Paradise: Love - 8/10
Thanks @
ScarletLion and thanks @
Stirchley - you recommended me "The Forest For the Trees" and you also liked this one judging by your reply. Both modern Germans movies, too. And both, because of the picture, which has never happened before.
The acting by Margarethe Tiesel was one of the best I've seen..
Sigh of disbelief... It's been a long life. I finished the movie about 30 minutes ago, but had notifications concerning politics from an old friend. I wanted to review this instantly so it was still fresh, but I have painted my brain with a ton of things in the last 30 minutes, including the music I'm always playing when I'm connected (HDMI) to my laptop (currently playing Paul McCartney - Old Siam, Sir - one of his best ever).. This is my style of review (another thread I started recently, along with the many I've started today, including one or two that I should wait so I don't appear to be.. selfish?). Yes, I'm self-conscious, because I care. Now I need a better random song (something about random music when you can't think of something specific in a list of over 5,000 mp3s).. The Doors (unfinished live version) of "Palace in the Canyon" will do so I can finish this.
A woman who is turning 50 leaves Austria (and leaves her daughter with a friend) so she can get some satisfaction. She was searching, full of life while sorta unhappy, vulnerable, a very unique character. I wonder what she's like in real life.. I notice that with all the women I've listed (women I fall "in love" with on the screen), there's also this sort of "protection" I feel while I'm watching. Almost like "I know you've been exploited and treated like crap, but
I will be good to you".
I also read (by accident) from someone who posted about this movie earlier about "First World Problems vs. Third World Problems" - I don't think misery distinguishes. It seems like a lot of the rich people are unhappy (suicide, addiction). I've been to a third-world country (Thailand) and could empathize with certain parts of the movie. I remember my first full day there, someone asked me if I wanted a motorcycle ride ostensibly to where I was staying (with these American girls I found on Couchsurfing - a traveling community that's a lot more than accommodation). I think the guy wanted a little more money, and although it wasn't much, I have (almost) always been a broke backpacker, and I refuse to be taken advantage of. I found out later that I made a mistake with my Thai and gave him an address that was a little further that what my paper said. A third party actually helped and seemed to tell him to just let it go (some valet waiting in front of a hotel), but it was no problem.. Still cordial, I even took a picture. I was in Thailand (not for sex, but to teach English and maybe find a job as a musician, and have material to finish my first book) for a month, and after a week, I was getting sick of being looked at only as a dollar (baht). It was as if I was a dying carcass with vultures fighting to get me to see a "ping-pong" match.. I wondered why the guy was speaking in a hushed tone, so I assumed it was sexual, and it was. Women spits out the ping-pong ball - not my thing.. A massage is inherently great, and so is the happy ending (don't boo).
Both sides exploit each other. When a "Westerner" comes and spends money, they can buy a ton of food, and their economies rely on tourism, since the corporations from all over exploit their natural resources. I found in poorer countries that the people were actually happier, always smiling. Nothing like where I live, or have been in the US, and believe me, I've been all over, not to "party" but to learn, observe, ask questions, discuss.. The Amish have the lowest rates of depression. Maybe all the free time causes people to constantly think of their problems, or things they're missing. One who is working all day, who only has time to eat, shower, go to sleep doesn't have that extra time, and when I slaved (they weren't paying us) in a farm in the middle of nowhere Australia, I lived better mentally than I do now. But I'd always get depressed overseas, considering I thought I was with "my" people. But I'd rather feel "depressed" (I hate that word) somewhere exotic than here. Theresa (protagonist) seemed to have more fun with her German-speaking friends. She seemed worse off than those she encountered. The guy enjoyed the sex, got a ton of money, and then brushed it off, while she thought she was being loved, and thought that perhaps the man really cared/loved her, and that he didn't care about money. And Munga played a good game, but screwed with her heart and head, constantly saying "love" and pretending to care about her. Would you take a broken heart for $100? Too many people only look at financial considerations in relationships. How much is a great movie recommendation worth to you? I think its priceless. Try using that on someone after they tell you much they help you financially just to see their value system, which they impose on you. Oh the (lack of) humanity!
Notice with the man behind the desk (earlier who was being ridiculed in a friendly way with Theresa's "best" friend) was treated the worst by her. But also consider her frame of mind. She got duped (the worst feeling) twice, but we don't see any exchange of money from the guy whose brother had an "accident". The problem with sex (I think) is how one gender pretends not to be interested (social conditioning?), while the other is always interested. Ask around and it seems like every man is having sex while every woman is a virgin - impossible. So this makes sex a game, a commodity. When a woman gives in and lets you in, the man feels like he "won" because he got his way. Sexually, they should both be satisfied, but what happens the minute after? I think some people are ambivalent because they don't want to be hurt after, and might fear getting too close and getting burnt.
Despite not having a happy ending, I enjoyed observing talent. I notice getting some energy, which has been lacking in years. It's my soul nutrition. I don't eat a thing until about 14 hours after I wake up, but give me a good song, movie, comedy clip I have never seen, and I'll think about it forever.
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