Thursday, September 25, 2008

Video of the Week: Story of a Sign



I was in New York last week and I noticed how the homeless there just shake their change cups and never speak until spoken to. Very different than Portland.

And then when I got back, someone sent me this wonderful film called Historia de un letrero. Watch how, with a stroke of the pen, a stranger transforms the afternoon for another man in this emotionally stirring short film by Alonso Alvarez.

Dont read this until you see the film:

This film won the Cannes short film award. And I thought a while about just why this film strikes such a chord.
Here is my take:

For most of our lives, we are all the blind man who cannot see the beautiful day.

1 comment:

glitz said...

I absolutely LOVE this wonderful film. One stranger of all others who pass by this man notices something he can do that has not occurred to another. There were a few who showed a bit of compassion by tossing in some coins, but the stranger in the 'rich shoes' gifted the blind man in a better way. This film is a remarkable example of the power of words and how they are conveyed, kindness, and compassion. I was also particularly moved by the rearrangement of the words which caused those who were enjoying that beautiful day to consider the fact the blind man could not share what the rest of us are able to behold. They considered what it might truly be like to not be able to enjoy the beauty. The sign changer demonstrated an act of love in its purest form. Excellent and highly moving film. Simple and beautiful...Simply beautiful...And a lovely reminder of no matter how ugly things are or seem to be, we live in a beautiful world.