Bye Bye 2018!! You shan’t be missed! 🌚

Oh my DOG!! What a year it’s been. 2018 hasn’t been that kind to me! But no year in this country has ever really been nice to me; especially within the last 9 years that I’ve lived here at a stretch (mostly as a bit of a recluse, despite how much I love to socialize). Stress, depression, and fighting off withdrawal symptoms (being on and off and on again, on meds), fighting off suicidal instincts, dealing with troublesome Lankan trolls on FB (I deactivated it 5 months ago, and keep reactivating briefly and deactivating it), to real life Lankans – judgemental, extremist, narrow-minded, hypocritical n’ inhumane humans, full of false pride, fake sense of patriotism & brainwashed nationalistic attitudes (Argh! Those Lankan egos); 2018 has been really bad. I practically hit Rock Bottom! But am a survivor. All my life, I’ve suffered on my own, survived on my own, and still surviving!! Yet, no matter what I go through, I brave a smile, be polite, struggle through utmost patience. AND nobody (unless they’ve read my personal posts) would ever be aware of what am going through.

Yet, trying to be as positive as possible, I have to say, finishing Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, and seeing Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me by your Name (2017), earlier this year, and falling in love with them to the extent that, Arundhati Roy’s second novel ended up being my all time favourite Book now; and Call Me by your Name, my favourite movie from this century and my second all time favourite movie; to me is a major Plus, that happened this year (see my posts That Book, That Movie (of 2017), Why “CALL ME BY YOUR NAME” deserves to win ‘Best Picture’ at this years OSCARS!!!!!, Photograph no.5, My TOP – 5 Films & My (past) TOP 10). But really, the only plus with a pulse, are my two common mongrels, my darling fur babies, that give me a reason to live. Their love for me is unconditional. Just the sound of their footsteps, brings a smile on my face. Love them dearly!! My innocent babies!! ❤

Another great plus to me, was meeting an old friend after almost two decades. We met day before yesterday, an American citizen (with Lankan roots) she currently resides in Denmark with her husband and kids; and is here on holiday. We spoke about the Year 1994; the best year of my teenage life; the year we first met. She mentioned how handsome I looked then 😉 , nice complement! I knew a lot of girls mother’s and elderly grannies, liked me (I was always pretty decent), but wasn’t aware of any peers thinking of me as handsome. I always considered myself pretty average (yes, Sri Lanka has always had a complex about their complexion, despite being a black/brown country and I was constantly reminded of being dark myself), but considering the amount of vain, yet hideous (not just looks wise but personality wise too), people I come across who actually rate themselves 8 and 10; am like Seriously??; in that case I must’ve been 110, back in the day!!! Although to me, it’s a beautiful heart that truly matters, looks are secondary; when I look back, I was actually quite a looker, didn’t really realize it at the time. 😏 Now am sounding as vain as the selfie culture of today. Vanity, thy name is Smartphones (ah! I actually finally gave in and got a Smartphone, my first – an iPhone 8Plus, this July). Thanks Sudi (my friend I just spoke of), for making me nostalgic, and now am thinking of my youth and looks -_- !! So that day, Saturday Late Afternoon to early evening, I spent with her, was great. I felt light and happy. Soon after, met an old schoolmate briefly that night, and she asked me whether I was high on sugar? Yup, guess it’s been ages since I actually looked happy too. Though I think of the past with nostalgia, I don’t live in the past, I live in the present and have no desire to go back. I want to move forwards, and keep hoping against home, that the BEST is Yet to Come!!! Looking forward for Better Future!!

I haven’t celebrated New Years eve, in ages. The last time I did something was, on 31st December 2006, when we went to see the fireworks over Sydney Harbour Bridge, whilst residing there. Post that, I’ve been home, mostly watching TV. End of last year, I got sick, so this year started off with me being ill. Down with the flu, added to stress and depression am constantly fighting off. This year has been, pretty sick (and not in a good way). Had no plans for today as well, so it was a pleasant surprise, when someone I recently befriended, messaged me this morning, invited me over to usher in the New Year. So looking forward to another, PLUS, this evening, and better year ahead!!

Always thinking as Positively as possible

Happy New Year, for 2019

Nuwan Sen

🎊👐 2😍19!!!!!! 💓

’tis the Season ✴

Merry Christmas 2018, Guys!!!!! 💖

Feliz Navidad 2018
Joyeux Noël 2018
क्रिसमस की बधाई 2018
සුබ නත්තලක් 2018
圣诞节快乐 2018
メリークリスマス 2018
Buon Natale 2018
Nakutakia Krismasi Njema 2018
God Jul 2018
میری کرسمس 2018
Geseënde Kersfees 2018

Enjoy
Nuwan Sen

Regaling About Richard Burton Blogathon: Burton as Philip Ashley

Richard Burton plays Philip Ashley, in the 1952 film adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s acclaimed novel, My Cousin Rachel.

A constantly brooding, suspicious, miserable character, that we rarely see smile. Even his happiness (in rare moments when he seems to be happy) is superficial, taunted by his skeptical nature. His mental state, stained by the loss of his favourite cousin, who raised him, and with the guilt of harbouring lustful desires for a woman who might be the reason for his cousin’s untimely demise, eating away at him; Philip Ashley is never at peace. AND this character is portrayed with pure perfection, by the brilliant British Shakespearean actor, Richard Burton. Predominantly a British star, the UK’s Cornwall set My Cousin Rachel (1952) was Burton’s first foray into Hollywood and it earned him a Golden Globe Award for ‘New Star of the Year – Actor‘ in 1953.

