dual personalities

On Thursday this week the weather people promised to deliver severe thunderstorms. I waited all day for a storm that never materialized. No thunder, no lightening, not a drop of rain. Only sun and muggy, muggy wind. Much as I like the North Country, I have to admit that I miss the great storms of the Midwest and the eerie fogs of the UK. After Thursday’s weather bust, I took consolation in pictures from son #2’s recent hiking trip to the Old Man of Storr on the Island of Skye. In clear weather, a good photographer can’t miss:

Photo by BJE photography

But more often he or she faces an other-worldly landscape**,

fog-enshrouded

and darkly menacing.

Sunshine may offer great views but the muffled world of rain and fog is certainly a lot more dramatic.

Of course, it’s also nice if the person being photographed actually turns toward the camera once in a while. In case you wonder what boy#2 looks like, here he is facing the camera.

I’m all in favor of not letting weather get in the way of adventure but we should always take precautions and obey the warning signs.

For now I’m content to live vicariously through pictures, and keep an eye on the weather for a good storm that I can enjoy while safely ensconced at home.

*Charles Dickens, Bleak House

**The foggy photos of Skye were taken by friend and fellow-traveler, Julie Collins.

As I scrolled through Netflix the other night, a Jordanian film called Theeb caught my eye and I watched it. Set in the magnificent Wadi Rum in 1916, Theeb chronicles the struggle of a Bedouin boy (the eponymous Theeb) to survive in the unpredictable, changing adult world.

Despite the historical setting, WWI and the Arab Revolt provide a backdrop and nothing more. None of the main players in the Arab Revolt make an appearance or even get mentioned, albeit the briefly encountered Englishman is clearly reminiscent of T.E. Lawrence. Even Auda Abu Tayi, the great Howeitat leader, who actually lived in Wadi Rum, is excluded. Likewise, neither women nor religion play any role. Rather, the film concerns itself with the boy Theeb, his brother, and the antagonist, a guide turned brigand by geopolitical forces way beyond his control. It’s not perfect by any means, but it is beautifully filmed,

well acted (the boy and his brother are not professional actors),

and has good music (listen to the whole segment). Most reviewers call it an adventure and liken it to westerns, and while this assessment may be superficially true, I think it misses the point. What makes the film interesting is the distinctly Bedouin take on codes of behavior and survival. Theeb is definitely worth a view.

Incidentally, Wadi Rum is Jordan’s Monument Valley. If you aren’t up for Theeb but want to appreciate the incredible scenery, you can see it in Lawrence of Arabia, The Martian, Prometheus, Red Planet, The Last Days on Mars, or Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Clearly, this locale is a favorite stand-in for Mars.

*From the voice-over at the beginning of the movie: “In questions of brotherhood, never refuse a guest. Be the right hand of the right when men make their stand. And if the wolves offer friendship, do not count on success; they will not stand beside you when you are facing death.”