‘我们所有人都有各自的宿命,你看大自然吧,鸟飞到某地,吞下了种子,又把种子排泄出去,种子就长成了植物--鸟有分工,屎有分工,种子有分工,你也有自己该干的事情。’(There's a design for each and every one of us. You look at nature, bird flies somewhere, picks up a seed, shits the seed out, plant grows. Bird's got a job, shit's got a job, seed's got a job, and you've got a job.)
昨天看了迈克杰克逊的‘THIS IS IT(就是这样) ’,是从他今年伦敦演唱会彩排的几百小时录像中剪辑出来的,基本覆盖了他当年所有的流行曲目。
令人惊叹的是他已经50岁,舞步和唱功依然和当年一样。伴舞、伴唱的,都是通过层层海选出类拔萃的20、30的年轻人,但他的舞步和唱功还是比这些人要出彩得多。他站在舞台上,你就只能看到他,真正的超级巨星。不由感叹上天对他的偏爱,给了他多少能量晶体,才能有这样的巅峰成就。
在录像中,温和的他说得最多的就是‘我爱你们’--难道,他就是传说中的神么?
今天又看了一个‘Across The Universe(穿越苍穹)’,这本电影以The Beatles同名歌曲命名,讲述60年代末一个利物浦(也是Beatles的故乡)的小伙子Jude和一个美国姑娘Lucy的爱情故事。用和Beatles一样的火热时代背景,穿插翻唱了几乎所有Beatles的经典曲目,而且还非常贴合情节,也是很不容易了--全片可以看作一个用歌剧风格来演绎Beatles歌曲的MV合集。
最精彩的是末尾一段,在分手一年多以后,Jude再一次来到美国,站在大楼屋顶上一个人开始清唱‘All You Need Is Love’,Lucy听到歌声却无法上楼,就到了另一个大楼的阳台上,在温暖而纯粹的歌声中,俩人隔空凝望--影片也戛然而止。
There's nothing you can do that can't be done. Nothing you can sing that can't be sung. Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game It's easy. There's nothing you can make that can't be made. No one you can save that can't be saved. Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time - It's easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love, All you need is love, love, love is all you need. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love. All you need is love, all you need is love, All you need is love, love, love is all you need. There's nothing you can know that isn't known. Nothing you can see that isn't shown. Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be. It's easy. All you need is love, all you need is love, All you need is love, love, love is all you need. All you need is love (all together now) All you need is love (everybody) All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
不过,这些都挡不住‘太阳报’的记者奚落首相布朗的热情。 刚刚从议员报销门的泥潭中挣扎出来的布朗,为了平息最近关于阿富汗战争久拖不决,反复增兵引发的声浪,亲自给一个刚刚在阿富汗牺牲的士兵的母亲写了一封慰问信。可惜啊,可惜,布朗首相写得太快,又不像邮件在电脑上可以检查拼写,在一页纸的信中竟然出现了多处拼写错误。这封信被‘太阳报’曝光,在几个整版的报道中,同时曝光的还有布朗和这位Janes女士的电话记录(网站还有电话录音和信件的扫描件)。她不但直接在电话中指出,自己儿子是因为没有直升机快速救援才导致了死亡,在首相为自己辩解说他已经尽力而为的时候,她说:‘我不敢相信我竟然沦落到要和自己国家的首相来辩论的地步了~~’(I can’t believe I’ve been brought down to the level of having an argument with the Prime Minister of my own country.)
星星们燃出捉摸不定的 炙热的 光线 穿透许多岁月 挂在某处的 星星们 近处,月亮冷冷地反思 人类的困境 靠近些,靠近些 当我们围坐着守夜 当我们祈祷着守夜 思想的光 能让我们这些会呼吸的动物 保持温暖
靠近些,靠近些 当我们为节日守夜,知道 那润泽的温暖会安慰我们,知道 即便是盲目地,知道 光明会来到
靠近些,靠近些 当我们挤在一起 度过那最漫长的夜晚,知道 信念不可怀疑,甚至还有爱(也许有人会说,这值得怀疑),也知道 更明亮的光明会来到 伴随我们 在长夜过后 在白天指引我们的旅程
靠近些,靠近些 当我们在守夜时歌唱
Fran Migliaccio: Solstice
Draw near, draw near: Inside the warm house On the cold hill.
As the fire draws sustenance, Spreading an ancient, sure cheer, Draw near, draw near.
