Sholay — A Curry Western

We rewatched this and fell in love all over again. I thought I'd remind adventurous film watchers to see a different kind of Western.

A retired policeman in a small village summons a pair of small-time thieves that he had once arrested. He feels that the duo — Veeru and Jai — would be ideal to help him capture Gabbar Singh, a bandit wanted by the authorities dead or alive for a big reward. The policeman will pay an additional award if they surrender Gabbar to him alive.

Veeru and Jai grow fond of the villagers. Veeru is attracted to Basanti, a feisty, talkative young woman. Jai is drawn to Radha, the policeman's reclusive, widowed daughter-in-law.

Eventually, several skirmishes leads to big show-down comes with the bandits and the chance for Veeru and Jai to show what they're really made of.

Based on Wikipedia description

I've known about spaghetti Westerns for a long time, of course, but had never heard of a curry Western until I watched the most famous one ever made — Sholay (Embers).

This was set in the time in which it was made, 1975, but it still feels authentically Western. Rural India was fairly undeveloped technologically so there's the juxtaposition of a modern policeman, motorcycles, and denim caps with horse-mounted bandits, steam locomotives, and the simple village life. That setting totally works. You can identify elements of the source materials but the plot is still distinctively Indian and goes its own way, as is so often the case in these adaptations.

As an interpretation of The Seven Samurai, The Magnificent Seven, and Once Upon a Time in the West, this was perfect in so many ways. Yet being a meandering 3-1/2 hour film simultaneously makes it imperfect, at least by Western standards. It surely would have benefited from a tighter screenplay, but then it wouldn't have been a 1975 Indian film. So it is what it is.

I am now on the Amitabh Bachchan train and understand why so many people liked his acting. I'd only seen him in Amar Akbar Anthony which is a screwball comedy with a crazy plot that I wasn't a fan of, although I could see why it was an iconic film. In this, however, there was none of the over-the-top acting which is the Bollywood standard. He was very natural and totally cool. I could watch Jai all day.

I am sure that some of the other elements I loved are equally iconic:

• the coin flips
• the opening with a bandit gang mounted on horses trying to rob a Western-style steam train
• Basanti's dance to save Veeru
• the Holi celebration of colors
• the vicious villain Gabbar
• the first song with Jai and Veeru celebrating their bromance on a motorcycle with sidecar while one plays a harmonica. Good times.

I can see why this film has had such staying power.

Rating — for advanced viewers. (You've got to be willing to let this one wash over you, enjoying the ride for what it is ... and that means you've got to have seen enough other Indian movies to not worry about some dead space or romantic side trips. After all, how else are you going to see a musical Western with a Hindi celebration of colors?)

Embracing Obedience and Finding the Cross

We should not be surprised if, when we embrace obedience, we find the Cross. Obedience demands, for love of God, the renunciation of our self, of ourmost intimate will. However, Jesus helps and makes the way easier if we are humble. St. Teresa tells us: Once the Lord told me that I was not obeying, unless I was determined to suffer. I must fix my eyes on all that he had suffered and I should find everything easy.

Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God, vol. 1

(St. Teresa of Avila, Life)

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I keep having to rediscover this truth, usually when I'm most annoyed by the personal cost of obedience. This is good medicine and helps set me straight.

The Journal Readers

The Journal Readers (c.1660-1670). Jan Steen (Dutch, c.1625-1679).
via Books and Art

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

This was a sheer delight, I am much relieved to say.

I've enjoyed this series a lot but really disliked the previous book for a variety of reasons, but mostly for the Elizabeth storyline — as did our whole family (what can I say? we're very Catholic) — I didn't rush out and buy this one as I did with the previous books. It was a long wait for my turn at a library copy but I enjoyed this one much as I did the rest of the series. The group dynamic is strong as ever and Osman's way of turning the expected on it's head in comedic fashion is truly amusing. The way that Connie mentored Tia cracked me up every time it arises. I especially enjoyed adding Joanna to the points of view.

It's clear that Osman is thinking about loneliness among the aged and society in general. We also see the club reassessing their current stage of life and relationships with each other, which has recently shifted for each of them. These were interesting themes to have running alongside the murder investigation.

Part of my relief at enjoying this book so much is that I was afraid the series was becoming stale in the way that happens to so many. Luckily that's not the case and I eagerly anticipate the next Thursday Murder Club book.

Double Trouble - Edward Gorey's letters and illustrated envelopes

When Tom Fitzharris met Edward "Ted" Gorey in 1974, the two quickly struck up a friendship. Over the next year Gorey sent a total of fifty letters to Fitzharris. Every envelope Fitzharris received was illustrated by Gorey, and filled with surprises: typewritten letters with news and opinions from Gorey's life, handwritten note cards with unexpected quotes, sketches, inside jokes, and a host of other joyous miscellany.

Assembled here for the first time, these envelopes and their contents deliver all the humor, imagination, gossip, and wonder that came with being Edward Gorey's pen pal.

This book is delightful. Here's a bit I especially enjoyed as I'm slowly reading through it little by little.

The weather seems to have improved. I have already made a meatloaf, boiled a lot of eggs hard prepatory to devilling them, and there is a loaf of walnut cheese bread hopefully baking in the oven. I say hopefully as the dough was very peculiar indeed.

It's funny to think of Edward Gorey cooking up picnic foods before company comes to his family's home for a summer break. But there you have it — he was devilling eggs, as he says.

Natural History Series for Children

Prang's Natural History Series for Children, 1878
via Animalarium

Shoot, I could look at the cover all day, much less what's on the inside!

God's not "all business"

I'm sure God would have created the world very differently if he wanted us to be all business. Instead he generously sprinkles opportunities to laugh and play and adore and savor.

