HELIOLITH

I feel somewhat as though the air is still knocked out of me. Perhaps it’s because of the time I spent in Germany and the rich kinesthetic sense of the language in my throat, chest, ears, and hands as it is spoken. I think sometimes that staying in one place too long builds layers upon layers of memory, that sometimes blur and melt into each other like butter. Moving between cultures, languages, and identies seems to create a more intricate geography history. Many experience the deep association of memories with certain weather patterns, smells, musical albums, or eating patterns. I suspect that periodic relocation may help one even more fully to retain a greater portion of what occurs in life– a semi-conscious partitioning of the mind.

In a wonderful novel I read a long time ago (Little, Big by John Crowley), the author described a method of the”art of memory” whereby you visualize an immense house, and literally store away memories in the various rooms and alcoves. In a similar way, a ghost of self that is bound to a certain time stirs and wakens when exposed to certain stimuli. The German in this movie was mostly extremely well enunciated and clear– making it easy for someone who is rusty like myself or a student of the language to really appreciate it.

As an aside, what’s up with subtitle translators? Do they let computers do it? Sometimes the choices were so imprecise or inaccurate. Once they translated “Die tanke ist leer” (the tank is empty) into “We need fuel” which while effectively still correct, is such a gross reversal of the thought form behind the statement. Another time a man said “bitteschoen” which can have many different meanings, including please, your welcome, and pardon me. He was clearly asking for pardon in the context, yet the subtitle read “You’re welcome.” Ack!

Yet even without the magical effects of language and identity that this movie catalyzed for me, it was thoroughly breathtaking. I’m a sucker for truly romantic movies. Every scene and moment seemed to be so real and vivid for me even without, and especially in between the discussion. In a way it really reminded me of the fateful beauty of “Amantes del circulo polar” (Lovers of the Arctic Circle) another of my favorites, or even more recently, Pedro Almodovar’s “Hable con ella” (Talk to her). Hable con ella is a-whole-nother story. Seen a brilliant movie that belongs among these?