apples of gold in settings of silver

Another woman...

Hmm, this post is a bit belated... Watched this movie called "Another Woman" last weekend... No, it's not about a mistress or adulterer.. the story has a pretty interesting premise. Directed by Woody Allen, it was made in the 70's and stars Gena Rowlands as a fifty-something philosophy professor. She's outwardly very successful in her profession, well-respected as a teacher, and has written good books on German philosophy, married to a similarly well-educated and nice husband. She has decided to rent a small apartment downtown so as to concentrate on writing her new book. While writing in the apartment however, she discovers that she can hear everything that's going on in the psychiatrist's office next door (old buildings being what they are), the patients, the consultations, everything. While there, she overhears the consultation of a young woman who feels very lost and frightened in her life, very unhappy. Somehow Gena's character identifies with her.. A chain of events occurs, while she continues listening daily to the young woman's therapy sessions, which make her reconsider the "perfect" life she's been living, what kind of a person she really is, and what she really wants and loves.

To cut a long story short, she finds out that she has achieved what she wanted in life and become very successful by denying her emotions.. people actually see her as cold and judgmental but she had no idea; all along she felt she was being truthful and good, when in fact she was selfish and insensitive to others. She'd also denied her heart in marrying, following her head instead, which leads her to even more pain. But I find it a really hopeful story, because she doesn't shy away from the truth she learns, what people really say about her, but instead she finds out more, and she learns and grows from it. I'm hopeful that I'll achieve this level of self-awareness. Oops, better not say too much, before people start analyzing me!

posted by Puz @ 9:30 PM