Yesterday I saw the Clint Eastwood directed film, "Mystic River'. I found it depressing for the most part, and I could not understand what it was about- there were too many threads pulling in different directions.
But the film came alive for me, at this part, "The King's Wife" chapter in the DVD.
(Jimmy Markham learns that he has killed the wrong man. We see him standing with his back to us, a cross tattooed on his back from the nape of the neck to halfway down the back. This is the first time we see it, and the writing gets powerful as he starts to talk to his wife who slowly walks towards him).
Jimmy: "I killed Dave. I killed him and threw him in the Mystic. But I killed the wrong man. That's what I've done. And I can't undo it."
Annabeth: (Embraces him from the back, over the cross) "Jimmy. I wanna feel your heart. Last night, when I put the girls to bed, I told them how big your heart was. I told them how much you loved Katie..."
Jimmy: "Annabeth..."
Annabeth: "Because you created her. And sometimes your love for her was so big, felt like your heart was gonna explode-"
Jimmy: "Please stop."
Annabeth: "I told them their daddy loved them that much too. That he had four hearts, and they were all filled up, and aching with a love that meant we would never have to worry and that their daddy would do whatever he had to for those he loved. And that is never wrong. That can never be wrong, no matter what their daddy had to do. And those girls fell asleep at peace."
Jimmy: "You said, "Last night", you knew?"
Annabeth: "Celeste called, looking for you.She was worried something might happen. She told me about Dave. Told me what she told you. What kind of wife says that about her husband? And why'd she run to you?"
Jimmy: "Why didn't you call?"
Annabeth: "Because it's like I told the girls. Their daddy's a king. And a king knows what to do and does it. Even when it's hard. And their daddy will do whatever he has to for those he loves. And that's all that matters. Because everyone's weak, Jimmy. Everyone but us. We will never be weak. And you... You could rule this town."
You know which part perked up my attention? The part where she says, "...And a king knows what to do and does it. Even when it's hard. And their daddy will do whatever he has to for those he loves. And that's all that matters..."
You know how we have argued here in this blog and elsewhere about the rights and wrongs of Bush, Israel, Sri Lankan Army... Some of us believe that the strong have to show restraint, and others that there could be no talk of restraint when it is taken as a sign of weakness.
So, I told myself, "Ah-ha!, this could apply to Bush. He did not have perfect knowledge, perfect wisdom, and if he did what he did out of love for his nation...- "....their daddy would do whatever he had to for those he loved. And that is never wrong. That can never be wrong, no matter what their daddy had to do...And a king knows what to do and does it. Even when it's hard. And their daddy will do whatever he has to for those he loves. And that's all that matters..."
Is that so? It seems a justifiable argument.
But what does this tale that she told her children accomplish? "And those girls fell asleep at peace."
This is what is so great about good films. They always leave something unsaid, something you want to find out for sure.
There's a difference - Afghanistan was where he should have concentrated. But now people say he never intended to succeed there.
ReplyDeleteThere will be war. Iraq or Afghanistan, it does not matter. US or China or Russia- someone will always be there, fighting and killing.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I disabled it on purpose because reading that article made me nauseous and any discussion on that would only bring the bad taste to the mouth.
ReplyDeleteAgain, sorry. I don't want to hear the opposite viewpoints on this.
I would like to clarify on this, because I fear I might be misunderstood.
ReplyDeleteI am not stifling free speech. If anyone feels he or she has anything important to say on this, they can do any of these things:
a. They can make a post elsewhere and give the link here. I will definitely read it.
b. Better than that, they can write to the e-mail id given in the sidebar. Then I will certainly post it that it is by guestblogger- of course, the language should not be defamatory and bring a lawsuit upon me. Otherwise, anyone can write anything, I will definitely put it in.
Now, why I don't want toi take part in any discussion on this is because I feel too emotional on this. I feel Roy has crossed the limits on this issue. It is inflammatory to hear anyone saying she is right.
But this does not mean I am blind to the excesses of the Lankan Government, or that I like them killing people. In this same blog, I made this post- Obituary of Lasith Wickrematunge. Please click the link and read the self-written obituary of this martyr in the cause of free speech. In my mind, this is the best piece of journalism written in quite a long time. It is a pity that it was written by a dead man.
Please note that I did not enable comments in that post too- same as with Roy's article, I felt too strong that someone would come and spew some nasty tripe about democracy, free speech and racism.
This is a complex issue- and like I say post it is difficult- what kind of power you should exercise, and how you justify it, and how much responsibility you have.
"....their daddy would do whatever he had to for those he loved. And that is never wrong. That can never be wrong, no matter what their daddy had to do...And a king knows what to do and does it. Even when it's hard. And their daddy will do whatever he has to for those he loves. And that's all that matters..."- I think in their inner hearts the supporters of the LTTE and the Lankan Government would buy this argument- The king is always right, because he loves his people.
I find it terribly traumatic to argue with people who play this line.
Sorry.