It was a purchase The Man had made in the UK before making the move to Madrid. He had thought it would be a good way to access programming - especially English language programming - which is limited on the Iberian peninsula. We tried to put the damn thing to use a number of times, but grew frustrated:
(a) it was wirelessly connected to our respective laptops and seemed to take liberities in the synchronisation process, which resulted in the disappearance of pre-owned movies. As if she were a jealous lover casting out the memories of her predecessors.
(b) series to which we bought season passes stopped arriving after only six or seven episodes, leaving us to wonder if there was some kind of strike going on in Hollywood, or could technology actually be going wrong?
Consequently, I wasn't too bothered by the fate of the Apple TV when The Man and I moved flats.
At some point during the past two months something - possibly desperation - happened, and I decided I would give the Apple device another go. Maybe it is the absence of The Man ....
Is the Apple TV masculine or a lesbian? Did she want me all to herself?
... or the fact that I limit the Apple's use to the barest: no attempts at synchronization in my place! Whatever it is, the Apple TV now works the way I would want it to work, and the results are astounding.
- Due Date: a puerile film starring Robert Downey Jr and that bearded guy from The Hangover. The trailer promised low brow laughs to which I could never admit. Here I am proclaiming it on the Internet: the film did not live up to the promise of the trailer.
- The Inbetweeners: an even more puerile film starring no one I had ever heard of. Based on a UK series (I think), this feature length film caused me to cringe and laugh in equal measure, a bit like the UK version of the office. I laughed heartily on a couple of occasions. I cringed often, mainly when the kid with the bowl cut talked.
- Harry Potter - whatever the last one was. An obligatory yawn. Films never equal their paper and ink counterparts especially when they feature young actors of questionable talent. (I have a hard time watching the screen version of Ron W.; the other two have certainly matured, not only as people but also as actors.)
- Prime Suspect Season 1 - Helen Mirren, I love you, even as a single minded cop in whatever decade that is ... The 80s or 90s?
- The Vampire Diaries Season 1 - Guilty pleasure that haunts me.
- The Vampire Diaries Season 2 - Guilty pleasure that haunts me even more.
- The Vampire Diaries Season Pass to Season 3 - Guilty pleasure that haunts me but keeps me hanging ...
... Finally, and what originally turned my mind to this post: Almodóvar's latest, The Skin I Live In.
I originally saw it in the UK on one of my recent business trips. This weekend, The Man had still not seen it; we were surprised to see it on offer by Apple. We ordered it. Although not my favourite of Pedro's films, it is a riveting story, beautifully shot, and with music chosen masterfully to heighten the emotion of each scene.
I thought about writing about this film in a convoluted way.
"What should I write about?" I thought.
"I'd like to write about outside of myself. I'd like to write about life the way I did in London. I'd like to convince Franklin that Spain is worth visiting." That's what I thought.
For as much as I want to share the story of my romance with Madrid, the words still don't come. It is still too early. In my observations I focus on the annoying and inconvenient; on the noise and the mean looks of the old women.
"So," I thought, "you should write about Viridiana."
Viridiana is my favourite restaurant - not just in Madrid, but in the world. It is also a movie by one of Spain's most beloved of artists, Buñuel. The words to describe Viridiana (the restaurant) do not come, but the idea of writing about the restaurant makes me think of the movie, and the movie, which has a disturbing not-rape but hinting-at-rape scene, makes me think of Almodóvar's latest film, which also has a disturbing scene; a rape, I would call it. This makes me think of Spanish cinema and rape.
I wonder if it is a true theme or a coincidence of my experience.
I will write about beautiful food another time.
I stopped watching Almodovar films after "Kika", where rape is portrayed as something trivial and laughable. My loss, not his.
ReplyDeleteI haven't switched the TV on since SO moved out. Blessed relief. Neither have I had internet connection problems since then. Testosterone interferes with wavelengths?
I keep thinking I ought to write something about Spain. I never do - it's a second skin to me now, something I'm unaware of (until I have dealings with beaurocracy, then it all comes flooding back).
We don't have an apple TV. I haven't worked out what it does that an apple computer can't do anyway.
ReplyDeleteMy emergency TV series to watch are Black Books and Green Wing. I have them on iPhone and iPod as instant relief in any situation. Both are totally bonkers but every episode is re-watchable.
But your post above wraps around like a DNA helix. I'll have to stop at the base pair layer.
Thanks for the love, Ellie. You know who makes me want to visit Spain? Mondraussie. Which reminds me that I haven't visited her in a while.
ReplyDeleteBut what you do is different--I don't necessarily want to visit Spain, but I do want to visit you, regardless of locale.
PG ~ Pedro's portrayal of sensitive sexual issues has been questionable. Way back to Tie Me Up / Tie Me Down when Victoria Abril seemed to catch Stockholm Syndrome. Have you seen Viridiana? The scene I reference made me feel very uncomfortable. It seemed a blase approach to something meriting more.
ReplyDeleteRashbre ~ Your 'DNA helix' comment had me scratching my head, but when I reread my post, I knew exactly what you meant!
Franklin ~ Mondraussie does make you want to get out and about in different parts of Spain! Thanks for the compliment. Feeling is mutual.