Stars burn with heat impalpable, Light filtered through years. Somewhere, the stars. Closer, the moon reflects coldly On our human condition. Draw near, draw near. As we sit our vigil As we speak our vigil We are another sure warmth: Of breathing animals, With minds alight.
Draw near, draw near As we feast our vigil, knowing Comfort of nurtured warmth, knowing Blindly, knowing The light will come.
Draw near, draw near: Through the longest night As we huddle through our vigil, knowing Certainty of faith, even love (no certainty, some might say), Yet knowing: Greater light will come among us: Be with us, and always again, After these nights, Guiding journeys all of our days.
Draw near, draw near As we sing this vigil.
这一本哈罗德(Harold R. Isaacs)的《群氓之族》就是从多种角度探讨群体认同的一本专著,这里所指的群体(group),在书中特指为族群--部落的、种族的、宗教的、民族的团体。从心理学的缘起谈族群如何凝聚,又如何通过‘部落偶像’、身体、命名、语言、宗教来区隔不同族群,族群的历史和冲突,民族主义和多远化在现代社会对族群的影响。这本书初版于1975年,背景正是美国五六十年代种族隔离到平权运动的风起云涌,时隔三十多载,黑人的后代虽然已经当上了总统,但种族冲突带来的恐怖主义在中亚和中东的绵绵不绝、高扬民族主义旗帜的独裁者在远东崛起--群体认同在政治压力下的变迁,这个题目看来会历久弥新。
自杀,生命的终止,既是一个形而上的哲学命题,也是一个形而下的行为问题。既能从理性上分析,又能在道德伦理上评判。所以,莎翁才会指使Hamlet对天发问:To be, or not to be: that is the question.
正方:从道理上讲,生命是权利而非义务,我选择终结自己,是觉得生不如死――念天地之悠悠,独怆然而泪下――与其继续被惨淡的人生折磨,不如一了百了图个清净。
反方:且慢,在这万念俱灰的时刻,你的理性真的还那么‘理性’么?或者说通俗些,你会后悔此时的决定么?没准过几年咸鱼翻身,柳暗花明了呢?
正方:好吧,退一步,我不但现在处境绝望,在有生之年也不可能好转,活下去绝对是折磨自己――是不是就可以去死了呢?
反方:还是且慢,在这之前,你不妨稍微睁开眼睛看看周围,世界上还有三分之二的劳动人民在水深火热中挣扎,不用去统计就能知道,你百分之一百不可能是最惨的那一个。那数以百万计生不如死的人们,个顶个都好好的活着,比他们好得多的你干嘛要想不开呢?
正方:等一下下,我自己的生命是否终结,跟别人的生活是否如意,没有逻辑上的因果吧?不能因为别人在苟活,我就得偷生吧?就比如罗密欧和朱丽叶,仅仅是因为世界上没有了对方的存在就了断了自己,那是因为他和她都觉得,没有对方的世界已经毫无意义。
Walk blindly to the light and reach out for his hand Don't ask any questions and don't try to understand Open up your mind and then open up your heart And you will see that you and me aren't very far apart
'Cause I believe that love is the answer I believe that love will find the way
Violence is spread world wide and there are families on the street And we sell drugs to children now oh why can't we just see That all we do is eliminate our future with the things we do today Money is our incentive now so that makes it okay
But I believe that love is the answer I believe that love will find the way I believe that love is the answer I believe that love will find the way
I've been seeing Lisa now for a little over a year She said she's never been so happy but Lisa lives in fear That one day daddy's gonna find out she's in love With a nigger from the streets Oh how he would lose it then but she's still here with me 'Cause she believes that love will see it through And one day he'll understand And he'll see me as a person not just a black man
