Portrait of a Lady on Fire

I went to see this French film by Céline Sciamma - Portrait of a Lady on Fire. It was a moody film that moved in slow panning shots.  It was quite beautiful. It won best screenplay at Cannes. The story peeled back layer after layer until it got to the beating heart underneath. It was a tortured romantic story so, of course, I loved it. The final scene had me in tears. No need to explain...it was heart-wrenching and it was exactly what I needed on a cold December day.  Voila!


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2019 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Leviathan

I finally went to see Leviathan. A Russian film directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, written by Oleg Negin & Andrey Zvyagintsev.  It's a film about Kolya (played by Aleksey Serebryakov) who fights against a corrupt mayor when he is told that he will lose his land and house. He recruits a lawyer friend Dmitriy (played by Vladimir Vdovichenkov) to help, who winds up bringing more misfortune for Kolya and his family.  Elena Lyadova plays his wife Lilya.  I was warned that this was a "depressing" movie.  In reviews I've read, they've compared the film to a modern-day depiction of the biblical story of Job.   Yes, the movie was difficult to watch because the things that went wrong only got worse as the film progressed.  It's a meditation on the inequality of human beings but adding another layer on how every action has a reaction and a consequence. At times, they could have curbed some of the words, it sometimes felt a bit overwrought. However, the dark humor help relieved some of the angst.  
On another note...
The cinematography in this movie is gorgeous.  Long winding roads along the stark landscape of a Russian coastal town.  Dark overcast days. Even when the sun comes out it's only to illuminate hidden truths. Then there are long slow pans of the camera over the sea-washed whale bones on a beach.  Or the skeletal remains of old boats half-hidden beneath water lines.  The teen boys drinking in the ruins of church while firelight reflects against the fading frescos.  Beautiful.  

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2015 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

December Update

The Book Launch Reading last Wednesday (12/3) at The Nuyorican Poets Cafe went well.  My piece  "Blanca's Monologue" from my play Glass Knives was 4.5 minutes long.  Concise, to-the-point and well-received, as is this update. Haha.  No, but seriously I was so nervous and anxious over this piece and this particular performance that I was surprised at how smooth the actual night went.  As an audience member highlights for me were Polly Frost's piece and seeing Pamela Sneed perform/recite her piece. Glad I had the chance to see them.  And of course always great to see Dano Madden's work and James Armstrong's work. I'm pleased that I went out there and presented work myself.  Hurrah on that front.

Saturday night I went to see the movie The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch. The story about Alan Turing, the English mathematician that help break the German Enigma code during World War II.  The ending had me wanting to bawl my eyes out.  Every time I read or hear about a Queer person committing suicide, either in the present or in the past, it absolutely breaks my damned heart.  Anyway, I can't write much more than that because this small post will turn into a rant. The movie itself revolves around Turing's work in creating the machine to help break the code and some of what transpires in his life after the war.  Cumberbatch is amazing in the title role.

Peace,
L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Burying the Lead

It's amazing how quickly the days go by during the holiday season.  We are almost at the end of November.  Here are some tidbits on what's gone on + Upcoming Event at Nuyorican Poets Cafe:

Me and my mother cooked a feast for Thanksgiving.  We roasted a turkey that was so tender that the meat slid off the bone. Hoorah! And to think most everyone who sat at the table swore up and down that they didn't like turkey...we made believers out of them. An 11.3 lb turkey was stripped down to bones in record time.  hehehe.  No leftovers from that bird. It was fun to watch.  Lots of spirited talk and laughter. I'm usually such a grump during the holidays and this year I really enjoyed being around my family.  Not being in pain really helped matters.

My 6 year old and 9 year old niece stayed the night and slept in my bed which meant I slept very little / not at all that night.  At what point do two skinny minis turn into elbows / knees / kicking monsters.  Anyway, I spent most of Friday in a bit of a zombie state from lack of sleep.

