The day was full of activity after wonderful activity. It began by waking up, sitting in bed for two hours while I watched The Third Man (****). What a fantastic movie. It is gorgeously shot with angled, still shots, almost no movement beyond cutting, which evoke the setting of a crumbling, decaying post-war Vienna. The acting is stupendous: Joseph Cotten comes to Vienna, promised a job by his friend (Orson Welles). Upon arriving, he discovers his friend has just been killed in an accident. Varying accounts by policemen, witnesses, underworld men, and the girlfriend (Alida Valli, who is incredible) on the death lead him to suspect it was murder, and he begins his search for the third, unidentified man who helped carry the body across the street from the accident site. The ensuing mystery is full of complex characters, and even more complex decisions, mistaken identities, motives, and an empty, shadowed city. Exhilirating from start to finish, with a stunningly unsettling final shot! OK, on that note I began the day, having some oatmeal and heading off to the library for some research into where I might go over break for actual archival research, and then off to the computer lab, wherein I transcribed the interview I did with Adam. Three plus hours later, I was done and ready to be done. So I had dinner, worked on a crossword, and then headed out with Mary, Evan, Claire, and Dustin, for carolling (also with other friends of Mary, who organized it, one of whom I knew). We were happily greeted by lots of people (one person opened the door and then shut it quickly), and got to have cookies and chocolates and see adorable children and pets. And I got to sing, which I so seldom do, and I loved it. It was cold, and snowing, which is lovely, but gloves turning wet pages is rather difficult. And so after a couple hours of musicmaking, we went into a coffeeshop to warm up and talk and end the day. A favorite exchange was the sudden idea I had, following comments about knitting and bookbinding and the joy of making your own gifts, to give people expository essays for Christmas. Just what you always wanted. And now, I'm in the library, wanting to go home and either sleep or finish the crossword.
NOTE: Go to my livejournal site and take the movie picture quiz I put together. www.livejournal.com/~sonatanator It's fun and procrastinatory and features neat pictures! Enjoy!
12:49 AM
