The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

The Brain and the Heart

       There are books that have--at their center--a character that is the heart of the story. That character is the conduit of the emotional current that runs through the book.

       Currently, I am working on writing a story and have--as the main character--a woman with a bruised heart. She has some twisted schemes up her sleeve. I'm hoping that as the tale evolves, the connecting thread will hold it together...

       A week ago, I saw the movie Twelve Years a Slave. One reviewer said that the Solomon character was the brain of the movie, but the Patsy character was the heart. I could not agree more...


       Imagine you are free. You have a family--a wife and children. You are respected in your community. And after he makes a single choice, he ends up enslaved...for the next twelve years.

       I highly recommend this film. It is emotionally draining. It focuses on a dark period of American history, and is based on a true story. But the acting and the cinematography is impeccable. 

14 comments:

  1. Eager to hear about your story!!

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  2. The columnist Leonard Pitts, who I like a lot, recommended this movie, too.

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    1. Shay--I need to find his columns (Can I?) online. I lovedlovedloved his novel "Freeman."

      Don't walk...run to the nearest theater and watch it.

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    2. Find Leonard Pitts here:

      http://www.miamiherald.com/leonard_pitts/

      By the way, Mama Zen wants you to know that she is having trouble getting your page to load; that's why she hasn't been by.

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  3. I have seen this movie and it was wonderful, although the subject matter was difficult. The storytelling was so good you were drawn in and swallowed by the tale. It shows that great movies can still be made. I am reading in the CS Just Us Girls. Loved your own storytelling there too! Great job writing about your friends.
    Also you asked about the little rolls picture on my blog...those are puff pastries with crushed peppermint rolled inside. My first use of puff pastry and not very pretty but they did taste good!

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    1. Claudia--I agree. I felt like a 2-ton weight was on my shoulders, pressing me down, for most of the movie. But it was well worth it...

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  4. Sorry. I am not a good conduit for emotional current. I read "bruised heart" and thought, "That's a myocardial contusion." Too many years spent watching ER every Thursday night, and wasted summers catching two-a-day reruns on TBS, I suppose.

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    1. Val--Bruised wasn't the right adjective, but I was chompin' at the bit to work on a submission. (Or go to bed. Either one was pressing at the time.)

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  5. ...woman with a bruised heart...I love that description.
    I always thought about how horrible it would feel being wrongly accused (of any thing) and trying to prove my innocence. Emotional tug, not good for me right now, but I am so glad you enjoyed the movie. I've heard great reviews.

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    1. Linda--I agree. The idea of being "innocent" and not being able to defend one's self is an awful feeling.

      I'm looking forward to Monday.

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  6. Replies
    1. Lynn--Take some tissues with you...

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  7. Sounds like an intense movie, but not sure its for me. I don't mind if a movie makes me cry if it also makes me laugh and has at least a semblance of a feel-good ending.

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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