20 Questions Interview

I decided to answer these questions because I am BORED!!! It's from the whatsonstage.com website. It's a site on theatre in the UK. I frequent it every now and then to see what's going on over there...a place I've never been to! But, nonetheless, I want to know about their theatre because I believe it's supreme over there. From what I've heard. And read. =) The following are questions that they ask actors that are currently working in the London theatre.

Date & place of birth
Not in the '80s and not in CA

Lives now in
A place that I'd like to move away from. When am I gonna get outta here?!!

What made you want to become an actor?
Honestly...soap operas. No joke. When I was in the 6th grade that dormant-gene in me was awakened. I wanted t play a doctor on, "Days of Our Lives," then I switched to, "All My Children," and wanted to be Erica Kane's long-lost daughter. Seriously. As I matured (ha!), I found that the theatre was where I wanted to be. Now, it's really about expression and channeling my energy and creativity. It's about sharing and telling stories. Provoking thought and emotion. Having others understand that they are not alone. It's a way of expressing through another's point of view. Critics and other people's opinions aside, it's a way of exposing yourself without being judged. I'm telling you, acting is my skin and the theatre is my heart. I don't think I would have got into other things as well, such as poetry and painting, had it not been for acting. I also really learned who I was while taking classes and playing in shows. Of course, I'm still learning and growing. You gotta share your gifts, if not, they'll destroy you. I love to perform. I love to act. That's all.

What might you have done professionally if you hadn't become an actor?
I don't know. A doctor? When I think now, maybe a poet? Painter? A ballerina! Ha! Only in my dreams!

Career highlights to date
Rosalind (AS YOU LIKE IT); Henriette (THE LEARNED LADIES); Nena (THE CONDUCT OF LIFE); Cordelia / The Fool (KING LEAR); Caroline (CHAINED, an original one-act by a grad student)

Favourite playwrights
Shakespeare, Chekhov, Lorca, Mary Zimmerman, Nilo Cruz, Sarah Kane, Maria Irene Fornes, Tony Kushner, Douglas Carter Beane, Tom Stoppard

Favourite directors
Karen Hensel, Svetlana Efremova, Larry Biederman

Favourite co-stars
Frank Astran, Leona Britton, Kristin Gedney, Logan Sledge, Aimee Guichard, Kevin Beatty, Hattie Davis

What was the first thing you saw on stage that had a big impact on you? And the last?
The first that I can think of was, "The Nutcracker." I remember sitting in my seat, excited and anxious. I remember when the canon exploded. I got chills up my spine. I remember thinking, "I want to do that but I'm too scared and shy..." The last thing I saw that hit me was, "Bridge & Tunnel," Sarah Jones' one-woman show. I could have watched her embody all those characters she played all day. Oh! I have to add the Kirov ballet's ROMEO AND JULIET. Do you know how good it is to see a play through dance/movement? Things become so much clearer. Movement and music...you can usually find the answers in there if you're stuck with a role, I believe.

If you could swap places with one person (living or dead) for a day, who would it be?
Right now, at this very moment...Elena Bazhenova. She is a principal character artist in the Kirov Ballet. I want to be her on a performance day of ROMEO AND JULIET just so I could do the scene she does after Tybalt dies. My favorite part in the whole ballet.

Favourite holiday destinations
Sadly, contrary to what people may think...I haven't travelled much. So, I'm not sure about my favourite holiday destination. New York? The Philippines because of my family? I'd love to be able to say: London, France, Italy...

Favourite books
When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe; The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho; Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke; Letters to a Young Artist by Anna Deavere Smith; Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland; The Empty Space by Peter Brook

Favourite after-show haunts
I'm pretty boring, actually. I just go home. But if I get to hang out with a friend or two afterwards...Starbucks. I know, so uninventive. I'm a simple girl. Ha!

