Hitchcock and his Heroines

 Rebecca

I have recently discovered myself a huge fan of Hitchcock films, and their cunning heroines. I am working my way through the whole series {67 odd films} and, so far, I have loved each and every of them. 

Suspense is the intrepid anticipation that something potentially dreadful is about to happen. Past, on the other hand, also plays a key role: it’s the source of mystery, psychological issues, madness. In H. films, this anticipation is created by a slow and self-indulgent pace that doesn't spoil the enjoyment of the moment. When the viewpoint is shifted to the murderer {as it often happens in his films}, the viewer experiences an uncomfortable feeling of anxiety as he/she starts emphasising with the villain. This anxiety is the achieved effect of suspense. 

His settings are simultaneously eye-catching and preposterous for the contemporary eye. External scenes can be vibrant and exotic as in The Man who Knew too Much, glamorous and mundane as in To Catch a Thief, vivid and compelling as in Vertigo, realistic and picturesque as in The Man who Knew too Much, oppressing and implausible as in Marnie - visibly shot in a film set where backgrounds and natural sceneries are gawky eye-illusions. But no matter how clumsy or dated some cinematic devices appear, his films so well reflect their era and retain a timeless quality. 

Top: Joan Fontaine, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly
Middle: Doris Day, Vera Miles, Kim Novak
Bottom: Eva Marie Saint, Janet Leigh, Tippi Hedren

 Jane Wyman 

Steve believes that H. betrays a misogynist view, but I tend to disagree with him. Even when his heroines are scrupulousness and merciless, they retain humour, grace, warmth, sophistication, passion and, of course, an outwardly beauty. Aside the most iconic H. femmes fatales, I was charmed by the co-protagonist of Stage Fright: Jane Wyman aka Eve Gill aka Doris Tinsdale. Her beauty might not be as striking as Grace Kelly's or Marlene Dietrich's {who in Stage Fright tries to no avail to outcast her}, but I found Jane a bundle of sweetness, quirkiness, cuteness and fun, exactly as we like it! Their timeless style has inspired tons of designers. Net-a-Porter online magazine  recently posted an article on retro style and its futurist development.

Let's dream for a moment. If I were one of Hitchcock's divas, for this Xmas I would wear a Reiss outfit {high waisted tailored trousers and silk blouse} for the day  and  a Reiss fur gilet coupled up with the most adorable butterfly dress {by Temperley} for the night.

Reiss collection is particularly sumptuous this year. I visited their shop yesterday and loved almost every item. I set my eyes on this cardi, which, luckily, is not yet available.

I was so jubilant when I read that Rope, one of the best H.'s movies (if there is a best), was staged at the Almeida Theatre in London. The Almeida is a contemporary little gem in east London. Possibly, one of the best modern theatres in town. I shall make sure not to miss it!

Carmen ~ 60 seconds review

I feel out of space reviewing this performance seeing my *operatic* ignorance and reluctance to learn enjoying it at its fullest (with some exceptions of the likes of Pavarotti's and Maria Callas' voices and lives. But then, who would not love them?). However, when Ale offered me a ticket a for Christmas, I decided to give it another go. The centre-staged scenography of the Royal Albert Hall replaced the stalls creating an involving setting. The gipsy costumes were cool and, thanks to Steve's cool binoculars, I got intimate close-ups. Being able to see the facial expressions as well as listen to the voices made a huge difference in empathising with the character's emotions. And sensuality. The music was flawless to my amateuristic ear but too *familiar*. The songs have been so commercialised that my mind kept associating them with advertisements and products. To my shame, I didn't even realise that Carmen was performed by a soprano and a mezzo soprano, and so Micalea's role. The biggest disappointment was the language: it was in English! Ale still can't get to terms with the unaware choice of having booked it in translation. "Which country does need to translate opera?!", She wondered. I welcomed dialogic parts in lieu of recitals, as I can't stand the latter, but in English I felt like being at a musical more than the opera.

The Place

friday was the end of a long and intense week at work (i am between jobs, remember?). at five thirty i left the office and walked home where my hairdresser was coming for the usual trim. {my hairstyle is still a bob, but i am slowly let it grow.} steve came home with a lovely yellow flower plant in lieu of a mimosa for International Women Day. this kind gesture was replicated by laura who brought us a bunch of yellow flowers each. four of us (vale, ele, lau & I) had a lovely dinner and a fat laugh at my local restaurant, where we stayed till the very end in true italian style.

~~~***~~~

yesterday, sian and i went to a contemporary dance performance at The Place, a centre i have always wanted to visit. i was so pleased with myself that i managed to find a non-mainstream show in london. the Scottish Dance Company presented two performances (Tenderhook and Dog), of half an hour each, which were absorbing and intense. i cannot recall whether i have ever expressed my passion for this form of art, which started in venice while i was working at La Biennale and dealing with Carolyn Carlson and her dance academy. anyhow, what fascinates me of this discipline is that, unlike balletto, is more democratic and unites perfection of the movement with expressive randomness, order with chaos, discipline with improvisation.

Tenderhook was an exploration of emotional commonplaces, such as love, devotion, desire, grief or entrapment. the movement aimed at unfolding the fullness of such singular experience and bringing out the unutterable. the result was utterly poetic, lyrical and connecting. i could not avoid to be raptured by the aesthetic qualities of the dancers - their marble skin, and the softness and sensuality they exuded. here you can enjoy some highlights.


and this is how i dressed up for theatre yesterday:

momix

during their short visit, clopis & giaccio enjoyed everything we chose for them: the fish dinner loftino prepared for us all, the ambience british restaurant in high street kensington serving rustic food in a intimate and decadent-chic surrounding; the trip to the maze of wholefood (or tuttocibo); the food market in sloane square, next to the queen's shopping mall and the sushi bar. but above all, they were mesmerised by momix.

difficult to pigeonhole into one definition, momix, an american dance company, is a mix of illusionism, contemporary dance, ballet, yoga, acrobatics, contortionism, gymnastic, all fused together to surprise, entertain and seduce the audience. divided in many short and very diverse *episodes*, each performance reverberated nature elements, unity, passion, energy, primitive instincts and folkloric rituals.

In synthesis, momix performance was an exploration of the infinite possibility of our body and an example of how balance, flexibility and stamina can be the gateway to the oneness with the cosmic will.

We spotted some minor technical errors and incidents but they were more than forgivable.

nutcracker

my first exposure to the nutcracker was a success: i enjoyed and giggled like a toddler all way through. it was a quirky performance: snowflakes coming out of a giant fridge,terrifying mice in lady-bird costumes, gas masks and thick long tails. the costumes were contemporary for a contemporary feel which was perfect for someone like me who nests some reservations towards ballet(to).


a little girl was sitting next to us. sian kept commenting how sweet she was, and in fact she was! especially when at the peackock ballerina's entrance she commented: *that is pre-tty!*

the only disappointment was the end: clara does not wake up from her fantasy world... and so the story looked somehow incomplete...


also, only the morning after i realised that the soldier was actually a nutcracker, hence its title. wake up, girl! : P


This story brought back to my memory some childhood readings: la danza della fata confetto and la storia di clara e del soldatino di piombo... nostalgic reminiscences...