Last night I was at a performance of Les Miserables put on by the Balagan Theatre Group here in Seattle.  Really well done and I appreciated the more intimate setting.  Having front row seats didn't hurt either (Thanks, Cami!).  

There might be more to come on that later... but one of the things I love about live theatre - even things you've seen before - is that something different stands out each time.  A certain performance,  a particular line provokes something like the pulling of a thread, one that you're still pulling a day or two or a year later.  

One of those provoking thoughts from yesterday's performance was in regards to "On My Own."  It was one of the stand-out moments.  The actress delivered the solo effortlessly (and it didn't hurt that she was stunning ;)

[Danielle Barnum as Eponine]

But more than a great performance, discussing our reflections after the show Cami and I ended up asking, "Why is it that every girl can - at one point or another - identify so deeply with 'On My Own'?  It's the song every girl has wanted to express at some point."  That may seem like an exaggeration or at least a bit melodramatic.  

But [ranty rabbit trail] I'm also kind of sick of the "cool girl" facade everyone seems to be pushing.  I should probably save this for another post, but sometimes my friends try to act "above it all" and pretend like things don't hurt and I just want to tell them, "Guess what?  God made you a girl!  That means you're allowed to feel things.  Actually, God likes it when you feel things.  He feels things and He made you like Himself.  So you don't have to act like you don't feel."  [end rant]

Getting back on topic,  I think pretty much every girl has had one or more "On My Own" seasons.  And then, of course, I thought about other favorite characters, and specifically Jane Austen character.  I thought about the two types of love stories Austen sets out:  the waiting ones and the winning ones.  

The "winning" ones are often our favorites:  Darcy works (almost entirely "off screen") to win Elizabeth who is surprised by love.  I'd also put Emma Woodhouse, Catherine Morland, and Marianne Dashwood into this category.  They are surprised and/or won over by the gents in their prospective stories.  

But there are also some incredible "waiting" narratives:  Elinor waits for Edward; Anne Elliot for Captain Wentworth;  Fanny Price for Edmund Bertram. 

I'm sure that love in real life contains aspects of both waiting and winning, but I couldn't help but ask myself which make for the better love stories?  There is something so unbelievable and fantastical and reminiscent of Christ's love when a character gets their world turned upside down with the idea that someone loves them undeservedly.  There's a reason - for all of his faults - that girls find Darcy's first proposal so attractive.  There's something inexplicably delightful in the speeches given by Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado when they "realize" the other person loves them.


And yet... what compares to the absolute thrill at the end of Sense and Sensibility when Elinor realizes that she and Edward can finally be married?  [In case you have any doubt of just how wonderful that moment is, I offer you the 1995 Emma Thompson/Hugh Grant scene - also check out the 2008 BBC version with Hattie Morahan and Dan Stevens (yes, he was Edward Ferrars before he was Matthew Crawley ;) ]

What romantic moment can beat Wentworth's letter?  "I am half agony, half hope..."

[The lovely Obvious State artwork based on his letter]

The ending to Persuasion is so overwhelming that I confess to avoiding it.  Both times I've read it and after seeing a sub-par adaptation, it wrecked me for days or weeks.  I am challenged and fascinated by Anne's endurance.  It's a beautiful and terrible thing.



I suppose I've rambled long enough.  I don't even have an answer for which seems to be the more powerful love story.  But I'd love to hear your thoughts - maybe not a definitive answer, but stories or people you've known that moved you.  

Love is so complex, and yet simple.  But it's worth both the surprises and the waiting.

“You who suffer because you love, love still more. To die of love, is to live by it.” - Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

Pictures & pubs - 2013 Best Picture Nominees

Last night I had the joy of participating in the Kindling's Muse "Theologies of the Best Picture Nominees."

As always, so fascinating!

Oh! I just absolutely love story-telling!  And films.  And award season :)

The 2013 Best Picture Nominees:

Life of Pi - Ang Lee

Amour - Michael Haneke

Zero Dark Thirty - Kathryn Bigelow

*Beasts of the Southern Wild - Benh Zeitlin

*Argo - Ben Affleck

Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino

*Les Miserables - Tom Hooper

*Silver Linings Playbook - David O. Russell

*Lincoln - Steven Spielberg

* - one's that I've seen

Partner in crime ;)

(We have way too much fun together!!)

Dinner - bangers & mash in mushroom gravy... thank God for delicious pub food!

[In other news... I miss England.  Yah... shocking.]

Ok... but back to the pictures themselves.  I'll speak briefly to the one's I've seen:

Beasts of the Southern Wild - Odd. Mythic in an Odyssey type way. Art-house. At times uncomfortable, boring, stunning, jaw-dropping.  Maybe it was because I was at home, but I had a rather visceral reaction to this film.  Learning about how they made it was more intriguing than actually watching it.  Wouldn't recommend it widely, but I know certain people who would really enjoy this.

Argo - Solid film.  Almost everything Americans love about films - action, humor, redemption, beating the odds - wrapped into the representation of a true story (obviously exagerated at moments, but you know).  Yes, for more mature audiences due to language - but surprisingly clean/uplifting.  Strangely prophetic about where we are at right now.

Les Miserables - Obviously amazing story.  The weaknesses of the film were due to not letting the lyrics, the story, speak for itself.  Some incredible performances, but at times, over-performed and over-pathetic.  And, of course, too many close-ups.

