Heavenly Fire
In honour of V-Day, I bring you recommendations about the awesomeness of women.
Movies: Te doy mis ojos (English title: Take My Eyes; which I don't like because it changes the verb from "give" to "take", but that's a different issue), directed by Icíar Bollaín ~ "With her son in tow, battered wife Pilar (Laia Marull) finally flees her violent husband, Antonio (Luis Tosar), taking asylum at her sister Ana's (Candela Peña) home. Free from the clutches of her abusive husband, Pilar struggles to start a new life; problem is, she still loves Antonio." Since the main point of V-Day is to bring attention to and put a stop to violence against women, I'm recommending this film about domestic violence. It's a heartbreaking story, and very real in its portrayal of a woman's reluctance to stop making excuses and admit abuse. The story is not just about the abuse, but also about dealing with the despair and hope that follow. All of the actors (lead and supporting) are outstanding, and the film won 7 Goya Awards (the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars).
Flores de otro mundo (English title: Flowers From Another World), directed by Icíar Bollaín ~ "Looking for companionship, a group of lonely Spaniards (including Luis Tosar, Jose Sancho and Chete Lara) hold a soiree for single women. But for the most part, their party guests are poor immigrants from third-world countries." This is another brilliant movie from the director of Te doy mis ojos, made a few years prior to that film. The story is based on reality: there really are buses to bring single women out to the tiny agrarian villages of Spain, where the population is dwindling due to the allure of the cities. This story follows three main couples as they deal with their different backgrounds and personalities. The storylines feel real, and the three main women are amazing characters, full of strength and beauty.
Both these movies are in Spanish (obviously) and they seem to be available via Netflix with English subtitles. I highly, highly recommend both of them. However, if you do rent them, I recommend watching Flores first, as both movies have an actor (Luis Tosar) in common. He's phenomenal in both, but in Flores he plays an adorably shy farmer whereas in Ojos he is the abusive husband. It's kind of jarring to go back and watch Flores after seeing him in Ojos, so it's a much better effect for Flores if you watch that one first.
Song: "Bread & Roses" by Judy Collins ~ This is a very Bryn Mawr song to me, as that is where I first heard it, but really it is just about strong women. It was originally a poem written by James Oppenheim, who was inspired by the "bread and roses" slogan of the 1912 textile strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses. [ Download @ sendspace ]
Books: Baghdad Sketches by Freya Stark ~ I've mentioned her before, but not enough, so let me say again that Freya Stark is a truly amazing writer. She was a British woman, born and raised in Italy, who travelled around the Middle East in the 1930s and 1940s, largely on her own (or at least unaccompanied by men). There are several books of her travel writings, of which I have read two so far. Baghdad Sketches was the first of her writings to be published and presents a series of short essays on her experiences in and around Baghdad. Her writing is simply breathtaking, whether she is describing the landscape or the people, and she has such great respect for what she's writing about. She's definitely one of my heroes, both as a traveller and as a writer. [ Amazon ] or [ @ your library ].
Don't Bet On The Prince edited by Jack Zipes ~ A compilation of short stories based on fairy tales (traditional and original) that highlight the strength of women instead of the prince. They are all at least interesting, but my personal favourite is Jeanne Desy's "The Princess Who Stood On Her Own Two Feet". There are tales for young (and old), tales for old (and young), and a few feminist lit-crit essays at the end. [ Amazon ] or [ @ your library ].
How Nancy Drew Saved My Life by Lauren Baratz-Logsted ~ Contrary to the title, this story is more a rip-off of Jane Eyre with a side of Nancy Drew and a dash of Bridget Jones. The first chapter is one huge cliché. But it's an amusing bit of fluff, and the ending is what really makes it worthwhile. (Can't say more without spoiling it.) It's not exactly quality literature, but as a bit of fluff it works out okay. [ Amazon ] or [ @ your library ].
TV Shows: Gilmore Girls ~ It had its high points and low points during its 7 season run, but overall, I loved it. Not just because of the fantastic dialogue and great cast of characters. What impressed me most was that Rory is a book geek. I didn't like everything her character did, but at the heart of it all, she was always a somewhat shy girl who loved books and school. Just like me. Girls like that never make it on mainstream TV shows. That this show was on for seven years still amazes me. (That Veronica Mars wasn't still baffles me.)
Star Trek ~ Yes. Besides the fact that I am a dork and have huge heaps of love for the cheesyness of the original series, this show featured an African-American woman on the bridge crew of an intergalactic spaceship. In the 1960s. The network complained about that (among other things) after the pilot screening and, although they did change other things (the captain for instance), Lieutenant Uhura stayed put. That was a historic step in the right direction as far as women's portrayal in entertainment and, by the nature of the show's setting, looked towards a future where women are part of intergalactic space missions and it's not a big deal.
Miscellany: 14valentines ~ A LiveJournal community dedicated to promoting awareness of women's issues through fandom. Each day for the first 14 days of February, there is an essay on a different issue and links to organizations that pertain to that issue. Participants then post their responses, which are then compiled in a follow-up round-up post. Responses range from writings and graphics to recipes and knitting patterns. They may or may not be related to the day's topic, the point is to promote awareness of the issues by linking to the essay in whatever response you post. So there is quite an interesting collection of responses, which are fun to browse through.
To conclude:
"There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which kindles up, and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity."
~Washington Irving
For the women on my flist, we are all brave and beautiful. And for the men, thank you for supporting me with your friendship.
