Sunday, March 13, 2005
For this entire past week, I have been mentally digesting a fantastic French-Canadian movie duet written and directed by Denys Arcand. Seventeen years ago, Denys Arcand released the film, The Decline of the American Empire and two years ago, the highly acclaimed (winner of several awards, including the Best Foreign Film at the Oscars last year) follow-up film titled The Barbarian Invasions. Throughout the week, I found myself inside the intimate circle of friends and ex-lovers - which Arcand and his players have artfully woven into my subconscious - whom discuss intimate personal struggles and think aloud the exploratory thoughts of a spiritual and intellectual nature about the greater purpose of one person among millions.
I sincerely believe that the films, which are not only layered with social commentary (particularly in The Barbarian Invasions on the deteriorating quality of our Canadian health care system), are indicative of what "authentic community" looks like. It is certainly not pretty to watch the relatably fallible characters, like that of an all-seeing eye, and recognize that the hurt that each person is going through - especially when it is knowingly directed towards one another - can either ostracize them permanently or draw them deeper into one another's embrace. At the same time, that pain and dissatisfaction of life-to-date, results in steering onward to continue to search for more. Through the film's display of authentic community with each other, primarily exploring the need to live life completely deliberate and see death clearly, a profound piece of art is displayed for all viewers to chew on.
In my search for fulfilling community, why is it that it is so difficult to find authentic, bumps-n-all relationships? What are we trying to hide in the banal discussions of grass fertilization, box store idealism, real estate prices and wallpaper ideas? Give me the truly honest friend, who recognizes that the faults and repercussions of every action or, on the other hand, the victory of a life-changing discovery is something to talk about, any day. I'll bring the wine and cheese.
I sincerely believe that the films, which are not only layered with social commentary (particularly in The Barbarian Invasions on the deteriorating quality of our Canadian health care system), are indicative of what "authentic community" looks like. It is certainly not pretty to watch the relatably fallible characters, like that of an all-seeing eye, and recognize that the hurt that each person is going through - especially when it is knowingly directed towards one another - can either ostracize them permanently or draw them deeper into one another's embrace. At the same time, that pain and dissatisfaction of life-to-date, results in steering onward to continue to search for more. Through the film's display of authentic community with each other, primarily exploring the need to live life completely deliberate and see death clearly, a profound piece of art is displayed for all viewers to chew on.
In my search for fulfilling community, why is it that it is so difficult to find authentic, bumps-n-all relationships? What are we trying to hide in the banal discussions of grass fertilization, box store idealism, real estate prices and wallpaper ideas? Give me the truly honest friend, who recognizes that the faults and repercussions of every action or, on the other hand, the victory of a life-changing discovery is something to talk about, any day. I'll bring the wine and cheese.
