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Location: Home.
Listening: Comedy Central in the background.

Just watched The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, & Her Lover again and remembered two things:

• This movie is brutal. Seriously. If you have problems with relatively explicit violence, especially against women, or general inhuman behavior, this film is not a good choice.

• Greenaway is one of my favorite directors, largely because he is one of the few people in the "industry" who gets my view of what is truly appropriate for certain situations. I don't take revenge lightly, especially in situations where I've been abused. In my mind, the conclusion of this film is nothing if not perfectly necessary.

I saw this film a year or so before I began a serious relationship with someone who would, in the course of that relationship, emotionally and physically abuse me. Looking back, I can't help but wonder if something in me knew it was coming because it was remembering this film that helped me walk away after this person beat me (I was very lucky in that he didn't hurt me as much as he could have or wanted to, but I do still have arthritis in my left wrist to this day). I never would allow myself to seek the revenge Georgina does, but the film gave me the perspective I needed, in the end, to not look back. Maybe something was preparing me. Maybe it was simply coincidence. I'm not sure, but I'm thankful for it, as odd as that sounds.

So yes. The film is not for everyone, but I recommend it anyway for its sheer beauty, and the fact that it will make you cry by presenting you with one of the darkest views of life I've seen, and the triumph of will over that landscape.

And, in my world, it all comes down to will.

Speaking of will, Peter's nekkid again. I have to go.