Once they left I curled up into a ball on my bed and watched a long French film called Violette.  A film about the writer Violette LeDuc who Simone de Beauvoir took under her wing and encouraged to write.  What an amazing film.  I love films that depict writers. And of course this woman LeDuc raged and howled at the difficulties in her life but she continued to write.

After watching this film, I woke up, ran some much needed errands, came back home, procrastinated a bit and then went to work on the writing.  Spent some time writing up the monologue that I'm presenting at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe this coming Wednesday, Dec 3rd.  It's in conjunction with the book launch by Applause books.  I have a rough, first draft-two pages.  It's resting now.  I have to practice the thick Spanish accent and I have to write the intro to put the piece in context.  Okay, I know I've been crap about promoting upcoming events in a timely manner.  For some reason I was having an especially hard time making up my mind about showing up to this event...one night last week being unable to sleep, I finally made up my mind to just do it.  I don't know what the hemming and hawing was all about but I'll be there with bells on.

Next I have to finish up Clara Betta.  Just took a dinner break and decided to write this much needed blog entry before I go back to Clara.

Tomorrow I will give the monologue a once over--make edits/changes/deletions as necessary then ...practice, practice, practice the dialect until I have it down.  Make changes as they come to me.  That's the plan and I'm sticking to it.

Who wants a drink?!  I do, I do.  That'll have to wait 'til the work is done.  * sigh *

Peace,

L~


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Dear White People - Justin Simien

I went to see this film and it really made me laugh.  This is Justin Simien's first feature (written and directed), a satire set at a fictitious ivy league college. It takes a hard look on the different experiences of being black in college.  What makes this film so interesting is that it moves into a more complicated place about race and at time an uncomfortable place as well.  Samantha White played by Tessa Thompson has some of the best lines when she schools her white peers on ways to avoid racist microaggressions: your weed dealer doesn't qualify as your 'black friend,' knowing rap lyrics doesn't mean you're black.  I enjoyed watching this film altho' I didn't really love the ending but it's worth watching with a mix of friends.  


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Begin Again

It's been a busy couple of weeks.  Lots of changes happening.  It's amazing how much is going on lately.  Day job is picking up speed and there is much to do.  I'm keeping up but I need to remember to take some deep breaths and watch my stress levels from spiking too high.

My brother Bleu moved out to L.A this past Thursday.  He's following his dream to go produce music and I'm really proud of him. He set himself up in an apartment and some freelance work and he's just going to work his ass off until some of his music takes off.  I'm all for following dreams...Go Bleu!! I helped him pack boxes late into the night last week because he's a night owl.

I met up with my writing group this past weekend.  It went better than I expected. Got some really great comments to use for my revision.  I'll start working on those changes this week.

I've seen a couple of movies lately.  The most recent, I went to see is Begin Again, a movie by John Carney.  I love this movie but then again  I have a soft spot for musicals.  Keira Knightley (Gretta) surprised me with her voice.  Adam Levine plays the part of Dave and he is great as her douchy boyfriend.  But Mark Ruffalo absolutely steals this movie playing the part of Dan, a former music executive, who finds his passion for music again.  There is a moment in the movie when they are playing on the rooftop of a building and the scene absolutely brought tears to my eyes from the sheer joy of it.  So of course I bought the soundtrack and I can't stop listening to all the music but I'm sharing Keira Knightley singing Lost Stars.

Adam Levine singing Lost Stars

Told you I like it...now go and enjoy!

Lily~


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Only Lovers Left Behind

I can't remember when I saw this movie, last week or a lifetime ago but Only Lovers Left Behind- written and directed by Jim Jarmusch starring Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston is gorgeous.  It's a dark romance when two Vampire lovers are reunited and they spend some quality time together after hours.  It's slow paced and decadent at times.  The soundtrack reverberates in the background, discordant but nuanced with each scene. Jarmusch is genius, I think the last movie I saw of his was Night on Earth (1991) but this film reminds me to go check out the rest of his work.  It's the kind of movie that I can disappear into as the characters have long winding conversations about art and music and the state of the world. Tilda Swinton is other-worldly as Eve. This actress can do no wrong, she is invested in Eve and her face is so expressive, she's allows audience members to read her very soul. Beautiful work on her side.  Tom Hiddleston is that tortured musician as Adam. He plays well against Swinton but the funnier moments are played with Ian (played by Anton Yelchin) and Ava (played by Mia Wasikowska).  After watching this movie, I wanted to turn around and go watch it again. There is certain quality to the smaller movies that I go see that keep me enthralled.  The dialogue, the story arc, the soundtrack when they hit these points properly they stay with me long after I have left the theater.  Bravo.  I hope more go to see this one.  It's definitely worth it.  

