#absolute masterclass of a performance

[annabolinas]

Anne Boleyn Week 2024

Day 5: Most Underrated Fictional Portrayal: Dorothy Tutin in The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970)

"You mock me! To other women, to men in my court. You keep people about you who hate me. The things you dare say! 'This child was sired by another man.' You're not fit to be father to my son!" - Anne to Henry

"And I am innocent. That is sure. And I am a victim. That, too, is sure. This whole mockery is unworthy of you, Uncle. It is unworthy of you as representative of my gentle husband. This trial is no trial, but a signature on a document. The poorest subject is given justice that I am denied. I am the Queen and entitled to better than you have given me. Accusations, papers, lies, are easy means of denying the truth to a court of men. But the truth shall be known in that court which shall judge us all in time. I am sorry for you, Cromwell, for in condemning me, you condemn yourself elsewhere. Give your verdict, gentlemen, but remember, I am your Queen." - Anne at her trial

Anne: "The king wants a divorce?"

Cranmer: "Aye, he does."

Anne: "I cannot."

Cranmer: "Yet you were found guilty of those charges."

Anne: "Which he knows to be untrue."

Cranmer: "Your peers judged you."

Anne: "My equals did not." - Anne to Cranmer in the Tower

[philiponmycracker]

The incredibly talented and gorgeous Tom Hulce as Ivan Sanchin, from The Inner Circle (dir. Andrei Konchalovsky, 1991)

[rexcaliburechoes]

i wanna be so good at motifing as lin manuel miranda's hamilton

[dreamersparacosm]

i want jealous jungkook too...but do you know who i want him to be jealous of? BAM. I WANT OC AND BAM I WANT THEM

tpod!jungkook would absolutely be jealous of a dog. like he already fought to have you, now he has to fight with his own dog?? what kind of world is this?

the price of desire — epilogue blurb 1!

prompt ; in which jungkook’s biggest competition isn’t a man, but his own doberman.

warnings ; none!

Here’s the thing about Jeon Jungkook: when you’re in Korea, he simply forgets how to function like a normal human being.

Sure, he could go to rehearsals. He could hang out with the boys, lift heavy things at the gym, play with Bam at the dog park until one of them drops dead from exhaustion. He could — and does — have a life outside of you.

But unfortunately, that’s impossible to uphold currently. Because Jungkook, in all his stubbornness, has decided that when you are in Korea, you are his life.

So he waits, with the particular blend of patience and agitation that only the hopelessly devoted can manage.

He waits while you sit through endless meetings in the Seoul office where he assumes you're probably reshaping the course of fashion history. Meanwhile, he — professional idol, household name, literal global phenomenon — spends his entire afternoon fluttering around the house like an overgrown golden retriever preparing for your arrival back.

When you finally do appear, hours later than you promised (”just a quick check-in meeting,” you said, like a liar), he’s orchestrated the perfect welcome. There’s even some of your candles lit that you got from the market the other afternoon.

He made sure to put on that stupid grey hoodie you once said you liked, the one that makes him look especially ‘boyfriend-coded’ which is insane because he is your boyfriend, but whatever, he’s trying to a better man for you.

There he stands in the entryway as your keys jiggle in the lock, heart metaphorically cupped in his hands like an anxious teenager, waiting for the moment your eyes find him after a day at work.

The door swings open with comedic timing.

You enter, still clad in your professional clothes, designer bag hanging from your shoulder. Your gaze performs a quick sweep of the space, a radar searching for something that’s not him.

Somehow, impossibly, you miss the tall international superstar practically vibrating with anticipation directly in your line of sight.

It’s too late; your attention has already locked, with laser-guided precision, onto what is apparently the actual love of your life.

"Bam!" You gasp, the name ripping from your throat with the same intensity usually reserved for reunion scenes in war movies. His dog doesn’t fight it, just wags his tail and pants excitedly when he realizes you’re home.

Just like that, Jungkook experiences the unique displeasure of watching himself become irrelevant.

He stands, a bewildered expression on his face, as you drop your bag, drop your coat, drop your body at Bam’s unsuspecting feet. Within seconds, you've transformed from fashion industry powerhouse to someone talkimg in a baby voice to a dog on his entryway floor. “Oh my god, Look at you, you handsome boy! Did you miss me? I missed you so much, mwah!”

You're now kissing the dog. Not polite little pecks, but full-on, emotionally-invested mouth kisses, as if you've spent your entire day in meetings plotting how to most effectively transfer your affection to this four-legged creature while breaking his owner's heart.

Jungkook watches this betrayal unfold, holding a spatula, like he’s someone who's just realized he's accidentally enrolled in the world's most elaborate third-wheel masterclass.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

He clears his throat once.

Nothing.

He shifts his weight to his other foot.

Still… nothing. No passing glance.

Sprawled on his floor in complete surrender, you’re essentially involved in an impromptu romance with his pet. Jungkook — who has spent the last three hours committing culinary crimes against rice and desperately channeling his mother's cooking spirit — stands frozen.

It’s fine. Completely fine. Absolutely, one hundred percent acceptable.

Except for the tiny detail that he’s mentally drafting adoption papers for Bam.

He clears his throat again, louder this time and pointedly.

Finally, as if emerging from a trance, you glance up. “Hi, baby," You chirp, lips puckering in his direction, clearly expecting him to bridge the gap.

As if he's some lovesick sitcom husband whose entire world revolves around whatever affection you decide to toss his way. (Which…alright. Maybe he is. But acknowledging that would undermine his current position.)

Jungkook stares back at you, arms crossed, mouth pressed into a flat line.

Your eyebrows furrow, lips still suspended mid-pucker. When his statue holds firm, you slowly lower your mouth into a frown.

"...Hello?" You venture from your position on the floor, blinking up at him.

"Hi," He returns.

You narrow your eyes into little slits, hands still rubbing Bam’s head. "Come here."

"No."

"Why?"

"You kissed the dog," He announces petulantly.

You blink again. And then, because you are exactly the kind of woman who built a million-dollar career off smelling blood in the water, you grin.

“Oh my god,” you say, already laughing. “Are you—?”

You dramatically disengage from Bam, remaining on your knees but pressing both hands to your chest in a theatrical gesture. “Are you jealous? Of Bam?"

Jungkook's jaw flexes. He glares at some fascinating invisible point approximately six inches to the left of your head.

“I'm not jealous," He mutters, hands clasped behind his back as he avoids your gaze. (Which is exactly what someone jealous would say.)

"You're jealous of your own dog," You whisper, tone faux sympathy.

You shift your weight back, settling onto your heels, craning your neck to study him like he's a fascinating psychological case study.

Bam, however, is blissfully unaware of his central role in this drama. He wags his tail so hard that his whole butt is moving side to side like a windshield wiper.

"I leave for a couple of hours," you observe with fascination, "and you've already picked a fight with a literal puppy."