♥ ♥ ♥ Happy Valentine's Day! ♥ ♥ ♥
Movies: Te doy mis ojos (English title: Take My Eyes; which I don't like because it changes the verb from "give" to "take", but that's a different issue), directed by Icíar Bollaín ~ "With her son in tow, battered wife Pilar (Laia Marull) finally flees her violent husband, Antonio (Luis Tosar), taking asylum at her sister Ana's (Candela Peña) home. Free from the clutches of her abusive husband, Pilar struggles to start a new life; problem is, she still loves Antonio." Since the main point of V-Day is to bring attention to and put a stop to violence against women, I'm recommending this film about domestic violence. It's a heartbreaking story, and very real in its portrayal of a woman's reluctance to stop making excuses and admit abuse. The story is not just about the abuse, but also about dealing with the despair and hope that follow. All of the actors (lead and supporting) are outstanding, and the film won 7 Goya Awards (the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars).
Flores de otro mundo (English title: Flowers From Another World), directed by Icíar Bollaín ~ "Looking for companionship, a group of lonely Spaniards (including Luis Tosar, Jose Sancho and Chete Lara) hold a soiree for single women. But for the most part, their party guests are poor immigrants from third-world countries." This is another brilliant movie from the director of Te doy mis ojos, made a few years prior to that film. The story is based on reality: there really are buses to bring single women out to the tiny agrarian villages of Spain, where the population is dwindling due to the allure of the cities. This story follows three main couples as they deal with their different backgrounds and personalities. The storylines feel real, and the three main women are amazing characters, full of strength and beauty.
Both these movies are in Spanish (obviously) and they seem to be available via Netflix with English subtitles. I highly, highly recommend both of them. However, if you do rent them, I recommend watching Flores first, as both movies have an actor (Luis Tosar) in common. He's phenomenal in both, but in Flores he plays an adorably shy farmer whereas in Ojos he is the abusive husband. It's kind of jarring to go back and watch Flores after seeing him in Ojos, so it's a much better effect for Flores if you watch that one first.
Song: "Bread & Roses" by Judy Collins ~ This is a very Bryn Mawr song to me, as that is where I first heard it, but really it is just about strong women. It was originally a poem written by James Oppenheim, who was inspired by the "bread and roses" slogan of the 1912 textile strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses. [ Download @ sendspace ]
Books: Baghdad Sketches by Freya Stark ~ I've mentioned her before, but not enough, so let me say again that Freya Stark is a truly amazing writer. She was a British woman, born and raised in Italy, who travelled around the Middle East in the 1930s and 1940s, largely on her own (or at least unaccompanied by men). There are several books of her travel writings, of which I have read two so far. Baghdad Sketches was the first of her writings to be published and presents a series of short essays on her experiences in and around Baghdad. Her writing is simply breathtaking, whether she is describing the landscape or the people, and she has such great respect for what she's writing about. She's definitely one of my heroes, both as a traveller and as a writer. [ Amazon ] or [ @ your library ].
Don't Bet On The Prince edited by Jack Zipes ~ A compilation of short stories based on fairy tales (traditional and original) that highlight the strength of women instead of the prince. They are all at least interesting, but my personal favourite is Jeanne Desy's "The Princess Who Stood On Her Own Two Feet". There are tales for young (and old), tales for old (and young), and a few feminist lit-crit essays at the end. [ Amazon ] or [ @ your library ].
How Nancy Drew Saved My Life by Lauren Baratz-Logsted ~ Contrary to the title, this story is more a rip-off of Jane Eyre with a side of Nancy Drew and a dash of Bridget Jones. The first chapter is one huge cliché. But it's an amusing bit of fluff, and the ending is what really makes it worthwhile. (Can't say more without spoiling it.) It's not exactly quality literature, but as a bit of fluff it works out okay. [ Amazon ] or [ @ your library ].
TV Shows: Gilmore Girls ~ It had its high points and low points during its 7 season run, but overall, I loved it. Not just because of the fantastic dialogue and great cast of characters. What impressed me most was that Rory is a book geek. I didn't like everything her character did, but at the heart of it all, she was always a somewhat shy girl who loved books and school. Just like me. Girls like that never make it on mainstream TV shows. That this show was on for seven years still amazes me. (That Veronica Mars wasn't still baffles me.)
Star Trek ~ Yes. Besides the fact that I am a dork and have huge heaps of love for the cheesyness of the original series, this show featured an African-American woman on the bridge crew of an intergalactic spaceship. In the 1960s. The network complained about that (among other things) after the pilot screening and, although they did change other things (the captain for instance), Lieutenant Uhura stayed put. That was a historic step in the right direction as far as women's portrayal in entertainment and, by the nature of the show's setting, looked towards a future where women are part of intergalactic space missions and it's not a big deal.
Miscellany: 14valentines ~ A LiveJournal community dedicated to promoting awareness of women's issues through fandom. Each day for the first 14 days of February, there is an essay on a different issue and links to organizations that pertain to that issue. Participants then post their responses, which are then compiled in a follow-up round-up post. Responses range from writings and graphics to recipes and knitting patterns. They may or may not be related to the day's topic, the point is to promote awareness of the issues by linking to the essay in whatever response you post. So there is quite an interesting collection of responses, which are fun to browse through.
To conclude:
"There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which kindles up, and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity."
~Washington Irving
For the women on my flist, we are all brave and beautiful. And for the men, thank you for supporting me with your friendship.
♥ ♥ ♥ Happy Valentine's Day! ♥ ♥ ♥