A LATE QUARTET, a grace note of a film
A Late Quartet is a quiet crescendo of a movie that will replay in the chambers of your heart long after you leave. A New York-based quartet, The Fugue, faces a crisis when their cellist, (Christopher Walken) announces that he has just learned that he has Parkinson’s. It’s their 26th season together. And then, the group: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Mark Ivanir, and Catherine Keener. Soon we learn about the passions, intrigues, and ambitions that have been held in check for the sake of harmony.
I bring a tiny notebook everywhere and what I scribbled in the dark was Walken’s comments about how, as a young man, he played for Pablo Casals who praised his performance even though the young man was ashamed of it. Years later, when he met Casals again, Walken (oops, I mean Peter Mitchell) confronted Casals. Casals remarked about Mitchell’s original use of the bow, his deft fingering and Mitchell realized that the master hadn’t focused on the mistakes. He only saw beauty.
A point to remember whatever you’re working on! Even a relationship.
November 21, 2012 @ 9:23 am
What a wonderful comment by Casals
November 21, 2012 @ 12:27 pm
I just finished a short, sweet and very powerful book in which the message was identical to the one in Rochelle’s blog…….”The Go-Giver”.
It’s so WONDERFUL to have this important reminder!
: – )
November 24, 2012 @ 12:33 am
Thanks, Jeanette,I teach writing at UCLA Extension and do this with my students. I highlight every original metaphor, description, etc. and leave the rest alone. It leads to great leaps in creativity. Thanks for the book tip!
November 23, 2012 @ 8:23 pm
Yes, you are so correct about relationships!!