"He's not even a puppy anymore," Jungkook snaps back instantly, as if the classification of his ‘competitor’ is somehow the most pressing issue in this standoff.

You gasp, one hand flying to clutch at imaginary pearls. “Oh my god. You're calling him old? You're losing it, Jeon."

"I'm not losing it," He grumbles defensively.

The evidence suggests otherwise.

You rise to your feet slowly and saunter over to him. He stands there, arms still crossed, watching you approach with a suspicious squint.

You stop inches in front of him. Looking up through your lashes with innocence that wouldn't fool a toddler (but still somehow works on global superstars), you deploy your sweetest, most saccharine tone: "Baby," you murmur, "Love of my life."

Your hands slide up his chest, fingers toying with the neckline of his hoodie. The very one he selected for your approval, now weaponized against him.

"Don't tell me you're scared," you whisper with mock concern, eyes wide. "That Bam's gonna steal me away?"

His response surpasses non-verbal communication: silence paired with a scowl.

You grin evilly, and you lean forward until your lips brush against the shell of his ear. “He does have better hair than you," you tease.

Jungkook jerks back like he’s been electrocuted, mouth falling open in outrage.

"I knew it," he declares. "I knew you liked him better!"

Your laughter echoes throughout the whole room. His expression remains fixed in accusation, still treating your interaction with Bam — who has now abandoned you two to roll on his back in blissful oblivion — as a mortal enemy who must be defeated.

You wipe under your eyes dramatically, pulling yourself together with exaggerated effort before tilting your head.

"It's okay, baby," you console with insincerity. "Some men just can't handle the competition."

The scowl on his face deepens.

You nod solemnly, caressing his bicep. "Maybe you should work on your wagging. And your fur. I mean, Bam's coat? Impeccable."

Jungkook's mouth drops open again in shock.

You heave a long-suffering sigh, the sound of someone burdened with the great responsibility of being with a ridiculous man.

“God,” you roll your eyes, stepping into his space and grabbing a fistful of the front of his hoodie. “You’re so dramatic.”

And before he can launch into another argument, you yank him down and press your lips to his. Firm, no-nonsense, entirely fed up, but still soft because, unfortunately, you’re obsessed with him. (But he’s obsessed with you right back.)

He smiles against your lips, the ones that taste like some coconut lip balm you always wear.

Of course, though, he can’t leave it alone. Has to get the last word in, even when his hands are sliding up your sides and his chest is rumbling with happiness.

“You taste like dog,” He mumbles into your mouth and when you pull back to glare at him, he grins wider, looking downright pleased with himself.

masterlist + request

[hunzzzzz]

OBX TWEETS: part 17 (Rafe Cameron x reader x John B SMAU)

A/N: some writing at the end. don't miss it!

TW: daddy issues

To say you'd been "checked out" for the past week was an understatement. Your daddy issues had always been the punchline of a self-deprecating joke, the kind that gets a nervous chuckle and a quick subject change. But deep down, you knew that particular brand of emotional baggage wasn't just a problem; it was the fertile ground from which all your other charming neuroses bloomed.

Your parents' relationship wasn't exactly a gentle stream flowing through a meadow. More like a constant, head-on collision between two very stubborn, very loud freight trains (unless you count your eventual trust issues as a logical outcome of witnessing the wreckage).

You were the resident eavesdropper, a tiny, silent gargoyle perched atop the stairs, knees tucked so tightly to your chest you could practically feel your kneecaps fusing. The yelling was the soundtrack to your childhood, a discordant symphony of slammed doors and raised voices.

Then, one day, the music stopped. Not a fade-out, more like a sudden, jarring silence. And just like that, the man who was supposed to be your superhero vanished into thin air. Your mom, bless her tight-lipped heart, offered no grand explanations, no dramatic pronouncements. Just a simple, devastating "Daddy's not coming back." At eight years old, that sentence was a linguistic black hole, sucking up all understanding and leaving behind a void.

Fast forward eleven years, past a graveyard of missed birthdays, silent Christmases, and Thanksgivings where his absence was a louder guest than anyone present. He didn't show up for your high school graduation, a milestone that apparently ranked at the bottom on his list of priorities.

And it was in those years, navigating the minefield of adolescence and burgeoning adulthood, that you truly began to catalogue the sheer, unadulterated damage his disappearing act had inflicted.

Your teenage years were a masterclass in misguided control. Since you couldn't control whether a parent stuck around, you decided to control the one thing you absolutely could: your own body. Turns out, an eating disorder is a fantastic (and by fantastic, I mean soul-crushingly awful) way to feel like you're in charge when your world has gone completely sideways.

And relationships?  You were the queen of the emotional hit-and-run. Anything past the one-month mark felt less like a budding romance and more like an impending disaster.

The script was always the same: they'd either get fed up with your expertly crafted emotional unavailability (a skill honed over years of practice, thank you very much) or you'd execute a swift, silent ghosting – your signature move. It wasn't conscious, not really. More like a highly effective, deeply inconvenient trauma response.

After the original heartbreak, delivered by the man who was supposed to be your ultimate protector, you never quite rebuilt the part of you that knew how to stay. So, you perfected the art of abandoning ship, because being the one who left felt a hell of a lot better than being left again.

Letting anyone new into the inner sanctum of your messy, complicated self was like asking you to perform open-heart surgery with a rusty spoon. Terrifying didn't even begin to cover it.

The thought of someone seeing the darkest corners of your mind, the echoes of that original wound, and then choosing to walk away? Your nervous system literally couldn't tell the difference between vulnerability and getting shot at point blank.

You decided to walk back to John B’s from work. The chateau wasn’t exactly down the road. Given your recent car troubles you usually got Rafe or John B to pick and drop you from work. But these days you enjoyed walking.

Headphones on, world off. Your standard defense mechanism was in full effect, drowning out everything but the carefully curated soundtrack to your current state of advanced avoidance. You were so deep in the rabbit hole of your own making you almost clotheslined Rafe, who was leaning against his truck like he owned the street.

"You're avoiding me," he said, no preamble, just the accusation hanging in the air as he stepped closer.

You mumbled a "Sorry," yanking off your headphones like they were suddenly too loud, your gaze fixed firmly on the ground. "Just been busy." The lamest excuse in the book, but it was all you had.

Your previous setup with Rafe had been demolished. You'd practically lived at his place, especially after the fallout with your mom when you got back from rehab making home feel less like a sanctuary and more like a battlefield. Rafe's bed was a five-star resort compared to your aunt's lumpy sofa.

Then came the fight. Just a few lines, a shift in his usual easygoing dynamic, but it had felt like a physical blow. All that tough-girl bitch fasacde? A paper-thin shield. You were raw and exposed underneath.

The sudden anger in his words, the sheer force of his frustration – it had tripped a wire deep inside you. Your built-in eject button was slammed. He's pissed. He's going to bail.

