Sticky

You know how sometimes you read a book or an article or see a movie or a piece of art and it creeps you out and you really don't like it, but your mind just won't let it go?  For, like, years?  I'm guessing someone thinks that's the definition of great art.

I rarely recommend those types of things to anybody, though, because they're just so disturbing.  Like the movie Match Point - saw it years ago and still can't shake it, but unlike that reviewer, I don't find "the gloom of random, meaningless existence" to be in any way "fun".  Since I also can't figure out any kind of edifying nugget to pull out of the thing, I have to say it is a wickedly well-conceived movie but not one I would ever tell anyone to watch.

Then there's the movie The Magdalene Sisters, which has enough nuggets that I could recommend it, but not without saying that if you have any heart at all, it will be permanently wounded by the experience.  And don't watch it while pregnant, nursing, or possibly at any point after having children.  It kicked me hard in the gut before I even had kids.

I've been putting off posting about Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro because it falls almost in the same category.  Almost anything I could say would give away too much of the plot, and I could never compete with this review by Margaret Atwood (but don't go read that if you think you'll be reading the book, much of the experience of reading the book is about the very slow reveal of what's actually going on).  So I'll just say that I am continually surprised by how real these characters are to me, even four years after reading it, and how much I care about them, even though I didn't really like any of them that much.  Plus, the whole concept of the book is something my mind regularly wants to chew over, even if I don't like it very much.  It's a really bleak thing, but astonishingly full in spite of that.  A sturdy structure to hang years of existential angst on.

Actually, that's the one thing I'd add to the review.  I ruminate over this book less as a narrow ethical dilemma or general social commentary, but more as a stubborn thorn in my side that keeps prompting questions like, Why does it matter what or who imposes limits on our lives?  Are any of us really different than these people?  Do our lives really have more meaning?  Why?  Why not?  If not, why does their plight seem so tragic in comparison to our own?  Do I find the gradual understanding that dawns on these kids so chilling only because of the disturbing fictional details of their world, or is it because it's such a clear metaphor for the universal experience of growing up, gradually discovering exciting things, gaining independence, luxuriating in our aliveness, but always with frightening shadows at the margins, slowly revealing mortality, evil, our own moral imperfection?  It's compelling on so many levels, which must be why my brain won't let it go.

Comments

[Amber]

The Magdalene Sisters left a deep impact on me, I was affected for a week, and it still leaves an uneasy feeling in my gut when I think about it.

[Mar Mar]

Well, you know that line about memory and imagination touching eternity? I avoid unsettling movies and books. History,life and the newspaper give me plenty of the dark side. Your father always used to want to watch what I call "improving" movies, like Das Boot (sp?). I wanted to watch romantic comedic fluff (like Romancing the Stone, or, more upscale, Pride and Prejudice). Mostly we didn't watch movies very much. Once when I was pregnant we went to see The Story of Martin Guerre. Romantic, but sad movie. Probably a little stupid. I started crying about one hour in and couldn't stop. Your dad tried to be understanding, but mostly he was very embarrassed and said he wouldn't take me to movies anymore. Then there was the photo exhibit of war photography. I started crying in that, too, and we had to leave. It's all too real to me.

I now pretty much stick to happy books and happy movies and my memories which are mostly quite wonderful. I've experienced some evil, but have escaped it each time. My imagination plays riot with reality and what I think is happening over on that other side of life, which we call death, but which, I am sure, is just another aspect of life fueled by the energy of love. I just don't go to the dark side as much as possible, altho I'm quite aware its there. I think its not so much a "side" as a place where love is not.

And life and love is what children are all about. I love your blog.

[DiDi]

All of this is making me feel like I need to see how The Adorables are looking this week. And how's this for weird...I've been reading a collection of not-very-uplifting-but-I-keep-trying-to-understand-what it-all-means Kazuo Ishiguro short stories -- which I'd planned to send to you when I finished. MarMar and I should trade books and go to movies together!!

[Kelly]

I've seen Match Point (not sure I agree with that reviewer you mention in your blog post) and The Magdalene Sisters. Having been raised Irish Catholic, The Magdalene Sisters hit me rather hard. I've been moving in the direction of Mar Mar, however, and tend to lean towards the happy and humorous these days. Although, for dark(er), I do highly recommend The Virgin Suicides, book and the movie.

[M.T.]

I love reading everyone's thoughts, thank you.

Yes, I pretty much always avoid stuff that looks depressing now. Not enough energy for it and not clear on what the use of it is, anyway.