Movie and a Forum

Good Morning!!!

On Friday afternoon Theodore and I went to see the Spanish movie, Biutyful, starring Javier Bardem and a host of other very good actors not so well known in the United States. It's hard to put this movie into a nutshell, but basically it is about the life and dying of a Barcelona man who makes his living as an entrepreneur. I don't think I am telling you anything that I shouldn't in that statement, as the condition of his health becomes very apparent early on in the movie.  The most striking thing, aside from the very big element of Bardem's presence, is the poverty of all the people in the film.  Uxbal (Bardem) and his little family and his clients too all move around from place to place, each place as cramped, gloomy and poor as the others. 

Uxbal makes a part of his living going to funeral homes and communicating with the dead to pass messages on to the bereaved.  The bulk of his money is made in contracting people out to work, kind of a sub-rosa employment agency for illegal aliens of several ethnic groups.  Most striking are the Africans who hawk his purses and such on the streets (and dope too, getting more in trouble with the law) and the Chinese who are locked in the basement at night en masse at their sweatshop, and let out in the morning to do their  labor.  Uxbal is trying to keep his little family together also, two cute little kids and a beautiful strung-out nutty wife who needs to be kept away from the kids a lot of the time. 

One thing follows another, and the film goes out to two hours plus.  It was worth it to me. I was right in there with Uxbal all the way.  I think everyone will be. Should you see it? Yes.  Even though you cannot bear sad movies? Yes.  It is no sadder than life itself, and we enjoy most all of that.

Today was the second part of Holy Communication at the Forum.  Some basics of communicating well were taught.  The Dean taught us about Conditional and Unconditional, Positive and Negative.  Any criticism you might make will imvolve a combination of those attributes.

Conditional Positive: You did well today.
Unconditional Positive: You are so great.
Conditional Negative:  I can't understand your words very well.
Unconditional Negative: You selfish pig.
We should be away of what we are saying to others.

Then there's the way to approach a difficult topic between friends, when you have been hurt and want to get things straightened out:

Past:     "You told me I was a selfish pig."