Do you prefer acting on stage or screen?
Well, I don't have experience on screen, yet. BUT, I did have an acting-for-the-camera class which I didn't really like. I don't know if my face is for the screen. The stage is where my heart is. But, I'd love to work in all mediums.

What would you advise the government to secure the future of American theatre?
I'm not an expert but I'm also not blind to say that the theatre needs money. I would rather put money into a show that ends up bombing than put money into making bombs that kill people in ailing countries. I'll put my money into seeing a bad show...any day.

Why did you want to accept the role of Germaine in PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE?
Well, so that I could keep on working and not be absent from the stage. It's a good role in a good play by Steve Martin. This will be my first time at playing a "woman." I'm usually playing the roles like Suzanne (the ingenue role in the play). It's nice to get this kind of meat. Don't get me wrong, though...I'm not as confident as I sound! I'm scared but I'm still gonna do it!

How did you research the role? Did you draw on any aspects of your own character or experiences?
I found out that Germaine was actually a real woman in Picasso's life. A femme fatale that broke the heart of one of Picasso's good friends. She also ended up marrying another one of Picasso's good friends. She is in that painting, "At the Lapin Agile." I'm gathering little things here and there about her. But, this role isn't exactly a biography on her because the bits I've discovered so far aren't really depicted in the play. We haven't started officially yet. We'll be starting next week. I think I'll have to draw on my maturity-level and "worldliness," for this role. She is much more experienced than I am, if you know what I mean...

I'm such a nerd. I do a lot of research that I sometimes get bombarded with how much there is. But, there is a point where you really need to throw the research away and the only time you go back to it is when you are stuck. You still have your imagination and creative-lifeblood. There is a balance that must be met. Do your homework, yes...but also bring yourself to the plate as well. It can't all be cerebal. Then, I'm afraid, it would just be boring and more about, "Ooooooooh, look at how smart I am." "Look at all the research I have done. Aren't you impressed?" It shouldn't be about that. Plus, no one cares how hard you work. They want it to look effortless up there. You've got to have fun. Don't get up there all torturous and jazz... I'm way off the subject now, aren't I? Yeah...

What are the biggest challenges of this production for you?
I think because I can seem to be so poised and polished...I'm going to have to rough her up a bit. Does that make sense? She is very intelligent and knows what she's talking about...but it's like street-sense. She's not a ballerina in the way she holds herself. Maybe she's more like Eliza Doolittle in the beginning of MY FAIR LADY, physically. She's not a "lady." She's a bar-maid! We'll see when I get into rehearsals. We've had a minor setback with actors' schedules and the like. We were supposed to open this month but things changed and now they have been cleared up and we're set for a January opening. Unfortunately, we only have 3 performances of the show. But at least we have them.

What roles would you most like to play still?
I'd like to tackle Rosalind (AS YOU LIKE IT) again and again and again. Nina from THE SEA GULL. Anyone from Chekhov, really. I'd actually want someone to adapt the film, "Amelie," into a play (not a musical) so that I could play Amelie. Desdemona, Cordelia and The Fool (KING LEAR) again, Opehlia. As with Chekhov…anyone in Shakespeare! Musically, Clara in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, Emmie in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE. There's just too many! Ha! I'd love to originate roles in plays and musicals, as well.

What are your future plans?
Well, right now, I'm waiting for PICASSO to start so that I can sink my teeth into it! I cannot wait. I'd like to start ballet lessons with a woman I just met, Galina Barinova, who was a dancer in the Bolshoi Ballet. She retired 10 years ago but she doesn't look like she's retired! I'd also like to take another class with my mentor, Karen Hensel. I'm looking at European classical acting programs. I'd also like to meet Judy Blazer and see if I could take voice lessons from her. Another one I'd like to meet is, Peter Brook. I'd like to work at the theatre he built in France, Bouffes du Nord. Also, if ever When the Elephants Dance was turned into a play or screenplay…I'd love to be involved in that project.

