I just finished watching the movie Half Nelson. With the sometimes minimal speaking and music, the visuals speak for themselves. A single tear. A half-hearted smile. Tired eyes full of emotion that just can't seem to be formed into words. If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it. If I were creating the soundtrack, there are two specific songs I would have to include:
"Sympathize" by Amos Lee
In the movie, Ryan Gosling's character goes through his daily routine, only confiding in the one thing he has in abundance: drugs. As a teacher, he has such as strong influence on his students, but because he has such tunnel vision, it is almost as if he can't even see it. This song is almost like a story; an outsider's perspective of a individuals going through a rough patch. Like someone watching from the apartment window. They have no one to confide in, and the stress in their lives is just as visible as the color of their shirts. I guess we've all gone through moments in our lives where we feel like we are alone in a crowded room. Although Gosling has family and friends that truly care for him, he is so lost in his own world, he has completely lost touch with them. Such a situation is depressing enough, even if you aren't involved. All you can do sometimes is hope for the best for them. As the song says:
"Talk to Strangers" by Saul Williams Angels spread the wings
on all the dirty things
that you do
on all the dirty things
that you do
Gosling's co-star, Shareeka Epps, is one of his students who has felt that influence of her teacher. After a school basketball game, she finds him curled up in the bathroom with a pipe in hand. I can't even imagine finding my teacher in such a state, especially at such a young age. The two of them form a very unlikely, and at moments I would say inappropriate, friendship. Both are going through their own personal issues and are dealing with them in different ways. In a way, they were both dealing with loneliness. This may sound extreme, but in terms of the movie, I believe his student saved his life. Not just in terms of the physical but also mental. These lyrics kind of sum up why this song relates. When you read lyrics, you are just like, damn. It is almost scary what you can learn from the people you randomly meet in life. Whether they turn out to be your best friends or your worst enemies, you can learn a life lesson from them.
Love can come in many forms
In the hallways of your projects
Or the fat girl in your dorm
And when you finally take the time
To see what they're about
And perhaps you find them lonely
Or their wisdom trips you out
Maybe you'll find the cycle's end
You're back where you began
But come this time around
You'll have someone to hold your hand
Who prays for you, who's there for you
Who sends you love and light
Exposes you to parts of you
That you once tried to fight
In the hallways of your projects
Or the fat girl in your dorm
And when you finally take the time
To see what they're about
And perhaps you find them lonely
Or their wisdom trips you out
Maybe you'll find the cycle's end
You're back where you began
But come this time around
You'll have someone to hold your hand
Who prays for you, who's there for you
Who sends you love and light
Exposes you to parts of you
That you once tried to fight
Both of these songs are on my current, regular rotation.
---------------------------------------------------------
Things are going alright here in Hot Springs. The current "situation" is being dealt with, and I feel like we are doing almost everything we can to create a more comfortable environment. For those who listened when I talked about things, thank you. Sometimes, I guess you have to just take things with a grain of salt. This weekend's concert (Gin Blossoms) was canceled due to the weather. A part of me was excited to see them perform, but I wasn't about to complain about leaving work early. We ended up having a fun, and interesting, night of barhopping and Waffle House. I think this will be a good week: we rotate work positions after this week, my brother is visiting this weekend, Gallery Walk is on Friday, and its 4th of July weekend.
I need to go buy fireworks.
I need to go buy fireworks.
0 comments: