pride in one's work

filmmaker james ivory seems to do away with the notion of time, creating a beautiful stillness. the english novelist kazuo ishiguro also creates worlds where one feels suspended. i guess it was destiny for these two to meet.

i love this writer. he takes me by the hand and i don't question him, which is exactly the relationship the protagonist of his book 'the remains of the day' has with his employer. absolute devotion, no questions asked. it is a heroic pose with a dark shadow that one only sees if one cares to look deeply. otherwise, in the case of the butler, played by anthony hopkins, one just gets on with the task at hand.

i once took a train ride with an actress who claimed that hopkins was capable of 'more' than brando. i just listened. she was the actress, not me. he is great in this movie and it actually hurts to watch actress emma thompson trying to give his stony self a tiny nudge. emma herself is transcendental, keeping her head above water till the tears begin to flow. both of these actors are just super in this very special film about two domestics that must appear serene, however troubled. 

ishiguro is so good at reminding us that life is a mysterious disappearing act, and it is best to watch very closely.