a review of 假面

For the past year or so, and mostly out of nowhere, I've secretly been thinking about how if my wife dies before I do (statistically unlikely), I would pledge a vow of silence for 13 months and one day (semi-arbitrary length of time, but I have my reasons for it). In my mind, I feel like this is completely achievable, but it's also one of those things that who knows if it's even a real thing that I would attempt or stick with (like dieting, or working out). Obviously, Elisabet was going through some shit. I think she felt like there's a part of her that died, or that she lost the spark inside of her that made her who she is, or that the world was too much to bear and all she could do was to be quiet so as to not contribute to it any more than she already had. Or maybe she's a part of Alma that needed to silence all the thoughts and feelings she's had about everything she's ever done and anything she ever might. Or maybe Alma is the part of her that talks and talks because she's keeping quiet and to herself. Or maybe it's about the act of creating, having a space for yourself and space for others to just be as they are and exist as they'd like. Or maybe it's all just an allegory for literally anything else, and you just get out what you put into it. I don't know, I'm just blathering at this point like I know anything at all. I can see why folks compare Altman's 3 Women to this. While I think this is a more visually striking film, I think I hold 3 Women higher in my heart. Like 3 Women, I'm excited to see what my brain thinks about it on a future viewing. And I bet I could make it 13 months and 1 day without speaking if my wife dies before I do.