our room to discover that Casablanca was on television. I had never seen this iconic film. Of course it was the perfect movie to watch on Valentine's day. But there was another fortuitous connection I didn't expect. As you know, this film is about a love affair between two people who meet in Paris during World War II. I hadn't realized that it was also about the resistance movement during the war. I couldn't get over the connections between the film and the book I had just finished. You have to love the last line of this film. As Rick (Humphrey Bogart) helps the resistance hero Victor Laszlo escape with the aid of the chief of police, Louis (and in the process gives up Ingrid Bergman!), he puts his arm around the policeman and says,

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."


Such a good film and it was so much fun to see it in the beautiful Farmhouse Inn!

By the way, on the topic of WWII, have you seen Grantchester on Masterpiece Mystery? It deals with the aftermath of the war and is set in England in the 1950's. It is a fabulous detective series featuring an English country vicar who has a talent for solving murder mysteries. Despite his role as spiritual leader of the village, he has a dark side. He fought in the war and is still suffering psychological damage. His memories result in nightmares, a drinking problem and a crisis of faith. He is in love with a woman who is engaged to someone else and it seems as if things cannot go on much longer without reaching some kind of a breaking point. It's astonishing how many dramas we watch and books we read that are about World War II and its aftermath. It makes me wonder if anyone has measured the quantity of art that has been based on this war.

I hope you will read All The Light We Cannot See and watch the television series Grantchester on PBS. In very different ways, they both transport you to another time and place when ordinary people had to deal with the results of extraordinary world events.

New Costume Drama

I was reading Harper's Bazaar the other day and an interesting item caught my eye. It was about the beautiful costumes in a new period film Testament of Youth, just released in the U.K. It stars Alicia Vikander in the central role. The film is based on the book Testament of Youth, Vera Brittain's powerful and moving memoir of World War I. The book was published in England in 1933 and was an instant hit, selling out on its first day of publication. It hit a nerve with the public, capturing the anguish and life-changing drama of the first world war. It was told from the perspective of a young woman who was 22 in 1916. It was the year her fiance was killed on the western front. Her beloved brother and two closest male friends would also be dead by the time the armistice was signed in November 1918.

According to the article, the film adaptation features beautiful period costumes that reflect Vera Brittain's love of fashion. It seems that the young suffragette did not want to dress like a frump and enjoyed spending her wages from her work as a nurse on beautiful pieces of clothing. And although she tells a gut-wrenching story of war and death, there are passages in the book that show Vera as a normal young girl who loved pretty things. The writer quotes a passage in which Brittain buys "a neatly cut navy coat and skirt, a pastel-blue blouse in soft crepe-de-Chine, an unusually becoming fawn felt hat trimmed with crimson berries and a black taffeta dinner-dress with scarlet and mauve velvet flowers tucked into the waist."

When she went to Oxford dressed in pastel silk to take her entrance examinations, she was mocked by the examiner for dressing like a debutante. She soon learned that feminine frocks had no place among the more utilitarian outfits worn by her classmates. However, her career at Oxford was cut short by the war and her life was turned upside down; she left school early to become a nurse and care for wounded soldiers. She never accepted society's expectations for young women and always did her own thing. She held strong political convictions and wanted an education and an independent career. Perhaps the only thing conventional about Vera Brittain was her love of beautiful clothing. This passion is captured in the new film.

I decided to do a little research into Vera Brittain's life since I don't know much about her. There was a television adaptation of Testament of Youth on Masterpiece Theatre many years ago that starred Cheryl Campbell. I remember loving this production, but don't remember many details. This is what I learned.

At the end of the war, after losing her fiance, brother and two closest friends, Brittain vowed to write a book that would immortalise them all. Surprisingly, it took 17 years for her to complete it. Part of the problem was that she tried to write the story as a novel. When that didn't work she decided to write the book as herself and in her own voice. This was a good decision, since at that point the book simply flowed out of her in an honest and heart-wrenching fashion. She told the story of her generation's wartime experiences, focusing on the four young men most important to her who died in the trenches. When the book was published in 1933, it was hailed as a great wartime memoir, the only one told by a woman. Virginia Woolf wrote in her diary of staying up all night to finish it.

After many years as a bestseller, the book fell out of fashion with the outbreak of World War II because of its pacifist philosophy. In the 1970's the publisher Virago reprinted it and the television adaptation was made. Once again the book became hugely popular. But sadly Vera Brittain did not live to see the resurgence of the book's popularity. She died in 1970 thinking that her literary reputation was over. She never knew about the second chapter of her career. Hopefully this film adaptation will enlighten a new generation of readers about her book. Its release feels very timely, considering that last year was the 100 year anniversary of the beginning of World War I.