You had convinced yourself you were unlovable, too damaged to make a relationship work. The thought wasn't logical, but it was loud, a siren screaming through your brain. The only way to control the inevitable was to trigger it yourself. Pull the pin. Run.

So you'd been bunking at John B's, ignoring Rafe's attempts to reach you for the past seven days. Your friends weren't stupid; they knew the whole "my deadbeat dad is back" drama was only part of the story. They just waited, blessedly, letting you self-destruct in peace.

“You know,” Rafe started, his voice rough, etched with hurt, "I was hoping your phone spontaneously combusted. I was seriously considering 'missing persons report.' Figured it was more likely than you just not answering my calls for a week." He rubbed his temples, the gesture speaking volumes about his stress.

You stared resolutely at the ground, the worn-out treads of your sneakers suddenly fascinating. Any attempt to speak would shatter the fragile composure you were desperately clinging to.

"Can't even look at me?" A heavy, frustrated sigh. Then, gently, his fingers were under your chin, lifting your head until your watery gaze was trapped by his. "Baby, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I blew up at you."

"It's okay," the words were thin and unconvincing, accompanied by a weak, wobbly smile.

"No, it's not okay." He shook his head slowly, his eyes scanning your face, cataloging the damage the past week had wrought. The dark smudges beneath your eyes, skin unnaturally pale despite the relentless summer sun. It was a clear report card of sleepless nights and relentless anxiety.

"Are you mad at me?" He asked, his voice softer now, taking your hands in his. You managed a small shake of your head.

"Are you upset with me, then?" His eyes searched yours, a silent question begging for an answer you couldn't give. "What is it, then? Just tell me. What did I do?" His voice climbed, a note of desperation making it sharp.

The sound transported you, stripping away the years until you were that small, scared child huddled at the top of the stairs, the sound of yelling echoing around you.

Tears welled instantly, spilling over and tracking down your cheeks. You recoiled, stepping away, instinctively wrapping your arms around yourself, shrinking inward.

"Hey, hey," Rafe was there in an instant, circling you, his arms gentle as he pulled you into a hug. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell."

You collapsed against him, deep, racking sobs tore through you, shaking your entire frame. Your face pressed into his chest, soaking the front of his shirt. He held you close, rocking you side to side in his arms.

"It's okay," he said quietly, his voice low and comforting, guiding you towards the open door of his truck. "We don't have to figure it all out right now." He helped you in. "Let's just go home, yeah?"

You knew exactly where home was.

.・。.・���✭・. .・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・.

"I missed you so fucking much," Rafe groaned, pulling you into him, tangling you both in the sheets.

"I'm sorry," you mumbled into his chest, the apology a small, inadequate offering for the week of silence. "I... I don't know why I'm like this." 

It was a lie, a reflex born of habit, because you knew exactly the root of this twisted behavior.

"It's okay," he murmured, his hand stroking your hair.

"No," you pushed yourself up, crossing your legs on the bed. "It's really not."

He sat up with you, leaning against the headboard, his expression open, waiting. He didn't demand answers, just reached out, his fingers finding yours, lacing them together, his thumb stroking the back of your hand.

The words felt like shards of glass in your throat. "I'm a leaver," you choked out, the confession a raw wound.  "That's what I do. When things get... real, or tough, I run. It feels like it's just... in my programming. Part of the factory settings." 

You finally looked away, shame heating your cheeks. "So when we argued... it felt like the beginning of the end. And I just thought it would be easier to... handle the exit myself."

"Baby," Rafe's grip tightened slightly on your hand, his voice soft but firm. "That was a stupid argument. My fault. It wasn't the end of anything."

"You don't want this, Rafe," you insisted, shaking your head, a dry, humorless laugh escaping you. "Trust me. Because this is what you get. Someone who disappears, who shuts down, who builds walls the second things get hard. No one in their right mind would sign up for that."

"Well, maybe I'm not in my right mind then," a faint smile touched his lips, but his eyes were serious. "Listen to me. I see the walls. I see you pushing. And yeah, it hurts like hell. But I also see you. The person underneath all that. The person who's been through some serious shit and is still standing. Still sarcastic. Still amazing."

He squeezed your hand again. "And I don't care if you push. I'm starting to understand how your defense mechanisms work. I just... I want to be here for you. If you'll let me."

Your throat felt tight, your eyes blurring again. "I don't know how," you whispered, the admission a painful one. "I don't know how to... let anyone help me."

A flicker of hurt crossed his face. "Like you do with your friends?" The question hung in the air, unspoken acknowledgment that he meant John B.

"It's just... easier with him."

"How?" His voice was gentle, curious, not accusatory. He genuinely wanted to bridge the gap.

"He knows," you explained, the words finally flowing, carrying the weight of years. "He was there. When my dad left. He knows the before and the after. He knows all the messy parts. I don't have to explain. He just... gets it. Automatically."

Rafe nodded slowly, a dawning comprehension softening his expression. "So... that's what this week was about? Your dad?"

You nodded, a hesitant dip of your head. Swallowing hard, your stomach twisting with nerves, you made the decision. A leap of faith. He'd stayed through your silence. He was still here, holding your hand. You wanted this to work. You wanted him to last. 

And then you started talking. The words tumbled out – the sudden reappearance, the complicated, painful history, the gaping wound of the "daddy issues." You laid it all out, the ugly parts, the fear, the feeling of being fundamentally flawed. And as you spoke, pouring out years of buried pain, the weight on your chest began to lift, just a fraction.

"Baby," Rafe murmured when you finished, pulling you into a fierce hug, one hand coming up to cradle the back of your head, the other stroking a soothing path down your spine. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. Trust me, I know a thing or two about shitty dads."

"I'm sorry I don't... open up," you mumbled into his shirt, the apology feeling small but necessary. "It's just... hard. Because if I let myself feel things, if I let someone see... all of it..." You pulled away from him, meeting his eyes. "...I'm terrified they'll leave. That you'll leave." The confession was a quiet ache in the air. "It's easier to be the one who walks away than to stand there and watch someone else do it. It hurts less to expect it than to be blindsided."

"Listen to me," he said, his voice low and earnest. "I know that's your default setting. I know you've been hurt. But I'm not him." He paused, letting the unspoken name hang in the air, acknowledging the shadow of your father. "I'm not going anywhere just because things get a little messy, or because you're having a tough time, or because you show me the parts you try to hide."

"I'm here. And I'm staying. You pushing me away for a week? It didn't make me want to leave. It made me worry. It made me want to figure out what was going on. It made me realize... how much you mean to me." He reached out, gently cupping your face in his hands.

"I'm not going to leave you, baby. Not for this. Not for anything." His voice was a solemn promise, etched with sincerity. "You don't have to be afraid of falling apart in front of me. I'm not going to leave no matter how much you run, I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth.”

"When you're shutting down, tell me. Just a word. 'I need space.' 'I'm freaking out.' Something. So I'm not left guessing. Communicate what's going on. Okay? Can you do that?" He continued.

