Four Films About Love That End Happily, and How They Relate to Belle and Sebastian, or I Am Bored At Work. A Matter of Life and Death The Pickpocket Trouble in Paradise It Happened One Night ….and they relate to B&S because……if a love film is to end happily, it risks being so intensely predictable that it loses your interest, indeed becomes pointless. That's why so many films with happy endings are ao gruelling. You can see it coming a mile off. The same is true of the films above, and doubtless lots of the other films mentioned on this topic. BUT the mark of a truly great film is that you and I can see and feel the happy ending from the first frame….and not care, because the story is told so beautifully, because it is a delight to watch these characters in an inevitable dance. And the same is true of perfect music, in my book. I know it is going to deliver the goods, pander to my peccadilloes, indulge my weaknesses, and resolve in the manner that I wish it would. B & S are a good story well told. It barely matters that there are no new stories under the sun. Or chords, or tunes, or new ways to do handclaps. The other thing about a great film about love is that even as it moves towards its inevitable end, it dances around many pitfalls, avoiding becoming saccharine or dull by being witty, or clever, or a little mean. Again, like Belle and Sebastian and how they waltz around, tempting tweeness but never quite surrendering. Of course I may be babbling, and the above may be naught but Friday afternoon horseshit. My other justification for continuing this one-way street of a topic, which is really just an excuse for everyone to list their favourite films - and there is nothing wrong with that if you ask me - is that B & S are incredibly cinematic. I'm sure I'm not the first one to point that out. Does anyone fancy a little international cultural multi-coloured swapshop? I'll swap you a video rental idea for one of yours. It's quicker than making a tape and there is no postage. Old coots on the list - anyone around in the late 80's remember "Far Out and Fishy" fanzine? More specifically, whatever happened to Chris Fish of FOAF fame, late of Oxford? Any takers? Thank you for enlivening the stolen moments of the work day. Richard ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------- . This message was brought to you by the Sinister mailing list. . To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". . To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or . "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo@majordomo.net" . List rules, FAQ etc., http://www.majordomo.net/sinister . >>> B&S new LP worldwide release 7th September, tour news etc. at <<< . >>> http://www.majordomo.net/sinister/news.html <<< . Nee, nee mun pish etc. -----------------------------------------------------------------------