Where Words Fail, Music Speaks

To begin with - The Hours is one of my all-time favorite films. The last time I watched it, however, was over two years ago, so I thought it was worth a re-watch and it definitely was. The Hours is a movie about a lot of things. It could be about three suicide attempts, two of them being successful. It could be a story about traumatic childhood experiences reemerging in adulthood, or even the importance of mental health in women and minorities. Perhaps it's about three versions of Mrs. Dalloway - the perfect hostess with the perfect life and perfect husband and perfect...everything, except for being alone and locked away from the love she desires. The movie begins with Virginia Woolf, and through her story, we learn of her home life and mental instability. She passionately kisses her sister, Vanessa, who passionately kisses her back. Even though Virginia has so many things going for her - her own room, a loving and successful husband, a wonderful house and a writing room - but ...

When I was four, my grandmother took me to the beach for the first time in my life. There, we searched for diamonds in the waves. I recall that day fondly, remembering my squeal at my initial contact with the ocean. It was so cold, but I quickly adjusted and splashed in the surf to collect my diamonds. I could see them, I really could. The diamonds blanketed the water, making the beautiful blue waters shimmer gold and white in the sunlight. For some reason though, they would slip through my fingers and I was unable to capture them. My grandmother was laughing too, I remember, which was strange and delightful for me. She was such a severe figure, and yet, we were having fun at the beach. Even as a young child, I found that slightly strange. I don't remember what I had for lunch, what I was wearing, or even whether or not the beach was in Taiwan, which was our home country, or in the United States, where I live now. I just remember running through the waves and giggling and ev...