hundreds of ways

Mira Nair was in town last night to speak at Mondavi Center.  I skipped that discussion, but before that, she came to the Varsity Theatre (our newly-renovated vintage theatre in downtown Davis that shows only indie films which is only a few blocks from our house) to introduce her film, Monsoon Wedding.  She was, in a word, fabulous.  She's a stunningly beautiful woman and she spoke so eloquently about how she came to make that film and her creative process behind it.  It was made for only a million dollars, and she shot it over two summer months in 2000 because it was her son's summer vacation and she wanted him to be with her.  She said that she and her writing partner wanted to give a "reality check version" of an Indian wedding, since most Bollywood versions are so over the top.  She used very few professional actors, casting mostly family members and people in her community in India--many of whom have gone on to become popular actors and comedians. She explained that the Punjabi people she comes from in Northern India "are the party animals of India"--that they're whiskey-drinking, hard-partying people, and that most Indian weddings are exactly like what's portrayed in the film.  She also talked about how she wanted to interweave many different love stories, and the hesitation she felt about including one plotline about sexual abuse which is still kept very silent in India.  She told of trying set aside that part of the story, and how the film completely fell apart without it.  She said she was surprised by how many people were there to see the film last night, since it's an old one.  She thanked us for coming, and thanked the Varsity for supporting independent film.  (They recently completed a run of her new film, The Namesake.)  I'd seen the Monsoon Wedding once before, but it was a treat to see it again with her backstory in mind.  Along with the minimal budget, she had in mind to shoot it in 30 days, and as the final credits rolled, there was a mention of it:  40 locations in 30 days.  There are scenes from the film woven throughout the final credits and since I was sitting in the front, I didn't realize until I got up to leave that nearly everyone sat through them.  And...she announced that Monsoon Wedding is coming to Broadway!  The team behind Hairspray is collaborating with her on a stage production, and we can expect it to hit the stage in a year or two.  I've been a Mira Nair fan since Mississippi Masala.  I love that film (we own it), and I love how in it she tied Amin's banishment of Asians in Uganda to an interracial love story in the American Gulf Coast.  Mira Nair is an American filmmaking treasure, and we're very lucky to have her.

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Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened.  Don't open the door to the study
and begin reading.  Take down a musical instrument.

Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

~The Essential Rumi

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When I opened today's Daily Om email, it was about "Hope in Hardship"...

"As difficult as the obstacle plaguing you seems, it is no match for the love of a supportive universe that has been a part of your life since the day of your birth and will be with you forevermore."

Liz is one of my dearest blog-pals, and I've been lucky to have exchanged a few emails with her wonderful mother.  Her Mom has been diagnosed with uterine cancer.  She's having surgery today--a hysterectomy that will also remove a large cyst from one of her ovaries.  Let's be a living example of that Daily Om message for her Mother today.  Let's be a part of her supportive universe.  Please send Liz's Mom your thoughts and good wishes and hopes and prayers, so that she may feel great hope in the face of this hardship.  Liz, I'm holding a powerfully good thought that your Mom comes through her surgery easily, and that on the other side of that door is nothing but good news.  xoxo

Comments

[eve]

Isn't she! She's just amazing. I'm writing a biography of her right now and I have almost everything she said bolded and italicized. She's just incredibly inspirational.

[lizardek]

I just got a message that she came through the surgery fine, and I will let you know as soon as I hear more. THANK YOU for all your good wishes and thoughts. XOXO

[mari]

Mira Nair! She's one of my favorite filmmakers. Lucky you! I recently saw "The Namesake" which I thought was very good, but the novel is much better. It's so richly detailed that I think it was impossible to put the whole thing into a film. Anyway, wow. I'm envious of you.

[Rozanne]

You're so lucky to have been able to hear Mira Nair's talk. I've heard her interviewed, and I really like her. I think I've seen all her films. You should def. see The Namesake.

[Margaret]

I will have to ask my older daughter if she has heard of her; she is very into Indian culture. She loves the films, does Orissi dance and works at a restaurant in the U District where the family speaks Punjabi. I would never get my husband to watch a subtitled movie; he always claims that he can't read fast enough.

[Sam]

It sounds like I need to have a Mira Nair film festival. I've never seen ANYTHING of hers, and it all sounds incredibly fabulous. The Namesake is SUCH a great book and I'm sure she did it justice.

Oh, and I heard John Edwards is due to make a stop in Davis - speaking at the college. You will have to be our reporter on the scene! :)

[Margaret]

Ashley liked Salaam Bombay, because she prefers depressingly realistic films. (unlike me) She also mentioned Deepa Mehta as one of her favorite filmmakers. (Earth, Water) From what she's told me about the movies, I don't think I could stand to watch either.

[Paris Parfait]

Sending prayers for Liz and her mom.

Thanks for the interesting backstory about Mira Nair's film, especially about the sexual abuse (I wrote a piece about that yesterday). I like her movies and am looking forward to seeing her adaptation of Jumpha Lahiri's book The Namesake.

Wonderful Rumi quote! xo

[tinker]

I've been looking forward to seeing "The Namesake" - even more so now.

Glad to know Lizardek's mom made it through surgery okay. That must be such a relief. I haven't been able to comment on Livejournal in ages, and consequently have fallen off from reading, though I've always enjoyed seeing her comments still around blogville. Sending ((hugs)) and thoughts her and her mom's way. Bless you Marilyn, for keeping people connected!

Oh - and I've always loved that quote: Let the beauty we love be what we do.

Thanks for reminding me of it!