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I recently watched a favorite old movie, “Out of Africa,” which was based on a memoir by a Danish baroness, Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dinesen,) who was nominated for the Nobel Prize several times. One biographer says, of Blixen’s writing, “Every sentence is like a prose poem.” I don’t know how many of Blixen’s words made it into the screenplay, but the movie is full of beautiful phrasing (and of course the cinematography is amazing).
One of the best scenes is when while travelling together, Denys (played by Robert Redford) washes (Meryl Streep) Karen’s hair, beside a river, while quoting from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” (That would work for me.)
“He prayeth well, who loveth well, both man and bird and beast.”
In a later scene Berkeley (a friend) warns Karen to be careful about Denys, saying:
“When old mapmakers got to the end of the world, they used to say, ‘Beyond this place there be dragons.’”
After Denys and Karen’s affair becomes full-blown, he asks if he can live with her. Her reply?
“When the Gods want to punish you, they answer your prayers.”
Beautiful words and images to inspire writers, artists, filmmakers and lovers!