Shemiah Gonzalez's friend Starlene,

Undaunted Joy

We like to be efficient a lot of the time. God's just not that way.

1st Sunday of Saint Joseph

There's something about St. Joseph ... I turn to him always for intercession with anything to do with family, work, or prayers for my husband. Reflecting on St. Joseph on the seven Sundays leading up to his solemnity is an old tradition.

Holy Family by Raphael, 1506.

Devotion to Saint Joseph has developed spontaneously from the heart of Christian people. For many people the Holy Patriarch is an excellent model of humility, industriousness and fidelity to one's vocation.

One of the most popular devotions to this saint is the Seven Sundays of Saint Joseph. This is an extended opportunity to meditate about the Holy Patriarch and to pray for his intercession...

Vocation and Sanctity

Saint Bernardine of Siena has taught, following the writings of Saint Thomas, that whenever God chooses someone to do some important work for him, God grants that person the necessary graces. The perfect example of this truth can be seen in the life of Saint Joseph, foster father of Our Lord Jesus Christ and spouse of Mary. Sanctity consists in fulfilling one's vocation. For Saint Joseph, that vocation entailed preserving Mary's commitment to virginity while living in authentic matrimony ... Joseph loved Mary with a love so pure and refined that it is beyond our imagination.

With respect to Jesus, Joseph watched over him, protected him, taught him a trade, helped in his education. Joseph is called "foster father" but words cannot express the intimate and mysterious relationship which he actually enjoyed with the Son of God. In normal circumstances a man becomes a foster father by accident. In the case of Joseph, however, this is no accidental relationship. Joseph was created so as to live out this transcendent responsibility. This was his predestination, the purpose of all the graces which he received. (R. Garrigou-Lagrange, The Mother of the Saviour)

Saint Joseph is a great saint because he corresponded in a heroic way to the graces given to him. We should contemplate about how well we are corresponding to the grace in our vocation in the middle of the world.

We can never forget the maxim that whenever God chooses someone to do some important work for him, God grants that person the necessary graces. How do we react to difficulties in our life of faith? Do we ever doubt God's support in our struggle to raise a family, to give ourselves generously to God's requests, to live a commitment of apostolic celibacy? Do we firmly believe that because I have a vocation, because I have the grace of God, I can overcome any obstacle? Do I put my trust in God so that difficulties only make me more faithful?

In Conversation With God, Vol 6: Special Feasts: January to June

Joy does not nullify suffering.

Joy does not nullify suffering. On the contrary it transforms suffering. Joy shines bright, takes the power away from evil, and laughs in the face of deception and turmoil. "You will not take me!" joy says, shaking its fist. Because joy comes from outside oneself. It does not come from ourselves but from an act of surrender. Joy comes from surrendering oneself to God.

Shemaiah Gonzalez, Undaunted Joy

This was my second favorite book of last year. This quote shows you why. Truth in joyfulness.

Rain

Torii Kotondo, Rain, 1929

Julie and Scott have this locked room mystery solved, but it turns out that was just a distraction.

  We talk about the good priest, the bad priest, and the unbeliever in Rian Johnson's new mystery — Episode 371: Wake Up Dead Man

And the Winner Is — 1943

  Our family is working our way through Oscar winners and whichever nominees take our fancy. Also as they are available, since these early films continued to be hard to find.

Nominated films that we didn't watch either because we'd scouldn't find them were The Pied Piper and Wake Island.

WINNER

it shows how the life of an unassuming British housewife in rural England is affected by World War II.

Simply stunning in the way that it takes you into this family's life and then shows the effects of war on the British as WWII breaks out. Definitely deserved to win.

 NOMINEES

The spoiled young heir to the decaying Amberson fortune comes between his widowed mother and the man she has always loved.

Wonderfully made but with a story I really hated.

A film of the life of the renowned musical composer, playwright, actor, dancer and singer George M. Cohan.

I didn't care for having encapsulated versions of Cohan shows dropped in everywhere but that is how this form of musical genre works. The Ziegfeld Follies did it best. Alexander's Rag Time Band did it worst. This falls just between the two.

The story of the life and career of the baseball hall of famer, Lou Gehrig.

An affectionate, straight-forward telling of Lou Gerig's life. Not especially Oscar worthy except, perhaps, as a sentimental favorite because of the subject.

Five young adults in a small American town face the revelations of secrets that threaten to ruin their hopes and dreams.

I liked it much more than I thought I would, certainly more than The Magnificent Ambersons which had Orson Welles' wonderful style but a drag of a story. And Ronald Reagan did a great job.

A German U-boat is sunk in Canada’s Hudson Bay. Hoping to evade capture, a small band of German soldiers led by commanding officer Lieutenant Hirth attempts to cross the border into the United States, which has not yet entered the war and is officially neutral.

We were surprised at how much we liked this. It was much more propagandistic than winner Mrs. Miniver, but it was still really good. Thus proving, I suppose, that top notch talent can elevate and improve upon a basic message. In a sense it was somewhat like a mystery, watching which of the group of Nazis trying to get back to Germany would be picked off next and by whom.

Hilarity ensues when a falsely accused fugitive from justice hides at the house of his childhood friend, which she has recently rented to a high-principled law teacher.

A lot more interesting than the description made it sound. We really enjoyed it.

Wandered away from his asylum, an amnesiac World War I veteran falls in love with a music hall star but his amnesia makes it difficult to last.

An extremely frustrating amnesia plot. Good amnesia plots provide character growth by forcing the victim to begin anew. This one was just a huge soap opera full of inexplicably missed chances to help Smithy remember a crucial 3 years. It's a real waste of wonderful actors. So annoying.

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All the Oscar viewing is here.

After Vespers

After Vespers, Frederic Leighton