In Which we talk about Barry Lyndon and the Memento Mori

Good afternoon, my good friend, dear reader of this post! Happy Thursday! We are at the gates of April! Quite fast did we go, don't you think? Of course, we still have several days in March, and I hope I may have the time and energy to write a wrap-up post on this month, which is a thing I try to do every end of the month, not always with success or in time. How are you, my friend? As for me, I am okay. Going as good as I can go given the laments of daily life. There are joys, of course, such as when a computer game actually brings me fulfillment, or when I have the opportunity to chat more with a dear online friend. I don't exactly know why do these good things can be overshadowed by the woes and mutters of sorrow. Ah, anyway, one day at a time.

I did finish watching a movie recently! First one in two years, I reckon. As my movie habits and attention spawns have been rusty to say the least, it took me several sittings accross the month to wrap it up, but fortunately, wrap up I did. Could not be different that it took me a long time to end it, the movie is around close to four hours! The name is Barry Lyndon, it is a 1970's piece done by a director of name Stanley Kubrick. I heard of Mr. Kubrick before, apparently he is very good. I did not pay much attention, because he was not exactly on my radar, and I don't like to play lip service to his talent, that I had no first hand information on. Well, after this piece, I can say, he is great. Barry Lyndon, what a beautiful yet tragic movie! It tells the veritable mythical saga of Redmond Barry, a poor irishman that only had his big ambitions and smartness as cards to play in his favor on an otherwise unfulfilling life. He lives hundreds of thrilling adventures and terrifying misadventures across this tale of 18th century Europe, featuring the 7 years war, for example. Yes, Barry was there, one of his most dreadful misadventures was facing the harsh reality of wat, and how he'd eventually rise above that, and so on, I could tell of many events, but the centerpiece is Redmond, not the war, nor the fortune, nor the misfortune. He is the sole piece tying together this whole frame.

Ah, I must say: this movie, in visuals and aesthetic alone, is such a masterpiece, as to be one of the most beautiful ones I've seen, with such quality, that to this day, it is not entirely surpassed. Ir looks like a work by one of the Dutch painters and the great british portratists of the 18th century. It is an amazing depiction of 18th century fashion and society, with all its glimmer but also grim moments. Even if the theme is tragedy, I found it not to be cynical in any way, which is a glass of cold water in the desert where we find ourselves today, where sarcasm is hailed as intelligence and bad manners seem like a commandment. It can be a tad ironic, even comical, at times, but never cynical. It has genuine warmth and respect, care for all the characters, never downplaying their good moments, nor sugar coating their most terrible ones. I am of course moved deeply by the plight of Lady Lyndon, whom will be a center character in the late half of this big motion picture. When we are introduced to her, there is a certain air of "social alpinist" to her, something Redmond definitely is. That is a good example how first impressions are not always what they seem. How she suffers on this movie, from every kind of misfortune, and some would desire to say she was always stiff upper lip about her plight. But I am no stoic, she has every right to go to the gates of mental ruin due to how much one can suffer in this very dangerous world of ours. What an unforgiving world indeed. That I think is the main message of this incredible tale: memento mori. Remember that you are ash and to ash you shall return. Not in that terrible quote of the "life is a play where we won't survive in the end", but much more genuine and empathetic. 

So, anyway, perhaps I will have more to say on Stanley Kubrick's piece. But for now, I think I summed it up in a satisfying manner, at least to myself. I hope I have enticed your curiosity over this work! Usually I am more expontaneous in my writing, but this time I took care not to spoil anything. I hope I was successful. A question bears in mind: is this the sign I will watch more movies? Really hard to say, I have been juggling through my hobbies, and it is hard not to let one slip for a while, but at least there are pieces I still desire to watch. I think in this point, it is a good moment to wrap up today's piece. I always tend to rely on the desire to write, but I hope I can try and return here sooner rather than later, with more thoughts and ideas. Hopefully by next week, the beginning of April, the beautiful Easter time! See you real soon!! Farewell dear friend and cherished pen pal.