Clark Street by Chipka
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Description
Once upon a time in Prague, I met someone named Pavel…though he habitually spells his name minus one vowel. In Czech, the letters “v” and “l” together imply a vowel sound, and so it is unnecessary to write it.
I was with Pavel (minus the second vowel) drinking beer. We’d had dozens throughout the day. It was Saturday, after all, and I had yet to acquire work at the Golden Sickle. I had free time. Loads of it. I had a digital camera and local friends. And so it was no wonder that I spent time with them, and with fellow expatriates as well. On one particular Saturday, Pavel (yes, minus the second vowel) was in a cinematic mood. He’d laid his hands on a DVD that intrigued me: an epic propaganda film called House of Flying Daggers. It is a brilliant, if somewhat over-the-top and schmaltzy movie centered on a blind woman bent on revenge and her cute male companion. There’s a lot to be said for such formulaic entertainment when it comes at you in Mandarin, subtitled in Czech. (We had to fiddle with remotes in order to disable the Czech subtitles and enable the English ones…otherwise I would have been forced to resort to creating my own dialogue.)
I won’t go into a description of the film, but I will say, don’t make gorgeous Chinese women angry, especially if they’re trained dancers who can wield swords without even touching them: it takes some skill to sword-fight using only the sleeves of your extravagant dress, and it cuts down on leaving those pesky fingerprints on the hilt. What struck me, (sartorial sword-play aside) was the music that accompanied the revenge-fueled assassination attempt. The fight began with a dance: and a song--something in Mandarin.
Since my return to Chicago (and the acquisition of the movie soundtrack) I’ve learned that the song is simply called “Beauty Song” in English, though a rough transliteration of it is provided as “Jia Ren Qu.” It’s performed by Zhang Ziyi, who also acted in the film, danced, and allowed her dress to do at least one of her fight scenes while she emoted to the camera and pretended to be blind. (Did I tell you that the plot to this film strains credibility at times?)
I’ll always have great memories of Prague, but one of them involves…well…a Chinese film, and a loopy Czech guy smoking little bitty cigarettes with the word “START” emblazoned on the crumple-proof package. As I write this, I’m listening to House of Flying Daggers and trying to find a way to get Corey to see it. I suspect we’ll be renting it soon. I think my reason for wanting to see this film is because one particular song in Chinese just-so-happens to match an image I snapped with Corey during one of our countless meanders around Chicago. We weren’t far from his apartment, and I’d just photographed the church windows I dedicated to Tara. Corey was busy photographing dents in a car, rust, and something raw and urban. I ambled around, keeping my shadow out of his shots; I snapped a piece of Clark Street, since we were approaching it. I wasn’t thinking of the song “Jia Ren Qu” as I took this picture, but it fits so perfectly: I think it’s because it reminds me of Corey, of Pavl, and especially of Victor. Funny…none of them speaks Mandarin Chinese, though Victor has some bizarre linguistic tricks up his sleeve, so who knows…?
At any rate, here is the mood of Clark Street on a particular crisp and sunny day, and now that I’ve seen this picture after nearly forgetting it, I wonder if Corey will eventually post whatever he was photographing as I so judiciously avoided casting my shadow into his shot. And I wonder if it'll evoke the lyrics of a song in another language.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you're all having a great week.
Comments (18)
NefariousDrO
It's funny that this makes you think of a Chinese movie (I have that movie on DVD, btw, I love those crazy-type movies) because what this made me think of was the classic westerns with the stark light and strong contrasts. I keep expecting to hear that epic Clint Eastwood music kick in and a dark silhouetted gunslinger stepping out into the harsh and unrelenting sun. This is a great shot, perhaps all the more because it evokes epic stories in our minds.
kgb224
Outstanding capture and story my friend.
bmac62
Clark Street, the trigger of so many memories for you today Chip! Your photo gives us a peek into Corey's neighborhood. This is very fitting as we've now got to look up and down a few blocks of both Andrea's and Mark's neighborhoods lately. Yesterday I got a chance to show you a slice of my backyard where the squirrels run free. Your excellent photo image makes me want to take a seat on that bench and wait for whatever comes by next:) There must be millions of stories on Clark Street...sounds like a line from some old TV series that at one time could only be purchased on a VHS cassette.
beachzz
This brings to mind one of those "last man on earth" movies. Where you look down the street and there is NO ONE. We all see so many different things in the same shot. Though I could imagine you and Corey just out of frame, cameras in hand, keeping the crowds at bay while you get just the right shot!!
