off after two days...

at Friends---of course, as soon as I returned, the structure that I had been missing during the two weeks of vacation fell into place. Even yesterday's "marathon" (four periods in a row, three seventh grade and an eighth grade) was meaningful. Not sure when I wlll return, but happy just to have had those two days. In addition to the two days of coverage I had some meaningful discussions with a few upper classmen. Real good.
Weekend report:
Saturday--Bunin again--this time saws Claire's Camera a film by a South Korean film maker widely admired, with Isabelle Huppert, as a first time photographer-teacher, visiting Cannes. Kind of an in joke, don't you think? Anyway, the film was terribly laid back---low key, a kind of interesting study of a waif like 20 something South Korean woman, who keeps getting into weird relationships. Not a great movie, by any means; I think the reviews that praised it were a bit overblown. Not much else to say.
Sunday: after some deliberation, decided to go to Metrograph, to see the movie, Personal Problems, directed by the late and very talented Bill Gunn. Actually two movies that were made around 1980, now restored. The central character is a an emergency room nurse at Harlem Hospital, in her late thirties. She is in an unhappy marriage, but turned on by a jazz pianist she met accidentally.The film follows her relationship with the guy, while she argues with her husband, who is also having an affair. As the film progresses, other aspects of the couple's life come into focus--some mutual friends, a crazy half brother and his girl friend who come to live with the couple, and finally, the death of the husband's father, who had been living with the couple.
The first part of the movie flips around a lot---scenes are presented out of chronological sequence--only to have images of them return later----this effect separated me from the movie, but as the conflicts were sharpened---my focus was stronger. The second movie is much more focused and dynamic---some very blunt portraits of the black middle class---some very focused arguments---ultimately the both husband and wife realize that their other relationships have to go, and they re unite. Glad that I saw the movie, much of it was very potent.
Tonight, there are a lot of options, but I think I will check out Pacino's Wilde Salome at the Quad. Of course, everything could change in a minute, but that is the plan. Will report soon.