 I don't know about you, but I am swooning over these images from the piece in Harper's Bazaar. They are a visual feast for anyone who loves vintage fashion. 

The filmmakers have depicted Vera Brittain as a serious young Edwardian woman with an eye for beauty. Go here to read more. 

 Have you read Testament of Youth?

I can't wait to see the film!

Delicious News

"Life in Squares," a three part BBC television drama about Virginia Woolf and the Bloomsbury Group 

With fall right around the corner, the cultural calendar is heating up and there are so many things to look forward to. Next week I will post some of the events and happenings I am most excited about. But for now, here are some tantalizing pieces of news that have caught my attention. They are all making me smile!

BBC is producing a three-part television drama about Virginia Woolf and her circle called Life in Squares. (See photo above) It will trace the growth of this influential group of artists and writers and their impact on the cultural life of twentieth-century England. Featuring several rising young stars, it is being filmed in London and at Charleston Farmhouse in Sussex. The two actresses Phoebe Fox and Lydia Leonard (pictured above) play sisters Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf. The physical resemblance is remarkable! After doing a little research, I learned that the action kicks off in 1901 with the death of Queen Victoria and shows the young writers and artists feeling creative and sexual freedom for the first time. This really seems to be the year for Bloomsbury, with the fashion house Burberry creating an entire collection based on the art at Charleston, as well as the exhibition on Virginia Woolf at the National Portrait Gallery in London. I really hope this BBC drama makes it to American television. Masterpiece Theatre, are you listening?

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in "Sherlock" on Masterpiece Theatre

The next piece of news that caught my eye was about Benedict Cumberbatch who will be starring in a London production of Hamlet one year from now in August 2015. The entire 12-week run sold out in ten minutes. Apparently this is the fastest selling theatrical event in history. Looks like everyone is dying to see this great actor play the most challenging of Shakespeare's leading roles. Fortunately there is some good news for those who couldn't get a ticket: the production is holding back 100 tickets each night that will sell for 10 pounds each. By the way, did you watch the Emmy's last night and see that Benedict and Martin Freeman both won Emmys for their roles on "Sherlock"?!! So happy about that. It's one of the best shows on television and their performances are brilliant.

Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan in "The Trip to Italy"

And speaking of talented Brits, the new film The Trip to Italy has just opened. I saw it the other night and loved it. I thought it was just as funny as the first film,"The Trip,"which was set in England. Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon basically play themselves taking a road trip, this time in Italy, to do research for a food column they are writing for The Observer. They travel through some gorgeous Italian scenery in a little Mini-Cooper, eventually arriving at the Amalfi Coast. They eat some incredible meals (you will want Italian food afterwards!), drink some great wines, and stay in some glorious hotels. But mostly they talk endlessly and riff on celebrity voices, especially that of Michael Caine. These movies are very funny. If you haven't seen the original, be sure to rent it before seeing this one. You are in for a treat.

And finally, have you seen any of the "Ice Bucket Challenges"? These involve people getting doused with buckets of ice water on video, posting the video on social media, and then nominating others to do the same. It is all in the cause of raising awareness of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. People can either accept the challenge or make a donation to an ALS charity. Many do both. This campaign has been hugely successful. The ALS Association has received $88.5 million in donations compared to $2.6 million during the same time period last year (July 29 - August 26). Benedict Cumberbatch took the ice bucket challenge. But he does it in his own inimitable style, quite fitting for the actor who plays Sherlock Holmes. Just watch this.

Go here to find out how you can get involved in this worthwhile cause

What has been catching your eye lately? 

I would love to know what books you are reading and which movies you have seen.

Next up:  Fall Preview!

Oscar Weekend

Jennifer Lawrence
Photo via here

What is everybody up to this weekend? I am very excited to watch the Academy Awards on Sunday night. I love the Oscars -- the awards, the fashions, the glitz, the performances, the speeches, the jokes, the musical numbers...the whole package. It's just so much fun! Will you be watching? 

I am cheering on a few of my favorites this year. I am a big fan of David O. Russell and his films. He is such an exciting film maker. I loved last year's Silver Linings Playbook and this year's American Hustle.  Hopefully "American Hustle" will win for best picture. I thought it was one of those films that harkens back to the great films from the sixties and seventies, one that will stand the test of time. It captured a particular era -- the seventies -- so well. The costume design could certainly win an award. And what a story it told of con men, reinvention, survival and love. The best films always tell the best stories and David O. Russell tells his stories in such a romantic style. The music was perfection and the energy of the film was exhilarating and often magical. The cast included such talented actors and all the performances were excellent. Jennifer Lawrence just may walk away with a second academy award, this time for best supporting actress. She was so good.

Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence from "American Hustle"

Photo via here

But truth be told, I am secretly hoping that Sally Hawkins wins for her supporting role in Blue Jasmine. I am a big fan of hers. It seems that there is a lot of enthusiasm for Matthew McConaughy to win for best actor and Jared Leto for best supporting actor for their performances in Dallas Buyers Club. That would make me very happy. And Cate Blanchett has to win for best actress! Her performance in "Blue Jasmine" was simply breathtaking. But as we all know, there are often surprises and we'll just have to wait and see what happens on Sunday night. Who will you be rooting for?

Wishing you a fabulous Oscar weekend! 

Loving Shakespeare

Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes in "Shakespeare in Love"

There are certain films that are guaranteed to take us out of ourselves, not only to a place of enchantment and joy, but also to another time. We are immersed in the past in a way we have never been before and we feel we understand it better. Through great writing, period sets, evocative music, and beautiful costumes, the filmmakers insure that for a couple of hours we are visiting another era. Maybe these films are not exactly historically accurate, but they capture the essence, the goodness that we have all derived from that time and place. We leave the theater enriched. These are the films that stay with us. 

Recently I watched one of these, the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love. If you haven't seen it for a while, watch it again and you will be happy you did. It is a magical film. I think I was smiling the whole time. You may notice a few things about the film you had forgotten: how joyful it is, how much running Joseph Fiennes does, the golden light, the gorgeous costumes, and the music which is impossible to get out of your head for days afterwards.

Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker in "Much Ado About Nothing"

Fortunately for all of us Shakespeare lovers, there is a new film adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. This has to be one of the most beloved plays by Shakespeare. You know the story: Beatrice and Benedick, duking it out. They claim to hate each other, engage in verbal sparring and one- upmanship, and, naturally, fall in love. It is a winning formula.

This new film adaptation is different from others you may have seen; it is modern in style, setting, and costume. Directed by Josh Whedon and shot in his beautiful Spanish-style home in Los Angeles, it captures all the romance and magic of the play and gives it a fresh spin. The film is hip, stylish and very funny. I was smiling when I left the theater, thinking about the timelessness of the story and the universality of the character traits of its lead characters. If you love Shakespeare, be sure to see this film. It reminded me of how I felt when I first saw "Shakespeare in Love." Here is a filmmaker who has made Shakespeare and his work live and breathe for us. The words that were written five hundred years ago are still relevant. I feel grateful for that. Go here to see the trailer and read a review. 

I have been thinking about my favorite Shakespeare plays. It's actually very hard to choose...maybe Much Ado About Nothing, The Tempest, and Romeo and Juliet? Tomorrow I will probably have a different answer. 

What are your favorite plays by Shakespeare?  

Snow, Movies, and One Really Good Book

Park City, Utah

The magical setting for the Sundance Film Festival

This past weekend my dream of visiting a winter wonderland (read here) came true.  We spent a long weekend staying with friends in Deer Valley, Utah and were able to see five of the films that were shown at the Sundance Film Festival. Snow, movies, a magical setting, and one great book.  It was the perfect winter weekend.  

The Movies --

Ashton Kutcher in "Jobs," a biopic about Steve Jobs

The stars Ashton Kutcher and Josh Gad and the director Joshua Michael Stern (center)

"Before Midnight" with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy

The third movie in Richard Linklater's trilogy

All of the films we saw were enjoyable; these were my favorites:

"Jobs" -- Ashton Kutcher gives an excellent performance as Steve Jobs.  The film take us back to the beginning of Jobs' career when he was a student at Reed College.  The time period of the seventies and eighties is vividly brought to life through sets, costumes, and some really great music.  We watch Steve Jobs as he goes from a young man who dropped out of college and created Apple computers in his parents' garage to the moment in his career when he is about to release the IPhone.  It is a fascinating story and a terrific film. 

"Before Midnight" --  This is the third film in the trilogy directed by Richard Linklater.  It continues the love story between two characters, an American man Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and a French woman Celine (Julie Delpy).  The characters initially met on a train bound for Vienna in the 1995 film "Before Sunrise." They are reunited nine years later in the 2004 film "Before Sunset."  In "Before Midnight"  the characters are married, have children and are vacationing in Greece. They are in their forties, still in love, but dealing with the complications of their lives.  The witty and smart banter is one of the joys of the movie.  If you like great writing and dialogue, you will love this film.

We also saw and enjoyed "Don Jon's Addiction," "Afternoon Delight," and "The Way, Way Back."