Currently listening to: Grey Gardens (2006 Off-Broadway Cast)

Let's go out and conquer the world with our love and our art!

If you're ever lucky enough...no...blessed to have those certain people in your life that you can go to a cafe with and just talk and talk and talk, and let the time go by, and afterwards feel like you can go out and take on the world...NEVER LET THEM GO! It's like a drug. That feeling of euphoria and that you can make anything happen, and who cares if you're a fool...you just go and believe and love. When you put those kinds of people together, and they just happen to be into the arts as yourself...NEVER LET THEM GO! Your mind starts racing. Y'all get on the same wave and just ride it, and the conversation goes from crazy French films that one of you should never watch to organizing a scheme to take magazine articles from the library as if it were a crime; to realizing that practice does make perfect and that talent can only take you so far; to being an art model and being nude in front of painters just because it's something that only a small amount of people do truly for themselves. I swear, the three of us came out of that cafe fully energized (sure, it could have been the vanilla chai lattes and the cafe francais...shut up!) and wanting to go dancing!

I'm the oldest out of the three of us. I'm old. I feel like my mind is 70 yet my spirit, my light is 12! Really. It's the strangest thing. It felt so good to drive home (listening to the "Amelie" soundtrack) and just to think about making a mark in the world. What will be your legacy? What will you leave behind you? And it doesn't necessarily have to be something monumental. It's about did you have passion in your life? Who loved you and who did you love? Who did you reach your hand out to? When you complained or were down on yourself did you realize that you have two hands to help yourself out of your self-pity and the other hand is for a brother that needs help, too? It's about listening to your instincts because as Krishnamurti wrote: The highest form of intelligence is intuition (Thank you, Andreas).

We gotta take care of each other. We gotta give give give. And when we take, we must give back. Even if the world around you is chaotic and pressured and whatnot, you gotta maintain that peace within yourself. And let all that other stuff happen the way it will. You don't need a quiet place to be quiet in (though, it would be nice and sometimes you do need it quiet!). Love is important. Compassion is vital. I mean, then why are we living? As people who work in the arts world, we must be willing and want to share our work. There is a need to show someone our work and to give it to them (Thank you, Uliana Lopatkina). To share ourselves with all our flaws, weaknesses, asymmetricalisms (if you know me, you'll understand), faults, mistakes, &c. on top of the good stuff. That's the risk you always take; putting yourself out there. Placing your neck, willingly, onto the tree stump to be axed. Seriously. As Lady Mac says, "But screw your courage to the sticking point/And we'll not fail." Ain't that the God-honest truth? She sure knew how to sing it! HA! Granted, she wasn't the "good" guy in the play but she really knew what to say! Let's jump out of the plane. And if you get scared, I'm gonna push you out anyway, and I would hope that you would do the same for me. Care. Care about everything. Don't strive to be cool. Be hot (Thank you, Anna Deavere Smith).

Love what you do. Revel and be drunk and joyous in the path that you choose. Ponder one road and take the other, as in Robert Frost's beautiful poem. Don't let your art be torturous. That tortured, brooding artist thing...throw that in the fire. Because I was there. I was that person, feeding on my sadness and digging myself these holes and falling apart every class. No more. When I got out of University the world was still there and I realized that I had to create what I wanted for myself. I'm still trying to do that. I've only just begun (Karen Carpenter...are you there?). The world goes on even after you die. What am I going to do for myself? How am I going to make my own opportunities (a la Lynn Redgrave)? I got out of University and tried to live in the world. Only now do I know what I must do. But, I mean, if you gotta go that tortured-artist path then so be it. If that's what's supposed to happen to you. All I know is that it's not for me. Yes, happiness is fleeting. But, joy...pure joy. That stays and sometimes it gets shadowed by challenging times but it's still there. And you appreciate it more and more, and you try to hold on to it. There are also memories. "Die Erinnerung ist oft das Schönsteim Leben, glaube ich," my dear, dear Romy Schneider said that, which translates to: "Memories are the best things in life, I think."

