foofighter
Jedi Council Member
The movie "Lady in the water" by and with M. Night Shyamalan is a truly alchemical piece of art. It is communicated in symbols and with a dual-meaning language, so that an interpretation using a normal dictionary would make no sense of it. Underlying its language is a story about change, promise of hope and the possibility for goodness.
But, as much as I would love to interpret and decode the details of this movie, there is one thing that it refers to that I think is more important. The book by the Writer in the movie is called "Cookbook"; the authors thoughts on leadership and change of the world for the better. It is said that the book will be read by a boy who will grow up to be the leader of the world, hence its importance. I found it very interesting that he chose that title for the book. Recipes, as found in cookbooks, can be used in many ways. They can be used as a ritual to be performed down to the last letter, or they can be used as inspiration, as a score to be interpreted and performed by an accomplished musician. The result, then, is not only dependendant on the recipe - the passive force - but also the cook that uses it - the active force - and finally the quality and quantity of the ingredients use to prepare the meal - the neutralizing force. When writing recipes for a "Cookbook" one must therefore adopt an open mind, and be accepting of any way that the recipe will eventually be used. But, even though the end result is "open", the recipe, just as a score or manuscript, still sets the boundaries of what is to be accomplished, and for that reason care must be used when writing the recipe.
In a sense this is, coincidentally, what we are doing here. By creating a reference for how to understand the nature of evil, by studying how it works and how to deal with it in a creative and positive way, we are in a sense creating a "Cookbook" too. "Cookbooks" are meant to be used by everyone, as everyone has eating in common - as everyone has life in common. A "Cookbook" for understanding and dealing with evil is maybe just what we need.
This is the thought that I had after having seen this movie. Undoubtedly others will see other things, as the character of the movie is inspirational, and the end result is therefore, naturally, "open". It would be very interesting to hear what others thought after having watched it.
But, as much as I would love to interpret and decode the details of this movie, there is one thing that it refers to that I think is more important. The book by the Writer in the movie is called "Cookbook"; the authors thoughts on leadership and change of the world for the better. It is said that the book will be read by a boy who will grow up to be the leader of the world, hence its importance. I found it very interesting that he chose that title for the book. Recipes, as found in cookbooks, can be used in many ways. They can be used as a ritual to be performed down to the last letter, or they can be used as inspiration, as a score to be interpreted and performed by an accomplished musician. The result, then, is not only dependendant on the recipe - the passive force - but also the cook that uses it - the active force - and finally the quality and quantity of the ingredients use to prepare the meal - the neutralizing force. When writing recipes for a "Cookbook" one must therefore adopt an open mind, and be accepting of any way that the recipe will eventually be used. But, even though the end result is "open", the recipe, just as a score or manuscript, still sets the boundaries of what is to be accomplished, and for that reason care must be used when writing the recipe.
In a sense this is, coincidentally, what we are doing here. By creating a reference for how to understand the nature of evil, by studying how it works and how to deal with it in a creative and positive way, we are in a sense creating a "Cookbook" too. "Cookbooks" are meant to be used by everyone, as everyone has eating in common - as everyone has life in common. A "Cookbook" for understanding and dealing with evil is maybe just what we need.
This is the thought that I had after having seen this movie. Undoubtedly others will see other things, as the character of the movie is inspirational, and the end result is therefore, naturally, "open". It would be very interesting to hear what others thought after having watched it.
