tough chicks

as previously mentioned i had no plans nor appointments this weekend, and since i arrived home around 10pm on friday night i have not been out of the house for more than 5 hours total, in the last 24 hours. i've managed, among other totally relaxing and purpose-free activities, to watch 3 movies. and now after a moment of reflection, i just realized all three, real-life stories or delicately made-up, were about extraordinary women.

"hula girls" is a japanese movie about a young girl who aspires to become a hula dancer in the new hawaiian theme park designed to revive the dying economy in a traditional mining-based community. she defies parental expectations and sticks to her dreams, and eventually wins approval from her mother and applause from the crowd. it's about determination and hardwork, and breaking free from conventional values.

then there was "the queen," about QE's tough week following princess diana's death where she struggled between hard cold royal traditions and a nation calling for a show of warmth and sympathy. it's about a woman dealing with internal conflicts, perhaps her own faults and weaknesses, at a time where her duties and responsibilities called for an immediate abandon of things she'd held onto in her service as the queen of england.

and i finally got myself a copy of "hasards ou coincidences" (chance or coincidence), a 1998 french/canadian film about a dancer who loses her lover and son and goes through a series of quite extrodinary events as part of her grieving process. it shows the strength and conviction of a mother, and the lengths to which she'd go for love, or the memories of love. the movie is so intricately designed and told, unfolding stories of chance and coincidence that leaves the audience in silence and deep thoughts.

so i guess by chance or coincidence but definitely not conscious choice, i ended up watching 3 excellent films about strong-willed women which led me to write this slightly girl-power feminist-sounding blog entry. i think it makes it only very justified that i get spiderman 3, ocean's 13 and 300 (aka action-packed hot men in tights, suits, and naked) for the upcoming super long weekend.