What's New - Some Discussion and a Movie
Arbitrary things that seem to have more meaning than the usual mundane everyday activities happen from time to time. Yesterday, in particular, was interesting; I came across an old notebook (pictured above) I filled with short stories as a child.
It was on my kitchen island for whatever reason, and I have no idea how it came about all these years later. I probably haven’t seen the notebook since I was 12, and my recollection of it has all but vanished.
The scribbles, dark skull cover, and standard notebook paper remain how I remembered. Half the pages are ripped out—probably for me not wanting anyone to read these stories as a child—but I’m glad to have it back.
Around ten, I filled the book with a few chapters of my Sci-Fi masterpiece Zeon. If I recall correctly, the story was about seven planets in a made-up solar system on the verge of a catastrophic war.
I envisioned the planets being connected via space tunnels–whatever sense that makes. I imagine the main character had the same name as me, a similarity amidst all my short stories as a child.
I wish the pages were still intact, but I’m happy to have the notebook. Sometimes, things happen that give meaning, and it’s nice to come across these special moments in time.
It reminds me how much I’ve loved writing and aspired to write. Admittedly, procrastination has gotten the best of me with the proper book format, though I can’t dwell on these things too much.
It’ll happen someday—whether it’s a movie recommendation book, an actual novel, or something related to me—and it’ll be worth it when it does.
Random Movie Recommendation: Lady Bird (2017)
I enjoyed Lady Bird the first time I saw it and decided to rewatch it last night and oh my, it’s a fantastic film and demonstrates Greta Gerwig’s ability as a filmmaker.
For those who don’t know, the film has the simple premise of following Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan), a 17-year-old girl who undergoes a coming-of-age experience in Sacramento, California.
Lady Bird has a turbulent relationship with her mother–going so far as making everyone call her Lady Bird because she scoffs at the idea of her birthname, Christine, declaring how odd it is that we accept the names our parents give us.
Her mother, Marion (Laurie Metcalf), is a deeply flawed character who is rigid in her ways, calling Lady Bird names, saying she’ll never amount to anything, and plenty more, while simultaneously being a very caring and loving person who has the general right intention but doesn’t know how to handle anger or conflict.
Lady Bird isn’t any better; fixating on things, sharing the same strong will and opinions, always wanting to be the center of attention, and getting upset when things don’t go her way. Both aren’t bad people but demonstrate the importance of flawed characters and why these characters make stories so much stronger.
The two butting heads is a commonality in their everyday lives, while the father, Larry (Tracy Letts), sits amidst the chaos and tries to be the good guy, as Marion repeatedly says.
There are plenty of shots of Marion driving Lady Bird, a symbolic act of control, representing her desire to guide Lady Bird towards the best possible path.
As they prepare for the literal journey of letting her daughter fly away to college, Lady Bird driving for the first time later in the film echoes familiar moments where Lady Bird has been a mere passenger in her mother's life. Marion steers the car, leading the family to their destinations, mirroring their shared experiences.
The movie depicts the timeless challenges of adolescence and underscores the significance of self-discovery in the journey to adulthood. It unquestionably invokes a nostalgic feeling for viewers, transcending barriers of age, gender, and geography.
Stylistically, it’s shot beautifully, has a great lead and supporting cast, and is written brilliantly. I regard it as one of the best contemporary coming-of-age movies, and I can’t recommend it enough if you haven’t seen it already.
Final Thoughts
I hope this beginning of the year is treating you well. There’s a lot to enjoy, or at least the possibility of enjoyment is always there.
Also, one of my bands released a new track if you want to check it out. You can view it here and peep the physical copies here. Thanks as always for the support. Talk soon.