Ahh, what a delight! The humor was spot on (again).
The sub rosa homosexuality missed by the sensors reminded me of the wonderful "To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement" by Benjamin Nathans that I read several weeks back. Naturally he talks a lot about samizdat and adjacent things. "Sassy Sailor" seems to predate the dissident film making days, but it sure feels of a type.
Looking forward to the installment, even though you've poo-pooed a sex scene. (I've never tried to write one, let alone been brave enough to post it, so I'm hardly one to gripe! I suppose I'll grit my teeth and do it eventually though.)
Writing sex scenes is no mean feat, and I wouldn't want to be given the infamous "Bad Sex in Fiction Award." Or why not, it's still an award, right? It's just that my daughter reads my Substack, and it would be kinda awkward, don't you think?
I'm curious as to what you could come up with. ;-)
Oh, yeah, that would be just a bit weird! And, well, stick around and I’ll write one eventually, just to force myself out of my comfort zone if for no other reason.
'Subtle yet clear homosexual undertones'. There's a famous Chinese legend called Butterfly Lovers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_Lovers). Dubbed 'the Chinese Romeo and Juliet', it tells a story of a girl who, in the times when education is mostly reserved for boys, passes herself off as a young man and goes to school. When she meets one of her classmates for the first time, they immediately recognise each other as kindred spirits and become 'sworn brothers'. Gradually, though, she develops romantic feelings for her 'brother', and when she reveals to him that she is actually a woman those feelings are reciprocated. But alas, the girl's family have already promised her hand to a rich man. Eventually, just like the star-crossed Italian lovers, these two Chinese ones meet a tragic end as well.
Like I said, it's a famous tale so I heard it when I was a kid. I never thought much of it; I found it slushy. But now that I've grown older and the world is more colourful for me, I can at last understand this story: a cross-dresser and a closeted bisexual fall in love at first sight, but when they finally decide to have a life together they are persecuted by a conservative society! Subtle yet clear …
Talking of Soviet films, I happen to have seen a very good one yesterday: Battleship Potemkin. Apparently, it was great inspiration for the painter Francis Bacon, whose works I love. And, just to keep the diversity theme going, Sergei Eisenstein was very likely to be gay!
Battleship Potemkin is a great film, but my favorite is still Aleksandr Nevski. Poor Eisenstein, he had to navigate Stalinism and being gay in a very repressive society.
Your Chinese legend is beautiful, even more than Romeo and Juliet. How many unhappy lovers did meet such tragic ends, and all for the sake of stupid prejudices!
Portia, it is ready for the comedy script! Besides Burnes, we always thought he was a voiceless singer, but his singing of A Dark Night was excellent, like, everybody was crying.
And everybody who lived through the war, or knew the killed people, were crying. We, Russians, are very sentimental. The other war song was "The Little Blue Headkerchief," which in Russian has only two words: "Siniy Platochek," sung by Shul'zhenko. But we forgot about a new song, who was the author? You!? Very good. Bravo!
reminded me that Soviet movie...romantic comedy...don't remember much, but the funny part was the main heroine was a singer in some cafeteria or restaurant, в каком -то курортном городке, and every day she'd perform the same song:
The Sassy Sailor's Song... I always learn something new from your posts. Thanks, Portia.
Thank you, Michael! I strive to delight my readers.
And you always succeed.
Aww, Michael, aren't you sweet!
Duty and pleasure, Portia ;)
The Sassy Sailor song has an air of Ivor Cutler about it (a huge compliment).
Thanks Jeffrey, I'm blushing!
The Sassy Sailor reminded me a bit of the Carey Grant film You Can't Sleep Here... delicious.
Thanks, WTRI, the title says it all...
Ahh, what a delight! The humor was spot on (again).
The sub rosa homosexuality missed by the sensors reminded me of the wonderful "To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement" by Benjamin Nathans that I read several weeks back. Naturally he talks a lot about samizdat and adjacent things. "Sassy Sailor" seems to predate the dissident film making days, but it sure feels of a type.
