At Fausta’s Blog, she links to this lovely short film, a sweetly evocative scene of the joys of anticipation to which we – in our era of immediate gratification – no longer allow ourselves. Perhaps that is why it made one of Fausta’s reader’s weep; perhaps we miss anticipation in our move to easy cynicism, and we miss the intimacies of family which allow us to know each other so well that we may both tease and enjoy each other.
And in the background, Bryn Terfel singing the Welsh lullabye, “Suo-Gan”. I think Fausta gets it just right when she answers, “it’s a wonderful combination of familiarity and yearning.”
Anchoress, though I’m not terribly sensitive to vocal music, it was a delight to chance on this. Since you often mention Terfel, I hope you’ll enjoy it. The text is here. A free download of RealPlayer is readily available.
Presumably the young man will give student recitals at Juilliard.
Granny, thank you for that link – that is an enormously talented young man with a gorgeous voice.
Thank you – you are right, we have lost the joy of anticipation.
And the rewards, too.
The video was very well done and enjoyable. Thank you for bringing to us, A.
Your observation is so apt. I have been thinking a lot lately about how we fail to live in the moment, constantly worried and rushing through our lives in a vain attempt to stay ahead of our over scheduled existences.
This was lovely – lovely family, lovely music, lovely story.
And I disagree that none of us know the joy of anticipation. Those of us who have family in the military know that anticipation.
We were in high anticipation knowing that our son left Kirkuk to come home for a two-week leave, and not knowing just exactly his feet would hit Newark Airport after his circuitous, security and paper-laden trip was through.
There is also the anticipation of our daughter’s wedding and our youngest girl’s post-high-school school career.
There are still wonderful things to anticipate, God willing.
My name is Joe Gleason, and I made this short film. Thanks so much for your encouraging comments; I’m honored that the film moved you as much as it did.
I’m a 21-year-old college student at the University of Notre Dame, and I created this film for a video production class this past semester.
It’s an incredibly economic film; I borrowed many of the props, I manned the camera myself, the actors are friends of mine, and the mansion is right near where I live.
I’m a strong Christian, and I’m so glad to read your insights into the film. You’ve touched on many of the themes I hoped to communicate, and expanded on ideas I hadn’t even fully developed while making it. I hope to continue making films that provoke reflection and discussion, and ultimately, I’d like to impact the world and draw people closer to God through them.
If any of you are interested, you might enjoy these other two shorter films I made this past spring:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GLg4lVK8oNY
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UtW2jbzR2u0
Thanks again for all of the encouragement; it makes film-making worth it. Enjoy!