Meisiekind
Clark Street - gosh that sounds familiar! Wait - brb! OMG - you are not going to believe this! I am not sure if there might be more than one Clark Street, but when I visited Chicago in 2007, I stayed in the Westin on the river and that is exactly where Clark Street crosses the river. I just went back to my old pics and there it was - a pic I took showing the street name on the bridge crossing the river - Clark Street!!! Isn't it amazing how Clark Street triggered different memories for both of us today! Wonderful story and image Chip! :))
myrrhluz
My impression of the street, is like Marilyn's. There are two cars which are probably in motion, but they can easily be peopled with the sand-like remains of a doomsday scenerio. And the lights go through their endless cycle, with no one to care. It looks so empty and it seems that it shouldn't be so. This sets the mind thinking sinister thoughts. This is a very interesting shot. There are two details that I like a lot. The first is the pattern in the concrete square that corners the bricks. I don't know if it is supposed to be anything in particular, but I like it. The second is the utility, (or phone) pole in the distance. It looks like a cross with headphones on. I kind of like that too. Excellent narrative!
helanker
A beautiful peace of empty street and still there is alot to see. Subway, benches sunshine and not to tall houses. Thanks for charing this beautiful shot and the story too :-)
mbz2662
You have certainly piqued my interest in the movie House of Flying Daggers and it's sound track. Wonderful work Chip :)
durleybeachbum
Well, that wasn't so much of an OOZE as a plate of noodles! Very interesting, non-the-less! And the pic is like a Chirico painting, except for the Subway shop from which the most disgusting smells eminate, even in your pic! (I presume it is the sandwich outlet) Another great juxtaposition, Chip!
romanceworks
Melancholy, even with the memory of flying daggers. CC
MrsRatbag
I love listening to your memory wanderings...the thing that catches me about the photo is the light, not the bright light, but the reflecting light on the brick pavers to the right of the bench...soft, warm and very inviting. Good one, Chip!
ladyraven23452
i really love the shot.
kbrog
Excellent capture of a plesent, quiet street corner.
belasebok
Nice urban shot. The narrative is excellent.
auntietk
I love love LOVE this photograph, and what you've written makes me want to see a bad movie. Quite a trick, since I purely hate movies! (I know, I'm weird. Sue me.) Sometimes a bad movie is a lot better than a good movie ... something I know you'll absolutely understand! LOL! Did I mention the light? Especially where it reflects off the paving stones. Fantastic!
EricSBauer
Nice shot, very well composed. Definitely makes you question the mood; it can go quite a few different ways.
nikolais
quite a rare chance to see an empty street nowadays. you so masterfully manage to create the atmo, Chip.
blondeblurr
Hmmm, Clark street ? It doesn't seem to mean so much to someone, who lives at the other side of your realty...but the name Clark street has incited another tune in my head now, going round and round, namely the 'Baker street' lyrics by Gerry Rafferty. Winding your way down on Baker Street Light in your head and dead on your feet Well another crazy day, you’ll drink the night away And forget about everything. This city desert makes you feel so cold It’s got so many people but it’s got no soul And it’s taken you so long to find out you were wrong When you thought it held everything. just a little bit of reminiscing for moi...of a street by another name and another tune, ah well...one can dream ! a very fine photo, of such feelings for a street, absolutely beautiful benches to complement the scene. Cheers BB Post a Comment The artist of this im