17/11/2015 A written reflection on: Eat. Pray. Love.Swirls of colour and culture still dazzling my mind, I sit in a sense of awe at witnessing such a story. To any travel-intrigued individual (which is probably most modern-day westerners tired of the tedious nine-to-five of urban living) the locations and scenery involved in this film will be a source of newly enlightened inspiration.
However, for me the real importance was held not by the places, the colours, the artistic camera-use or the lively breadth of accompanying music. My interest lies with the bare truth and frantic realism of both story-line and character. There is no saviour appearing in all his perfection in time to save her from sadness. Rather, in truth, I have never seen so many tears in a single film (and cannot help but wonder at the effect this emotive performance had on Julia Roberts in her everyday life). It is refreshing to be allowed negativity: For popular culture to understand, and furthermore reassure, the presence of anxiety, guilt and loneliness within the process of personal growth. For once permission is given to accept all forms of emotion with open arms and present awareness. If any one thing should be taken from this film it is that happiness is never guaranteed, you can be lonely anywhere, doing anything. And this is one of life’s most beautiful truths; because it also means that happiness is within you. Happiness is carried like a torch, bright and proud, lighting the way and warming our souls. So whatever you are feeling, wherever you are, happiness is never much further than a quiet seat or a slice of pizza. [Further artistic note: I recently found myself in a discussion regarding the use of shock and awe in art and the repetitive fashions in art culture. Questioning: Is there anything genuinely ‘new’ left to discover? And can we really be shocked in today’s direct culture, where sex, money and aggression are used to attract and sell? I think with this film came an unexpected realisation: I was shocked by reality. Some would describe this storyline as slow or rambling and perhaps that is the beauty of it. Seeing a film with the frequent ups and downs of life, and the genuine problems of human emotion, left me surprised and what’s more with a feeling of being emptied out and rebuilt in a better order. How novel to think that what truly shocks us now is accepting reality with all its turbulent imperfections. And perhaps this attention to truthful reality could filter into the art world?.] Comments are closed.
|