Let's go and conquer the world! Let's make our mark. Let's start our legacy. Let's have fear but still do it. Let's do what we say we want to do. Let's continue to grow and learn and educate ourselves. Let's be cultured, dammit! Let's improve and better ourselves. Let's keep going and driving and moving forward with our art. With our heart. Yes, there will be a lot of burning and hurt and pain, but that's why we have families. Not just your blood but the families that you make when you go out into the world and decide that you will indeed be part of this jacked up society. That's why we have art. We have our art that will spill forth through our suffering. Suffering is part of life. We all must suffer (read some Chekhov, folks). AND the important thing to remember, we all MUST still rise again (can I get a, "Woot-woot," for Ms Maya Angelou?!). After all the suffering, rise! Rise from the flames like a phoenix (that's SO uber-dorky but I just wanted to write it!). We must still be kept grounded and rooted but we got to still dream AND have the courage to let a dream go when it doesn't take the flight we hoped it would. The Ebersole said, "There's a whole thing about following your dream, but there's also a thing about you have to let your dreams die in order to move on."

I am on a high.

Thank you, Jen-Jen & EJ.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" ~Gandhi

Yes. Say it somehow.

Sing it.

One more thing: Love and hate are easy. Kindness is hard.

NOW, we can: Sing it.

Currently listening to: The Essential Syreeta

Romy (EFFING) Schneider!!!

"The Trial" (directed by Orson Welles) was the first Romy Schneider film that I watched. Though, at the time, I did not get it for her. I got it for Jeanne Moreau (another favorite of mine!). I remember thinking, "What the heck? I want more of Jeanne Moreau! Who is this other woman that has a bigger role?!!" Yeah, I must admit to that, unwillingly! Ha! Well, it brings me back to when I made fun of Christine Ebersole holding her Tony when she won for 42ND STREET. Yeah, I feel like an ass of the jack! I ADORE The Ebersole! Man! In this film, Romy plays, Leni, a woman that is attending on Orson Welles' character. She has a moustache and webbed feet. Or was it webbed hands? I don't even remember! I don't even remember her having a moustache, quite honestly. I think I'm going to make a trip to the library and check it out again. So, my focus was totally on someone else and not Romy at that time. The thing is, she did make an impact, though I did not pay attention to it at the time. Jackass. I remember thinking that she was very pretty even if she did have the moustache and webbed whatevers (you'd think that I'd remember those physical traits...hm). I remember not wanting Anthony Perkins to have a good time with her because I wanted him to be with Jeanne so that I could see her more! I also remember the joy in her face when she would smile.

