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Transformation and the Landscape Slideshow

Monday: All That Heaven Allows (1955)
        A wealthy woman named Cary is struggling with life as a widow. Her two children are off at college and she is left alone. Her friends try to help. One day she strikes up conversation with her landscaper. He is passionate about trees and hopes to open his own nursery. He is much younger than she is. Despite this they fall in love. Both her friends and children don't accept the relationship. Cary has to decide between them and her love. I liked this movie. Although it is a melodrama. So there is a lot of unnecessary drama. Or it just seems to like it could have been toned down a little.

Tuesday: Wild Strawberries (1957)
         This is a Swedish film. Eberhard is an old professor. He is traveling to receive an award. Eberhard was supposed to travel by plane. But he decides to drive. His daughter-in-law, who was staying with him, decides to travel with him. On the way he visits his childhood summer house and his mother. They also pick up some hitchhikers. He spends the time looking back at his life. Eberhard led an empty life, and became cold and un-loving. I thought this movie was ok.

Wednesday: A Woman's Face (1941)
         Many people have gathered for a trail. A woman named Anna is accused of murder. Each witness is called to talk about how they knew Anna and what they saw happen. In flashback we see the events that led to the murder. Anna has a horrible facial scar. To get by she has taken to crime. She owns a tavern, but her real business is blackmail. She discovers that a wealthy woman is having an affair. Anna decides to blackmail her. While setting it up she meets a man named Torsten. He likes her despite her scar. While collecting the blackmail money Anna runs into the woman's husband. Gustaf is a doctor who specializes in getting rid of facial scars. He promises to do the surgery for her. It is a success. She has a new lease on life. Torsten loves her all the same. But he hopes this hasn't changed her evil ways. He needs her help with a scheme. Not wanting to lose his love she agrees. The only thing separating him from inheriting his uncle's fortune is his young nephew. Torsten wants Anna to pose as a governess and kill the boy. Once there she starts to really care for the nephew and the uncle. Anna is not sure she can go through with it. This is a good movie. For the time the visual effects were good.

Friday: A Hidden Life (2019)
       Franz is a farmer living in Austria in the 40s. He has beautiful wife and two girls. Franz has a good life. Then WWII comes. He does basic training as a Nazi soldier. Soon he learns all the horrible things they are doing. He knows they are evil. Franz is not sure he can fight for them. As a farmer he has more time before he is called to fight. Everyone around him is pressuring him to fight for the Nazis. His indecision causes a rift between him and the other people in the village. Once called he has to decide how far he will go to show his defiance. I thought this movie was ok. There are some amazing shots of the Austrian wilderness. But it was just so long. A lot of it is him just standing around deciding. Or laying on the grass field with his wife, deciding. I get it's hard decision, but not worth spreading it over 3 hours. It's like someone showing you a nature slideshow from their recent trip while they discuss a decision they have to make. It's my fault for watching a Terrence Malik film. They are all like this. Lots of nature shots and little else.

Saturday: Geography Club (2013)
      Russell is a young teenager discovering his sexual orientation. On a field trip he forms a relationship with a football player. They both want to keep it a secret. But they are discovered by a classmate, Min. When she leaves them a note to meet after school they think they are caught. It turns out Min is in charge of a club called the Geography Club. What it actually is, is a safe place for gay teens to talk and support each other. Russell finds that being a part of the club helps but he still struggles with hiding who he is. He wants to just be a normal teenager. Russell has to decides what is more important. Being himself or fitting in. This movie is ok. I mostly just watched it because it was for free and it looked cute. They tried, but it's not quite the gay teen movie they were going for. I will say I enjoyed it more than A Hidden Life.

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