Silent Films

I know I've talked in the past about the local theater, The Organ Loft, I am blessed to have in my area that shows Silent Films and has a genius playing the 'Mighty Wurlitzer' Pipe Organ. Last Friday, I saw The Phantom Carriage there. It has a similar theme to that of The Christmas Carol or It's a Wonderful Life.  It was serious though, dark and forbidding about a guy who becomes a drunk and an abuser of his family.  It does end on a positive note with him having learned his lesson and changing before it's too late but what stood out to me was his prayer.  I'll paraphrase... 'Please let my soul mature before I am reaped.'

For me, it meant a few things.  Like it's never too late to do what's right.  And, you never know how long you have on this mortal coil so make the most of it.  It was a simple statement, but it hit me profoundly.  I'll thank my darling T for that.  T was with me and because he feels everything very deeply, I find myself more open to that depth as well.  May I suggest watching something with meaning and allowing yourself the full permission to experience it deeply, profoundly, and with an open mind and heart.  It's exhilarating and liberating :)

Then I watched a film on Netflicks that another friend, N, had suggested.  Diary of a Lost Girl based on a book by Margarete Bohme.  Personally, I found the plot a little rambling and depressing.  There weren't any really redeeming characters including the lost girl although at the bitter end she did stand up for herself which made me happier.  My big surprise was how racy the topic was for 1929.  This girl is raped, has her baby taken away from her, is stuffed in a strict reform school by her father, escapes, finds her baby has died, and joins a brothel.  Most of the male characters are really skeevy including her father.  I get that by the standards of the time, she had few options and I am judging her on modern expectations, but she was such an easy victim.  I really didn't care for her.  Even after awful stuff happens to her, she continues to be naive and willing to be victimized some more.  Not saying I wanted her to become jaded and hard, but maybe smarter and stronger.  I don't know.  I didn't care for this one.  It does make me wonder if she is a better character in the book than she was in the movie.  I'll have to ask N since she read the book too.  If you're familiar with it, I'd love some feedback.