Peace,

Lily

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Words and Pictures

On Friday afternoon, after an early release from work, I went to see a little indie flick called Words and Pictures starring Clive Owens and Juliette Binoche.  It's a romantic comedy but more importantly it's a dialogue revolving around the creative process.  How creatives use their medium in this case writing and painting to try to convey a point of view through their work.  Owens plays a frustrated writer who drinks to sublimate the suffering of being unable to create.  While Binoche plays a painter who struggles to find a way of new way of being able to work her craft while suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The language is gorgeous when either of them talk about Words or Pictures. They frame the movie under a guise of a war against the other but really it was a chance to challenge and dialogue around the medium in question. As far as the romantic element, it's wonderful to see earthy adults having real dialogues about their pain and how they are able to find a way of relating to one another, at times a bit sideways and odd but refreshing and open.  A woman who sat behind me said to her friend that she thought it was heavy-handed at times. For someone like me who loves language, well let's just say I soaked it in and spent the day writing because I was inspired.  Lovely little film, I hope others get a chance to catch it.  

Peace, 

Lily.  

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Bittersweet Love

Lots went on the last week and a half.  Highlights are long overdue.
On Monday, July 29th- I took the day off from work and went to see Ben Howard in concert in Central Park. Super performance and I enjoyed every minute.  His music is just really laid back and groovy.  He had a few up-tempo songs that sounded amazing live. But mostly I was there to enjoy his steady grounded vibe. I opted not to stand in the pit so I could actually enjoy the music.  I'm uploading a video from YouTube (recorded by R. Ridder) singing Old Pines. Lovely.

On Saturday, I took my niece to see Wolverine.  I really must have been in the mood to see this movie because I loved the highly stylized martial arts in this film.  There were a couple of scenes that were so over the top that I couldn't help but roll my eyes...like the chase on the high speed train...but for the most part I enjoyed it as summer fare.

Today, I re-read Annie Proulx's short story Brokeback Mountain. As much as I love the movie, I love the actual short story even more. She captures tender moments so well that it physically makes me ache with longing. The language condensed but it speaks volumes. There is one paragraph in the story when Jack is thinking back over his time with Ennis.  Ennis wraps an arm around Jack...that moment makes my throat raw with unshed emotion. Even now as I think about it...my throat tightens up with the bittersweetness of the multi-layers of love in its purest form. This story is just so beautiful.

All for now....

Peace,

L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2013 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

A Little Place Called Crazy

I’m right smack in the middle of crazy on this Monday morning. I am finally putting the manuscript aside for a couple of weeks. After attempting to write several endings and being thoroughly unhappy with any version, I’ve decided to put it away and clear my head. I spent most of Sunday cleaning my apartment. It’s needed a scrub down. Bathroom, living room and hallways are sparkling clean. Bedroom is still a mess but we’re not discussing that at the moment. I managed to run some errands and buy a much needed laptop battery to replace the warping version that was in my MacBook. Ergh!

I asked the salesperson at the Apple store if they would be able to properly recycle the old warped battery and he said he’d absolutely take it off my hands but he wanted to know if it was leaking contaminants. Without missing a beat and as straight-face as I could manage, I replied, “Probably.” The sales associate took one look at me and burst out laughing. It took him a moment to recover before he went off to look for a compatible battery. It’s always a bit odd at how I amuse complete strangers.