Olivia de Havilland plays the ambiguous character of Rachel, in My Cousin Rachel (1952)

Daphne du Maurier’s My Cousin Rachel is about an orphaned kid, Philip, who is brought up by his wealthy cousin, Ambrose Ashley (played by John Sutton in the movie). Ambrose, while away in Italy, meets the widowed Contessa Sangalletti (a.k.a. Rachel), a distant cousin of theirs, and Ambrose and Rachel soon marry. But their marital bliss is short lived, as Ambrose dies of a brain tumour. Yet before his death, he manages to plant the seeds of suspicion on young Philip’s mind, that she’s been poisoning him. Thus, when Rachel comes over to Ambrose’s Cornwall estate, no matter how nice a person she seems to be, Philip is never at peace. He has a love-hate relationship with her; and he suffers throughout, due to the seeds of distrust having taken root in his mind. Even in the end, he is in agony, wondering whether she was guilty or innocent. Something that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

I really liked the ambiguous ending, for we never truly find out about Rachel, though we do feel she might be more innocent than guilty. She’s not a perfect person, but she most probably didn’t murder her husband, nor try to to kill off Philip, as he suspects. And as we get to know later, she doesn’t have any intention of taking over Ambrose’s estate, she doesn’t expect a dime. It’s all left to Philip.

With no real interest in making it in Hollywood, Richard Burton joined this project, due to the recommendation of director George Cukor (whom Burton had great respect for). Originally Cukor was planning to direct this cinematic adaptation of du Maurier’s Gothic novel. But when Cukor and du Maurier, read the first draft of the screenplay, they felt it was unfaithful to the novel, and were both disappointed. So Cukor dropped out. However the project went ahead, without Cukor, and the movie was ultimately directed by Henry Koster. The end result, though different to the novel, was excellent; mainly thanks to Burton’s brilliant acting talent, along with the rest of the cast. Even du Maurier was pleased with Burton’s performance, as well as certain shots filmed in the real Cornwall; but felt de Havilland didn’t capture the mystery of the character of Rachel, well enough. Even though I haven’t read the book, I agree, I felt de Havilland’s performance was quite lukewarm. She wasn’t bad, in fact she was interesting enough; but far from great. Then again the character she played was quite ambiguous, and hard to judge. None the less, the film is excellent; Burton Brilliant; and the cinematography by Joseph LaShelle, hauntingly beautiful. The Cornwall setting and the beach play quite an important role in this story, but I noticed it’s not as significant to the plot, as much as it (especially the representation of the beach) was, in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca; the 1940 film adaptation of which (by Alfred Hitchcock, starring de Havilland’s sister, Joan Fontaine) went on to win Oscars, for ‘Best Picture‘ and ‘Best Cinematography‘. 1952’s My Cousin Rachel, was nominated for four Academy Awards, including one for Richard Burton (his 1st Oscar nomination), but it won none. Burton never won an Oscar, though he was nominated seven times, altogether.

Apparently, Olivia de Havilland didn’t get along with Richard Burton, whom she hated. She felt he was coarse, crude, unsophisticated. But then again, growing up, she wasn’t very kind to her own sister, Fontaine. Today, amazingly, Olivia de Havilland, is the one who is still alive. Most notable for her role as the kindly ‘Melanie Hamilton’, in Gone with the Wind (1939), de Havilland turned 102, on 1st July 2018, surpassing younger sister, Joan Fontaine, who passed away on 15th December 2013, less than two months after her 96th Birthday!

Olivia de Havilland, Audrey Dalton and Richard Burton, in a scene from My Cousin Rachel (1952)

Back in my teens, in the early 1990’s, I watched the 1983 BBC television mini-series, based on My Cousin Rachel, which apparently is comparatively more faithful to the novel, and which I loved too. YET, I loved this classic movie adaptation, I saw end of September 2018, online on Youtube, with not that clear a sound, and re-watched day before, even more. Although, if my memory serves me right, I do feel, Geraldine Chaplin in the 83′ version, most probably did more justice to the role of Rachel.

Recently there was another film adaptation of this book, released last year (2017), directed by Roger Michell, and starring Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin, in the lead. Am yet to see this newer version, which has had some mixed reviews.

My Cousin Rachel (1952)

My Rating: Excellent – 10/10!!!!!!!!!!

Bookish Nuwan
Nuwan Sen’s Film Sense

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This Blog Post, is my contribution to the, REGALING ABOUT RICHARD BURTON BLOGATHON, hosted by Gill of Real Weegie Midget!!!!!

Thank you Gill, for letting me take part in this Blogathon, dedicated to a such prolific British Actor of the Stage and Screen!

Nuwan Sen (NSFS)

Feeling as sick as #PhilipAshley!#LateLastNight,watched #HenryKoster's #MyCousinRachel(1952)on #Youtube!A brilliant adaptation of #DaphneduMaurier's #Gothicnovel,a #novel am yet to read!10/10!Watched D 1983 #TVminiseries,back inD #90s,which too was superb!But this was way better!

— Nuwan Sen (@Nuwansenfilmsen) October 1, 2018