In Tune With June!

What a scene! I’m referring to the evening I was graciously invited by Ruth Preminger to attend her artist/friends opening reception. It was worth the tedious drive to New York City just to see the crowd standing in front of the gallery at 530 W. 25th Street. Most were under 30 years of age, most inelegantly clad – and one had a painted body from head to toe (Yes! No clothes!). I felt too dressed up simply wearing shoes. It appeared that most of the boys and girls had already taken advantage of the free drinks. Obviously, they appeared to be feeling no pain. A happy surprise was finding a parking spot smack in front of the gallery we were looking for. It was a show outside as well as inside.
The exhibition of photographs by Rena Bass Forman was titled “Ice, Water and Other Divine Inspirations.” It made me feel cool simply looking at the large seascapes, glaciers and oceans produced in large scale, sepia toned silver gelatin prints.
As a landscape photographer, Ms. Forman is part adventurer and explorer. In her work, natural and man-made phenomena are inextricably linked – majestic and mysterious. As an aside, the artist herself is worth looking at – lovely!
In case you’re interested, the price range of the works of Rena Bass Forman range between $7,000 to $11,500. Needless to say, we enjoyed but didn’t purchase.
July was movie month for me! I saw four, yes four, films and I enjoyed three a lot and one a little. Since I was “on the road,” they were not films I saw in Bayonne. In fact, they weren’t even being shown at Fox South Cove Cinema – unfortunately. I’m hoping you can catch them elsewhere. The names of the four are “Whatever Works,” “Easy Virtue,” “Summer Hours” and “Cheri.” I’ll tell a little bit about each one and I think you’ll be able to guess which one was slightly disappointing.
“Whatever Works” is the latest film by Woody Allen, and if it’s a Woody Allen “oeuvre,” I rush to see it (I caught it in Brookline, Mass.). Admittedly, I always go to a Woody Allen movie expecting to enjoy it and I “usually do. “Whatever Works” is refreshingly original. I was pleased to see Larry David in the lead. The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star closely approximates Allen himself in looks, mannerisms and philosophical outlook. The character, Boris, that ultimate pessimist, finds himself falling for a much younger siren (cue the Allen parallels). What’s important here are the ideas, constructs and situations that Allen infuse in his characters. “Whatever Works” will appear to those who enjoy a light, romantic comedy, particularly one that provokes a few sparks from our grey matter while delivering its laughs.
“Easy Virtue,” based on a Noel Coward play, has plenty of humor, romance and palpable charm. The story is set in the roaring ‘20s, with catchy music played in the background to what is going on with the characters. A young English man marries a glamorous American. When he brings her home to meet the parents, she blows their entrenched British stuffiness out the window. “Easy Virtue” can cheer you up with this economic slump we are in. It’s an intriguing and entertaining hour and a half. Look for the twist at the end. “Easy Virtue” is truly virtuous.
One of the things I find myself believing about the French from watching a French film is that they all have lavish country homes where they spend six glorious weeks of paid vacation every year. Ha! “Summer Hours,” in French with subtitles, begins in Chekhovian country splendor as three siblings gather around their aged mother, with their spouses, children and pets. Life is good until a sudden event necessitates a family decision: What to do with the all country home and its treasures if the sibling can no longer summer there? “Summer Hours” is a lovely, poignant and beautifully acted meditation on the themes of memory. My enjoyment was greatly enhanced by seeing it with my daughter-in-law, Dorrie, who majored in art and understood the values of artistic treasures on display.
Now we come to Michelle Pfeiffer, still beautiful but too thin (am I simply jealous?). In “Cheri,” based on a pair of novels by Colette she plays Lea, a courtesan coming to the end of a successful and lucrative career. The movie begins circa 1908 during the last great flowering of France’s opulent Belle Epoque – elaborate horse drawn coaches, hats and dresses with layers of fabric and Art Nouveau architecture. Lea is in her last great flowering and will soon be leaving her youth. A refreshing aspect of “Cheri” is that Pfeiffer actually plays her own age. It made me chuckle to think how “older woman” is defined here – somewhere around 50. Huh?! This film is a heartfelt look at the strains and challenges of an older woman – younger man relationship. In addition “Cheri” gives a crash course in the life, attitude and vibrancy of this epoch.
Ok! So I guess you can easily pick the film I was least entranced by. I do admire Michelle Pfeiffer and think that she is a fine actress. Perhaps the fact that my son, Jim, left in the middle to nap in his car, affected my complete enjoyment.

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