Against my better judgement I sat down doing my word puzzles while watching the BAFTA awards ceremony. I just could not believe it when I heard that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was nominated for best British film and that Quartet was not mentioned in any category.
What exactly is at work in these awards ? I do not know who votes for them. Why does a superficial fantasy of happy old age in a foreign country wins it over an intelligent feel-good, sensitive film wonderfully acted and directed? Will Quartet sink without the publicity of awards and razzmatazz?
I feel it is so important to try and give people the opportunity of seeing films about old age that are stimulating, enjoyable and artistically valuable. The official mob of funders, distributors, male critics cannot be relied on.
Old Age and Feature Films 
Rina, you are so good at helping us make connections with what we see and read, and what we
feel and do. I read the book, but haven’t bothered to see the film about the Marigold Hotel (yes,
I think I’ve forgotten it deliberately). But I’ve also picked from my ‘to read’ pile of books one by
Marie de Hennezel, ‘The Warmth of the Heart preents your Body from Rusting’, wondering why
I have picked it up and put it down several times. I think it has to do with my refusal to let anyone
else (except Social Security provisions) define how I live my life. It’s not hard to just do what I
can do (and remind myself that I’m lucky to be able to do so), but it is hard not to be angry
when someone looks at me and says ‘No, you’re not as old as you say you are.’ Who defines
us? (I’ve just tried posting this-my usual password doesn’t work. I’ll try again later.)
Je n’ai pas vu quartet (titre français ?) ni l’hôtel exotique déconseillé par une copine -et toi ensuite. Mais me suis décidée grâce à toi pour Amour. Ce n’était pas l’apologie du mariage que je pensais ms ce film universel d’une gde beauté et j’ai revécu ces moments passés à Nice avec une profonde tendresse. Cette semaine : Shadow dancer que j’ai bcp apprécié et plusieurs spectacles magnifiques au théatre Liberté -qui passent avant Paris, Versailles (du baroque) etc et ce tout près de chez moi à des prix très possibles. Simone