I dashed off to go do some window shopping on Fifth Avenue. There is no point in entering any of these clothing stores because 1) can’t afford it and 2) can’t fit into their very tiny clothing line. Then a visit to Pier 1 to take a look at furniture. My sister announced to me a couple of weeks ago that she’s going to be moving out around mid-summer. * sigh * I’ve had enough time to process that information and not panic (kind-of). Really most of my head space has been occupied over this novel and the news that she was going to move out surprised me enough to bury my head into my story. I sent a few queries out to some friends and I have someone interested in being roommates. So panic has been diverted to looking at the living space and knowing when my sister leaves she’s going to take with her the dining room table and chairs. For the record, I think it’s ridiculous that a dining room table should cost over $1,000. There is no reason why it should cost that much. It’s ridiculous. So I was feeling grumbly over how expensive furniture is, let me revise that, how expensive things are in NYC. And no, I don’t want to buy a table from Ikea. I’m a bit fed up with particle board furniture.

So what’s the alternative? Craigslist? Garage sales? Or maybe, I won’t buy a table. It’s all just “stuff”. Perhaps a bit more bare existence won’t be so bad. This morning, on my way to the train station, one of our neighbors decided to throw out their couch (in the middle of the night) and leave it out on the front lawn of the apartment building. Really? It will snow with freezing rain today and that’s how they decide to dispose of their old couch. People just boggle my mind sometimes.

Tonight I am off to see Tegan and Sara in concert at the Beacon. This duo is a guilty pleasure of mine and I can’t wait to see them live. Yay! Dancing around to live music is exactly what I need to shake off these Monday grumbly blahs. Peace, L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2013 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

What Day Is It?

Hmm, it’s been 10 days since my last entry and I’m trying to collect my thoughts as I write this entry.

I went to see the movie Silver Lining Playbook last week. I thought it was an intense movie in the very beginning so much so that I almost walked out of the theater. Cooper playing the part of Pat reminded me too much of my ex-brother-in-law. I got fidgety and uncomfortable and I really wanted to leave. But I stayed put and kept watching and the movie shifted when Lawrence character Tiffany stalks / jogs Pat. The humor started to emerge and the movie snuck up on me and won me over. DeNiro is fantastic as Pat’s dad. I know Jennifer Lawrence is the new “IT” girl because of the Hunger Games movies and I told someone recently that she struck me as a flat character actress. But I was reminded that she was amazing as Ree in Winter’s Bone. A little indie movie that came out a couple of years ago. Silver Lining Playbook a decent movie and I’m glad people are checking it out now that there’s so much Oscar buzz.

Let’s see my latest music obsession is Pearl and the Beard. Little indie music group from Brooklyn. Their music is on perpetual play on my iPod. I picked up both their albums, Killing Their Darlings (2011) and God Bless Your Weary Soul, Amanda Richardson (2009). I love, love, love this group and I’m attaching Voice in My Throat to this entry. More people need to know about them because they are too fantastic to miss. Lovely music.
Lastly, work on the novel is still moving along. I find myself fighting to go back and make major revisions. I’m just trying to reach the end at this point. I’m closer than I was yesterday.
Best,
Lily~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2013 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Uhm, yeah!

This weekend I went to see Oliver Stone's Savages.  Eeek!  The violence was a bit more than I could bear.  I should know better from Stone but I was intrigued and wanted to see...now I wish I hadn't.  Ergh.  Oh, and I have to say that I really don't like movies that gives two endings, come on!  What a freaking cop out.  Choose one and go with it!!  My preference would have been the first version.  And Salma Hayek was AMAZING!  And Benecio del Toro was uber-creepy and reminded me of some family members...weird but true.

It's early in the morning and I had some time to kill before I had to hop on a train to go to work so I thought I'd post an entry.  Better now than later.  I went to bed early last night...I'm starting to feel a bit under the weather.  I'm not sure if I'm coming down with a cold or my hypochondria has kicked in.  I visited my mom in the hospital on Saturday.  She had knee replacement surgery done.  Poor mami.  She was in a lot of pain the first three days.  Ergh!  By the time I went to see her on Friday night, she was feeling better.  Altho' that visit taught me that I should never, ever be a nurse 'cause I tried helping her to the bathroom and managed to bump her bad leg three times.  Oops, sorry mami.

