In sonnet 65, my amateur view is that the writer is discussing the unstoppable march of time and its impact on our lives (ie bringing them to an end). The sonnet is quite dark in this way, with the vast majority composed of such thoughts – contrasting time with large solid objects compared to the much more fragile and fleeting aspects of beauty. There is no real upbeat ending and indeed the writer only seems to hope that somehow his writing will outlast such forces even if he himself does not (although of course the depressing air is lifted by me reading his words hundreds of years after his death!).
The film puts us with an older construction worker who spends the film in thoughtful mood while delivering these words directly or in narration / voice-over in an urban square in Manhattan. In doing so the film plays it the way many in the Sonnet Project have, which is to more or less make the film about delivering the sonnet, but at the same time do more than just stand there saying the words into the camera before "cut" is said. I liked the rough and slightly tired look that the main actor brought to the role; he doesn't come across like a blue collar worker, but he convinces in his own type of fatigue and awareness of it. This helps the words because he has a weight to his delivery that suits their sentiment.
In terms of what the film shows, it is less clear but at least accessible enough so it forced me to think. Doing so made me consider what the character was looking at and how it had sparked his thoughts even if I was a little confused that the section of wall is the focal point when both the strong stone of mortality is referenced and the duration of the ink. I think it is meant to be taken as both; the section of wall is a reminder of how lasting such things are, while the ink represents the lasting voice of protest and therefore the idea that the stone may last for a long time but it is not the only thing to be effective – ultimately it may still last but it did not stop everything that it was intended to.
How this totally fits into the life of a construction worker I am not sure, but I enjoyed the film for its superficial simplicity (letting me focus on the sonnet delivery) but also that a lot of it made me think back and come back for more viewings to see what would click into place. An enjoyable film in the Sonnet Project.
The film puts us with an older construction worker who spends the film in thoughtful mood while delivering these words directly or in narration / voice-over in an urban square in Manhattan. In doing so the film plays it the way many in the Sonnet Project have, which is to more or less make the film about delivering the sonnet, but at the same time do more than just stand there saying the words into the camera before "cut" is said. I liked the rough and slightly tired look that the main actor brought to the role; he doesn't come across like a blue collar worker, but he convinces in his own type of fatigue and awareness of it. This helps the words because he has a weight to his delivery that suits their sentiment.
In terms of what the film shows, it is less clear but at least accessible enough so it forced me to think. Doing so made me consider what the character was looking at and how it had sparked his thoughts even if I was a little confused that the section of wall is the focal point when both the strong stone of mortality is referenced and the duration of the ink. I think it is meant to be taken as both; the section of wall is a reminder of how lasting such things are, while the ink represents the lasting voice of protest and therefore the idea that the stone may last for a long time but it is not the only thing to be effective – ultimately it may still last but it did not stop everything that it was intended to.
How this totally fits into the life of a construction worker I am not sure, but I enjoyed the film for its superficial simplicity (letting me focus on the sonnet delivery) but also that a lot of it made me think back and come back for more viewings to see what would click into place. An enjoyable film in the Sonnet Project.