L'homme qui aimait les femmes (1977)

This was a really good film. I really enjoy Truffaut films more now. When I was watching this film I found many elements that make this film the predecessor of the highly recognized film “Adaptation” which is also a great film.
While the immediate subject matter is not identical, there are many thematic devices that make a parallel reading very easy to do.
For one they are both about men who are writing about love and relationships. While Adaptation is about how flowers are symbols of love, L’homme takes a literal stand on the subject.
There is a scene that reflects this. In L’homme, The writer is describing what he likes about each woman specifically. He describes them as having something unique about themselves that he is drawn to. In Adaptation, the writer uses different flowers as metaphors for each woman that he could be attracted to.
Both writers are also obsessed with how they are writing their books. They admit that they are putting their personal sentiments into their writing because each writer has a personal approach to whatever subject they are dealing with. Both writers want to try to overcome being too narrow viewed, and they regard it as a vice, but they don’t realize that it is not a flaw, but rather a strength to have a unique position.
In both films there is a scene toward the end when they are confronted by a former lover. The lover tells them that they have to learn how to like themselves because their problem is they push people away because they have low self-esteem. They don’t allow themselves to love one single woman because they have trouble metaphorically looking at themselves in the mirror.
There is also a scene in the film where there is a conversation over the phone where the woman just wants to hear the man breath, she doesn’t want him to say anything she just wants to have a sign that he is present and giving her his full attention.
Also a minor detail, Meryl Streep, one of the main women in Adaptation looks uncannily like one of the women in L’homme; I don’t think it’s a coincidence.
Once I realized that these films have so much in common in made L’homme even the more interesting to watch. I found myself looking for more similarities, but I think the other observations I made don’t have much foundation.
The films ended very differently. Adaptation ended with the protagonist feeling free and open to new opportunities about his life. He feels he can move on from his former lover, and the death of his brother. While L’homme ended with the protagonist dying from his weakness; he was reaching for the nurses legs and fell off his hospital bed and died.
Both films are very good stories.

The New Pornographers – Ottawa Bluesfest – Sunday July 16, 2006

I thought this was a good show. I was unfortunately somewhat disappointed, but it was merely because of aesthetic reasons ie. the band does not look like rock stars, what the giff! The sound was tight (even though the mix was poorly done).
To get back to this aesthetic thing, the members of the band looked ordinary and geeky. I think bands should dress up, or at least try and present some kind of performative image, it makes the whole seeing them live more worth it, instead of the look like you’re watching them jam in some garage. One of the main things that through me off was the bassist was a total doppelganger for my old film professor M. Raymond, so it was funny and kind of weird watching him rocking out wearing a ‘Where’s Waldo” shirt, and I don’t think he was being ironic.
I was feeling kind of gross as well because I had been outside for most of the afternoon and it was so friggin hot out, it was not enjoyable to stand around for a few hours on top of that.
Overall, they played the songs I wanted to hear, so they weren’t a disappointment in terms of that, it was just the presentation that I think needs work. The band members didn’t move around the stage at all making it look like they were part of an awkward junior high band performing in a talent show, hehe.
Controller.Controller played before them and I really enjoyed their set, they rocked hard, it was fun.