Day 24 since I was injected with the J&J vaccine

Another French Cinema assignment…

5/2/21. Sunday.

9:00-9:30 – Up and still holding steady at 99 pounds. I start a load of laundry then go downstairs to say good morning to the animal.  The dog is still asleep so I rub her tummy three times, she grabs her toy, and we go outside.  She can’t seem to focus and keeps running around the yard – I really just want her to go potty.  I see some poop on the patio and I clean it up (sigh).  She does her business and we return inside – leftover chicken from L.’s takeout a week ago for her and coffee for me.

9:30-12:00 – Blog posts.

-L. leaves for work.  She is giving a “private” lesson at the art studio today.

12:00-2:00 – I heat up some of my quiche from last night, bring it into my office, and watch the rest of Caché [Hidden] (2005). This film marks the beginning of the “Thriller/Drama” section in my French Cinema class and I really enjoyed it. Here’s a summary:

Georges and Anne are “living the dream” as they enjoy all the trappings of their white-privilege,  ‘bougie’ lifestyle.  They have a condo in the city [recall that in France, it’s the suburbs that represent urban blight, instead of the reverse (cities) in America]; a group of intellects for friends; a kitchen with gourmet ingredients lying around whenever the camera pans the space, etc…  She works for a book publisher and he is the star of a weekly literary television program and it’s a little disgusting watching them inhabit their daily existence when you know these people have never struggled or suffered before in their lives. BTW, they have a 12-year-old son named Pierrot.

But what’s this?  Apparently, a VHS tape has arrived in the mail.  The couple play the video in their VCR and we find that the exterior of their condo is the star of this show.  It appears that a hidden camera is filming their home for about 15 minutes.  In fact, this is the opening of the film as the credits are rolling – a tree-lined street, in an up-scale city, birds chirping, pedestrians walking by.  As the viewer, we don’t know yet that this is the video the couple is actually watching because we think it’s just the scene for the opening credits.  Georges pulls up in his car, gets out, and walks across the street to his condo. Suddenly, the scene rewinds and it is then that we discover we’re watching the video along with the couple – it’s not the opening credits at all. It’s discombobulating because for the rest of the movie it is hard to distinguish if I’m watching the film or a VHS tape…is this happening in real time or was it recorded previously?

The tapes keep coming, the couple become more and more hinked up, they go to the police, the police won’t do anything [what a surprise], etc.  As the film unfolds, a new delivery is added to the mix. Creepy child-like drawings of a rooster and/or child with blood spurting out of its neck begin arriving at the couples’ house, Pierre’s school, Georges’ work, etc. After a few more drawings, Georges thinks he knows who might be behind this. 

It is then we discover that, in 1961, the French National Police murdered a bunch of peaceful Algerian demonstrators by throwing them into the River Seine during the Paris Massacre of 1961. The French Police denied this for the next 40 years (apparently they’re just as dirty as American police]. Anyway, Georges is a child at the time and lives with his wealthy parents in a mansion on a large estate. Three Algerian farmhands [the parents and their child, Majid] also live on the premises. On the day of the Paris Massacre, the parent left to attend the Algerian protest, leaving their child behind. Unfortunately, the parents/farmhands never return, probably because they were murdered by the police, and Majid is now an orphan.

Georges’ parents decide to adopt Majid, but Georges is having none of it, especially since the Algerian boy is sick and keeps coughing up blood, but denying it.  Although Georges tells his parents Majid is coughing up blood, nobody will listen to him, so Georges must come up with an alternative plan to get rid of Majid. Georges lies to Majid and tells him that his (Georges) dad wants Majid to kill a mean rooster who keeps attacking people and other chickens.  Majid complies and in a bloody ‘battle’ between Majid and the rooster, Majid succeeds in chopping the rooster’s head off [I don’t think the French give a shit about cruelty to animals during the making of a film because that rooster scene is ‘legit’, with the rooster running all over the place, headless…it is so disturbing].

Georges’ parents are horrified, deem Majid ‘nuts’, and the adoption is off.  The next day, two employees from the orphanage arrive and force Majid into the car while he screams, “I don’t want to go!”  Whew – Georges no longer has to share a room with some sick Algerian boy and all is right with the world. What a relief.

Except now, some 40 years later, Georges is receiving tapes and rooster drawings in the mail. Georges locates Majid and pays him a visit at a squalid apartment complex – the room is dirty and sparsely decorated.  Apparently, Majid didn’t do as well as Georges in life, probably because he was sent to an orphanage.  Majid says he had nothing to do with the tapes or drawings.  Georges leaves.  More tapes and drawings arrive. Then Pierrot, who has turned into a sullen teenager overnight, disappears. Back to the police.  Won’t do anything. Georges tells them Majid kidnapped Pierrot.  The police arrest both Majid and his son [late teens, early 20s] who appears to live with Majid. More of “I didn’t do it. We didn’t do it.”  The police release the pair and Pierrot appears a couple days later.  Turns out, Pierrot was staying at Francois’ house and didn’t tell his parents, which is out of character for him.  When his Mom presses Pierrot about his behavior, we discover that Pierrot is upset because he thinks his Mom is having an affair with Pierre, one of their bougie friends. She probably is, but who cares?

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Majid calls Georges and invites him back to the squalid apartment because he wants to talk to him about the tapes.  Georges arrives and there is more “didn’t do it – didn’t do it”, until Majid calmly takes out a switchblade and slashes his own throat, right in front of Georges.  He falls to the floor and bleeds out.  This scene is graphic and disturbing and there is blood splatter all over the walls. Georges leaves the apartment, returns home, and finally tells his wife about the ‘dick move’ he made when he and Majid were kids.

The movie ends and we still don’t know who’s responsible for the tapes and the drawings.

Wow.

-I prepare two posts about Caché for the Discussion Board, per the assignment, then check email at both Colleges. I post next week’s module for College No. 2.

2:00-3:00 – Where has the time gone?  I water all of my plants.

3:00-4:00 – I do a Kathy Smith ab workout, followed by a 30-minute Insanity – Cardio Recovery.

4:00 – 4:30 - I hang up my laundry and put a few pieces of clothing in the drier. I load my pillow and bolster pillow in the car, then pack an overnight bag.  I have some extra elbow macaroni and peas leftover from the hamburger helper I made the other day, so I warm it up and eat the rest of that. A lot of carbs today.  Uh-oh.

4:30-5:00 – I read a Money Diary.

5:00-6:00 – Shower. Spa Day. Lotion. Light make-up.

6:00-6:30 – L. is home and there is drama with her friend, J., who is currently attending a Colombian-college extension campus in France. Apparently, she was almost arrested by the French police after coming home from a college party at 8:00 p.m.

7:00-7:30 – Drive to B.’s house.

7:30-9:00 – Cocktail hour.

9:00 – 11:30 – Dinner is from California Fish Grill.  I have the mahi-mahi, with rice and pinto beans.  It is really, really good!  B. has something???

11:30-12:30 – I read Devotion, while B. reads a Michael Connelly book.

12:30-1:30 – Night time routine. Bed.