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| The poster for the movie |
Those were the days when TV started at 6pm and closed at 10pm with Die Stem reverently sung by a choir of [definitely white] voices.
Youth is wasted on the young?
I knew that the day would arrive when I don’t feel 18 inside anymore.
Hints were the good looking young men at university who insisted on calling me “Ma’am” and young ladies that look like I feel inside (that’s 18, remember) that referred to me as “daai Tannie”.
The Wall on TCM
Yes, I had hints that this day will arrive... but that it would arrive with The Wall being on TCM; well that was unexpected. Nevertheless, I had a fabulous time late last night watching Pink Floyd’s cult record translated to movie/animation by Alan Parker (the director of another all-time favourite of mine – The Commitments).
The Story
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| Pink Floyd - my hero Roger Waters is 2nd right. |
The basic story is about a pop star called Pink Floyd (ja, I know) played by Bob Geldoff and his journey and battle with alienation and emotional detachment.
Lots of metaphors and stunning music and other deep stuff. Njam. And a grillerige scene where Pink shaves off his chest hair and eyebrows with one of those 1970s safety razors.
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| Young Pink and Catatonic Pink |
Parenting?
There are all sorts of themes that are part of the Good Enough Parent course embedded in The Wall.
Pink’s father died in the war and being abandoned by his father, he longs for a father figure. There you have the Abandonment lifetrap.
His mother is over protective as the lyrics from Mother say: “She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing.” There you have the Dependency and maybe Defectiveness Lifetraps developing.
He writes poetry and his teacher shames him big time in class for his poems...Defectiveness/Shame and Mistrust lifetrap. Pink becomes more and more emotionally detached and builds this metaphorical wall between him and others. This is the avoidant coping style in action, baby!
Avoidant Coping StyleThere are all sorts of themes that are part of the Good Enough Parent course embedded in The Wall.
Pink’s father died in the war and being abandoned by his father, he longs for a father figure. There you have the Abandonment lifetrap.
His mother is over protective as the lyrics from Mother say: “She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing.” There you have the Dependency and maybe Defectiveness Lifetraps developing.
He writes poetry and his teacher shames him big time in class for his poems...Defectiveness/Shame and Mistrust lifetrap. Pink becomes more and more emotionally detached and builds this metaphorical wall between him and others. This is the avoidant coping style in action, baby!
People with the genetic disposition to cope with their pain/frustration at unmet need by avoiding really tell themselves that the pain of their unmet needs is too painful to face. They then find ways of distracting themselves and “remove” the pain from their conscious awareness. Every time an image, thought or memory regarding the lifetrap or unmet need is activated in their minds or lives, they distract themselves by being busy with something else. Of course, some people end up having to distract themselves constantly. This is why the avoidance coping tendency is very much alive where addictions are present...so much for that chocolate binge you were planning for later, hey?
Unfortunately the distributor is Warner, which means I don’t have copyright to use movie clips from The Wall during the Good Enough Parenting training. Pity as it would have helped to illustrate avoidant coping in a brilliant manner. Anyway, heard on Sky this morning that Waters and Gillmore will be reuniting for a The Wall performance. Anyone feel like donating a ticket to a die-hard fan? If you're in the mood, you can read some more deep stuff into the lyrics to Mother, one of the songs from The Wall:
Mother, do you think they'll drop the bomb?
Mother, do you think they'll like this song?
Mother, do you think they'll try to break my balls?
Mother, should I build the wall?
Mother, should I run for President?
Mother, should I trust the government?
Mother, will they put me in the firing line?
Is it just a waste of time?
Hush now baby, baby, don't you cry
Momma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true
Momma's gonna put all of her fears into you
Momma's gonna keep you right here under her wing
She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing
Momma's will keep Baby cozy and warm
Oooo Babe
Oooo Babe
Ooo Babe, of course Momma's gonna help build the wall
Mother, do you think she's good enough
For me?
Mother, do you think she's dangerous
To me?
Mother will she tear your little boy apart?
Mother, will she break my heart?
Hush now baby, baby, don't you cry
Momma's gonna check out all your girlfriends for you
Momma won't let anyone dirty get through
Momma's gonna wait up until you get in
Momma will always find out where you've been
Momma's gonna keep Baby healthy and clean
Oooo Babe
Oooo Babe
Ooo Babe, you'll always be Baby to me
Mother, did it need to be so high?
Mother, do you think they'll like this song?
Mother, do you think they'll try to break my balls?
Mother, should I build the wall?
Mother, should I run for President?
Mother, should I trust the government?
Mother, will they put me in the firing line?
Is it just a waste of time?
Hush now baby, baby, don't you cry
Momma's gonna make all of your nightmares come true
Momma's gonna put all of her fears into you
Momma's gonna keep you right here under her wing
She won't let you fly, but she might let you sing
Momma's will keep Baby cozy and warm
Oooo Babe
Oooo Babe
Ooo Babe, of course Momma's gonna help build the wall
Mother, do you think she's good enough
For me?
Mother, do you think she's dangerous
To me?
Mother will she tear your little boy apart?
Mother, will she break my heart?
Hush now baby, baby, don't you cry
Momma's gonna check out all your girlfriends for you
Momma won't let anyone dirty get through
Momma's gonna wait up until you get in
Momma will always find out where you've been
Momma's gonna keep Baby healthy and clean
Oooo Babe
Oooo Babe
Ooo Babe, you'll always be Baby to me
Mother, did it need to be so high?
2 comments:
This is really profound. I used to have The Wall record long ago. I loved the music. Never took too much notice of the story therein and didn't see the movie. Would like to now though. Wonder if it is still available?
Noeleen, you can get the movie from loot.co.za for under R200. The music is a bit different (better methinks) than the original record and should be watched with volume UP!!
That's why I love Roger Waters - his music always has a deep story...and he's certainly not afraid to be 100% honest about the gritty experiences of emotions.
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