On Saturday, I stopped by and kept her company for a couple of hours and Ces and her kids stopped by.  Around lunch time the nurse came in with a tray of food and my two youngest nieces sat right next to my mom because they wanted to eat too.  Really?!  Hospital food?  Yes, indeed-y.  They ate bread with butter and managed to eat the boiled carrots and slices of roast beef.  Well the nurse took pity on us and gave us an extra tray of food.  LOL!  My nieces are scavengers...LOL! Very funny to watch.  They reminded me of a swarm of locusts...once they finished they went back to watching cartoons.
My mom's church lady friends stopped by while she was away doing her physical therapy so there I was trying to entertain these older Spanish women.  They bombarded me with questions since they barely knew me...I felt like I was in the middle of an inquisition.  My grandmother jumped me and save me from having to answer too many personal questions.  Go grandma!  She's old school, not into sharing too much personal info with people because she thinks it'll be used against you.  Hehehe.  At that moment, I sure appreciated it.

Anyway, mami comes out of the hospital on Wednesday.  I'll go trek down to Brooklyn tonight for a visit, then hop on the express line back to the Bronx.  I've got a long day ahead of me so I may as well go get my day started.

Peace,

L~


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

A Movie Trailer and Two Music Videos

Okay it's been a minute since I last wrote,  I don't have much on at the moment.  Been spending some down time for a change.  Catching up with my work out routine. 
Also went to see the Norwegian flick, Headhunters.  It was a bit over the top but I definitely enjoyed the thriller aspect of it.  In fact, a few points in the movie had me reacting out loud and back at the screen. That's always fun. Check out the trailer.:

A little BBQing with the family and drinking lots of sangria (yum) on the mid-week day off.
Let's see, listening to J. Lo's Dance Again.  The catchy hook wormed it's way in and now I can't stop listening to it.  Grrr!! Hehehe...Really it's the chorus that gets me and I can't help but sing this out loud in top voice: "I wanna dance and love and dance again." And of course, Pitbull is just THE MAN!! 

Also, Maroon 5 came out with their new single, One More Night.  Another song I can't stop listening to: 

Okay, I get that these are really over-produced studio songs but sometimes you have to take in the pleasure principle, kick back and just go with it. 

Rock on people, rock on!!

L~

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Sound of My Voice

Holy Hell!!  Went to see Sound of My Voice and it's AMAZING! Truly, a thinking person's film.  Blew my mind and I don't say that lightly.  This film is directed by Zal Batmanglij, written by Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling.  I am a HUGE fan of Brit Marling.  She also wrote and starred in Another Earth.  I LOVE what she's doing for film. Christopher Denham and Nicole Vicius play Peter and Lorna, a couple who infiltrate a group led by Maggie (Brit Marling) to create a documentary on cults but things takes a creepy turn.  The couple start to unravel when they begin to question their motives and some of Maggie's rhetoric starts to seep in. Christopher Denham performance crackles electric against Brit Marling's cult leader. And Nicole Vicius as Lorna plays an interesting counterpoint to Maggie and Peter. Go to their website (linked above) and watch the first 12 minutes, I promise you it's intriguing.   


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Going on and on and on

Okay, I’m writing this blog in the midst of a raging headache but I was hoping that writing (which is my cure-all next to drinking water) would distract me from it.

The Avengers / Joss Whedon
How long has it been since I raved about Joss Whedon? Oh right...after Cabin in the Woods. Well, I went to see The Avengers this weekend and loved it. It’s partly because I’m a die-hard Whedon fan. Go Mutant Enemy, Grrr-Argh!! And partly because I really love the snarky humor in the movie.