'Cause I believe that love is the answer I believe that love will find the way I believe I believe I believe I believe that love is the answer I believe that love will find the way Love will find the way Love will find the way Love will find the way Please love find the way Please love find the way
盲目地走向亮光,试着拉住他的手 不问什么问题,也不去理解什么 解放你的想法,敞开你的心扉 你就一定能看到我们其实近在咫尺
因为我相信 爱就是答案 我相信 爱定能找到出路
暴力在这世界横行 多少家庭流离失所 我们还把毒品卖给孩子 你们就不能睁开眼看看么 我们今天在做的一切就是在毁灭我们的将来 既然金钱就是动力 那么一切都理所当然
可是我相信 爱才是答案 我相信 爱定能找到出路 我相信 爱就是答案 我相信 爱定能找到出路
我跟Lisa好了一年多一点 她说她从未如此快乐可Lisa总在担心 有一天她爸爸会发现她的恋人 是街上晃荡的一个黑鬼 他会有多么失落 可她还是选择了我 因为她相信爱能帮我们渡过难关 总有一天他会理解 把我看成一个人 而不是黑人
在影片中,扮演了上帝角色的是他们的房屋经纪人太太的精神病儿子John。第一次出场,他们宣布要去巴黎,他说:Plenty of people are on to the emptiness, but it takes real guts to see the hopelessness. (人人都在抱怨生活空虚,可要承认生活令人绝望可真得要勇气。)事实上,他们告诉这么多人要去巴黎的计划,也只有这个精神病人是真正站在他们一边的。第二次出场,他们宣布不去巴黎了,他说:Money is a good reason, but it's hardly ever the real reason.(钱是一个好的理由,但它也往往不是一个真正的理由。)然后追问真正的理由,结果Frank恼羞成怒,把他赶了出去,为什么?因为他说出了生活的残酷真相,对,生活的真相往往是残酷的,只不过我们用谎言盖住了它而已。临走时,John指着April的身体说:I am glad about one thing. You know what I am glad about? I am glad not to be that kid.(有一件事情让我高兴,你想知道是哪一件么?我幸好不是那个孩子。) 这句话让April崩溃了,在和Frank歇斯底里的争吵后,第二天一早,她假装若无其事给Frank做了丰盛的早餐,送走了Frank,然后自行堕胎,结果却因为流血过多而死去。
这是一部奇特的爱情电影。电影片长是七十分钟,拍的也是一个在七十分钟时间里发生的故事:他和她见面了,对话;走路,继续对话;喝咖啡,对话;乘观光船,对话;坐车,对话;进了房间,对话。就是说,所有的情节就是他和她在对话,唯一的变化就是不同的场景。在这七十分钟里,他和她连手都没拉过,仅仅是拥抱了十几秒钟,其他时间里都只是说个不停。
就是这么一个听起来不可思议和枯燥无味的电影,却能列入66最喜欢的爱情电影名单。就像那一见钟情的恋人一样,在电影开始数分钟以后,66就被完全击中,心甘情愿地被电影所摆布,一直到片尾字幕的出现,还依然目眩神迷,不知所以。
这部梦幻般的杰作,就是 Before Sunset
要说这个电影之前,得先说1995年另一个影片Before Sunrise , 影片讲述了一个美国青年Jesse和一个法国少女Céline在火车上偶遇后,在维也纳春风共度。一夜良宵后,俩人因为有事而分手,约定六个月后在维也纳再见。而这部Before Sunset,就是2004年拍摄的续集,同一个导演,同样的演员,讲述他和她九年后的重逢。
序幕:
背景音乐是演Céline的Julie Delpy唱的"An Ocean Apart" (注1)
Now, we are together
Sitting outside in the sunshine.
But soon we’ll be apart
And soon it’ll be night at noon.
Now, things are fine
The clouds are far away, up in the sky
But soon, I’ll be on a plane
And soon, you’ll feel the cold rain.
You promised to stay in touch when we part
You promised before I left that you’ll always love me
Time goes by and people cry
And everything goes too fast.
Time goes by and people cry
And everything goes too fast.
现在,我们在一起
坐在外面的阳光下
但很快我们会分离
很快就是午夜来临
现在,似乎样样都齐
云儿在天上飘得又远又高
但很快我就坐上了飞机
很快你就淋在雨里
你答应过分开以后保持联系
你答应过在我离开之前你始终爱我
时光飞逝,泪眼朦胧
所有的一切都飞一样离去
时光飞逝,泪眼朦胧
所有的一切都飞一样离去
在这略带一丝伤感的歌声中,巴黎的城市风光一一呈现,塞纳河畔,咖啡馆,街心花园,纵横的小巷,这里出现的其实是把影片中的场景以倒序的方式排列,最后出现的就是第一个场景--书店。 场景一:书店
这家名为Shakespeare & Co. Bookstore的书店开业于1951年,位于鼎鼎大名的La Rive Gauche(塞纳河左岸),巴黎圣母院对面。据传,主人George Whitman因为读书时研究莎士比亚而积攒了大量他的著作,最后无处可堆,就开了这家以莎士比亚命名的书店。开业后广交各路作家、艺术家、诗人,成为他们作品发布、读者见面的首选地点。按照书店自己的统计,有五万名作家曾在该书店借宿。(借宿过滴就要五万名,卖糕的,法国的作协是不是可以可以参加议会选举啊?)