Look at that face. Okay...now THIS is the film that turned me into an all-adoring and uber-loving fan of Romy's, "L'Important C'est D'Aimer" ("That Most Important Thing: Love," directed by Andrzej Zulawski). She plays, Nadine Chevalier, who does soft-core porn movies so that she can make a living "acting." This photo is from the beginning of the film. It was most heartbreaking. Actually, the whole thing is pretty heartbreaking. I remember flipping through channels and landing on the IFC. They were presenting Xan Cassavetes' documentary on the Z Channel. And this was one of the films that they showed that would have been or was shown on that particular channel. I forget. The point is that this movie was on!!! Moving right along...I read the description and thought it was interesting. Plus, it was French and I usually can't turn down a French film (*le hint-hint* to the fellas out there!!! That and the museum and some coffeetalk afterwards! HA!). Alright, onward... The opening is of her being directed in reherasals for a scene. I remember the music really getting to my core. It was very deep. Mm. The director (in the film) is this crazed, manic little woman shouting and shrieking. I remember flipping to other channels because I thought it was getting kind of strange (which it was, for me at that time, and certain scenes in the film are rather difficult to swallow, for lack of a better word. I know of 2 scenes in which I fastforward through). But, something kept drawing me back to the film. Well...the picture above is when she is straddling (is that how you spell that word?) a man that is dying or dead and she has to...you know... You then hear the shutter of a camera and it's this photographer that no one knows shooting these pictures of her while she's rehearsing. She hears this and she faces him, puts her hand up and asks him not to take any pictures, and lets him know that she is a good actress. She really is and that she only does this to eat. Yikes! That's how the film starts off! It's intense. It's very passionate and raw, real. Real to the point that it was very uncomfortable. EXTREMELY uncomfortable and painful to watch. Especially in the violent scenes. Geez! Were they really hitting each other? Because it sure did look like they were! *le ouch* You find out that Nadine is married to a man, Jacques, that collects old photographs of old movie stars in America. And she is married to him at first because she does love him but stays with him out of some obligation. I think that she does truly love Jacques. The photographer, Servais, is deeply in love with her and goes out of his way to get her a part in a production of RICHARD III playing Lady Anne. The two of them share these intense passionate moments with each other but they do not consummate their feelings. There's a point where she goes to him. But, Servais will not sleep with her. Jacques goes on and on about this "respite" that is owed him. He even goes to Servais' studio to ask him why he didn't sleep with Nadine. Yeek! They want to but they don't. Jacques makes them kiss in front of him. I mean...this film! *le whew* There is this great-great scene towards the end between Nadine and Jacques in a cafe. Oh, my stars! It's...you just have to see it. The film is pretty whacked out. It's insane. Klaus Kinski is also in this film. I don't think I ever saw him in anything before. He's very good. Yikes! He reminded me of one of my good friends from University, Frank Astran III. I think because of his style of acting. I can see Frank playing the role he played. I could go on and on about this. The music alone breaks my heart. It truly hits to the core. I wish there was a soundtrack. She is absolutely beautiful in this film. I'm SO glad when it came on again. I totally taped it! One of her best performances. One of THE best performances anyone will ever see. For true.

"Le Mouton Enrage" ("Love at the Top," directed by Michel Deville), made me mad because Romy gets killed in it. I have to watch the movie again. Jean-Louis Trintignant woos Romy on a dare by his friend. She's married and the friend wants him to have an affair with her. The friend lives vicariously through Jean-Louis' escapades with women. Yeah. Romy gets shot by her husband, I believe. That sucks. I'm not an advocate for adultery or anything but it does add to dramatic tension and all that sort of thing. But, really. In real time, why can't people break it off with who they're with and then go on to the next person? Why does it have to be at the same time? It's the thrill of it all, perhaps. The getting away with it; not getting caught; &c. Also, I understand about unhappiness but I don't think that's a good reason to have an affair. Anywho, I did (as usual) enjoy her performance. Even though, she was commiting adultery. It's makes for quite interesting cinema and soap operas, plays, what have you...but in real life, take that sh*t outta here!!! But, I must admit, however...that I do enjoy watching it on the screen. Does that make me a hypocrite? Damn!

Her beauty is so transcendent. Look at her! Look. At. Her. Sheesh! I bought, "Cesar et Rosalie" ("Cesar and Rosalie," directed by Claude Sautet), the same time as, "Le Mouton Enrage." Both from Amazon.com. I also got a Jeanne Moreau film, "La Mariee Etait en Noir" ("The Bride Wore Black," starring Jeanne Moreau and directed by Francois Truffaut). Which is a great, fun film! I received all 3 DVDs while working at OCPAC. I remember how utterly delighted I was by the package I received! This film should really be called, "Cesar et Rosalie ET David!" Seriously! David is a former flame of Rosalie's. Rosalie has a child (from her marriage to David's friend. You see, David ran away to America and left Rosalie behind. Whoops! Ouch), is divorced (I believe), and has a new lover in the middle-aged Cesar. Isabelle Huppert is also in this film playing a relative of Romy's. Sami Frey (who played David) is absolutely dreamy! There is a beautiful flowy dress/blouse that Romy wear's for the wedding scene. It's very simple and I love the back. It's just a slit down the middle and it shows the back. Her face is incredible. You can just read everything on it. Thoughts, emotions just cascade across it. It seems so easy. So effortless for her. One moment that crosses my mind is when they are at the wedding reception and she says to David, "Don't look at me like that." Another one is when she tells Cesar, "Please, don't kill anymore men for me," something like that. Obviously, being very sarcastic because Cesar is a coward and at that point a cad for lying to David about what he's done with and for Rosalie. I even love her in her silence. You always want to know what she is thinking. She's good. She can even act with her back! Seriously. "B'acting." I love those that can act with their backs facing the audience!!! She's good. Period.

