"Do what you have to, to be happy in this life. There is so much beauty." 最後一句話 也是我所認為的這部電影的精神所在 如果把它當作婚外情記錄片來看 那就失去看這部電影的價值了 情欲／情感的刻畫是電影常用的題材 像是李安的許多知名電影 對於中西文化在情欲／情感上的表現都有一定程度的著墨 本世紀看的幾部新舊電影都有些相似的地方 《緣起不滅／The Classic》是我2003年認為最好看的電影之一 不過它比麥迪遜之橋（簡稱麥橋）晚了八年出來 敘事手法相似、也是透過母親的信件／札記來倒敘 但多了份神秘的『緣』（Relationship） 麥橋所呈現的情欲表現跟《桂花巷》後半部有點類似 不過中式的表達方式比較保守 而我也聯想到《小畢的故事》中 小畢晚上在床上看《查泰萊夫人的情人》 這本書我還沒看過，只知道個大概 應該是年輕小伙子對性的好奇 另外，《香水》裡頭，在行刑的廣場上 描繪人們心底情欲的橋段更是激情、大膽 我想，這是中西的差異吧 台灣的性教育應該要再加強 才不會造成許多人對性觀念的氾濫、扭曲 人生有許多值得去追尋的 不是只有室內、市內 透過網路、電視、電影、相片等多媒體 我們可以認識到許多戶外、城市之外的美 就像是Montana的Big Sky、Big River 就像是Iowa的Covered Bridge、Countryroad 在台灣也有許多Blue/Big Mountain, Blue/Big Sky 台灣有許多拍成電影的資產 就是缺乏拍電影的創意 而這些資產不斷地在消逝 缺乏的創意卻又趕不及 就像『過去，他曾經在這裡；現在我來了，可是他不在了。』 就像『去年今日此門中，人面桃花相映紅；人面不知何去處，桃花依舊笑春風。』 有種光陰的感慨哪 最後，麥橋指的是一座Covered Bridge 所以大陸方面把這部片翻成『廊橋遺夢』 而我印象中 小時看到的『湯姆歷險記』中也有Covered Bridge 橋是交通要道 台灣有許多溪 值得蓋許多橋 如果都是給車走的水泥、柏油橋 那麼便顯得枯躁、無趣、乏味 如果能蓋些不同的橋 讓行人試著走走 那應該是種不錯的體驗 以雙腳著實地踩在地上行走 才有那種腳踏實地的感覺 才有那種活著的感覺!! 一句經典對話 I was picking you some flowers. Men still do that, don't they? I'm not out of date, am I? Picking flowers for a woman as a sign of appreciation? 一則經典短詩 "There is a pleasure in the pathless woods... There is a rapture on the lonely shore... There is society where none intrudes... By the deep sea and music in its roar... I love not man the less, but Nature more... From these our interviews, in which I steal... From all I may be, or have been before... To mingle with the Universe and feel... What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal. - Byron's 一段經典口白 FRANCESCA (V.O.) I almost told him. In that moment I felt as if I couldn't hold it back. If he really loved me maybe he'd understand. FRANCESCA (cont'd; V.O.) But love won't obey our expectations. Its mystery is pure and absolute. What Robert and I had, could not continue if we were together. What Richard and I shared would vanish if we were apart. But how I wanted to share this. How would our lives have changed if I had? Could anyone else have seen the beauty of it? FRANCESCA (V.O.) After your father died, I tried to get in touch with Robert but found out he had left the National Geographic soon after the Madison County. No one seemed to know where he was. My only connections to him were the places we'd been to that one day. And so each week, I'd re-visit them. FRANCESCA (V.O.) And then one day, I received the letter from his attorney, with a package. ROBERT (V.O.) "There is a pleasure in the pathless woods... There is a rapture on the lonely shore... There is society where none intrudes... By the deep sea and music in its roar... I love not man the less, but Nature more... From these our interviews, in which I steal... From all I may be, or have been before... To mingle with the Universe and feel... What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal." FRANCESCA (V.O.) There has not been a day since that I have not thought of him. When he said we were no longer two people, he was right. FRANCESCA (V.O.) We were bound together as tightly as two people can be. If it hadn't been for him, I don't think I would have lasted on the farm all these years. Remember that dress of mine you wanted, Carolyn -- the one you said I never wore. Well, I know I was silly. But to me, it was as if you were asking to wear my wedding dress to go to the movies. FRANCESCA (V.O.) After reading all this, I hope you can now understand my burial request. It was not the ravings of some mad old lady. I gave my life to my family. I wish to give Robert what is left of me. FRANCESCA (V.O.) "I gave Lucy his photography book. If you're interested, take a look. If my words still leave something unclear, perhaps his pictures can illuminate. After all, that's what an artist does best... " FRANCESCA (V.O.) "I love you both with all my heart. Do what you have to, to be happy in this life. There is so much beauty."
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