场景七 Céline家中
拥抱之后,自然更不能转身离去了,Jesse提出要到Céline家里去坐会,听她唱一首她写的歌。他们先走进了一个楼房围绕的大院,里面正在BBQ,很有大家庭的气息,邻居热情的招呼Céline。Céline抱起自己养的猫咪,带着Jesse上楼。
她租的房子是一个flat,厨房和卧室是一大间。色调很舒服,墙上有两处贴满了她自己的照片,其它地方都挂了些画,书架上和地上堆了许多的书、唱片、画册。两扇大落地窗,两个阳台上都有植物,靠着窗有个软软的布沙发,再往里面点就是一个大床。赞一下道具,这个房间虽然摆放的东西看着凌乱,但却又很舒服,和Céline的气质配得妥帖。
这一段双方的对话已经不再是重点,点睛之处就是两首歌。一首是Céline自己作词作曲现场弹唱的
A Waltz
Let me sing you, a waltz.
Out of nowhere, out of my thoughts.
Let me sing you, a waltz.
About this one night stand.
You were for me that night,
Everything I always dreamt of in life.
But now you're gone. You are far gone.
All the way to your island of rain.
It was for you just a one night thing.
But you were much more to me,
Just so you know.
I don't care what they say
I know what you meant for me that day.
I just wanted another try.
I just wanted another night.
Even if it doesn't seem quite right.
You meant for me much more
Than anyone I've met before.
One single night with you, little...Jesse...
Is worth a thousand with any-body.
I have no bitterness, my sweet.
I'll never forget this one night thing.
Even tomorrow in other arms.
My heart will stay yours until I die.
Let me sing you a waltz
Out of nowhere, out of my blues.
Let me sing you a waltz.
About this lovely one night stand.
让我给你唱一首华尔兹
其它什么也不说, 说的就是我想的
让我给你唱一首华尔兹
关于这一晚的缠绵
在那个晚上 你只为我存在
这就是我对生活所有的梦想
可现在你已经离去 离得远远的
回到你自己岛屿的雨季
对你来说这不过是一晚上而已
只是你要知道
那对我却有着莫大的意义
别人怎么说我才不管
我知道那天的你对我意味着什么
我就想能再来一次
我就想再有一个夜晚
哪怕这听起来实在不怎么地
对我来说
你比其它任何人都重要
和你在一起的那一晚 亲爱的Jesse
超过和其它人的千万个
我一点都不痛苦 我的爱人
因为我今宵我永生不会忘记
哪怕我躺在别人怀里
我的心也至死不渝
让我给你唱一首华尔兹
其它什么也不说, 说的就是我的忧郁
让我给你唱一首华尔兹
关于这一晚的缠绵
初遇: 大雨 他16,是患上了猩红热的中学生,坐在她家楼下呕吐 她36,是刚下班的列车售票员,看到他在抽泣 她帮他洗干净脸,送他回家,说 Look after yourself. 此时,雪慢慢飘起,落在她蜷曲的金发上
第一次吵架: 她说 You don’t have the power to upset me You don’t matter enough to upset me 他哭鼻子,说 I can’t live without you, I can’t. Even the thought of it kills me. 再问她 Do you love me? 她点点头
阅读: 她改变了见面后的行动顺序 他先给她读书 再一起做爱 她叫他 kid
一起骑车出门远足: I am not frightened, I am not frightened of anything. The more I suffer, the more I love. Danger will only increase my love… It will sharpen it, forgive its bias. I’ll be the only angel you need. You will leave life even more beautiful than you entered it. Heaven will take you back and look at you and say, Only one thing can make us so complete, and that thing is love.
路过教堂: 一群孩子在唱诗 她泪流满面 孩子们唱的是Giovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina 写的 “Pueri Hebraeorum” 她在水中游泳,他在岸边给她写诗 It’s not ready, I will read it for you.