Silver Linings Playbook - So... really didn't get what all the hype was about.  I expected something more art-house, or at least an unexpected ending.  What I got was a darker, more vulgarized What About Bob.  I applaud the screen-writers, directors, and production team for wanting to tackle a difficult-to-talk-about subject.  Bradley Cooper let us see a different side.  The other actors are pretty great at what they do.  But it's gotten so much hype I was pretty disappointed.  Don't feel a need to see it again.

Lincoln - Wow!  Saw it twice in theatres - cannot wait to own it.  Most immersive biopic I've seen.  I felt that each actor, with the exception of Joseph Gordon Levitt [Sorry, JGL], dissolved into their character.  Of course Daniel Day-Lewis was amazing.  But I was surprised by and grateful for Spielberg's restraint in this piece.  Last night many said that this will probably be remembered as his masterpiece and I have to agree.  Even more than being masterful film-making or gifted acting, I felt it was the film America needed.  It wins "Best Picture" in my book :)

The other films:

Life of Pi - I don't feel the draw to see this film.  Maybe read the book, but no particular desire as of now.

Amour - I had been very anti-Amour, but last night, I think I was convinced to at least watch it.  Thank you, Jeffrey Overstreet.  I'll be waiting to see it on a smaller screen - I don't want to go to the cinema for a downer.

Zero Dark Thirty - some may not understand, but I need to wait to see this film.  I think it might be emotionally too much for me right now, but I look forward to seeing it, again, hopefully on a smaller screen.

Django Unchained - Sorry, Tarantino is just not my cup of tea.

Finally, the painful hole in this list of Best Pictures - Moonrise Kingdom [obvi!]

More than responses or ideas about the specific films discussed last night, I was so grateful for some of the great insights on what these stories say about us as humans, especially humans in the 21st Century.  It was a thought-provoking night - and a much needed one.  I miss criticism--wrestling with art and examining its affect.  So, so grateful for last night's good food, profound thoughts, and fun people.

Alright... there are my reflections on the years Best Pics - what are yours?

Aaaaaghh! =)

Ok... couldn't resist sharing this:

This would be terrifying... if it wasn't so incredible!

I know, I know - he's way too pop-ish and he's a *guy* ...but all that aside - WOW!

Can't wait for December =)

Legacies and loss

Walking this day with an aching heart. Words cannot express what we have lost in losing Pastor Dennis Trout. I know that he is whole in the Presence of the Lord--but right now, it is unbearable to think of life without him.

I don't think I exaggerate when I say that Pastor Dennis changed the life of everyone he came in contact with. I know he changed mine. Fourteen years ago when my brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he, along with some of the other elders and pastors, came to our house to weep and pray with us. He stood with our family then as well as other dark periods of my life. His teaching on undistracted devotion and Biblical ethics have shaped the very way I view life. He spoke some incredible words that have impacted my life. I remember one chapel message entitled "Chairs" where he talked about the chairs we were destined to sit in one day as well as all the chairs in which we must sit on the journey to that destiny. He was absolutely unique--in fashion, in giving announcements, in reading stories at people's weddings, in doling out calf-raises as "punishment" in class, and just about everything else.
I so appreciate that he made a point of staying in touch with me--asking me every time he saw me, "Still getting me straight A's?" Yes, Pastor Dennis, I got you straight A's and I will continue to do so.
Pastor Dennis, I cannot believe that you are gone. I can't believe there will be no more hugs this side of eternity. I can't imagine family camp without you. I cannot believe that you won't be at my wedding.


But I do know that you were one of the best demonstrations of a father's heart and a principled, laid-down, spirit-led life. You will be so, so missed.


I had the privilege last month of going to see Les Miserables, Pastor Dennis's favorite musical. The finale reminded me of him and his fight and his love. It's been in my head all day.

Valjean:

God on high
Hear my prayer
Take me now
To thy care
Where You are
Let me be
Take me now
Take me there
Bring me home
Bring me home...

Fantine:

Come with me

Where chains will never bind you

All your grief

At last, at last behind you

Lord in heaven; 

Look down on him in mercy

Valjean:

Forgive me all my trespases and take me to your glory


Fantine, Valjean and Eponine:

Take my hand

And lead me to salvation

Take my love

For love is everlasting

And remember

The truth that once was spoken:

To love another person is to see the face of God

Pastor Dennis, thank you will never be enough, but its all I have. Your legacy does not die with you. But I am so happy that you are now with your Creator, basking in His glory.

I love you, Samara

Part 2 of the Week of Epic Awesomeness: Woah!!

Amazing! That's really all I can say. So blessed to have seen this in London and now Seattle (my two homes). I was very impressed by the sets in this particular production--really amazing. Loved loved loved it! And I'm really glad to have had an uber-fun date with my younger brother Jer.

Can't even believe there's more awesome coming!!! =)

Tomorrow =)

"Do you hear the people sing?"

I do!! Les Miserables 2012 here I come =)

I've got to admit, I'm starting to look forward to his performance as Marius...

[poor student in Paris? yah... he's got that look down]

*So* blessed I got to see him perform this live. Breathtaking. This just kills me!

"Only love can fill eternity. For to fill that which is infinite requires that which is inexhaustable..." - Victor Hugo