Pure Genius
Does everyone else on the planet love watching movies by Pedro Almodovar?
His Latest Masterpiece
When I’m designing a sweater, I take a lot of care to make sure the yarn I’m using is appropriate for the end garment. I pick out what I hope will be the perfect stitch pattern. I plan colors, so that they will interesting, different, and still yet appealing to the eye. I measure carefully, so fitting will be flattering for the eventual wearer of the sweater. And even after all that care, I still sometimes end up with something that just doesn’t work.
That never seems to happen with Almodovar movies. He puts together odd characters, interesting locales, brilliant dialogue, and actors with the strongest screen presence I’ve ever seen, and every time comes up with a masterpiece of a movie.
Volver is his latest movie. Penolope Cruz (who I don’t usually like very much in English-language movies) was brilliant, as was the young actress that played her daughter. I left the movie yesterday evening feeling amazed that I could enjoy a movie as much as I did this one. I get this feeling everytime I leave an Almodovar movie.
Now, if I could just get my sweaters to come out perfectly every time.
Current Knitting
I did get some work done on the Dark Tweed pullover.
The work seems to grow at an evolutionary pace, but I have completed about 13 inches so far on the front. Thaddeus is liking how it’s turning out so far, so I’m happy to be working on it. I can already tell that the sleeves will be a painful process.
Sweater Mending
I was very busy this weekend. In addition to putting in a lot of work on the Dark Tweed pullover, I also finished knitting the replacement fabric on the sleeve of the brother-out-of-law’s sweater, and then grafted the sleeve-end back onto the sweater.
If you look closely at the work I did, you’ll notice a stripe of brighter blue knitting and also that my Fair Isle work is one row less than the same section on the non-damaged sleeve. Overall, I think the mending is hardly noticeable, and the owner will be very happy to get his hole-less sweater back.
Readers’ Comments/Questions
With regard to parenting, knit-friend Kathy notes, “Well, maybe Joe would make a great parent–if actually liking children weren’t a pretty much expected part of the proposition.”
I’ve always had an enormous respect for parents, and while I’m pretty certain I’d have some decent parenting skills, I’m glad I never had to test that theory. I actually do like some children, and I don’t like others (it’s very similar to my view of adults). I can’t imagine what it must be like for a parent to raise a child he just doesn’t like very much. Now THAT would be a test of parenting skills.
YES!
And talking about movies did you by any chance see the movie: Jesus Camp? I was really shocked when I saw it on DVD a few days ago and am looking for someone with a blog with audience to write about it….
Joe, I bet Almodovar looks at his movies and thinks that parts of them didn’t quite work as he was expecting. And you don’t know how closely the final movie matched his vision for it.
Same with your sweater. You have your internal vision of what it shoudl be like. We, outside your mind, have no idea what that vision really is. We will look at the sweater and see and feel something that’s “just right”.
It’s the difference between the perceptual position of the observer and that of the creator. It’s neither fair nor accurate to compare the 2, IMO, since they’re not using identical criteria on which to base their evaluations.
Oddly, I more often encounter the opposite problem: a parent who adores his or her completely charmless, horribly behaved child.
Dear Joe,
I’m surprised that you did not mention the abundance of lace sweaters in the movie. However, I too were absorbed in the movie and did not notice these details until the second time around. I’m gland you’re an Almodovar fan too.
Imagine what it’s like for a parent to dote on one child and pretty actively dislike the other. As the child my mother disliked (almost as much as she disliked my father) I can tell you it’s no joyful journey for anybody involved. I still think I came out of it a better person than my sister (the doted upon).
I don’t think you have to like children on principle to like your own. Just as you don’t have to like someone just because they are your parents, old, or impoverished, or gay or Jewish or anything else. It just makes life better for all involved if you like the people with whom you spend time.
I don’t really like children in general. And there are days I barely like my own kids.
But Almodovar is terrific all the time.
Almodovar, perfect for January. Or any other time.
Matador was my introduction to Almodovar movies and Women on the Verge… is one of my all-time favorites. Just recently bought the DVD of Cachorro and loved it. Watching it made me realize that bears can raise children too.
Fantastic job on the sweater mending! just fabulous, congratulations!
Your darning is incredible. I haven’t yet seen Volver, but I don’t think I have seen and Almadovar film that I didn’t like.
That was incredible mending job. I am in awe.
I don’t particularly like children as in I don’t seek our their company. That said, I generally get along with them and they ones that know me seek me out. I suspect this has more to do with me being somewhat childlike myself.
I do however like (as well as love) my daughter who never fails to amaze me even at the age of 25. She is far wiser than I ever was (at any age) in most regards and she is living proof that her environment, peers and her own experiences have as much or more to do with her development as my input as a parent.
Would it be too presumptious to ask for a close(r)-up picture of that mend job? It is truly amazing and a quick description of how you actually did it sure would be appreciated.
I read your blogs religiously and you never fail to crack me up. I think I am drawn to the fact that we are such polar opposite knitters. I am a fly by the seat of my pants, lets see what the heck happens kind of girl – and you are methodical, conservative, and meticulous (not even sure how to spell that word it is so foreign to me). But I love your posts.
I just wanted to mention that and to say hello again.
Love the brown sweater… I am waiting with baited breath to see how it comes out!
Holly
You did an amazing job on the sweater!!!
The mended sweater was a success. The area where the color aboration is will make it hardly noticable. Great job.