27 December 2011

Saint John the Evangelist

 

“The third day of Christmas…”   Today, although dampened by rain and cold weather, was a day of pleasures.  I met an old friend for lunch at the Belgian bakery café, Le pain quotidian.  This restaurant has delicious French- and organic-inspired cuisine, along with a simple but charming ambience.  The ambience is enhanced by the classical music that is always on in the background. 

Another pleasure today was that of seeing Stephen Spielberg’s new movie War Horse.  This is a superb, inspiring film, not to be missed.  Spielberg does not shy away from depicting the absolute horror of World War I, but he also presents ordinary human beings who find themselves involved—willingly or unwillingly—in war.  The story of Joey, the horse, is absolutely engaging—a modern-day Black Beauty.  We follow Joey from his loving upbringing by his  “boy”—young Albert in Devonshire—through his military career, to his rescue on the brink of extinction.  I won’t tell you too much because you really must see this wonderful film.  It’s rated PG-13, probably because of the war scenes, but its realism is truly real, and not something imposed for the sake of sensation.