Listening To: “A Sorta Fairytale” by Tori Amos

Reading: “Journeys in the Dead Season” by Spencer Jordan

(I’m somewhere in between Part Four - one of the letters by Captain Crowe. The whole thing can be a little “long-winded” at times, but still quite fascinating, especially the various descriptions of fauna and flora - half of which I don’t have the slightest idea what they “look” like in real life - save the descriptions, never having lived in the United Kingdom.The novel alternates the journeys of John Crowe (soldier-slash-author-slash-naturalist-slash-wanderer) across Leicestershire to meet his comrades a few years after WWI (1922) and to research material for his latest book; and the musings of a remand prisoner accused - or at least an accomplice - of kidnapping, raping, and killing a young girl in the present day - now this “present-day-narrator” -who remains unnamed- reminds me greatly of Hannibal Lecter (!) , that is if Dr. Lecter worked in an Aquatic Shop and loved horticulture instead (!)- note that the narration is in first person. Much remains to be discovered though.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this “Jim” is nothing more than the narrator’s alter-ego (that is if I discount the character’s earlier conversation with the prison guard). But lets give the author a chance!

Ugetsu

Did I mention that I spent a week in San Pablo Laguna.I was poking around the “movie collections” pile and I happened upon this “. I have reservations of course, as this was something I have never heard of (O! The Horror! - although I later learned that this is one of the greatest movies ever made - and with reason) I am embarking on a..er..”cinematic” adventure here…so, I placed the DVD on the player…and here we go:

There was the customary opening credits and such, then the subtitle declared: 1953 (!) Venice Film Festival Winner (!)
So the movie was 54 years old (”obscure dialogue/acting” alert flashing). Let’s move on.
(Note: I will not discuss the movie in minute detail, just the scenes which caught my attention)

The opening scene: A “traditional Japanese village” set in the “traditional bygone-era” (around the 16th century). There’s talk of war amongst the villagers. We have the protagonist (Genjuro) and his wife (Miyagi) discussing whether Genjuro should sell the pottery they made in “town” for extra profits. Of course , he goes and sold the whole thing, buys his wife and child (Genichi) all the luxuries affordable (although the wife seems to be troubled by her husband’s “obsession” with even more profit).

“It’s not the (new) Kimono, but your kindness that makes me so happy.”
Genjuro eventually left his family (the foolish man) for town (along with his brother-in-law Tobei, the very definition of a village idiot, who was so eager to become a samurai - at the expense of his wife).
They sell pots and pans and whatnot. There, we get to the meat of the story. Genjuro eventually meet The Lady Wakasa and her “handmaiden”. From the start, there was something very “otherworldly” (meaning: creepy) about them (maybe it’s the way they look, or perhaps I’ve seen too many ghost stories). Anyhow, the two manage to lure the entirely unsuspecting Genjuro into their mountain manor (and the whole time I was urging the main character to say, “No. Thanks. Better go home.” - but of course he does just the opposite).

One minute Genjuro is Lady Wakasa’s guest, the next they are engaged to be married(!) - which came as a shock both to the audience (myself) and the main character, because if I were Genjuro-san, I’d probably say something like, “Can I use your bathroom?”, then run like hell (which he did in the end). Of course, our protagonist would find out that Lady Wakasa - after much cavorting and bathing together - is a “spirit from the dead”.

Meanwhile, Tobei finally realized his dreams of becoming a famous samurai; While visiting a Geisha-den he ran across his wife (which we know he would), they “talked” things out. Tobei swore to bring back his wife’s honor by abandoning all foolishness and getting back to reality.

The saddest part was Genjuro’s “homecoming”. He finds his wife and son waiting for him (and we know this to be all too good to be true), and my hunch was proven right (the wife he talked to was a ghost - she looks a bit like Lady Wakasa due to lighting, but thankfully the son survived).

The main cast is shown at the end, back at the village.

So, the moral lesson is? I’ll leave that to you.