Day Two Hundred and Fifty-eight - Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill A Mockingbird, "To write beautifully, and walk away..."

...if only some other well read (but, not well remembered) authors did the same.

The story of Hey, Boo focuses not only on the work itself, but also the life and times of the author and her choice to recede from the both public life and the medium itself.

Bouncing back and forth between the creative moments that lead up to the novel, to her early life in rural Alabama, to the fame she almost instantly garnered in the 60's and on to her reclusive life since then, Hey, Boo gives both a character portrait of the woman (and some of her contemporaries) and a long view of the impact of her work.

I was particularly interested in the opinions of the half-dozen or so authors and entertainers who claim its influence on their own reading habits and how it might have shaped them as people and writers. Being an aspiring writer, myself, these kind of analytic documentaries hold up the mystique of the process to a light, albeit slightly obscured, as never does the woman, herself, speak directly on the subject save for those rare moments caught on tape back when she was still giving interviews in the 60's.

I'm not exactly sure I appreciate Andrew Young's comments, as his first remarks come across a bit self-righteous, but as the interview wore on his testimony became a bit more balanced and gracious. Maybe it's just that I've grown cynical over the years, listening to his slightly bombastic and self-gratifying commentary about his work doing the era, but I suppose he deserves a bit of latitude in that regard.

Still annoys me a little, though.

Oddly enough, the other dominating personalities that show up in the documentary don't really bother me so. I really rather liked Oprah Winfrey's accounts both on how she was influenced by the book and her personal meeting with Harper Lee. The same could be said for the others, including: Lizzie Skurnick, Scott Turow, James Patterson, Anna Quindlin, Tom Brokaw, and more.

I think what got me the most about the piece was Ms. Lee's personal connection to Truman Capote and the character in the novel that was supposedly based on him, Dill. It shames me to admit that I never knew of this connection before and it adds a layer of context to both the novel and their personal life together that is fascinating, more than a little scandalous, and somewhat depressing.

Hey, Boo is tremendously interesting and compelling, for its look at the author, its analysis of the impact of both the novel and the movie, and the testimonials of so many people... writers, teachers and students, family and friends. If you're any sort of writer (or would just like to know more about the author), I'd definitely recommend this documentary.

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~

Day One Hundred and Fifty-nine - Roman Holiday, "Audrey, you were and ever shall be divine."

The two Hepburn girls always rank very high in my book when it comes to classic cinema. American Kate had this piercing, cynical wit that she pulled from for just about every role and British Audrey... well, Audrey was innocence, beauty, and desire all wrapped up in one.

And it shows right here (and in pretty much all of her films) with Roman Holiday.

Co-starring with Gregory Peck (I still need to track down his Hornblower film for a decent price), Roman Holiday has Audrey playing Princess Anne from a never-named European monarchy who is sick to death of all her pressing responsibilities as a figurehead for her country.

With Rome being the last stop in a long goodwill tour across post-war Europe, Anne is in hysterics due to all the stress she's been under and is sedated by her Royal Physician. The mickey doesn't take effect for a while, though, and it gives her enough time to escape the embassy and walk the streets of Rome, only to finally succumb to the drug's effects.

That's where Gregory Peck comes in.

A newsman, sensing a... well, sensational story brewing, Peck's Joe Bradley takes her in and shows her the wonders of bohemian Rome. There's tours by scooter (probably the most iconic image from the film), dancing by the river, and a stolen kiss while the two of them are drenched, having escaped from agents searching for her.

I really love this film because it sticks to its guns and doesn't give you the schmaltzy happy ending that most films would. As their relationship grows closer over the course of the day, you can see the haunted looks that cross their countenances... they know their fling is doomed and that nothing can ever come from it, but that doesn't stop their hearts from wanting.

Their goodbye at the embassy gates, her as the plain Anya and him still masquerading as a chemical salesman, emphasizes this... and it all comes back when they meet again, cold and distant on the surface as Princess and Reporter who have supposedly never met before, but you can see the warmth and love in their eyes.

And the regret.

That last, lingering shot as Bradley slowly paces out of the ostentatious meeting hall, everyone else having long since left, is a quiet moment of finality and acceptance. Their love can never be, but they are both better off for having that brief Roman Holiday.

Until tomorrow, Potatoes~