Wrap Up: Waltz With Bashir

Hello movie lovers! The second meeting of our little group was, in my opinion, even more fun than the first. Attendance for the screening nearly doubled from the first one, Waltz With Bashir was incredible, our libation manager Stu took us to a very cool little bar, and the discussion was very stimulating. Thanks so much to all who came!

Now for the wrap up. Not much to report on the clerical front, so I'll dive in to discussion topics.

• We discussed the interplay between subjective memory and documentary objectivity in the film, and agreed that the combination of fact, fantasy, and incomplete memory made for a compelling look into the mindset of the soldier both during and after combat. They also made for an interesting story, as Ari's journey to remember the past becomes ours as well.
• We spent a good deal of time discussing the visual style of the film, from the simple fact of its animation to the specific look and feel of the drawings. We agreed that the animation effectively reframed the images of wartime that are now ubiquitous at the cinema, allowing us to think about war and the protagonist's experiences in a new way. The visual style also sets up some incredibly powerful images in the closing moments of the movie (I won't spoil the moment by telling you anything more). We liked the style of the animation, and found that it was very effective in rendering the movie's alternately brutal and surreal imagery.
• Bobby made a big splash in his first meeting, dropping some serious historical knowledge about the events surrounding the Lebanon War and the Sabra and Shatila Massacre of 1982. I for one was glad to know more about the events behind this incredible movie, and am officially a more knowledgeable person on world history. Thanks Bobby.

I think that about covers it. I also would like to pose a question I forgot to ask in the meeting: what is your feeling about the fact that Ari's memory of his past does not seem fully resolved by the conclusion of the movie? I thought it made an effective statement that the mind protects itself from traumatic experience by veiling it in mysterious ways, such that the memory cannot fully restore the experience of the past. Write a comment and share your take on this!

Thanks again for attending! Save the date: our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 3rd around 8pm. Start sending your picks now! There are also plans afoot to watch Persepolis this week, stay tuned for updates.

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Wrap Up: 'The Wrestler'

Without a doubt, the club's first meeting was a blast, thanks so much to all who attended! We laid the groundwork for future meetings and had a great discussion of The Wrestler over a few beers at the Library. In these 'Wrap-Ups' I'll post some notes about the general topics of conversation, talk about logistics for the next meeting, and maybe throw out some ideas for further discussion. So, with that in mind, here's the rundown from last night's meeting.

Clerical Stuff

• Decided to meet bi-weekly. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 20th around 8pm. Save the date!
  
• Agreed to decide which movie to watch one week before the next meeting. Please post your picks for our next movie in the comments by next Tuesday, January 13th.
• Decided in favor of having a volunteer to lead discussion at each meeting. The next discussion leader has yet to be decided. Anyone interested?
• Decided to change the name of the club. Please brainstorm and bring your ideas to the next meeting!

Discussion (I will try my best not to spoil anything, but no guarantees)

• After agreeing that we all generally liked 'The Wrestler', the subject of the movie's ending was the first that we discussed. Some people found it to be a fitting conclusion, given that it glorifies Randy's passion as a wrestler and abstains from showing the potentially disturbing results of his actions. (Vague enough for you?) Others did not.
• We shared our thoughts regarding the often gratuitous violence and nudity in the movie. We asked how these elements contributed to its overall tone, how (if at all) they contributed to our understanding of Randy and Pam (Cassidy), and if they were overly sensationalized. We decided that they suited the movie's gritty subject matter and drove home the reality of the heavy toll that wrestling and dancing have taken on their aging bodies.
• Tom made a great point about the parallels between Randy and Pam, arguing that they both made a living by selling their flesh and struggled to come to terms with their age and the binding relationships in their lives.
• We talked about The Wrestler  in comparison with Aronofsky's other works, particularly with regard to its almost documentary style. We agreed that the gritty, behind-the-scenes feel achieved by the camerawork in this movie was more appropriate than the generally composed and smooth camera work of the director's earlier work.
• We also discussed the themes of Aronofsky's work that appeared in the movie, particularly his preoccupation with mortality, the need for personal affirmation, and elements of American mythology--in this case, professional wrestling. We wondered how this movie might be received by real fans of the sport, and discussed the insights it offers into the lives of pro wrestlers.

I think we all had a lot of fun talking about the movie. I certainly came away from the conversation with a better understanding of the movie than I had before, which in my mind is the greatest thing about this club. Everybody made great points and contributed so much to the conversation, so thanks again for coming! To those of you who couldn't make it, I hope we'll see you on the 20th!

As a last bonus, here's a link to the song that plays over the closing credits, a beautiful little tune written for the movie by the Boss himself. Enjoy!

Bruce Springsteen - The Wrestler

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