The Setting -- 

 Beautiful Deer Valley
I loved having dinner one night at the Stein Erikson Lodge

The Snow --

There was plenty!
Here are skiers enjoying the snow as seen from our window in the morning

The snow continued to fall all weekend

The Book --

With all that snow, there were delays getting out of Salt Lake City.  Fortunately, I had a really good book to help me get through the long hours of waiting.  The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman fit the bill perfectly.  It follows the private lives of the reporters and editors who work for an English-language newspaper in Rome.  From the moment I began reading it, I was enchanted.  This novel is funny and poignant and includes a cast of characters that you will never forget.  Each chapter is about a particular journalist at the paper, from the editor in chief to the copy editor.  Although each chapter could stand on its own as a great short story, they are all connected and add up to a vivid portrait of this eccentric and nostalgic world, that of the newsroom.   This book is so good that it has me wondering, will someone turn it into a film?

I hope you have a chance to see these films -- they were all purchased and should be released in 2013  -- and to read this enchanting book by Tom Rachman.

Photo one via here, photo two via here, photo three via here, photo four via here, photo five via here 

November Afternoons

"Everything in the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary."

-- Aaron Rose, film director

I have always loved the lighting at this time of year.  Late November afternoons grow dark around 5:00 pm and the evenings come upon us very fast.  We are turning on lamps and lighting candles and the glow of evening suffuses our house.  There is something thrilling about this time of the day.  It often sends us searching the bookshelves for a new book to read or perusing our cookbooks for a new recipe to cook.  The fireplace is lit and the house feels like a haven. There is an excitement in the air for fall and winter activities.  Suddenly there are excellent movies to see, great ideas for themed dinner parties, engrossing books to read by the fire, and of course the anticipation of the holidays.

 Many writers have described this time of the day and rooms that are illuminated by soft lighting, candles and fireplaces --

"...a table gleaming with the light of candles, the whiteness of napery, the silver of the samovar and the tea service of transparent porcelain." --  Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

The glow of a candlelit dinner
photo via here

"She had forgotten the heavy smoothness with which armchairs ran over the parquet, the sudden muting of steps as one crossed a rug.  The mirrors were bright with reflections of grey-green gardens...Firelight fingered the cups on the tray between the armchairs; arched deep recesses were dark with books...the long pale-green curtains hung from their pelmets like pillars, placidly fluted."

--  Elizabeth Bowen, To the North

The atmosphere of a softly lit library
via here

"The afternoon had faded but the lamps had been brought in, the smell of flowers was in the air and the old house of Plash seemed to recognize the hour that suited it best.  The quiet old lady in the firelight, encompassed with the symbolic security of chintz and water-colour, gave her a sudden vision of how blessed it would be to jump all the middle dangers of life and have arrived at the end, safely, sensibly, with a cap and gloves and consideration and memories."

-- Henry James, A London Life

The warmth of a fire burning in the fireplace
Photo via here


"We will each write a ghost story."
--- Lord Byron

 The soft illumination of two lamps in an entryway, implying mystery around the corner
I can imagine Byron and his friends gathering here for their ghost stories
Photo via here

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Speaking of gorgeous lighting and atmosphere, the new film adaptation of Anna Karenina has both.  It opened this weekend. Have you seen it?  It is a beautiful film with great acting, magical lighting and exquisite costumes.  It takes you away to another time and place, imperial Russia of the 1870s, and puts you directly into the love affair between Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky and the drama and tragedy that follow.   I felt transported, as if I had fallen into Tolstoy's great novel.  It was a  perfect outing for a November afternoon.

Photo via here

Now that November afternoons are rapidly turning into dark evenings, how do you spend your time?  Movies, cooking, knitting, good books, holiday planning?  I'd love to hear what you are up to on these cozy nights during late November. 

Jane Eyre: The Movie

Last week I saw the new movie "Jane Eyre" and I was totally enraptured by this new version of one of the  most beautiful and famous books in the English language.  Is there any other book that most of us know practically by heart and as we are watching the movie can predict exactly what will happen next?  I never get tired of anticipating the moment that Jane meets Mr. Rochester for the first time, or the moment that she saves his life after his bed has been set on fire, or the dramatic wedding scene in the church. And the heartbreaking scenes from Jane's childhood, when she is sent to Lowood school and is forced to stand on the chair all day, or goes to sleep clutching the hand of her only friend Helen Burns.  These are iconic images that stay in our minds.

 Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre

Michael Fassbender as Mr. Rochester

Jamie Bell as St. John Rivers

Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax

The film is beautifully directed and the acting is fabulous, with Mia Wasikowska as Jane, Michael Fassbender as Mr. Rochester,  Jamie Bell as St. John Rivers and Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax.  The setting of the book and the film, the wild Yorkshire moors in England, is almost as important as any other aspect of this film.  The filmmakers got it right, and rendered it beautifully, enhancing the passion and the loneliness of the story and that of the hero and heroine.  There is a fierceness and a passion in "Jane Eyre."  The wildness of the Yorkshire moors lives on every page of this book.  This new film version of Charlotte Bronte's masterpiece beautifully captures that fierceness and passion, of both the land and the characters.