May 7, 2009

Theme Thursday - Wind


According to Bert,

“Winds in the east, mist coming in,
Like somethin' is brewin' and bout to begin.
Can't put me finger on what lies in store,
But I fear what's to happen all happened before”

And like breath of fresh air, Mary Poppins, the extraordinary English nanny, is blown by the East wind to Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane, and into the Banks' household to care for their children. With her parrot-headed umbrella and her magic carpet bag she introduces the children, Jane and Michael, to some wonderfully delightful people and experiences. Once she has transformed the Banks into a happy family once more, Mary puts up her umbrella and goes off with the changing wind.


“The wind stiffened, and the sky toward Providence stood revealed as possessing the density of some translucent, empurpled rock. . . . At the base of this cliff of atmosphere cumulus clouds, moments ago as innocuous as flowers afloat in a pond, had begun to boil, their edges brilliant as marble against the blackening air." And in blew Darryl Van Horne, a real horny little devil, ready to seduce the three Witches of Eastwick, Alexandra Jane and Sukie. The trio of bored, husbandless New England woman innocently conjure up a mystery man to satisfy their every desire. The wild-eyed, wild-haired and wildly rich Van Horne moves into town and he fits the bill perfectly. Although he wishes to have his evil ways with his witches and a fight between good and evil ensues, the three women have discovered almighty powers within themselves.


"The sly wind blew in from the north," narrates Vianne’s daughter Anouk, as she and her mother find themselves in the insolated and conservative French village of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes where they soon open a small chocolate shop. Vianne is treated suspiciously what with her wearing a red cloak and curvaceous clothing. She even has the nerve to defy tradition and open her chocolaterie during Lent. But her shop attracts the curious and Vianne and her tantalizing recipes mend a marriage, re-unite a grandmother and grandson, and empower a woman to leave her domineering husband. She even manages to make the uptight mayor loosen his girdle a little. "Chocolat" will do that to you. The wind changes again and Vianne and Anouk have to leave once again....or maybe this time, they'll stay.

Wind is often used as a metaphor for change. Here are three examples in which I think the change is positive.

Harris, Joanne, Chocolat, Doubleday 1999
Updike John, The Witches of Eastwick, Knopf 1984
Travers, P.L. Mary Poppins, Harper Collins, 1934

36 comments:

Kat Mortensen said...

I adore Mary Poppins! Evertime I think of Chocolat, I think of that strange combination of chocolate and chili peppers (have yet to try that, but will).

As for The Witches...not a big fan, but it is ideal for the theme.

Kat

Bee said...

Oh, I hate wind -- but how can I argue with these great examples? I've enjoyed them all, albeit in my wind-free living room.

Giulia said...

Lovely, Pup.

I will study more when I return (if I do...sniff) from scary dentisty thing. But wanted to say it just brightened my groggy morning & have more to ask about it, probably tomorrow.

Marvellously imaginative & alliteration & well-chosen images...

xo svs/gg

Anna said...

Women, all sultry, saucy, and sweet. Wonderful film tie-ins to wind. A pleasure, as always, Hazel.

mouse (aka kimy) said...

practically perfect in every way!

wonderful selection of examples!!

Candie said...

Thanks for posting that!Great movies,all three.Well Mary Poppins I'll just have it in my child memories but I just love The Witches of Eastwick!!Surprised?NO,lol.

Have a nice day :)

Rouchswalwe said...

Hmm ... this brings to mind the possible connection of the change and of the direction from which the wind is coming. I'd always thought it interesting in Chocolat that it is the "North Wind."

Colette Amelia said...

wonderful creative ways of illustrating that most illusive topic! I loved all of these movies, and in reading your snippets perhaps I best read the books!

PS the photo was of a NDP Candidate who has since stepped out of the race since this photo was found on his facebook!

Tess Kincaid said...

I adore Vianne's compelling wind in Chocolat! Love the book and the film.

