There was one line in particular near the end of the film that really struck me. I can't recall it verbatim, but at one point Jesse says this is real life, not a dream world.
I mulled this sentence over after leaving the movie. I feel it succinctly describes what I've been at a loss of word of how to say about my time abroad. I enjoyed my sojourn in France. In fact, it was a year where I literally lived out a dream to live in France and travel around Europe. But when I got back, I felt a strong urge to deconstruct what I've come to feel is a romanticized myth of France. My intention is not to disparage a country that I again find myself under its spell. But there is seemingly an industry manufacturing dreams of a place where you'll be swept off your feet by a cute Frenchman and live happily ever after on a vineyard. Rather, I sought to come to terms with France as a real place, grittiness included.
(photo by Cynthia K.)
2 comments:
So how was the movie?
I really liked it. The characters are older than me though so from that point of view I found it a bit hard to relate. Maybe I identify more with them age-wise in Before Sunset or Before Sunrise. I think it's an honest portrayal of a 10+ year relationship though. I also really find subject of their conversations interesting and would read the dialogue as a text if it were available; that way you could stop and consider some of the topics at your own pace. I really liked how they brought in other characters this time instead of keeping it strictly between Jesse and Celine.
Did you see the movie? What did you think?
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