"I can do that. I'm gonna work on it,” you promised him, and you meant it.

.・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・.

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[fellshish]

ok my random thoughts after the final performance of macbeth

- this play managed to hold onto its magic in its move from the donmar to serial celebrity cash cow milkers the harold pinter

- the loss of blood at the end was felt in every performance. blood covered david tennant characters are a gift to the world

- the porter proved that the same joke can make you laugh every time

- the line “oh full of scorpions is my mind dear wife” was meant to be whispered straight into your ear

- noof ousellam has delivered his lines as macduff receives the news of his family’s murder differently in each performance, but each time just as devastatingly. and watching the tears roll down his face up close…. just: fuck. live fucking theatre!!!!!

- david tennant is one of the best actors of this time and it’s a privilege to have him as a translator of shakespeare to modern ears

- cush jumbo’s carefully timed eye contact with tennant’s macbeth when her lady macbeth feigns tears for the murdered duncan? acting masterclass

- moyo akande’s presence on stage leaves one in absolute awe

- bisexuals do not survive watching this play

- make great theatre affordable for the masses again you bastards

- macbeth fans are creative, talented, kind, loving and above all generous

- this play is going to be missed but i’m glad it existed

[witchofthemidlands]

this isn't a criticism at all because they're all ultimately derived of the same source materials, this is something i want to say in the hopes i can nudge someone towards a special interest of mine that invaded my brain & will never leave.

if you liked nosferatu (2024) wow, do i have the show for you! with the same content warnings as you'd receive for nosferatu may i offer upon you all: penny dreadful (2014-2016)

filled with some of the best ever adaptations of the characters from dracula, frankenstein, jekyll & hyde, the wolf man & the picture of dorian grey is (in my personal opinion) the most phenomenal gothic series i have ever seen in all my years of being a gothic literature fan, i have a degree in literature, a segment of it being in gothic literature, i have read these stories over & over again, dracula is my second favourite novel of all time, frankenstein is also in my top teen novels of all time & i love jekyll & hyde & i don’t think i have ever seen a loosely based adaptation get these characters so well. do you vibe with nosferatu's ellen hutter? let me tell you about the beautiful, the love of my life, vanessa ives! played by the ethereal eva green! vanessa is tragic, beautiful & literally possessed by a demon. she is brave & brilliant, not to be a lesbian but oh my god, i rarely cry at pieces of media but i have shed so many tears over her & been in awe of her existence, she is derivative of both lucy westenra & mina harker, the calibre of acting from eva green is like nothing i have ever seen, her possession moments is just a masterclass in acting & the pain & desperation… oh vanessa will ruin your life. harry treadaway must have been touched by some acting deity & i cannot believe he isn't a massive name in television & film because he is the best version of victor frankenstein i have ever seen in any adaptation of frankenstein & this isn't even about just the frankenstein story. harrytreadaway!victor is an absolute cringefail pathetic wet cat of a man (affectionate) who sits there looking like he's on ten different substances whilst sometimes going off on side quests with his best friend vanessa & often judges the rest of the squad nobody is matching his freak. he is THE version of victor frankenstein of all time. if there is anything else that man has done that anyone recommends send it my way because that is an actor. rory kinnear gives the emotionl performance of a lifetime as frankenstein's creature & explores so many aspects of that character in ways i have never seen before in all my years of watching adaptations of frankenstein. josh hartnett as ethan chandler… that man's story is a RIDE, he is a disaster & a gentleman. he is also openly bisexual & for no reasons why & in no way beneficial to the plot, has sexual relations with dorian gray & speaking of dorian gray. i have never liked that book, that story has never been for me but that beautiful singer reeve carney made me see so many different aspects of a character i have never liked & is just brilliant because his character is just there to have sexual relations & not really benefit the overall plot that much at all. there are new iterations of mina murray, her father malcolm murray, a grumpy old man played the same bloke who portrayed niles caulder from doom patrol & basically plays the same character, van helsing, a charmingly sinister iteration of dracula & an otherworldly brilliantly acted version of dr. henry jekyll who seems like he had a situationship with frankenstein.

ultimately vanessa, sembene, malcolm murray, ethan & frankenstein are forced found family, they are strays, they are disasters, they are frenemies, they're forced found family bound together, in the most dysfunctional manner, the only one with a braincell is sembene who's too good for their shit & of course my love, the brilliant & the gorgeous billie piper plays a phenomenal iteration of the bride of frankenstein in the most raw performance i have seen from her. i am absolutely in love with her, she is so beautiful & so talented & did something to my brain chemistry. there is heartbreak, humour, adventure, the gothic, the weird & the tragic. this series is something else & that's not even the half of it.

also broadway legend patti lupone plays a genderbent dr. seward from dracula & i want her to do unspeakable things to me.

[thisautistic]

i willfully acknowledge that i'm a hater right now and that's probably why im gonna post this (average man with pmdd) but! the amount of love war is getting for his portrayal of joke is LOVELY, okay? I LOVE war don't get me wrong that man is an incredible actor.

but yall know there's a REASON that Yin is his screen partner right? like. yin ABSOLUTELY keeps up with war in EVERY ROLE THEY HAVE.

just because an actor has a more understated performance style doesn't mean they're not as good. he SUPPORTS WAR in his roles. the reason war is SO GOOD is because he has a screen partner who allows him to shine.

also the DIFFERENCE between ep 1 and ep 2 jack?! like HOLY FUCK do you think that's easy to do??? well it's not. the fact that he has grown the character the way he has is A MASTERCLASS. please yall gotta start putting more respect on my man's name

and don't even get me STARTED on the other actors in the series.

there's talent all around in this show and we need to celebrate ALL OF IT.

[arlucent]

Title:Love, In Theory

(Furina x gn!reader)

Note:the reader is a professional and a famous lawyer in the court of Fontaine. They also bear a vision. All of this happened before the archon quest

`♔･ﾟ✧ °•∘⛲∘•° ✧ﾟ･♔`

The Grand Proposal Problem

The Court of Fontaine had become a revolving door of romantic humiliation.

That morning, a Liyuen shipping magnate had presented Furina with a literal boat carved from solid noctilucous jade ("To sail the seas of love together!"). At noon, a Mondstadt knight attempted to serenade her with a lyre (badly). Now, as the sun dipped below the aquabus lines, a Snezhnayan diplomat was sweating through his fur collar while listing his "extensive holdings" in excruciating detail.

"—and of course, my "maison de campagne russe" has heated floors—"

Furina swirled her goblet of sparkling water, watching the bubbles rise and pop with exaggerated fascination. "How... quaint." She set the cup down with a decisive clink. "But I'm afraid Fontaine's Archon requires a partner who can at least pronounce 'maison' correctly. Next!"

