Archive for January, 2007

Is a Journey is A Poem?

Tittle : Man on The Train (L Homme du train)
Directed by : Patrice Leconte
Actor : Jean Rochefort and Johnny Hallyday

man-on-the-train.jpgWhen u’re looking for poem in a film, maybe close to Dead Poem Society, then u’ve to take a look to this movie. Man on The Train is beautifully touching French’s film that reveals the hidden passion of a man, while he has what so called second change. French’s films is kinda beautifull ones which kill u slowly.

Its beginning with a train. Fast scenery from a moving window, and sound of iron tire on a massive reel collecting a distant mysterious sound. When a man called Milan (Johnny Hallyday) was disembarking from a train in a quiet lonely town, he meet a local people named Manesquier (Jean Rochefort). The ordinary good Manesquier refer his new friend place to stay in his house. Hotel was closed due to lack of tourist in November.

They basically were two different kind of men. Milan tended to silent, not to ask question and a traveler. His purpose in that small town was to robe its local bank. On the contrary, Manesquier was talkative and conservative indeed. He is an old retired poetry teacher. A man with his daily life : read a book, play piano and shopping a bread at near store.

Their interaction is the main part of this movie. One shared their experience to other. Milan learnt to like poems and rode a book. He enjoyed settling in Manesquier’s big old 18th century house. While the owner had his ‘wild guy conversation’ has well responded by his guest. His ambition was to be a bad guy sometimes. Something to break his routine life. To explore different continents and never drop the anchor.

He knew then, Milan was a robber, but instead of drive out his guess, he liked and offered some help : a strange old politeness. And Milan knew how to thank, how to learn an ordinary life. They both shared their long awaited passions and dreams.

One beautifull poem from this movie which became a main narative to its audience (maybe like “Pecahkan saja gelasnya..” in AADC), I listed below.

… continue reading this entry.

Episode 3 : Sebuah Kali

Pada pagi seperti ini
Semoga jernih aku bersiut menuruni bukit
melompat di antara batu-batu kali
yang licinnya memantulkan sesuatu
resah yang terperangkap jeram dan keramba
dalam singup dingin

Nelayan yang semalam menyalakan api
cahyanya yang keemasan berkejap menari-nari
melewati kontur tepi beranda
tempat kau mencari ikan duyung
dan menyebut nama-nama
dalam igau kau menjelma doa

Dan pagi yang dingin seperti ini
kali akan terus mengalirkan bibit mimpi
dan kabut akan menyergapmu perlahan
hingga kau tak tahu apakah arus surut ataukah pasang
atau apakah nelayan itu masih berdiri
atau padam

Sedang aku melompat dari batu ke batu
sedang aku memanggul dingin yang sangat
sedang risik arus menderau ke barat
menghablur menyamarkan tangisku

The Art of Apprehensive

Pain is inevitable, but suffer is an option

In the end of the year, i experienced several things which is not good thing actually. But i still had a good thought to God. Like in college, it was my final semester exam. The different is u can’t cheat.

First, i had a tootache in the first last week. Due my indolent for brushing my teeth regularly, i’d got a big hole at my rear molar. I meant : a great hole with a great pain. My nerve was rocked. If u had to choose whether u had a tootache or a broken heart then i will chuz the last.
My plan was had a dentist examine it after i arrived in Jogja, since I planned to go home in the end of the year. The only reason was it is cheaper while in my hometown. Jakarta isn’t a friendly city for sick people. So i chose to stay and bear all the pain and fasting during the week. Ate cereal and corn flakes instead of rice.

Second, I went home with economic class train. It was my ‘proyek iseng-iseng’ to try it. According to Nita and Masri experiences, it was quite OK (in capitalized letter) for riding the economic train. And it was far cheaper from regular ticket. And it was suitable for me for forgetting my pain. But they didn’t mention of ‘exception moment’ like New Year Eve combined with Idul Adha. I can’t tell u what exactly happened inside there due to the very tragical time i had. U can imagine that for now i still traumatic for riding economic train again… yet. The bright side was i know my resistance is. Like stood with no space for enough movement for about 8 hours! Then i know my limit. Hell yeah…!

It was several events i’ve enjoyed during my last year ceremony. And when i came back to Jakarta i did my revenge : I used flight! Actually, i want an executive class train but it sold out. Everybody went back to Jakarta, although i already took a leave.  And it’s not the end of the story. Flight was not a good choice. First i booked Lion Air, but the girl  at next line moved me to another flight line. It was Adam Air. Yeah, the flight which has crashed in Jan 1st and the next day i would flight with it. At that time i didn’t feel anything, coz i neither read news paper nor watch TV. Then i knew it in the day i would doing my flight. I flew with thousand of worries in my mind. But, thanx God i’d arrived in Jakarta safely then.

In this hopefully new year i hope i can learn wisely from my past experiences.

Episode 2 : Episode Baru

Di antara tahun buruk dan maya
Saya mencoba mengenalinya