Netflix

The Dig – Day 817

Posted on by Lisa Weikel 2 Comments

The Dig

Karl and I decided to check out Netflix tonight. It’s been a while since we watched a movie (not counting the experience of watching In and Of Itself, which felt much different than simply watching a movie). Popping up immediately was The Dig, a movie based on actual events that played out in the late 1930s.

I was unfamiliar with the archeological trove discovered in 1937 at Sutton Hoo, an estate in Suffolk, England, and I enjoyed imagining the excitement of unearthing such an extraordinary discovery.

The funny thing is, just after we finished watching the movie this evening and, Karl went to bed. I began perusing my email just to get myself in the frame of mind to write my post, when an email from Smithsonian Magazine caught my eye. Didn’t it contain an article on this very subject?! I’d not checked my email in several hours (a discipline I’ve been trying to cultivate), so I hadn’t seen it before watching the movie.

I’m including the link to the article, above, but you might want to watch the movie before reading it.

A Welcome Change

I have to admit, watching The Dig this evening was a welcome reprieve to the mayhem that seems to permeate our culture right now. I’m complicit, for sure. After the 1/6 Insurrection, or right around that time, Karl and I started watching The Sopranos. We’d never watched the series back when it was airing for the first time, in 1999-2006.

While the series was addictive, Karl and I were crystal clear why we’d not watched back when it first aired. There was no way we would’ve wanted our kids to watch that. As it was, we cringed (and I turned my head) at some of the violence. Blecccch.

Then after watching that series, we started watching the series on Hulu (it’s a Showtime series, though) Your Honor, featuring Bryan Cranston as a New Orleans judge who…well, I won’t disclose any of the plot. It’s compelling viewing as well; but damn – it’s violent.

And then there’s the Insurrection itself and the rhetoric we’re being exposed to day in and day out, and which is becoming normalized in our political discourse.

It’s disconcerting.

There’s a Book

After reading the Smithsonian article on the greater details of The Dig, I think I’m going to read the book of the same name*, upon which the movie was based. It sounds like an interesting aspect of the owner of the estate, Edith Pretty, was left out of the movie: her ‘spiritualism.’ Hmm.

Mrs. Pretty’s interest in the afterlife is only alluded to slightly in the movie, in a wonderful scene with her son toward the end of the movie. That scene reminded me of a particular type of journey I’ve taken with shamanic friends in Ireland. I’ll leave it at that. That scene is also connected to the photo, above, I’m using to illustrate this post.

*affiliate link

(T-294)

Distraction – Day 566

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Rainbow glare – Photo: L. Weikel

Distraction

All I have to offer this evening are some photos I took on our walk early tonight. I realize they are but a distraction – but that’s all I can muster.

I tried watching something on Netflix tonight that would take my mind off the searing pain and rage our nation is experiencing. An animated series – Avatar: the Last Airbender. It’s such a great show, promoting and teaching timeless truths about relationships, power, and responsibility, among other things. If you can gloss over a little bit of the hokey banter, especially in the first few episodes, I promise you will find this series leaves you feeling brighter and remembering what’s important in life.

Karl and I are midway through the second season of the aforementioned animated Avatar. (I emphasize animated to distinguish from the live action film of the same name, which I’ve been told doesn’t hold a candle to the series). There are a total of three seasons to the series.

But alas, I returned to watching the reporting on the protests taking place across our nation after Karl went to sleep. I hold space for those friends of mine in cities under siege and hope they don’t get caught in the cross fire.

I only hope this pain will bring about the radical, systemic change that is the only thing that will heal these wounds.

So as I said when I started out this post, I offer you some photos of beauty, taken today.

Golden Deer Against an Angry Sky – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-545)

Witcher Watcher – Day 418

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment

 

Witcher Watcher

If you, like me, arrived in 2020 only to discover you simply cannot tolerate watching or listening to another moment of ‘news,’ I have a great distraction to recommend: The Witcher.

The Witcher is a Netflix ‘original series’ based on a ‘cycle of tales’ by Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapowski.

We watched the first episode a couple of nights ago, then caught episode two a day or so later. I thought I liked it, but I wasn’t completely convinced – until tonight.

Just What I Needed

It’s entirely possible that timing is playing at least a partial role in my enthusiasm for, and inclination to immerse myself in, this series. But more than anything, I think, is the nature of the main character, Geralt. His attitude toward both life in general and the situations he finds himself in is both detached and at the same time exemplifies honor and compassion.

Best of all, I’m pleasantly surprised by the sense of humor occasionally interjected by the characters. It’s an unexpected delight to encounter sarcasm and humor in the midst of all the drama. And yeah, it feels like just what I need.

It’s All Too Much

It’s interesting to observe the relief I feel in immersing myself in an entertaining story. And that’s honestly the most fundamental sense I feel. Relief. And it’s not even relief from the actual reality of what is going on in the larger world, although that is part of it. It’s relief from having to listen to the lies.

We could see this coming a mile away. And yet, here it is. It happened. Apparently with impunity – and quite probably with high fives and puffed chests – as threats, taunts, and tough talk continue issuing forth. Which only leads me to wonder how long it will be before other tactics are used to manifest chaos and distraction.

Stories Are Important

All of which makes me realize with even greater appreciation just how important it is for us to be able to lose ourselves in stories. We can’t hold onto or keep track of the cruelties and the lies being disseminated 24/7. It’s getting to a point where we have to actively pick and choose when to immerse ourselves in the stickiness of the web of deliberate deceit being woven day in and day out.

I know. For many of you, that decision has already been made, and made long ago. I see the wisdom in not paying attention. I guess I’m trying to find the balance – and I have a sick sense in the pit of my stomach that what’s going on now is just a prelude to what we can expect the whole damn year. And that depresses me.

So…long live the stories.

 

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