第二次吵架: 他怪她不顾自己感受,因为今天是他的生日 她在担心升职会暴露她不认识字,所以烦躁 他吻了她,她给他一耳光 她给他认真地擦洗全身 他再吻她,热烈做爱 她说 Now you must go back to your friends. 第二天,她就离开了这份工作 也离开了这个住所 离开了他
8年后再见: 他是法学院来旁听的实习生,她是法庭审判的集中营看守 她因为不愿让别人知道自己是文盲,宁愿担负所有罪责 他不知道怎么办,是该揭示真相,还是尊重她自己的选择
他去监狱见她: 在往会见室走的时候,路过一个院子,漫天大雪,他若有所思,没有进会见室 她一个人在里面等着,一直没人来,她也若有所悟
她开始在监狱服刑: 他给她寄去自己朗读的各种文学作品的磁带 她学会了简单的书写,还给他写信 虽然每封信只有一两句话 虽然他从不回信,只是不停寄磁带 她也还不停地在写
22年后最后一次见面: 她期盼地看着他的眼睛,慢慢伸出苍老的手,仿佛有些羞涩,让他握住 You’ve grown up, kid. 他放开她的手,低头不敢看她,也不回应 只是告诉她,他给她安排了住处,也安排了些事情做 喃喃道来,却始终没有那火热的眼神 她的目光也渐渐暗淡下来,不再注视他的眼睛 手也尴尬地慢慢收回 但她没有绝望,问道 I prefer being read to. That's over now, isn’t it? 他有转头望向别处,不作答复 她问他有没有结婚,他说只是一段时间的短婚 当他问她: Have you spent a lot of time thinking about the past? 她反问: You mean with you? 他连忙否认: No, no, I didn’t mean with me. 她终于彻底绝望了,咬着牙关说道: It doesn’t matter what I feel. It doesn’t matter what I think. The dead are still dead. 这两句双关,不仅仅是在说对死难的犹太人,更是在指责他 最后,他离开时,她说: Take care, kid.
结局: 他亲手给她布置了房间,还挂上了一幅风景画 她却已经在监房里悬梁自尽。 他来到监房,看到墙上贴着的,正是最早他曾经读给她的一本书 她用手抄写了,很稚嫩的字体,贴在了床头
翻译如下:
Look after yourself. (照顾好自己) You don’t have the power to upset me You don’t matter enough to upset me (你没能力让我烦心,我还没那么在乎你) I can’t live without you, I can’t. Even the thought of it kills me. (我没法离开你,没法。光是这种念头就能要了我的命) I am not frightened, I am not frightened of anything. The more I suffer, the more I love. Danger will only increase my love… It will sharpen it, forgive its bias. I’ll be the only angel you need. You will leave life even more beautiful than you entered it. Heaven will take you back and look at you and say, Only one thing can make us so complete, and that thing is love. (我不怕,什么都不怕 承受得越多,我的爱就越多 危险只会增加我的爱情 只会让它更强烈 ,也原谅它的偏见 我会是你唯一的天使 当你离开人世的时候你会比来的时候更美 天堂在召唤你的时候会对你说 只有一样东西让我们变得如此完整 那就是爱情) It’s not ready, I will read it for you. (还没写完,我会读给你听的。) Now you must go back to your friends. (现在你得回到你朋友们中去了) You’ve grown up, kid. (你长大了,孩子) I prefer being read to. That over now, isn’t it? (我还是喜欢别人给我读。 那些都结束了,是么?) Have you spent a lot of time thinking about the past? (你一定花了不少时间去想过去的事情吧?) You mean with you? (你是说我和你在一起的过去么?) No, no, I didn’t mean with me. (不,不是,我说的不是和我的事情) It doesn’t matter what I feel. It doesn’t matter what I think. The dead are still dead. (我怎么感受的不重要,我怎么想的也不重要,死去的还是死了。) Take care, kid. (保重,孩子)
We're not the same, dear, as we used to be The seasons have changed and so have we There was little we could say and even less that we could do To stop the ice from getting thinner under me and you
We buried our love in the wintery grave A lump in the snow was all that remained But we stayed by it's side, as the days turned to weeks And the ice kept getting thinner with every word that we'd speak
When the spring arrived, we were taken by surprise When the flows under our feet bled into the sea And nothing was left for you and me
We're not the same dear and it seems to me There's nowhere we can go with nothing underneath Then it saddens me to say what we both knew was true That the ice was getting thinner under me and you
O Night O leave still To the Earth The enchanting calm Of your mystery The shadow which follows you Is so sweet Is there anything more beautiful Than a dream? Is there any truth Sweeter Than hope?
夜晚 给大地 带来了静谧
你那神秘的 令人陶醉的安宁
伴随着你的暗影 是那么甜美
还有什么 能比梦境更美丽
还有什么 能比希望更甜蜜