Barbara, I was writing to you about the movie "Nine" when the computer killed my ... umm, speech of admiration. Anthony Minghella, who wrote the script, died of a hemorrhage in London on March 18, 2008 at the age of 54. He used the theme of ghostly love in "Truly Madly Deeply" (1990) and his greatest success, "The English Patient" (1996). Director Rob Marshall, too, did an outstanding job.

In "Nine,"  as in "8 1/2," the subject is life, which for an artist is creativity and how that fits in with "real" life.

I had not wanted to see "Nine" because of my great love for Fellini and what he represented -- a giant in the art of movies who has not been surpassed in the evocation/rendering of delicate or emotionally substantial feelings. I believe "Nine" tries and succeeds in many ways. The brashness of some of the entertainment scenes doesn't have the dreaminess that one encounters in "8 1/2" by far, but some other scenes, those related to childhood and young boys, do. The scenes of questioning oneself do also because of the ease with which the camera is used to catch special moods on faces. The fact that musical and dance intervene in the dream parts/or in reality make the movie more "real."

The cast of actors, well chosen, are a delight to follow and to watch. And Rome, if Rome it is, is "Rome," the Essence of Art. So is Cinecitta (the birthplace of movies after the war) and the small, open-top Alfa-Romeo -- except that in Fellini's movies, if I remember correctly, the Alfa-Romeo would be red, if a car there is.

Just to say this was so enjoyable. I hope you can catch it. The dilemma between creativity, the artist's life and life itself is a fascinating one and it is unusual to have it exposed. It is a great pleasure to be able to feel on the same wave length or to get close to the intricacies of the creative process and to get enmeshed with it as a mere spectator!

We went to Antibes to the Picasso Museum. Such a treat! (We didn't have to live with him, though!) As it happened, as we were visiting, some local ladies told us some pretty mean/horrible stories regarding his behavior towards his own children ...

Are you on Picasa for pix? If so, I'll send u Tim's pix.   ● Chantal de Vallée, January 27, 2010