Sinister: far out and fishy

[Richard Hutt]

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


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