As far as my eyes can see
There are Shadows approaching me
And to those I left behind
I wanted you to Know
You've always shared my deepest thoughts
You follow where I go

And oh when I'm old and wise
Bitter words mean little to me
Autumn Winds will blow right through me
And someday in the mist of time
When they asked me if I knew you
I'd smile and say you were a friend of mine
And the sadness would be Lifted from my eyes
Oh when I'm old and wise

As far as my Eyes can see
There are shadows surrounding me
And to those I leave behind
I want you all to know
You've always Shared my darkest hours
I'll miss you when I go

And oh, when I'm old and wise
Heavy words that tossed and blew me
Like Autumn winds that will blow right through me
And someday in the mist of time
When they ask you if you knew me
Remember that You were a frined of mine
As the final curtain falls before my eyes
Oh when I'm Old and wise

As far as my eyes can see

-Old and Wise (Alan Parsons' project)

Cries and whispers (Viskningar och rop)...

I remember having seen this movie way back in the seventh semester.. i dont think it made such an impact then.. yes, it was a painful movie but then i did not dwell much into the underlying layers...for the next 2 years, i did not associate Viskningar och rop with a typical 'bergmanesque' movie.. smultronstallet and persona came along the way and they made were mammoth movies which hit me real hard.. but today, i just picked up a review of c&w by James Berardinelli.. the review and trust me when i say a one page review alone pummeled me so hard...all those 'insignificant' details bout the movie which i thought had forgotten appeared in front of me in such a vivid manner.. i just cant wait to watch the movie again... damn.. i then realize ive misplaced the dvd... f*** f*** f*** f*** f***!!!!

Anyway.. few awesome things bout the review...

Shakespeare referred to death as "the undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveler returns".

Death is gradual

The process of dying is not only the last stage we go through in this life, but often the most traumatic. For most people, death takes time. To be sure, there are some who expire suddenly and unexpectedly, but, in general, death is gradual. And, during those last days, the dying individual will experience moments of great clarity revealing transcendent beauty, and times of bleakness staring into the black maw of eternity. Ultimately, no matter how many friends and loved ones may be by our side, the last step must be undertaken alone. "To be or not to be?" is only an ephemeral question. The final answer is unalterable.

There is a fine tradition in American cinema that the victims of terminal diseases become increasingly beautiful and serene as the moment of their expiration approaches. Bergman offers no such false comfort here. Those who have seen a loved one die of cancer know that it is a gut-wrenchingly painful experience.

Bergman is quoted as saying, "All my films can be thought of in terms of black and white except for Cries and Whispers. In the screenplay, it says that red represents for me the interior of the soul."

In order to understand why Cries and Whispers is a great film, it must be experienced, not merely watched.

The complete review can be read here and here.

He thought he was God, but for once he felt a human chill run down his spine...

A visual feast.. layers of emotions wrapped one over the other... characters displayed with unreal precision.. the spartan nonchalance vs the persian tyranny.. the spartan helmets, Lyonadis's swagger, Xerxes's eyes, the blood, the persian whores, the war elephants, the love making, the wolf's eyes, the darkness, Ephialtes, the differential lighting, the corpses, the captain's bloodthirst on astinos's death, the creatures, the ephors, the oracle, the persian navy, the sea gulls, the council, the use of time-dilation, the spears, the arrows, the shields... treat to the eye.. not for the faint hearted.. u can never shed a tear on this one....

Prepare for Glory!
HO HO HO!!!

when the ones who matter fail to spot you...
and a deafening silence looms..
when the wind seems to ignore you...
you sit there marooned...

a million thoughts flood the inside...
countering the loneliness around...
painful tears, your sole companions..
consoling you to a realm beyond...

beads of water flow down from the eye...
trudging weary on the barren cheeks...
gently hold a bead on your palms...
it shines like a silvery streak...

wanting an explanation from the almighty..
you look above to the blood red sky...
a shrill voice shatters the silence..
'he who values his tears, is no different than I'

oh wait a minute!