I bought, "The Cardinal" (directed by Otto Preminger) at Borders one day during my lunch at OCPAC. I was so excited to see it for the simple fact that Romy would be speaking in English. She spoke English for a split second in, "Cesar et Rosalie," and it was cool to hear her. And "The Trial," is also in English but remember, I didn't know it was her! So, layoff! =) I remember thinking, "Hm...I want to copy her accent one day for a role..." She is a student that falls in love with a man that is on a kind of sabbatical from his religious duties because he is confused as to where he truly wants to be. She totally falls in love with him. She is one of his students and they start to go out with each other. He's struggling with his decision of where he belongs. They plan to meet at a cafe and Romy runs to the cafe's window to peer through it and to see if he's there. He is. He turns to her and she has this great smile on her face, and then you see him in his religious garb!!! Heart. Break. for her. I've got to watch it again because I'm very shaky on what happens at the end. I don't even remember their character names! I know that they definitely do not get together. But, there's trouble and I think she's the one that can help him out of it. I'm not sure. This movie sort of made me upset because she wasn't in it as much as I would have liked. Granted the title is, "The Cardinal," not, "The Woman Forsaken By The Cardinal," right? Right.

*le sigh* Mm. This film, "Les Choses de la Vie" ("The Things of Life," directed by Claude Sautet)...Mm. I remember reading lines from this movie one day in Sam French. When Helene says to Pierre, "You love me because I'm here. But if you had to cross the street, you'd be lost." Man! I remember not wanting to read anymore because I wanted to see it before reading anything else about it. This is another film with great music. Romy sings the theme song, "La Chanson d'Helene," and Michel Piccoli speaks in between her singing. I love the song. It has such a sad, mournful tone to it. The other day I found a google video of Romy and Michel recording the song! Her face in that video! I wish it was clearer. But, still. Her face. Especially at the end! I want to do the break-up scene in Karen's class. I'm thinking about taking her workshop class again just because there are some scenes and monologues I'd like to work on. It would be great to do that scene. I transposed the scene last night after watching the film again. He ends up dying in the end. She isn't there at the time that his ex-wife, Catherine, (or is she still his wife?), father and pal find out. She's on her way to meet him at a hotel and she notices the car that's wrecked on the road is his. She rushes to the hospital. During that time, the nurse gives the valuables that were found during the accident to Catherine: a light blue chiffon scarf, some other trinkets and a letter that he wrote to Helene saying that their break-up is official (Pierre wrote that letter but decided not to mail it because he realized how ridiculous he was being. He calls Helene's place and leaves a message for her to meet him at some hotel to tell her he was being a doof) . Catherine sees Helene running outside and she tears the letter up. What a lady. I remember crying and crying when she did that. Romy finds out from the nurses that Pierre's dead. She leaves in silence. She turns into a zombie pretty much. It's so heavy. It ends with her walking out of the hospital in a haze. Mm-mm-mm. It was a good story. A man re-examining his life. He really deeply thinks about it as he's dying thinking that he is going to survive, and you think that he is going to survive and you hope for it. But he dies and it's too late. Mm. Tell the people you love and care about that you love and care about them. Don't wait. Tell them. Let them know. Take care of each other.

