Three days ago, I watched the movie, Never Let Me Go, based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro. It tore at me. When it was over, I didn’t know what to do. I was sure I had missed things, important things. Maybe if I watched it again I could sort it out. I didn’t trust this plan. I suspected, by filling in the blanks, I would be trying to defuse the impact of what I had just experienced. I had experienced something vitally important. It was, in fact, that feeling of vital importance that I didn’t want to disturb. The problem was, the movie had left me an agitated jumble. I was afraid this could be dangerous. It might actually be bad for my heart—my real physical heart. What could I do?
The lead character had been played by Carey Mulligan. A few years earlier, she had played the lead guest character in the Doctor Who episode, Blink. For most fans, and me, this was the best episode of the new era, and possibly the best episode of any era; Perhaps I should watch it. I did.
I was struck by the similarities to Never Let Me Go. Not in the over all story—Doctor Who is supposed to be a children’s show—yet there were scenes and themes that turned on the same deep emotions. I could easily imagine this episode being the thing that got Carey Mulligan her part in Never Let Me Go, or at lest got her the audition. Blink did it’s job. I settled down, some. Not enough to sleep, and it was, by then, 1:30 in the morning.
TiMER! A little, low budget sci-fi movie staring Emma Caulfield from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It had a vaguely similar theme of emotional unintended consequences, but it kept it’s tone light and bittersweet. A nice little movie. I had watched it once before; it was available on Netflix Instant View. I watched it again, enjoyed it, and finally slept.
Later in the morning, I woke up rested but with a renewed aching heart—the metaphorical one this time—no danger of actually dying from a movie. I still didn’t feel ready to watch it again. Perhaps I thought, I sould read the book. (To be continued . . .)
Sekret Lab No. 2 