once upon a time, the only impressions i had about paris were culled from scenes in an obscure movie i saw as a child, filmed at orly airport. les aventures de rabbi jacob (1973) was the source of the only vision i had, and that was from a singular, jewish focus ... so funny!
and even funnier still, as the way i truly found my love of paris came via my first (of many) screenings of the film private benjamin (another singular, jewish focus). when judy benjamin, the movie's subject, has the fortunate opportunity to move to the location of her choice, she selects western europe (bruxelles) - to be close to a new lover (paris). aside from the deliciousness of goldie hawn (sublime - as she searches for champagne piping on her ottoman, not mushroom piping please!), the editing of the movie as judy swoops into france is intoxicating. that first view of the eiffel tower, her effortless movements through the cobblestoned streets, her broad strides on the broad boulevards - fantastique!
and what, tell me what, could be better than seeing this young budding francophile pick up her proud parents at charles de gaulle, terminal one, and glide through one of the fenestrated, suspended, criss-crossing escalator tubes with them touching her (newly colored) red mane (as it cascades onto her fur coat)!!
yes, there's the ubiquitous french maid, the citroen-riding soccer buddies, and other trappings of french clichés, but for me, this movie was in fact the beginning of a beautiful thing! and to this day, everytime i land in paris, i think of judy benjamin - a young american caught in the throes of passion and love ... and what better place than paris for such affairs!
thank you judy. thank you goldie!
and even funnier still, as the way i truly found my love of paris came via my first (of many) screenings of the film private benjamin (another singular, jewish focus). when judy benjamin, the movie's subject, has the fortunate opportunity to move to the location of her choice, she selects western europe (bruxelles) - to be close to a new lover (paris). aside from the deliciousness of goldie hawn (sublime - as she searches for champagne piping on her ottoman, not mushroom piping please!), the editing of the movie as judy swoops into france is intoxicating. that first view of the eiffel tower, her effortless movements through the cobblestoned streets, her broad strides on the broad boulevards - fantastique!
and what, tell me what, could be better than seeing this young budding francophile pick up her proud parents at charles de gaulle, terminal one, and glide through one of the fenestrated, suspended, criss-crossing escalator tubes with them touching her (newly colored) red mane (as it cascades onto her fur coat)!!
yes, there's the ubiquitous french maid, the citroen-riding soccer buddies, and other trappings of french clichés, but for me, this movie was in fact the beginning of a beautiful thing! and to this day, everytime i land in paris, i think of judy benjamin - a young american caught in the throes of passion and love ... and what better place than paris for such affairs!
thank you judy. thank you goldie!
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