Anyone else watch The Roosevelts on PBS last week? I liked the scope of all the years in perspective.
Wouldn't that be a fabulous way to teach historical setting, Katy, to do a family history "Where Were Your Family Members?" timeline spanning fifty years/and wars or so.
I'm sure you already thought of that, Katy. Don't mind me; I'm just clueing in.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Fill the Void
My sister told me about the film Fill the Void, about a young orthodox Jewish woman named Shira Mendleman whose older sister has died, leaving a newborn baby and a young, grieving husband. It soon becomes clear that the recent widower will find a new wife and leave with the baby. The mother of the young woman who has died conspires to have the Shira marry her brother-in-law (thus fill the void) . . . and Shira struggles.
My sister told me about the movie because there's a great scene where the Shira's mother and father are talking and the mother says, "I think I'm falling apart" and the father says, "So fall apart. I'm here."
Which is great.
But there were other scenes I liked as well. . . such as the mother's overt/covert passive/aggressive manipulation trying to get Shira to make the decision she wants. The mother says, "No one is pressuring you . . . but he's such a good man . . . it's your decision . . . this is what you need to do."
Oy vey! The mom guilt!
It reminded me of the Mom in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where she's trying to get her kids to eat breakfast and she says, "When I was your age, we didn't have food!!!"
It transcends cultures, really it does.
I also like the part when Shira is sitting with the wise rabbi and he asks her if she wants to marry her brother-in-law. Shira says she will do her duty and hopes she can do it well. But the rabbi just shakes his head and says, "Shira-le, oh, Shira-le"and then HE DOESN'T MAKE HER DO IT because he wants her to marry for a better reason than duty. Love that man.
But my favorite part. My very favorite, favorite part, is the part with the woman and the rabbi and the stove. I started to laugh and laugh and called to Eric, "Honey, come quick! You have to see this! It's not just us! Jewish rabbis have to stop what they are doing too!"
If you like foreign film, slow film, and subtitles, try this one.
My sister told me about the movie because there's a great scene where the Shira's mother and father are talking and the mother says, "I think I'm falling apart" and the father says, "So fall apart. I'm here."
Which is great.
But there were other scenes I liked as well. . . such as the mother's overt/covert passive/aggressive manipulation trying to get Shira to make the decision she wants. The mother says, "No one is pressuring you . . . but he's such a good man . . . it's your decision . . . this is what you need to do."
Oy vey! The mom guilt!
It reminded me of the Mom in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where she's trying to get her kids to eat breakfast and she says, "When I was your age, we didn't have food!!!"
It transcends cultures, really it does.
I also like the part when Shira is sitting with the wise rabbi and he asks her if she wants to marry her brother-in-law. Shira says she will do her duty and hopes she can do it well. But the rabbi just shakes his head and says, "Shira-le, oh, Shira-le"and then HE DOESN'T MAKE HER DO IT because he wants her to marry for a better reason than duty. Love that man.
But my favorite part. My very favorite, favorite part, is the part with the woman and the rabbi and the stove. I started to laugh and laugh and called to Eric, "Honey, come quick! You have to see this! It's not just us! Jewish rabbis have to stop what they are doing too!"
If you like foreign film, slow film, and subtitles, try this one.
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