This is written during the election campaign that will either give a second term to President Trump or to one from his opposition Democratic party. It's location in the flow of history should be defined by eras, rather than number of years since the birth of Christ, that traditional count of cycles of our planet around the sun.
The era of this film's creation and dissemination is a millisecond of cosmic time, from the great apes developing that first proto-culture, meaning complex interactions cemented by language -- that at one point, unexamined and unknowable, - ostracism, affection and curiosity resolved itself into something different - laughter.
In this context, Paul, the alien possessing powers that are unknown to earth creatures, is appropriately reaching us through the medium that we humans are accustomed to. We can join other strangers in an auditorium and feel the kinship of the knowing group who laughs in unison, or it can be in our own home watching a screen that allows us to be part of that same crowd. The knowing laughter unites us for a few seconds as we let ourselves be part of the adventure.
Paul wavers between vulnerability and immortality, his existence being only threatened by his extending himself by compassion, attempting to save another by the giving of his essence. If only there were such a creature, the personification of love who represents a force that transcends what earthian creatures and our cultures have devolved into. If only we humans had his compassion and ability, no longer needing to bury our fears in religious faith-- to join a stern patriarchy lead by a supernatural creature who demands fealty.
Paul showed us how that it's possible with a single touch to a secret spot to transform a frightened human into one who feels the full pleasure of her body connecting with another. The sexual joy of the young woman transformed becomes more genuine than the oppression that she, and her culture, imposed.
Paul the extra-terrestrial, and Paul the movie are messages from someplace that most of us may imagine, and some of us seek in various ways. For a couple of hours there was this gift of enlightened joy that seems to be receding as hatred, escalating and irrational, has taken over the political culture of our country and the world.
Paul, thanks for the visit. Let's hope that your message somehow becomes part of this suffering planet.
The era of this film's creation and dissemination is a millisecond of cosmic time, from the great apes developing that first proto-culture, meaning complex interactions cemented by language -- that at one point, unexamined and unknowable, - ostracism, affection and curiosity resolved itself into something different - laughter.
In this context, Paul, the alien possessing powers that are unknown to earth creatures, is appropriately reaching us through the medium that we humans are accustomed to. We can join other strangers in an auditorium and feel the kinship of the knowing group who laughs in unison, or it can be in our own home watching a screen that allows us to be part of that same crowd. The knowing laughter unites us for a few seconds as we let ourselves be part of the adventure.
Paul wavers between vulnerability and immortality, his existence being only threatened by his extending himself by compassion, attempting to save another by the giving of his essence. If only there were such a creature, the personification of love who represents a force that transcends what earthian creatures and our cultures have devolved into. If only we humans had his compassion and ability, no longer needing to bury our fears in religious faith-- to join a stern patriarchy lead by a supernatural creature who demands fealty.
Paul showed us how that it's possible with a single touch to a secret spot to transform a frightened human into one who feels the full pleasure of her body connecting with another. The sexual joy of the young woman transformed becomes more genuine than the oppression that she, and her culture, imposed.
Paul the extra-terrestrial, and Paul the movie are messages from someplace that most of us may imagine, and some of us seek in various ways. For a couple of hours there was this gift of enlightened joy that seems to be receding as hatred, escalating and irrational, has taken over the political culture of our country and the world.
Paul, thanks for the visit. Let's hope that your message somehow becomes part of this suffering planet.