When I have just read a great book with a story that has truly moved me, it is impossible for me to immediately start reading a next book, as I need to emotionally 'free' myself from the first book first. Something similar happened to me today.
After putting all the information I had gathered last week in chronological order yesterday and dividing it into chapters today, I was determined to continue writing once my son had gone to bed. The 'problem' is that I have watched a beautiful Spanish movie today (or better said: that I have continued to watch today, as I had fallen asleep on the couch last night...). The images of this movie and the story keep spinning in my head and distract my mind from writing. Now of course there are worse things than to be distracted by a magnificent movie :-). The movie is called 'Mar Adentro' (English title: 'The Sea Inside'; 2004) and it is one of the most touching movies I have seen for a while.
Just a brief summary for those who have not seen the movie, without giving away the whole story. It is based on the true story of Ramón Sampedro, who has broken his neck in a diving accident when he was young and has been paralyzed from the neck down ever since. After spending more than 25 years in a bed, he decides he wants to end his life with dignity. As the law in Spain does not allow euthanasia though, he hires a female lawyer. The lawyer has Cadasil (leukodystrophy), a progressive degenerating disease that affects both body and brain. He feels that she will be able to understand his death wish best. She does and decides to take on his case on a pro Deo basis. During the process the two grow closer and closer. The two actors were so wonderfully cast for their roles, that you sometimes simply forget the handicaps of their characters and just see two beautiful, intelligent people becoming true soul mates.
Javier Bardem is absolutely sublime in his role as Sampedro, giving Sampredo energy, strength and humor, even though he was only able to act using his face and voice! Belén Rueda is doing an amazing job as well, playing the lawyer in a very natural way. The relationship between Sampedro and the lawyer is carefully explored during the movie, in a very sensitive and refined way. Even though the topics are terminal illness and death, this has therefore become a movie about life, respect, friendship and intense love! Art is such a beautiful thing in many ways... today was a happy day, just because I was able to see this movie. Love, M.
