A piece of pie for Thursday: movies and Sally Forth

A quick bite of Pie with Pandora for you on this Thursday. I have an important question based on my ongoing quest to bring a post-Joseph Campbell appreciation of mythology to the larger world.

The question: What little-known or under-the-radar movie is your favorite inspirational or thought-provoking film?

For me, the most recent one was Stranger Than Fiction. Other ones might include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich, or Little Miss Sunshine.

Family films preferred. I loved Pan's Labyrinth, but goodness gracious, don't rent it with your kids.

I don't want to typecast. Choose anything you think really blew your socks off but wasn't something that everyone saw. And it doesn't have to be recent! You want to send over Shop Around the Corner, go ahead.

Bloggers: consider this a meme, and consider yourself tagged.

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Apparently there is a wonderful subculture of Sally Forth comic strip commenters, as I found out today after seeing and objecting to the latest (click on Jan. 8 link-- it will expire at some point) comic.

For those of you who don't know, Sally Forth is a fictional, eternal yuppie corporate mom with an eternally 12-year old daughter named Hilary and an eternally passive nice guy husband named Ted.

Ted is horribly spineless, and Sally criticizes him for laughs all the time. This has been noticed by more folk than just me.

But recently the writer, Francesco Marciuliano, decided to bring in an office flirtation for Ted in the form of Aria, who is a lot of fun. Way to go, Ted.

Nothing happened between Ted and Aria, and Ted is so sloppy in love with Sally it's embarrassing, but Sally is self-righteously not talking to Ted about the situation and complaining to her girlfriend as if he's a actual stinker.

Makes you want Ted and Aria to get together after all.

Comments

[Iulia]

Not the superlative choice, but it was recently on cable, so I'm reminded: The Children's Hour. Thought-provoking for not only the obvious reasons.

[DF]

Thanks, Iulia. You reminded me that Now, Voyager is one of the films I'd include in this list.

[Summer]

I'm not sure if I can tell between mainstream and under-the-radar films entirely. The films that make me think the most are those that juxtapose great pain and beauty, like Horseman on the Roof, The Pianist, and Water. They speak to me because they are so filled with light and dark, like music and well-balanced voices.

I think the last time I felt like a movie's message inspired me directly was in college when I saw Good Will Hunting. The freedom of owning innocence, and how hard it is to let something not be your fault. Wow. That made a difference to me.

[DF]

Thanks for these titles. I don't know the first three you mention. Back to the video store...

As to Good Will Hunting, maybe you should blog about that. Sounds like an edifying story.

[Summer]

Horseman on the Roof is one of those beautiful but graphic French films. Water is from India. Is The Pianist also subtitled? I think probably. I have a quiet obsession with foreign films.