Of 3 Films and 2 Unexpected Gifts.

Portobello Road/2015

The birthday of three films and two unexpected gifts?

That’ll do.

Can I have the unexpected gifts for the Mue?

No. That wouldn’t be honouring the founding principles.

How come?

It has to be you that is not expecting.

So you’ve read the founding principles?

I have.

It’s a hefty tome.

Nice graphics.

So – aren’t all birthday gifts unexpected?

They are, these were unexpected in a way that the was unexpected even for the gifter.

How so?

They didn’t know it was a birthday.

The man at the cinema?

That was one; he gave me a Marylyn Monroe poster.

And the man in the market?

Yep! A broken bar of chocolate, he felt he couldn’t sell it.

We should encourage this. What about the films?

The first one was Encounters with Vilmos Zsigmond.

Snappy title. What was it about?

Vilmos Zsimond.

THE Vilmos Zsigmond?

THE Vilmos Zsigmond!

Ok… are you recommending it?

It’s not bad, educational if you don’t know anything about Vilmos Zsigmand.

Are you going to tell us something?

No, go see the film, support your local filmmaker/cinema/producer.

What was the second film?

Depressing.

Is that the title?

No, that’s the verdict. Title was ‘A Monster Calls’.

Dark fantasy drama?

Dark.

Are you recommending this one?

No.

Ok, film number three?

Paterson.

Jim Jarmusch?

That’s the one.

Bet you liked this one.

Why?

You like Jim Jarmusch films.

That’s true. I liked the black and white too.

The film’s in black and white?

No, one of the characters is.

What happens?

Not much. But it happens nicely.

Startlingly undramatic?

That’s probably a fair enough criticism.

Apart from the black and white, what do you remember the day after?

The bus.

The bus?

And this poem;

This Is Just To Say

William Carlos Williams, 1883 - 1963

I have eaten

the plums

that were in

the icebox

and which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold