A Spring for the Thirsty
October 7, 2010
The filter of memory will deceive us in to thinking that all of the good things in our lives have passed. We bask in the nostalgic light of days gone by and our hazy memories are saturated with unmitigated beauty. This is not altogether an unhealthy thing but if it removes us from being present in the “now” it can blind us to our obligations and the beauty that surrounds us.
A Spring for the Thirsty finds an old man who is living in his past. All that is beautiful in his life has moved on so it is only in memory that he can find peace. His major preoccupation is building a coffin as he is resigned to the notion that there are no more days ahead of him that will be worth living. We are all thirsty to drink from the spring of days that seemed more pure but if it results in the muddying of our water supply it can have a serious detrimental impact on our current lives.
The film starts out basked in an ethereal light and is rich in poetic metaphor. The overexposure of the film during the sequences of introspective reflection adds an otherworldly quality and combined with the sparse compositions it drives the themes of the film to the forefront. As the film progresses we find ourselves going back and forth between this heavenly nostalgia and the dull greys of somber reality. The minimalist approach combined with the sparse compositions and obvious metaphor may deceive one in to thinking that this is a simple film but it is the simplicity of the delivery that shines a light on profound and beautiful truths. It is coming to terms with our lives when we can regain our fervor and come to the realization that life is cyclical and though we may be plagued with death and heartache and our children may one day shun us, there is still beauty to be found if we don’t resign ourselves.
