tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050421.post4947516429311369178..comments2024-03-07T10:49:57.598-08:00Comments on <center>The Word Sanctuary</center>: Learning to Love Verdi: Transcending his TimeW. Scott Smoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14233489378056195307noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050421.post-16203995948133750882010-03-10T04:18:11.452-08:002010-03-10T04:18:11.452-08:00True. Thanks for reminding me, also, of RUSSIA HO...True. Thanks for reminding me, also, of RUSSIA HOUSE. With script by Tom Stoppard, it begins with a tour de force of screen writing: the interrogation of Sean Connery's character, heard three times, once while we see what he describes, once while we see his interrogation, and once while others listen to the tape of the interrogation. Each repetition, a new layer of ambiguity is revealed. The rest of the script is also highly charged. Didn't have enough action for 13-year-olds, so didn't do so well at the Box Office.W. Scott Smoothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14233489378056195307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26050421.post-79607523314141175002010-03-09T16:06:26.277-08:002010-03-09T16:06:26.277-08:00In addition to hormones, I thought divided loyalti...In addition to hormones, I thought divided loyalties played a huge role-- individual, family, and state. During one of the Aida-Rademes duets, the line, "You are my only country" kept running through my mind, which I recognized at intermission as one of the pivotal lines in LeCarre's spy/thriller novel, THE RUSSIA HOUSE--and in the movie. In the movie, Sean Connery's character speaks this line to Michelle Pfeiffer's character just before he goes on to commit what may-- or may not be, given the cynical, endgame context of the Cold War-- treason. Maybe this is what brings Aida back in the end, and the sad truth that pharoh's daughter will have to live with.Susannoreply@blogger.com