Monday, November 10, 2008

This weekend I watched “Guess whose Coming to Dinner” with Sidney Poitier, Kathryn Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.

For those who haven’t watched the movie the quick story line is: Hepburn and Tracey’s daughter has fallen in love and intends to marry a black man (Poitier.) The parents are self proclaimed free thinking liberals who are confronted with their own hidden biases. The film also delicately exposes black on white and black on black biases.

There is a beautiful scene in the film when Tracey (The father) asks Poitier (the intended husband) if he has given any thought as to what will become of their children. Poitier cheerfully replies that Joanna (the daughter) wants them to be Presidents, but that he would be okay if their kids end up as secretary of the state.

Watching the film forty one years later after Obama’s momentous win, I could almost picture Obama’s mother and father having a similar conversation, hopefully talking about their son’s future, and the world around them thinking how crazy they are.

Three cheers to unreasonable hope, I am reminded of my favourite quote by Bernard Shaw:

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the conditions that surround him... The unreasonable man adapts surrounding conditions to himself... All progress depends on the unreasonable man."

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

i loved this movie too.. lets all be as unreasonable as we can! =)

miss u

S

Anonymous said...

Will you please stop contacting me for sex already

SimplEnigma said...

LOL @ second anonymous. One of my favorite movies...have you seen Imitation of Life? If you haven't rent it on Netflix (or the Canadian version of that). Fantastic...similar theme.

Unknown said...

I recall watching the movie a long time ago. Back then when the movie was made, what happened in the elections was a mere "unreasonable" dream.

Radmila said...

I love that movie..as well as Imitation of Life as Simple Enigma pointed out.

But, make sure you have kleenex for the ending scene in Imitation of Life...it's a tear jerker.

Radmila said...

SE: I don't really get the co-relation between films though.

Please explain your take. I'd be interested to see your view of how the two relate.

One is an interracial couple whose parents come to an understanding, and acceptance of the relationship...the other is a girl finally coming to grips with her racial identity, albeit a little too late for her mother...

While we're at it, A Patch of Blue with Portier and Winters is also an interesting movie for it's time.

-_- said...

Great movie. Thought the fiancee was a little daft, though.

Radmila said...

Solitaire, the fiancee was daft...that was on purpose.

I think this was to add depth to the characters, and give even more reason for viewer to be against the marriage. It also enhanced the portrayal of Poitier's characters' educational level and intelligence.

Poitier's character was in his thirties and a widower who lost his son. His fiancee was a sheltered, and somewhat spoiled, 21 year old not even out of college (I don't think).

Making the odds against them bigger.

Yeah...this is one of my fav movies because it was one of those films that came just at the right time, with some of the best actors of the time in it...well, except for the fiancee...LOL

Anonymous said...

Heard that movie was legendary, though i never saw it myself.

Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...

It was, indeed, a groundbreaking movie. This is my first visit to your site, and I am impressed. :-)

Crankyputz said...

Thanks Deb, visit more often.

Rad: I think the fiancee was daft/naivee was central to the whole premise of the movie. It was to show that if you teach your kids the right values, here's how they should end up, ignorant about things like colour and race as diffrentiators...

Anonymous said...

I read through your entire blog, exciting stuff!

I'm your new stalker! Insert evil laugh here

You all got exciting lives, damn!

Cranky, you really have a way of captivating the readers with your sexy, subtle and rhythmic writing style.

Oh and you look hot it in the one or two itsy bitsy pics you have shown of yourself. Ha.

Crankyputz said...

I walk alone, we love compliments!!!

Come again, and come often!

Anonymous said...

OMG! I love that comment at the top! I am stealing it! I only tell you because I don't want you thinking I was the one who put it up there... plus, I would be discouraging you from contacting me for sex! ;-)

Moderator said...

My mom, I think, had a secret crush on Mr. Poitier which would have totally pissed off her husband. Which I always found kind of funny.

Suffice, I've seen this movie several times.

Abeni said...

such a pity that neither of Obama's parents lived to see their son scale the mountain. Oh,great movie that was.