Memoirs and Grand Voyages

Watched Memoirs of a Geisha and Le Grand Voyage on Saturday and Monday respectively.

I prefer the latter. Simply because amongst simple stories, of which both are, Le Grand Voyage tells things more honestly. I've not read the book by Arthur Golden. Don't think I ever will. So I cannot comment on how great the adaptation was. The movie was not as captivating as I would have thought it to be and I couldn't really tell if it was an accurate portrayal of Geisha culture in Japan. Maybe it was the Hollywood touch that discredits the authenticity.

Le Grand Journey on the other hand is such a simple story. Father and son go on a pilgrimage together. The former cannot drive so roped in the latter as the driver. Disgruntled but unable to disobey, son grudgingly sends father to Mecca. Along the way, they traded their camera for a live sheep because the son wanted to eat meat instead of pitta with eggs. Sheep escaped. Freakish woman hopped in for a free ride across the border. Getting caught in a snow storm and got snowed in. Another old man joined in for the pilgrimage and was soon dropped as the father suspected him of stealing their money. The son later found the money and returned the money to father but never told him that it was in the car all along. Instead, he lied that it was given by the French consulate. Son didn't want dad to know that he has misjudged a character. Something like that. In the end, father reached Mecca and on the first night there, died.

Simple story.

But what gorgeous sites and natural acting.

The father and son duo drove from France through to Italy, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Turkey and the drive was just amazing.

Why don't I have my license yet!?

*cause you are lazy* - small voice in my head