I watched this movie for the first time just the other night. it had been in my watchlist for so so long and i just decided to turn it on for no good reason and i was simply not expecting the rollercoaster that it turned out to be. so beautifully heartbreaking in so many moments throughout the film while still having such a strong sense of adventure, wonder, fantasy, and whimsy. its all based around a story being told to a child in a hospital and this story is malleable, changing from scene to scene, imagined in the moment. characters change accents and even actors in the middle of the story, and all the while you are able to glimpse the very real life of the man behind this tale. this film is just as fulfilling visually as it is narratively. amazing cinematography and set design make this a truly captivating piece of art. this is one of those movies where the less you know going into it the better, but i can tell you, you will laugh and you will cry. its beautiful. (attached are some stills from the movie as well as a link to the internet archive page where you can watch this for free!)
Apr 11, 2025
Related Recs
dir. Tarsem Singh
It’s about an injured stuntman in the hospital telling a little girl stories to manipulate her into helping him. Genuinely, I’ve never seen a movie so visually and conceptually intriguing.
Back when I first watched it, the licensing had lapsed so you couldn’t buy or stream it anywhere, except for a $50 eBay dvd. It became my life’s mission to find it SOMEWHERE, and the only place was in a library on the other side of the state. The gratification of tracking down physical media and being rewarded with this masterpiece….. I can’t even tell you.
Last I heard, it’s now streaming on Mubi. I so highly recommend looking it up.
Mar 6, 2025
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i am on a mission to get anyone who can to watch this movie! directed by tarsem singh and starring lee pace, it’s bold, incredibly shot, heart wrenching, and just straight up pretty.
May 4, 2024
lee pace broken in body & heart telling a story both to & with a radiant little girl with a broken arm is in turns striking in its imagination & scope & sheer beauty , & devastating in how his deep sadness seeps into the gorgeous fantasy he‘a creating for them both . tarsem takes a childlike emotional truth & pairs it with some of the most stunning imagery i’ve ever seen in a film (& all shot on [24] locations) there’s truly nothing else like it even 18 years later . if you can , try to catch one of the showings of the new mubi 4k restoration that’s still making its way through repertory/art focused theatres .
as an aside the costumes are also absolutely incredible thanks to the genius of eiko ishioka
second rec is columbus which i’ve talked about before but i think is under seen . quietly beautiful & thoughtfully crafted gem of a movie that encourages you to take care & contemplation in the way you view your surroundings , your relationships with others , & yourself .
as a bonus you may find john cho incredibly charismatic & hot in a sad way in this which i enjoy in a movie but your mileage may vary
Oct 22, 2024
Top Recs from @SIETE
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This is one that I am still relearning everyday. It's always been rather dificult for me to ask for what I want, or even need. Not sure when or why this pattern started but it became glaringly obvious to me as I matured that the strongest tool I have in my arsenal is self advocacy. I realized that if you aren't willing to speak up for yourself and fight for yourself then that makes it all the more difficult for others to help you because NO ONE KNOWS WHAT YOU WANT UNLESS YOU TELL THEM FIRST. Slowly shedding the fear around being heard and seen has drastically changed my life for the better. My biggest resolution this year was to stop being so scared of everything and that incudes asking for what I want or even what I know I deserve. It's definitely a journey, and something that I need to work on/relearn everyday but everyday is getting easier and better.
Apr 4, 2025
whenever im feeling more lost than usual, in myself or the world, something that really helps me find my center again is just going to the water by myself.
she will always be there for you whether that is through river, pond, fountain, or sea. you will quickly find she wants to take all your troubles away.
try to just sit there with the water and nothing else as best you can, don’t go on your phone, don’t read a book, if you really really need to do something, listen to an album and don’t skip anything or bring a sketchbook to doodle in. just try your very best to be in the moment and nowhere else. if you are at the beach (my favorite place to be with the water) try to keep your eyes on the horizon where the sky meets the ocean. or for any location just look at the patterns on the surface and notice how light dances across it. let the water be a fidget toy for your eyes. there likely will not be any huge aha moment but i promise if you really intentionally spend time with the water, talk to it even, you will leave feeling different in some way. (here is a little collage from my last solo beach day. the most important part is that you do all this by yourself. have a one on one with the water and she will tell you what to do next)
Apr 11, 2025
the month of march has been very intentionally slow for me. with recovering from surgery as well as preparing for spring i kinda just wanted to pause the outer world and take a moment to calm my inner world. these albums have been the breath of fresh air i needed recently.
Kelela - In The Blue Light
such a wonderful artistic expression and journey. kelela is one of my all time favorite artists and knowing i was in the crowd for the live recording makes it all the more special (you can hear me go wooo at 3:30 of cherry coffee,, insane to me) a mix of covers and reworks of her own material, this record showcases the pure artistry and originality that made me fall in love with her from my first listen. play this as you take a shower and get ready for the day. through the beautiful twists and turns you will find yourself in a peaceful bliss.
Skúli Sverrisson - The Box Tree
this is an album i discovered through an interview from marg.mp3 on instagram (love her for her contribution towards a social push of removing the algorithm from your music discovery) this instrumental album blends into itself seamlessly. its the kind of record you can put on when going for a walk and then suddenly you realize you have listened to the album ten times over getting lost in the evolving and incredibly gentle melodies. i actually played this when i had a migraine, a time when i want to shut my eyes and plug my ears, and it genuinely helped calm my nervous system.
Mar 28, 2025