From his vantage point behind a marble column, Neuvillette marked another tally in his ledger. Rejection #23 this month. The pattern never varied:

1. The Old Guard: Aristocrats who thought wealth could substitute for personality

2. The Young Lions: Hotheaded heirs who imagined themselves taming a goddess

3. The Foreign Opportunists: Diplomats treating courtship like a trade negotiation

A Melusine tugged at his sleeve. "Chief Justice? The lawyer has arrived."

Neuvillette's lips thinned. "Send them in."

`♔･ﾟ✧ °•∘⛲∘•° ✧ﾟ･♔`

A Rivalry For the Ages

You remembered the first time you'd faced Furina in court.

It had been a simple property dispute—until she swept in, Hydro constructs swirling around her throne-like witness stand. "The defendant," she'd declared, pointing an accusing glove at your client, "is clearly as guilty as a crab in a pearl shop!"

You'd dismantled her argument in six minutes flat.

The second time, she'd brought charts.

By the fifth trial, the newspapers had coined it: "The Hydro Archon vs. Fontaine's Razor: A Clash of Wit and Will."

Now, standing in Neuvillette's office, you stared at the contract like it might bite you. "Let me summarize," you said slowly. "You want me to pretend to romance the woman who last week threatened to revoke my law license because I 'breathed too loudly' during her soliloquy?"

Neuvillette steepled his fingers. "Precisely because of that history. No one would suspect artifice."

The doors burst open. Furina stood framed in the doorway, her Hydro aura crackling. "Explain immediately why this—" She jabbed a gloved finger at you. "—insufferable gavel-spinner is here!"

You smirked. "Miss me, Your Majesty?"

Her eye twitched.

`♔･ﾟ✧ °•∘⛲∘•° ✧ﾟ･♔`

The Terms of Engagement

The negotiations lasted three excruciating hours.

Furina insisted on clauses like:

- "No unsolicited eye contact"

- "Absolute must to compliment me when we're in public"

- "If we must hold hands, wear gloves. Two pairs."

You countered with:

- "Hazard pay for every suitor-induced migraine"

- "Right to veto any pastel-colored outfits"

- "Final approval on all pet names"

Neuvillette mediated with the patience of a man who regularly sentenced sea monsters to community service.

"You'll attend the Melusine Founders' Gala tomorrow," he declared, stamping the contract. "Sedene will handle your... coordinated arrival."

The mentioned Melusine perked up from her notetaking. "I've already prepared complementary hydromimetic bouquets!"

Furina looked physically pained.

`♔･ﾟ✧ °•∘⛲∘•° ✧ﾟ･♔`

Performative Affection (With Spectators)

The gala was a masterclass in psychological warfare.

You arrived precisely five minutes late—enough to make Furina fume, not enough to be truly rude. Your outfit (deep blues instead of her preferred pastels) clashed deliberately with her frilly gown.

"Darling," you drawled, offering your arm.

"Counselor," she gritted out, gripping your elbow like she wanted to snap the bone.

The Melusines adored it.

"Look how they bicker and banter!" Mamere sighed dreamily. "Just like in my romance novels!"

The night devolved into:

- Furina "accidentally" stepping on your foot during the waltz

- You "forgetting" to fetch her preferred canapés (three shrimp, no dill)

- A Snezhnayan diplomat catching you mid-argument about fontaine law code subsection 47-B and mistaking it for foreplay

Neuvillette observed from the punch bowl, silently calculating how much longer he could allow this charade to continue.

`♔･ﾟ✧ °•∘⛲∘•° ✧ﾟ･♔`

Cracks in the Facade

The cracks appeared like fissures in glacial ice:

1. The Midnight Pastry Heist

You found her in the Palais kitchens at 3 AM, wrist-deep in a mille-feuille. Powdered sugar dusted her nose.

"Section 12 of the Kitchen Code," you intoned. "Unauthorized consumption of—"

A cream-filled pastry hit you square in the chest.

2. The Defense

When Duke Montblanc sneered about your "commoner stench," Furina's Hydro constructs materialized before you could blink.

"Apologize," she sang, twirling her parasol, "or discover how well your toupee floats."

3. The Staring

During trials, you'd catch her watching—not with her usual competitive glare, but with something almost... soft. The moment your eyes met, she'd snap her fan open with a crack.

`♔･ﾟ✧ °•∘⛲∘•° ✧ﾟ･♔`

The Duel

Marquis Beaumont was all smarm and no substance when he slapped you with his glove. "A real partner would defend Her Majesty's honor!",he says as if he wasn't the one who just insulted her.

You rolled up your sleeves. "Five minutes. I have a meeting with the Melusine Bar Association."

The fight was brutal:

- His Electro-infused rapier versus your (vision element)-enhanced parries

- The moment he dared aim a stray bolt at Furina's skirts

- Your Vision flaring not to strike, but to shield—erupting a geyser that drenched the entire courtyard

The crowd lost their minds. Furina's hands flew to her mouth.

Later, in a secluded alcove, she grabbed your wrist. "That was... adequate."

You flexed your tingling fingers. "Don't get used to it."

`♔･ﾟ✧ °•∘⛲∘•° ✧ﾟ･♔`

The Unraveling

The contract became impossible after:

1. The Jealousy

That Fontaine socialite who kept "accidentally" brushing Furina's hand? You may have "tripped" and spilled an entire carafe of Fonta on her décolletage.

2. The Late Nights

Shared silences in your office stretched longer. She'd critique your penmanship; you'd mock her posture. The space between you on the sofa grew smaller each time.

3. The Almost

Post-ball, wine-drunk and giddy, Furina leaned in to fix your crooked tie. Your breath hitched. Her pupils dilated. Then—

"Ahem." Neuvillette materialized like a specter. "The contract is fulfilled. Suitors have ceased."

`♔･ﾟ✧ °•∘⛲∘•° ✧ﾟ･♔`

The Breaking Point

The goodbye was painfully formal. Furina offered a stiff nod; you bowed precisely 15 degrees.

Until—

SLAM

Your office door flew open at dawn. Furina stood heaving, hair half-escaped its ribbons. "Why," she demanded, "did you never look at me like you meant it?"

The legal brief you'd been holding fluttered to the floor. "Because I was terrified you'd see that I did."

Silence. Then—

"Idiot," she breathed, and kissed you.

`♔･ﾟ✧ °•∘⛲∘•° ✧ﾟ･♔`

In Practice

The curtain rose on Fontaine's grandest opera house. Furina, resplendent in her spotlight, extended a hand toward the audience.

"Mon amour," she called, voice dripping with theatrical sweetness, "won't you join me?"

From the crowd, you sighed—but stood. The audience gasped as you ascended the stage.

"This wasn't in the contract," you muttered as she pulled you center stage.

Furina's grin was all wicked triumph. "Consider it... 'judicial discretion'."

The curtain fell on a very real kiss.

Somewhere in the wings, Neuvillette sipped his water. A Melusine tugged his sleeve. "Does this mean we plan a wedding now?"

The Chief Justice closed his eyes. "One crisis at a time."