Looking forward to the installment, even though you've poo-pooed a sex scene. (I've never tried to write one, let alone been brave enough to post it, so I'm hardly one to gripe! I suppose I'll grit my teeth and do it eventually though.)
Thanks Cary, I have to find that book now!
Writing sex scenes is no mean feat, and I wouldn't want to be given the infamous "Bad Sex in Fiction Award." Or why not, it's still an award, right? It's just that my daughter reads my Substack, and it would be kinda awkward, don't you think?
I'm curious as to what you could come up with. ;-)
Oh, yeah, that would be just a bit weird! And, well, stick around and I’ll write one eventually, just to force myself out of my comfort zone if for no other reason.
'Subtle yet clear homosexual undertones'. There's a famous Chinese legend called Butterfly Lovers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_Lovers). Dubbed 'the Chinese Romeo and Juliet', it tells a story of a girl who, in the times when education is mostly reserved for boys, passes herself off as a young man and goes to school. When she meets one of her classmates for the first time, they immediately recognise each other as kindred spirits and become 'sworn brothers'. Gradually, though, she develops romantic feelings for her 'brother', and when she reveals to him that she is actually a woman those feelings are reciprocated. But alas, the girl's family have already promised her hand to a rich man. Eventually, just like the star-crossed Italian lovers, these two Chinese ones meet a tragic end as well.
Like I said, it's a famous tale so I heard it when I was a kid. I never thought much of it; I found it slushy. But now that I've grown older and the world is more colourful for me, I can at last understand this story: a cross-dresser and a closeted bisexual fall in love at first sight, but when they finally decide to have a life together they are persecuted by a conservative society! Subtle yet clear …
Talking of Soviet films, I happen to have seen a very good one yesterday: Battleship Potemkin. Apparently, it was great inspiration for the painter Francis Bacon, whose works I love. And, just to keep the diversity theme going, Sergei Eisenstein was very likely to be gay!
Battleship Potemkin is a great film, but my favorite is still Aleksandr Nevski. Poor Eisenstein, he had to navigate Stalinism and being gay in a very repressive society.
Your Chinese legend is beautiful, even more than Romeo and Juliet. How many unhappy lovers did meet such tragic ends, and all for the sake of stupid prejudices!
Thanks, my dear Zibow!
Portia, it is ready for the comedy script! Besides Burnes, we always thought he was a voiceless singer, but his singing of A Dark Night was excellent, like, everybody was crying.
Thanks, Larisa, I think he sings this song beautifully; it moves me every time.
And everybody who lived through the war, or knew the killed people, were crying. We, Russians, are very sentimental. The other war song was "The Little Blue Headkerchief," which in Russian has only two words: "Siniy Platochek," sung by Shul'zhenko. But we forgot about a new song, who was the author? You!? Very good. Bravo!
Thanks, dear Larisa!
coool
reminded me that Soviet movie...romantic comedy...don't remember much, but the funny part was the main heroine was a singer in some cafeteria or restaurant, в каком -то курортном городке, and every day she'd perform the same song:
и когда бушует качка,
и на море ураган,
приходи ко мне, морячка,
я судьбу тебе отдам
What a love vow! Thanks for the lovely comment, Chen, and for the restack!
💕
Ah Portia, you stopped just when it was getting interesting! I'll have to tune in again the next time.
Martin, you naughty boy, I'm not going to write erotica, this is serious stuff!
So you tell me, but I'll check it nevertheless.
Well, prepare to be disappointed, I'm more prudish than a Victorian piece of underwear.
I like that line. You could put that into the story. I must do a restask.
So kind of you, Martin; maybe I will!
He was a visionary Canadian. Brain Cancer. Yes. Too young.
https://open.spotify.com/track/2SVEOxPGB8Z8WikO4DppNA?si=Fgcw_9D6QO-xtwvCkpmTFQ
Gordon Downey 🫠
Hey, that's a really cool song. Thank you for sharing it.
Thanks for your comment and the restack, Melanie Ann! I don't know this musician, apparently, he died young, so sad.