Well, Late Chrysanthemums was as great as I hoped it would be - four former geishas in their early fifties, struggling to make a living in the mess that was post-war Japan. Everyone is struggling for money, but people are still contrained by the social niceties of a century ago. None of the women were black and white; the greedy one, the louche, the beautiful one wasting away with a weak heart, the struggling sake shop owner - the all seemed so well drawn. I was of course fascinated by the character of the woman who'd saved enough money to be getting rich, but was turning into a heartless pickle. She said the other women were all happier - and in some ways they were, and they enjoyed each other's company more - but she'd sold out her happiness for security. And, looking at the other women's lives, it was hard not to say she'd done the right thing. A great movie, 3 1/2 stars, and I can't wait to see Mother on Tuesday.
Afterwards we had a great adventure taking the #93 bus to Putney from Clapham Junction, finally giving up at Southfields and catching the tube (who would design a route so anti-intuitive?).
I miss having half of my LJ flist gone on vacation.