This is a crazy (in a fun way) movie. "What's New, Pussycat?" (directed by Clive Donner). I know I know I know. I can't believe I got it either! Seriously. But how can I not when Romy's in it? I HAD to get it! Plus, it was pretty cheap at Borders. It's no surprise why. It's so silly! But Romy speaks in English in the movie as well! It was just a fun, chaotic film. It was sexually-charged in that "Austin Powers"-silly sort of way. It was fun and Romy was adorable. Plus, the beginning credits of the movie inspired my, "Grey Gardens," painting. The swirls and curls made me think of using those kinds of strokes in a painting. I did and "Grey Gardens," came out.

I didn't actually see this whole film. I've seen only clips from YouTube. I found them the other night. I know that I've searched for Romy clips on there before but never found any until recently. This film was very sweet, gentle and tender. It's called, "Madchen in Uniform" ("Maidens in Uniform," directed by Geza von Radvanyi). Romy plays Manuela von Meinhardis, a young girl that loses both her parents and is sent to a Prussian boarding school. There she falls in love with her teacher, Fraulein Elisabeth von Bernburg, played by Lilli Palmer (who is magnificent and from what I've researched, a very good writer). There is this tender scene in which Bernburg has Manuela practice her part of Romeo with her. She does as her theatre teacher had told her to do and Bernburg says, "No, no! Romeo is a boy in love," something like that. And you see Manuela's face light up and she gets all excited and says the lines as if Bernburg is truly her Juliet and then she kisses her teacher! That totally caught me by surprise. But it wasn't exploitative. I didn't feel violated or grossed out. It was very tender. I think it's a great film. I'd like to see the whole thing. The thing is, Bernburg doesn't love her student back in that way. She's a very caring teacher (also strict and disciplined, wanting her students to do well and grow) but she doesn't love the same way Manuela does (that is unless I missed something not watching the whole film because I've only seen clips. But she even tells Manuela that her love for her is wrong.). Which is the heartbreak with Manuela. She confesses after her performance of ROMEO AND JULIET to all the girls that she loves Bernburg because the punch was spiked and she was downing mugs of the punch! The headmistress comes in and hears her confession. Whoops! Manuela says that she doesn't care if they know that she loves her and that Bernburg loves her as well, even though she has never said it to her. Then, she faints. She gets in trouble. Bernburg is told that she has to leave the school by the headmistress. Manuela tells her teacher that she will die without her and falls to her knees when she goes over to embrace her teacher. She tries to kill herself by jumping off the flight of many stairs of the school. But she is stoppped by the students and her teacher. It's a wonderful scene! She is sent into the infirmary. The headmistress asks Bernburg to stay for Manuela's sake and she shakes her head and says, "Manuela will find her own way. I have to get out of here. I'd only get in her way." It's so touching. It's a good film (from the clips I saw). I believe the reason that she falls in love with her teacher is for the simple fact that she needs more attention and affection, and she has transferred all these feelings to a woman that has given her that attention, or that she wants attention from. I mean...for goodness' sake (!), she just lost BOTH her parents! It's not a stereotypical kind of a film, at all. It is a coming of age story and a sexual awakening one. It's so simple and gentle. Tender. Also, I haven't seen this film in its entirety and maybe this blurb on it is all wrong! HAHAHA! I mean, I say this because there are most likely scenes of significance (of course) that I'm missing. But, I'm writing about what I saw through the clips=) Such a beautiful piece.

So...I suppose to say that I Love Romy Schneider is rather superfluous, eh? I'll say it anyway!

I LOVE ROMY SCHNEIDER!

She is stunning. There should be some kind of movement to get all her films on DVD or SOMETHING! She shouldn't have been taken away from us so early in her life. I wish there was some American or English biographer out there that would write her story. She is yet another of a slew of actresses who had their lives laced with tragedy.

(I'm such a nerd...)

Currently listening to: Taboo (2003 Original Broadway Cast)