I saw "My Dinner With Andre" three times in one week when it first came out. I do that a lot with movies I like. In fact, I did it recently when "Inception" came out.
It's almost like the movie holds some secret and mysterious part of myself that cannot be revealed otherwise. I do this all the time with art. Music and books as well. In some way the art helps be process some hidden part of me. Like a dream, I guess.
Does anyone else do this, I wonder?
Anyway, back to "My Dinner With Andre." Who would ever guessed that a movie about two guys sitting across from each over dinner, intimately involved in the art of conversation, could be so interesting.
I remembered one section of the movie that beautifully dealt with the subject: "Why people have a affairs?" After a little digging, I found it on YouTube.com (one of the great inventions of modern man, in my humble opinion). I wanted to share it here with you now.
The entire clip posted above is worth watching. And, if you have time and haven't seen the movie, it's available on YouTube in its entirety, divided into twelve different clips. But, if you only have a few minutes this time around, go to the 7:00 mark of the video.
Here, the question is asked, "Why do people have affairs?"
Andre:
"You feel for a moment you have hands on something (when involved in an affair). I mean, it's a good feeling. But, then that feeling goes quite quickly. And, once again you don't know quite what you should do next.What will happen?
Well, have an affair and up to a point, you can really feel like you're on firm ground. The sexual conquest to be made. There are different questions. 'Does she enjoy the ears be nibbled?' 'How intently can you talk about Schopenhauer in some elegant french restaurant?" whatever nonsense it is.
It's all to give you the semblance that there is firm earth. Well, have a real relationship with a person that goes on for years, that's completely unpredictable. And, you've cut off your ties to the land, and you're sailing into the unknown, uncharted seas.
I mean, you know, people hold on to these images "father," "mother," "husband," "wife." Again. For the same reason. Because they seem to provide some firm ground.
But, there's no "wife" there. What does that mean, a "wife?" A "husband?" A "son?"
A baby holds your hands and then suddenly there's this huge man lifting you off the ground, and then he's gone. Where's that son?"
That is just some of the magic of "My Dinner With Andre." If you haven't seen it, I recommend you do. That is something beautiful I can share with you today.
