Biutiful
Starring: Javier Bardem
What’s this movie about?
Based in Barcelona, Spain, it’s about life, love and loss – and the brutal consequences of action/inaction.
Bardem – in an incredibly understated role (even for him)- is the father of two children. He’s basically a human trafficker, poor, paying off the police…yet he still has legal custody of his children from his wife. So, she’s a mess…and a factor in the movie.
This is an art-house movie (with subtitles, warning!!!), but good on so many levels.
And weird/unexplained on so many levels. Is he the human trafficker with the heart of gold? Can he really communicate with the dead? What is the resolution to it all?
One of those movies that sticks with you, makes you wonder what this or that means. Very very good.
Earlier today, I saw a car pull up in front of the house. A guy got out, and then I heard the mail slot open and close (it’s got a wrought-iron lid).
I figured someone was giving us mis-delivered mail. We live on North Emerson, and it’s not unusual for our mail to end up at the same number on South Emerson.
I checked the slot, and in it was and envelope with a handwritten note on the front:
515 N. Emerson
I found these photos of your house while going through my mother’s things and thought you would enjoy the history.
[signed] Mike (Ames??)
In the envelope were two pictures of our house; one labeled “1950s” (our house was built in 1950), the other “1970s”. See the pics, and one I took today to compare, below:
Circa 1950s
Circa 1970s
Taken today, 11/14/2011
It was fun to see how the front has changed – and, especially, how little it has changed. We thought the garage was an add-on, and maybe it was, but it’s been around since the first decade of the house.
I like the 1970s picture – look at that little bush with pink and white petals on the garage side of the house. And look at today’s picture: That’s the genesis of our 30-foot-tall (or so) magnolia tree.
I wish the guy who delivered the pics had knocked on the door or something – I didn’t pay too much attention, but he looked to be in his 50s. He could be one of the kids in the 1950s picture. He might have enjoyed seeing what became of the place.
But a nice blast from the past from Mike (?) – thanks!