Cool Easter Day on the Docks

Last night's movie was one of those which makes you wonder if a movie should be made about such a subject. For a long time I watched Steve Carell as the famed du Pont heir descend into believable depths of paranoia, and finally schizophrenia, when he gunned down in an unstable fit of rage his favourite wrestling trainer, the famed Olympic Gold Medallist Dave Schultz - dead, with about four shots more to make sure.

This movie called 'Foxcatcher', the brand name of the du Pont racing stable - his mother was a devoted equestrian and hated her son's interest in wrestling as a sport - embodied all that is bad about wealth and power in the US. It was really about the madness of one of the du Pont dynasty, at that stage the wealthiest family in the US and one of wealthiest, no doubt in the world. The fortune, made initially by the manufacture and selling of gunpowder, then branching into plastic and nylon, obviously had a downside in terms of karma, and John du Pont, about whom this tragedy was written, was a victim of family dysfunction and super wealth. He was also a sport-obsessive in athletics and wrestling and was passionate about financing the American Olympic wrestling team for the1988 Seoul Olympic Games. 

In particular, he was obsessed with the Schultz brothers, both gold medallists, whom he bought with his millions to pursue his goals. There were some factual problems with the story, but all in all, it was a faithful rendition of a madman out of control. I can imagine the Americans loving this film. My audience was mainly young, and in the front row were ten young Kiwis, all there to see the wrestling no doubt. Makes me wonder where they are going...

The film was up for some Academy Awards, one for Steve Carell as best actor as he was excellent in the hideous role he had to play. There were many sexual connotations throughout the movie as du Pont was shown to be obsessive-compulsive, and his abiding interest in the very close body-contact sport of wrestling certainly led one to believe there was more to his interest than met the eye. I read in Google later that he suffered from having his testicles removed in an operation as young man so that would suggest some strangeness at least, especially when he had the du Pont fortune to spend. 

Du Pont was convicted of murder and died thirteen years later in jail, having bequeathed most of his personal fortune to a Bulgarian wrestler whom he had become very fond of. The film was an indictment of the power that money can exert on many people, especially when in fragile hands, as were those of this published ornithologist and philatelist, du Pont. At one stage du Pont owned the most expensive stamp in the world which, in 2014, was sold by Sothebys London, for $9.5 million.

 I walked out of the cinema a little wiser, but certainly no happier than I had walked in.

Docks at WellieJazz

Ferry to Eastbourne

Grey skies....

...but a great coffee!

At the Dog Cafe opposite Portrait Gallery

Later today at five, I am scheduled to attend a birthday party for Heta's partner, that is before I go to the dance class with Heta to prepare for next week's competition. I think Paul, the partner, enjoys a good party and their apartment is spectacular on Brooklyn hill so it may attract a big crowd. Not really to my taste I'm afraid as big parties are such hard yakka and I will know very few there. I will make an early appearance and disappear to my class at six-thirty.

This cafe called 'Dog', is on the wharf opposite the Portrait Gallery so I will take this opportunity to see some art as well as have a great coffee.