[angel-princess-anna]

Tributes to Maggie from the Downton Cast and Crew (Part 2):

Part 1

Hugh Bonneville (in addition to his previous comment):

Elizabeth McGovern:

Joanne Froggatt: "Today we lost a true legend. It’s hard to find the words to pay tribute to the iconic Dame Maggie Smith. I shared a screen with her on very few occasions but was fortunate enough to be in her company on many. She truly was a trailblazer, with the sharpest wit, the greatest talent, the naughtiest sense of humour, she was a force to be reckoned with. She had a charisma that you felt would live for ever (in many ways it will) and underneath all of that a huge heart. Thank you Maggie, for always being supportive and kind to me, for putting many a smile on my face with that sharp wit that no one could match, and for showing the rest of us just how it’s done.

Rest in peace Dame Maggie, my thoughts are with your beautiful family. 🖤"

Lily James:

Tom Cullen: "I remember a very specific part of the conversation Maggie and I were having when this photo was taken. Maggie had been doing a big and challenging scene where she is reunited with her old flame played by Rade Serbedzija. I was stood at the back, out of frame and able to observe these incredible actors at their work. But for whatever reason Maggie felt like she wasn’t getting the scene right. Maggie took the smallest moment, came back and next take, simply, effortlessly, delivered a masterclass. She was extraordinary. The director called “cut” and we moved on. I was spellbound. During our conversation at the window, I asked Maggie what she did in order for her to so swiftly and precisely produce such an elevated performance. I remember her looking me in the eye and saying “Oh darling! I was just holding in a fart!”. I remember us both bursting out laughing. I really wished that she had been just holding in a fart but of course that wasn’t the real truth, the real truth was that she worked tirelessly her entire career to make that scene look easy.

I only worked with her for a short while, but I feel so blessed to have had that experience. She was tough, demanded the best but making Maggie laugh felt like winning the lottery.

My heart goes out to her family, friends, her Downton family and all those she touched with her sharp, agile and acerbic brilliance.

We lost an absolute giant today 💔"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tom Cullen (@tom_cullen)

Lesley Nicol: "It's a very close group of people so we're all devastated to think she's not around any more.' [...] "I'd never worked with someone of that calibre, and I thought, I don't know what I'll say to her, it will be really tricky, God she'll probably be really grand. She was not looking for anyone to be scared of her, or in awe of her, she just wanted to be in the gang [...] she was in with the crowd, and just very happy to be part of it all."

Jeremy Swift: "An honour to serve you Maggie."

Lady Carnarvon: "I never saw her on set with a little script, she knew it before she got here [to Highclere]. She worked so hard, to get up at silly o' clock... and to wear corsets for hours on end." [Highclere Castle's post]

Harriet Walter: "She was a true comedian, but also I've seen her playing some incredibly heartfelt, deep, sad roles, which is the huge range of an actress like her. If she was merely funny or merely tragic, she wouldn't quite have made that sort of impression."

Anna Mary Scott Robbins: "I C O N 🤍 Oh Maggie you will be missed 💔"

(special thanks to @lovelikewildness for helping to compile)

[anoninlondon]

THOUGHTS ABOUT ACGAS SERIES 5 (that nobody asked for…)

First, I love the show. I love its feel, its atmosphere, its decency and respect towards people and animals alike. I love the actors and all those who contribute to give us such lovely 7 hours of joy every year. And I’m really happy that so many people enjoyed S5.

**I hope not to be a downer to those people**

I really want to be one of them. I started so positively, absolutely loving the warm feeling of the first 3 episodes. We had really great moments - James’s struggle and return, the emotional telegram moment, Audrey *wrenning* herself into a warden uniform (and Siegfried’s reaction to it), Mrs P being her wingwoman, Jenny looking outside the farm and Helen coming to terms with it, Jimmy(s) just being cute, Carmody in all shapes and forms, Tristan hugging people, the dogs (of course the dogs)… it’s really good to remember the nice bits 😊.

Sadly, once we got into episode 4, for me things started to go a bit downhill. The locked door antics were funny, but I found them funny in a clumsy way. It’s nice that Tris and Richard came to an accord, but it felt weak, not supported by an actual understanding of one another. The last 10 minutes of the ep were delicious, but a bit too little to sustain the whole thing. Still, I was hopeful. But going forward, I really struggled to find much substance, and I’m annoyed by that. Tris drinking and going out every night - apparently because he had a *good* war? From the show that gave us the intensity of Siegfried’s and Audrey’s traumas related to the WWI, it really felt weak and inconsistent. No mention of Edward (though I still hope it’s in a PBS cut). Audrey’s warden experience - not to mention the wonderful Jeremy Swift - was used just for some comic relief - this is the same character that gave us such a window into her emotional struggle last season. I could go on, but you get the idea. James and Helen’s story was first and last episode. They kind of disappeared in the middle, and while the last episode was brilliant for them, there was very little build up throughout that again, it felt inconsistent.

Also, I wasn’t hyped by the press highlighting the ship or annoyed by the insertion of Miss Grantley. If used well, it could have been brilliant, but it felt flat. We had Siegfried wearing his heart on his sleeve for ages (Sam and Anna’s performance at the end of the last series was a masterclass in things deeply felt and not said) and suddenly we have the last episode of the series in which they barely speak to one another, Siegfried’s pride hurt by Miss Grantley’s rebuff, Audrey holding the fort by being super housekeeper, each in their own “box”. The Farnon brothers’ walk was funny and superbly acted by Sam and Callum, but it didn’t give us anything new - I thought they were far beyond their squabbles, and their time together could have been put to better use.

I just think that it was a bit of a waste. A fun, light, frothy series ( and no, I didn’t want drama for drama’s sake) where the only resolved arc, for me, was Carmody’s. The other characters are still beautifully dangling without a resolution. They gave us great performances, tender moments, lighthearted laughs, but it kind of feels disconnected and childish. It wouldn’t have taken much (after all, they have given us so much for 4 and half years!) and yet.

I don’t know if the show and the writers are changing direction (I hope not) or there is something I missed (probably) or it’s simply a way to drag things along (mostly the ship, but not exclusively). I hope (eternal optimist) for a CS that will pick up all the threads left hanging and will put them beautifully together as in the past - just under the Christmas tree for us to unwrap.

