by Sam Juliano
The “Rest of Europe” polling is underway and will continue into early August. Each voter gets fifteen choices, and there are six countries being considered: Greece, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. Thank you Marilyn Ferdinand for mentioning Austrian director Jessica Hausner, since it alerted me to my tragic omission of LOURDES, which was my #1 film of its release year. I was thinking it would count for a country already covered. But I must revise my vote to include it now, and am still trying to work in two other films, one suggested by Tony d’Ambra – Michael Cacoyannis’s STELLA.
I have been focusing my attention this past week on Irish Jesus in Fairview, and am quite happy to report that as of TODAY – July 11th – I have eclipsed 85,000 words. (Paradise ran 92,000). Obviously this means I am winding down to the finish line, though I still have a few crucial chapters to write including the very last, and numerous transitional passages and date revisions. But I have made more progress over the past 12 days than I have for any time writing what will end up being a sequel longer than the first book. I’d like to think the literary development of the characters and themes eclipses anything I did in the first book, but that is not for me to conclude. As always, my friend and muse, Valerie Clark has been front and center with inquiries, support and the much needed push.
Sadly, many thespian passings over the week including the iconic Godfather star James Caan at 82 and F Troop stalwart Larry Storch at the amazing age of 99. May they all R.I.P.
Wishing everyone a fabulous week, safe and properous.
“Alice’s Restaurant” (1969). Arthur Penn’s elegy to the hippie culture. All the chicks want to bed homely Arlo Guthrie, who gives an agreeable amateur performance. The burial of the young junkie in the softly falling snow is achingly beautiful. And, yes, I was reminded of Joyce’s epilogue from “The Dead.”
With marvelous Pat Quinn, James Broderick, M. Emmet Walsh, Shelley Plimpton, Pete Seeger, and Tina Chen. B+
“La Salamandre” (Alain Tanner, 1971) is a belated wavelet influenced by the ’60s Nouvelle Vague. Superb and disturbing and it’s going on my list along with “Jonah Who Will Be 25 in the Year 2000”, another Tanner film.
Thanks to Marilyn for listing “The Lacemaker.” I’d almost forgotten this gem.
The burial of the young junkie in the softly falling snow is achingly beautiful. And, yes, I was reminded of Joyce’s epilogue from “The Dead.”
Mark, that is a fantastic, extraordinary observation there my friend!! And I agree with your final grade! You have two superlative films lined up for your list, and yes Marilyn’s mention for The Lacemaker is hard to argue!
I’ll never forget Isabelle Huppert’s debut film. I watched it again recently and felt devastated by it all over again.