"When does an empire die? Does it collapse in one terrible moment? No, no... But there comes a time when its people no longer believe in it."
-Megalopolis
Bagdad Cafe
At its core, this is a story about the magic of community and camaraderie in the face of adversity. One of the few movies from the 80s with a black woman protagonist. Also one of the few movies with two protagonists where each is given the full weight of interiority and agency that any single protagonist would have. Full review is coming soon...
The Scent of Green Papaya
The Scent of Green Papaya is another long-time favorite of mine. The movie has a bit of a problematic Cinderella theme, but the reason it always resonated with me was the meditative way that we are brought into the protagonist's world. We are present with her as she experiences hardship and finds fascination and beauty in simple moments. The sound of airplanes overhead, the beautiful foliage that surrounds her, the daily chores she must endure as a child servant, such as washing the floor on hands and knees. Every task is performed with attention, care, and wonder. Full review coming soon...