[starleska]

can we talk about the brilliant execution of Dot and Bubble's big reveal!!!

i am still absolutely gobsmacked by what a well-written episode Dot and Bubble is. startling, disarming, confrontational, and tremendously impactful. and holy shit i really really want to talk about how excellent the 'twist' (which really should've been obvious in retrospect 😭 was done):

as a white person it took me about ten minutes to clock that Lindy's friend group were a nightmare Aryan Tupperware Party collective: all white, all blue-eyed, and even Gothic Paul was dressed in blues and whites, with no black at all. but you know how i responded to that? mentally i went 'oh i'm sure it's nothing!' and shoved it aside. and i think it is exactly that insidious tendency to ignore, normalise, and validate overt and covert racism that the episode does such a tremendous job of tackling! everything in the episode gives us the lore we need to understand Lindy and the people of Finetime are white supremacists. Lindy's disgusted face and immediate blocking of The Doctor versus the amount of time she spends with Ruby. Lindy's shock at the Doctor and Ruby occupying the same room implying segregation on the Homeworld. Lindy calling the Doctor and Ruby 'criminals' not for being in the Bubble, but for breaking segregation. Lindy using Ricky September, a white influencer, to calm herself down not just from the monsters, but from interacting with a Black person. the tradwife aesthetic of the Finetime residents making a comeback in real-life right-wing racist circles. ugh, there's so much and it was all right in our faces!! yet many of us who aren't POC had the privilege of going through the episode baffled and uncomfortable, without being able to put a finger on why until the final bit of the episode. doesn't that tell us how quickly and easily we've all taken to ignoring both micro and macroaggressions? that we needed talk of being 'contaminated', improper use of the word 'voodoo', and Lindy straight up telling the Doctor that face-to-face contact was unacceptable, to understand they're white supremacists? oh my God 😭😭 what a genius play, to make Lindy so detestable from the start. she's an arrogant, vain, self-absorbed, moronic, uncompromising, traitorous bitch...and by layering that abhorrent personality and then giving us the reveal of her white supremacy, there is no argument even the most wishy-washy of people could have re: their awful views. Lindy and her friends are revolting racists who are so wrapped up in their own echo-chamber 'bubble' that they would genuinely rather be devoured alive than challenge their own narrow, bigoted views. i'm still blown away by the power of Ncuti's final scene. the disbelief, the frustration, the sadness and the fury...and yet the Doctor still tries to save them against all odds. i think the most common response to this episode was 'The Doctor should have gone all Time Lord Victorious on them', and you're right - he should have! but doing that would've affirmed the beliefs of the real-life racists viewers. the Doctor responding not with violence or righteous vengeance is a very deliberate writing choice: we are supposed to come away feeling revolted that he needed to behave that way, to almost be supplicant to the white supremacists. because that is the real-life view of so many people who don't even view themselves as racist: Black people need to 'perform' to a higher standard, than white people just to be considered worthy of respect. the more i watch it, the more i'm convinced this is the best episode of the whole season, and one of the best Doctor Who episodes we've ever had. we were taken off-guard by having an episode overtly about racism set in the future rather than the past, because our tendency is to assume equality is a natural consequence of becoming technologically advanced. this clearly isn't the case, and Dot and Bubble is a masterclass in confronting racism head-on rather than dancing around it for the comfort of white viewers. just. aaargh!!!! absolutely amazing 🔥🔥🔥

[httpsdana]

There are some things that I ABSOLUTELY loved about this match

pablo torre/ pau victor finally getting some playtime.

an INCREDIBLE performance by Balde. An absolute masterclass

The tiki taka that led to the first goal

that assist from fermin 😍

Lamine toying with the defenders like usual

Pedri and Frenkie dominating the midfield like usual in the first half

Eric Garcia is our most underrated player. Brilliant performance by him.

Ferran's free kick 🥵

Captain Pedri 🫡

Pedri giving Gavi the captain armband once again 😭

Pablo Torre's corner that was so close inside the net

The pedri chants as always 🫠

Tek being the most chill guy in the back

Pedri mvp AGAIN.

Genuinely one of my favorite matches this season.

[dorkydegeneracy]

Seeing a lot of fairweather fans on multiple platforms today.

Everybody can like and dislike whatever episode you want. But to say that the episode was "dog shit" because you are still grieving the death of Bobby Nash is fucked up.

Angela Basset, Peter Krause and Kenneth Choi gave award winning performances in this episode.

Oliver Stark's performance as Buck was not out of character. He was fulfilling the role Bobby requested him to be for the Fire Fam. He is supposed to be the rock that holds everyone together. He is supposed to be stoic. Granted, if you think that we won't see an Evan Buckley breakdown in the last two episodes you are also wrong, because it is absolutely coming. But right now he is being the man Bobby asked him to be.

Hen did show grief about Bobby's death. We saw it in the opening scene after the title screen. We saw it again as she dressed for the funeral. And she appeared very grief stricken at the funeral. Next week obviously will be an extension of her journey as she decides to become the next Captain of the 118, despite her worries.

That is not to say that this episode was 100% perfect. Obviously we all want more of Eddie Diaz. His story being played out off-screen is crazy to me. As I have always said, Eddie's storyline in particular suffers from Tim's inability to have a rough plan for the entire season before he starts to write. He writes as they film episodes, which severely hinders his time management. That is absolutely a problem that continues to happen with Eddie's storyline that I find frustrating and unacceptable. Eddie is imo the most interesting and complex character on the entire show and he needs more screen time to develop his story. You can't tell your audience in a post-episode article that the vast majority will never read that Eddie got a call off-screen. Tim knows better.

The B storyline basically had more on screen time than Bobby's funeral. I don't deny that. However, the reason we focused so heavily on that story was because we where simultaneously looking at how Athena processed Bobby's death. The main character of the dead baby storyline was not the baby's mother: it was Bobby and Athena. We got to have a final moment to see the man that Bobby Nash was and we were able to see Athena process her grief. That story was not a complete waste of time. Angela and Peter gave masterclasses in acting.

If you feel like we should have had more time with the main cast and at Bobby's funeral, I understand that, it's a fair criticism. Even then, with 45 minutes of air time I don't think that you can take much more than 5 minutes from the dead baby storyline before it hinders the message it conveyed re: Bobby and Athena.

Now that all of my unorganized bitching mostly out of the way, I really just want to say that it bothers me that people who I assumed also loved this show are absolutely bashing it because they have not accepted that Bobby is dead. Which confuses me because the dead baby plot gave us even more foreshadowing that Bobby is not dead. As somebody who would rather Tim not come up with some crazy bullshit reason for Bobby Nash to come back (because that would be convenient, yet dumbass writing), the episode functioned as both a story of grief and also a suggestion that Bobby is not dead.

If Bobby's death is so distressing that you don't want to watch the show, then that's your prerogative. But to say that the episode was bad or poorly written is a disservice to the amazing cast and performances that they have delivered over the past 3 episodes.

[greedandenby]

What are your favorite scenes or moments from Jacob Anderson and Sam Reid in IWTV? :) Could be separately or together or both.

Hi nonny!

Oooh that's a tough one. I'm going to have to show restraint since I love absolutely all of it unconditionally...

But to narrow it down i'll pick one from each season.

First, Jacob.

I've said this many times, but there's one scene in s1 where i'll never stop marvelling at the subtlety of his acting. It's the scene where Daniel questions Louis about what Claudia meant to him. Daniel posits that she was "a band-aid for a shitty marriage", to which Louis answers "I was going to say... something else". And that hesitation in his line delivery just breaks me every single time.

