The Beach

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29 JULY 2013-07-29

The Beaches of Agnes (and us)

Agnes Varda, as some of you know, is a talented and influential French filmmaker, a central figure of the New Wave who is still working in her eighties.  She was married from time to time (‘a love story with a hole in it’)to Jacques Demy (Umbrellas of Cherbourg; Les Demoiselles de Rochefort)   The Beaches of Agnes uses the evocative powers of beaches to tell a story of her own life, and Demy’s. (For a review, check out http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/oct/01/beaches-of-agnes-review)

     Agnes used the evocative power of place, and in particular beaches, to tell us something about her own life and internal processes. This summer we (Al and I) have been reflecting on many aspects of our lives and beaches are a good place to do that.   
    For me, there is an additional resonance.  When I was around 5 years old I was diagnosed with TB and that resulted in almost a year confined to home, initially to my bed, running frequent fevers and living in my imagination and dreams.  My parents tried hard to give me the material to keep myself entertained and one of those items was a bridge-like table that straddled my bed and could even be tilted like a desk.  I don’t think my Dad, who commissioned it, could have envisaged just how important that piece of furniture would be – or maybe he did.  It was made in unfinished pine with a very modern hard plastic top.  Most exciting was a ‘secret’ pocket under the top in one corner, next to a leg.  I realise now that it was just an artefact of the design, but then it seemed like a magical thing.  I digress.  The beaches: when I felt better my parents gave me a jigsaw, a beach scene; it took me a long time – days, weeks – time is different for children – and I think that for a few hours a day I lived inside that beach scene with its white sand, blue sea, bright light, bright colours and people frozen in the sun-bleached moment.  It represents the perfect beach day with no sunburn or sand in the pants or sandwiches.

Now the beach represents freedom and pleasure, especially when the water is warm enough for swimming.  Al completely turns into a sea creature and is instantly playful. He likes to swim with goggles and mask, so he can see the occasional bit of marine life – sadly not much of this in an area that must once have been heaving with fish. I love the freedom not to wear clothes, the tactile pleasure of the water and sand, the warmth of the sun on skin, the touch of shade when I most need it, an orange and a drink of tepid water – all good.

Coming next: The Vicissitudes of Navigation

The Beach

-->

29 JULY 2013-07-29

The Beaches of Agnes (and us)

Agnes Varda, as some of you know, is a talented and influential French filmmaker, a central figure of the New Wave who is still working in her eighties.  She was married from time to time (‘a love story with a hole in it’)to Jacques Demy (Umbrellas of Cherbourg; Les Demoiselles de Rochefort)   The Beaches of Agnes uses the evocative powers of beaches to tell a story of her own life, and Demy’s. (For a review, check out http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/oct/01/beaches-of-agnes-review)

     Agnes used the evocative power of place, and in particular beaches, to tell us something about her own life and internal processes. This summer we (Al and I) have been reflecting on many aspects of our lives and beaches are a good place to do that.   
    For me, there is an additional resonance.  When I was around 5 years old I was diagnosed with TB and that resulted in almost a year confined to home, initially to my bed, running frequent fevers and living in my imagination and dreams.  My parents tried hard to give me the material to keep myself entertained and one of those items was a bridge-like table that straddled my bed and could even be tilted like a desk.  I don’t think my Dad, who commissioned it, could have envisaged just how important that piece of furniture would be – or maybe he did.  It was made in unfinished pine with a very modern hard plastic top.  Most exciting was a ‘secret’ pocket under the top in one corner, next to a leg.  I realise now that it was just an artefact of the design, but then it seemed like a magical thing.  I digress.  The beaches: when I felt better my parents gave me a jigsaw, a beach scene; it took me a long time – days, weeks – time is different for children – and I think that for a few hours a day I lived inside that beach scene with its white sand, blue sea, bright light, bright colours and people frozen in the sun-bleached moment.  It represents the perfect beach day with no sunburn or sand in the pants or sandwiches.

Now the beach represents freedom and pleasure, especially when the water is warm enough for swimming.  Al completely turns into a sea creature and is instantly playful. He likes to swim with goggles and mask, so he can see the occasional bit of marine life – sadly not much of this in an area that must once have been heaving with fish. I love the freedom not to wear clothes, the tactile pleasure of the water and sand, the warmth of the sun on skin, the touch of shade when I most need it, an orange and a drink of tepid water – all good.

Coming next: The Vicissitudes of Navigation