I was recommended to watch this movie for research for Jack's character. In particular I was told to pay attention to the mask, how the face it has means so many things, you can't tell whether it's happy, sad, good, bad, it is open to interpretation.
The movie in itself could possibly be the best movie I've ever seen. It deals with society and freedom, and from the second it opens to the second it ends every scene is so well thought-out and shot, it is just beauty after beauty. If I hadn't been working my whole life for a career in music, I would love to have worked to be an actor to just play a part in this movie. Natalie Portman is so lucky. She must have loved making this movie.
You MUST watch this movie! Don't want to spoil anything so just check this out: Below is the opening transcript and also a clip from the movie which contains no spoilers so it's safe to watch. It is part of the movie where it doesn't really relate to the story (it does but it doesn't) but for 5minutes or so you get to see a story inside the story. The character 'Valerie' you see isn't a character in the movie. You never see her she's just in this other short story (which is why I said it plays no relevance). The scene just demonstrates how beautifully crafted the entire movie is. PS: Natalie's character is not a lesbian. The movie is not about gays. Sorry to disappoint ;)
Opening transcript:
"Remember, remember / The fifth of November / The gunpowder treason and plot. / I know of no reason / Why the gunpowder treason / Should ever be forgot". But what of the man? I know his name was Guy Fawkes, and I know that, in 1605, he attempted to blow up the houses of Parliament. But who was he really? What was he like? We are told to remember the idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught. He can be killed and forgotten. But four hundred years later an idea can still change the world. I've witnessed firsthand the power of ideas. I've seen people kill in the name of them; and die defending them. But you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it or hold it. Ideas do not bleed, it cannot feel pain, and it does not love. And it is not an idea that I miss, it is a man. A man who made me remember the fifth of November. A man I will never forget.
Transcript from the clip:
I know there's no way I can convince you this is not one of their tricks, but I don't care, I am me. My name is Valerie, I don't think I'll live much longer and I wanted to tell someone about my life. This is the only autobiography that I'll ever write, and God, I'm writing it on toilet paper.
I was born in Nottingham in 1985. I don't remember much of those early years, but I do remember the rain. My grandmother owned a farm in Tuttlebrook, and she used to tell me that God was in the rain. I passed my '11 plus' and went to a girl's grammar; it was at school that I met my first girlfriend, her name was Sara. It was her wrists. They were beautiful. I thought we would love each other forever. I remember our teacher telling us that is was an adolescent phase people outgrew. Sara did, I didn't.
In 2002 I fell in love with a girl named Christina. That year I came out to my parents. I couldn't have done it without Chris holding my hand. My father wouldn't look at me, he told me to go and never come back. My mother said nothing. But I had only told them the truth, was that so selfish? Our integrity sells for so little, but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us, but within that inch, we are free.
I'd always known what I wanted to do with my life, and in 2015 I starred in my first film, "The Salt Flats". It was the most important role of my life, not because of my career, but because that was how I met Ruth. The first time we kissed, I knew I never wanted to kiss any other lips but her's again. We moved to a small flat in London together. She grew Scarlet Carsons for me in our window box, and our place always smelled of roses. Those were there best years of my life. But America's war grew worse, and worse. And eventually came to London. After that there were no roses anymore. Not for anyone.
I remember how the meaning of words began to change. How unfamiliar words like 'collateral' and 'rendition' became frightening. While things like 'North Fire' and 'The Articles of Allegiance' became powerful, I remember how 'different' became 'dangerous'. I still don't understand it, why they hate us so much. They took Ruth while she was out buying food. I've never cried so hard in my life. It wasn't long till they came for me.
It seems strange that my life should end in such a terrible place, but for three years, I had roses, and apologized to no one. I shall die here. Every inch of me shall perish. Every inch, but one.
An Inch, it is small and it is fragile, but it is the only thing the world worth having. We must never lose it or give it away. We must never let them take it from us. I hope that whoever you are, you escape this place. I hope that the world turns and that things get better. But what I hope most of all is that you understand what I mean when I tell you that even though I do not know you, and even though I may never meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you. I love you. With all my heart, I love you.
- Valerie
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