For s2, i'm going to go with Louis' return to NOLA, when he's in the cab. He slips back into his Louisiana accent and rolls down the window to breathe in the familiar scent of his hometown, and it's a truly beautiful moment. It says so much about Louis and showcases, once again, the subtlety and power of Jacob's performance. Less is more. (also he's especially gorgeous in this scene, ngl).

Now, Sam.

In s1, i'm going to go with a traumatic one (sorry). His monologue about his turning. So much comes through in this performance. The push and pull between Lestat's deep-seated trauma and the layers of pride it's hidden under. Sam GETS Lestat in ways that few actors ever could. And that scene showcases that very well, as well as being a masterclass in acting.

In s2, i have to go with the bedroom scene with Louis and Armand. The way Dreamstat reacts to their love is just priceless and Sam's comedic timing and delivery are a testament to his versatility as an actor. The way he mockingly delivers the "i love you" line cracks me up every time.

Now for Jacob and Sam. As an eternal Loustat shipper and Jam enthusiast, this is torture, ngl.

For S1, i'll go with the obvious and brain-empty choice: their first love scene. I mean, c'mon, I CHEERED when Louis lunged to kiss Lestat, and i'm pretty sure I heard everyone cheer from across the seas. It felt like such a deliverance after decades of queerbaiting. And the way they look at each other afterwards? Oooof. It single-handedly cemented Sam and Jacob's chemistry as one of the greatest to ever grace our screens.

For S2, i'm also going to go with the obvious one. The reunion scene is simply unforgettable. Both their performances are out of this world (esp considering they only had two takes to nail it). Heartfelt, heartbreaking and heart-mending all at once. It takes the trust these two (creative) partners have in each other to achieve these levels of vulnerability, and it paid off.

Here's to season 3 and many more scenes to pick faves from!

[lenalenouilleisblogging]

2024 feminist movie retrospective ~ day 7

Much like with Lee, I went to see this film pretty much just as a thirst watch 😭 because you know... Jessica Chastain. So you can imagine my surprise when instead of gooning, I was left in shambles after seeing the best and most heartbreaking performance of the year. Dark content ahead. Spoilers will be in red.

Watched : June 16th at my city's independent theater. The showing was.... I forgor.

This is a "film d'auteur" by writer/director Michel Franco, and my first time seeing a movie of his. The story follow two characters and their struggle with memories. Sylvia is a social worker, single mom and recovering alcoholic who suffers from PTSD. Saul is a protected adult (at least that's the legal term in France for a disabled adult who is under the responsibility of guardians, i don't know the US equivalent) who suffers from early onset dementia. (his short term memory is very defective) The two go to the same high school reunion party and when Sylvia leaves early, Saul follows her all the way to her apartment. When Sylvia looks through her window the next morning, she realises that he is still right under it, having spent the night sleeping on the side-walk. When she decides to go confront him, he has no idea who she is or why he followed her.

(note : i couldn't find HD screencaps of this film so i took some of my own digital copy. I curated the shots so they would go with what i'm talking about, and added some image descriptions (that are actually additional comments. Don't forget to read them!)

Let's get the technical out of the way, the film is INCREDIBLY shot. I loved the camera work and especially the shot composition, it is SO well thought out and so purposeful. In terms of film-making this is one of my absolute favourites of the year for sure. Like yesterday's film, there is no original soundtrack. You'll only hear music if it's diegetic (:the characters themselves are listening to it). The dialogues feel very real and natural and it works well with the performances. It all feels raw and authentic. The acting is the film's highlight. Everyone is on their A game (with the exception of maybe the actress who plays Sylvia's teenage daughter, her delivery in some scenes is so-so but it didn't ruin it for me) including the two leads who do incredible work. Peter Sarsgaard as Saul is super touching, but honestly he pales in comparison to the absolute masterclass that Jessica Chastain delivers here.

Her performance of Sylvia touched me so much that I honestly have trouble putting it into words, so I won't dwell on it. But her acting works in tandem with the writing and the visual storytelling to make this character one of the most interesting I've seen in years in a film like this.

I described Sylvia as having PTSD earlier, and that's not something the film ever points out explicitly, but all the details are there to detect it. Well it least to me. I suffer from PTSD partially due to sexual trauma and i related a LOT to the character. Everything about the way this character behaves and expresses herself feels very real. I guess this is me warning you that my appreciation of this film's story is very emotional and not very objective. But oh well, what is art for?

After watching the film, i checked out a quick review done by a male film critic i like. His main problem with the film? The characters, according to him, are completely unrelatable and none of their decisions in the story make sense. Fascinating isn't it.

The title of the movie is simple but well chosen. Both the characters lives are made harder by their memories. One remembers too much and because of that, she hid herself in drugs and alcohol. She has little to no social life, and is overprotective of her daughter which is a strain on their relationship. One doesn't remember enough and because of that, he is considered too disabled to make his own decisions and his family barely treats him like an intelligent adult. The two are drawn to each other, but everything seems against them. She wants to experience a healthy, normal sex life but her trauma makes it extremely difficult. He wants to involve himself in a healthy/normal relationship but on top of his disability, his family won't let him date anyone. (which is the only element that makes me understand the previously mentioned review. Saul's brother (and legal guardian) exerts a strict control on him and his actions are never explained. Why is he so against this relationship happening? Is it pure disrespect and ableism? Is he just a sadist? This could have been more fleshed out.)

While the romance is pretty well written and well developed, it is specifically everything about Sylvia that i loved in this film. This is such a well written, believable depiction of PTSD. She is kind and empathetic, but also over-vigilant and easily uncomfortable. When her fridge breaks down, she specifically asks for a repair-woman. When she sees that her daughter is talking to boys at school, she is clearly immediately worried, but plays it cool. Her memory also fails her sometimes. She initially believes Saul to be one of the boys who assaulted her in high-school, but it turns out she was wrong. She was creeped out by his current behaviour and mistakenly made associations. We learn pretty early on in the film that she was taken advantage of by teen boys when she was 12, but i immediately suspected that it wasn't the whole story. At some point, she tells her daughter that when she tried to talk about what was happening to her at school to her mom, she knew she wouldn't be believed because her mom called her a liar. My immediate thought when hearing that was "oh so it started in the family" and i was unfortunately correct, it's revealed later on to have started with her father. Is it just me or is this whole retrospective just me going "look at how well i can clock other survivors in movies!!"

While the third act of this film has frustrating moments because of that whole family sub-plot i mentioned, it's overall a great watch. A really bittersweet one, but still. Sylvia is an incredible character who will stay with me for years to come. Saul's alright i guess.

if you like slow, quiet movies with purposeful camera work and incredible, interesting narratives, this one's for you :) This film gets the official Léna seal of approval! It's one of the best of 2024. Here's a link to the trailer.

Final rating : IHAVENOTHINGFUNNYFORTHISONESORRY/10