Brian Miller said...

great picks for movies representing the winds of change. now if they would continue to blow on the economic front...well worth a movie. ha.

Debo Hobo said...

I just watched 'Witches....", it is such a kooky movie. LOL:)

Sandra Leigh said...

Very clever, Pup.

btw, my favourite chocolate is the dark chocolate with lavender and black pepper that they make at Spinnakers in Victoria but Chocolat's chili chocolate sounds wonderful, too.

Ronda Laveen said...

Great examples of the influences of wind. When I heard the theme, my first thought was Chocolat. I am so glad someone used it. I had forgotten that part in Witches. Great post. Clever.

The Clever Pup said...

Spinnakers - I've been there. I'll have to go again.

I tried an Aztec Chocolate Brownie recipe that I found in Chatelaine once that had cayenne.

Wings1295 said...

Very cool - never thought of those movies, either!

California Girl said...

I like two out of the three. Always wanted to strangle Mary Poppins, even as a tween. Good quotes from the scripts or books though.

Dot-Com said...

Mary Poppins, of course! Why did I not think of her :-)

Roy said...

Ahhhh! Chocolat is one of my favorite movies. and I have tried the chocolate with chili pepper. It's great! And The Witches of Eastwick is wicked good fun.

thanks for posting this great take on the theme.

Tom said...

now i have got that song 'tuppins' going through my head. Feed the birds...Mary Poppins was great, my kind of nanny.

Rinkly Rimes said...

Yes, it was a delightful film. The book was actually written in Australia, I believe. The little township where the author lived makes quite a feature of it.

Here's my offering

http://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/02/298-grey-wind.html

Unknown said...

Magic clearly comes with the wind - what a fun comarison! I have a guilty compulsion to watch "Witches" every time it's on, but Chocolat remains my favorite of the three. And yes, chile in chocolate is divine!
thanks for a great post!
delia

Baino said...

Great selection and I'd completely forgotten about the significance of wind in Chocolat and The Witches of Eastwick. Great fun. Think I'll have to hire these again!

C.M. Jackson said...

how loverly...wind is magical--I am hearing the music of each movie and am compelled to watch each and every one again..thank you!
best c

Dakota Bear said...

Chocolat is one of my favorite books and the movie did it justice. The Witches of Eastwick I have not seen. I recall Mary Poppins when my children were young. It is interesting how movies uses the wind as a sign of change. That is seen in other movies such as Westerns.

Megan said...

I approve your choices one hundred percent.

The Silver Fox said...

Never saw Chocolat, but I enjoyed the other two... years apart and for radically different reasons.

New Yorker wannabes said...

Thank you for posting these images and quotes! Chocolat is one of favorite movies!!

Have a great day
xoxo

Ima Wizer said...

Your examples of wind sound lovely but coming from West Texas, I can assure you there is nothing nice about wind. It is the one thing I cannot abide and I hide under my covers when it is here, turning up my fan to "high" so I cannot hear it or know it.

Michael Rawluk said...

I think the world needs a good stiff breeze right now to get things on track.

Mad Aunt Bernard said...

Beautiful post, combining some favourite films - I see from your profile we have similar tastes (although you can't tell from mine as it's not at all sensible!)
I will be looking in again, lovely blog.

Mrsupole said...

Three great movies and three great quotes. What more can one ask for. Okay a piece of chocolate would be nice. I have not tried the one with chilli peppers and maybe someday if I ever get brave I will.

Thank you for a great post.

God bless.

Reyjr said...

great movies!ive seen them all and especially enjoyed the witches of eastwick. ;)

vicki archer said...

I love your 'wind' selections - three fabulous movies, xv.

tony said...

your right.The Wind is used a lot in Films.Also,dont forget that end scene in American Beauty.

Rachel Fox said...

Hi
Interesting post. And I've been writing about the wind just this week...no surprise though really it can be very windy here on the east coast of Scotland!

Liza B. Gonzalez said...

What great references to Wind in all these movies. How clever, hmmm!