Yes, the action in it was pretty good too but you know me, I’m always about the dialogue and there was enough juicy bits for me to chew on. Also, I didn’t watch in 3-D because my eyes don’t quite compute without shutting down into a migraine. Anyway Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow didn’t hurt the eyes either. I wished Cobie Smulders had more lines because I’m all about strong smart women in films. Robert Downey Jr. was most excellent as per usual...but I’ve gotta give a big shout out for Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk. Ruffalo completely won me over in this film.

I’ve been reading what the critics are saying about the movie and there are few things that I agree on BUT (rabid Whedon fan about to shout) EVERY TIME JOSS WHEDON has tried to do his own thing, the studios nix his ideas because they tend to run too far into the dark side. So Whedon needed a win here and I’m glad he’s doing well by this movie. Anyway, I’m probably going to go see this movie again on the big screen ‘cause it makes me really laugh out loud.

Evita
So tomorrow I am going to see Evita on Broadway. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. No, seriously, I have wanted to see this musical since Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin were leads in the original production, back in 1979. Every time the commercial came on t.v., me and my sister Ces, would belt out the few bars of “Buenos Aires” and dance around our living room like two crazy children. Anyway, I begged and pleaded for my folks to take me to see it but alas it wasn’t in the cards, too expensive. They thought I was too young for some fancy broadway show and they took me to the circus instead. * humph * Let’s just say that I’m not a fan of the circus. I always felt bad for the animals. * doing a little happy dance *

Okay, headache seems to be getting worse so I went and got a big mug of ice cold water. The cold water has made my fingers very cold and pressing them to my temples feels so gooooood. It’s a mild migraine. I’m having dinner with some friends later and I’d really like it to go away before I have to meet up with them.

At this very moment, I’m listening (very softly) to Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”...I love the opening lines to this song. “I remember when I lost my mind. There was something so pleasant about that day. Even your emotions have an echo in so much space.” Haha! Great lines.

The Legend of Korra
The sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender is finally airing. (Tony reminded me yesterday.) So I watched the first couple of episodes yesterday and was really getting into it. At first, I was resistant because the original characters were no longer in the storyline but once I let that go, it grew on me. Tony said that the lead character of Korra reminds him of me because she’s so headstrong and stubborn. Ha! I totally see it. There is a scene in the second episode where she is trying to learn to air-bend. Her teacher tells her to be like a leaf in the wind to get through a maze of spinning walls. Korra proceeds forward and gets knocked upside her head by those spinning walls and after a couple of unsuccessful tries she gets so angry she uses fire to blaze through the walls. Ha! Yep, I totally see it. Anyway, this is a great animated series to check out for young and old alike.

Update on Indigo
Let’s see writing is like those spinning walls, I’m getting knocked upside my head trying to get through this next part in my novel. Hehehe. I’m still writing. I haven’t given up. I promise not to torch the pages. I just sometimes feel like I’m not smart enough to write this novel. There is so much story to tell but I’m not sure I’ve got what it takes to finish it. Crazy, I know. I write despite my natural tendency to want to run away from this story.

I’ve gone on for ages and the headache is a dull ache in the right side of my brain. I think I should be okay for tonight if I don’t drink or eat. Ha!
Peace,

L~
 
All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2012 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

The Piano Teacher

So over the weekend in my quest for rest and recovery time I watched a french movie called The Piano Teacher.  This was a dark twisted movie and in my current state of mind appropriate.

There is a moment when the protagonist Erika begins to crack open to let another human being in and I was rooting for her to find love and get her happily ever after but it went terribly terribly wrong. (I should have know, it is a french film after all.) And the moment it goes wrong it was heartbreaking to watch.  She is this broken creature too damaged to let love in.  And when the young love interest tries to fulfill her desires, he in turn is tainted with the damage he causes.  It's absolutely devastating.  The story has stayed with me for the past couple of days now.  It hasn't let go, there are scenes that replay in my head and I want her to make another choice.  It's a long film, close to three hours, and at the very end...I still wanted her to be well enough to reach for what she craved most.  The ending is brutal for a hopeless romantic like myself.

The movie made such a deep impression that I wanted to share it.

Lily~


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2011 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.