Maria was born October 12, 1810 in La Coruña during the Napoleonic wars to Alvaro and Cecilia Romero (first to survive after several miscarriages), and grew up near a port where she’d get the chance to learn about other walks of life. She’d develop in interest in the sciences and generally how things work, which earned her a bit of a notorious reputation among a more superstitious crowd, which condemned these vices on account of their being “French,” in origin, labeling her an “afrancesado”. Years later, after traveling to London to attend a ladies’ seminary (painful time), she sought to debunk the existence of anything supernatural, but after contracting rabies in the process of trying to make a point, she’d succumb to the illness but to her own surprise and even dismay, she’d turn after experiencing the most heinous of visions. What followed was carnage, and she’d regret it forever. Returning home as soon as possible, she’d force herself to harness her alter ego to prevent from becoming victim from the experienced soldiers in the area, who had learned Guerilla warfare years before and could still use it. Over the course of about 5 years, she’d learn her condition and the tension she feels directly impact the violence level of the wolf, so within that time she’d metaphorically freeze her heart, becoming cold, analytical, and sometimes even cruel. All the while she’s reminded every full moon of her wrongs. Eventually after somewhat accepting her condition, she’s make it her responsibility to understand it on a scientific level within the scientific realm, at the cost of her own sanity. Within the main story, she’s the definition of emotional constipation
Two movies that draw on Rabindranath Tagore’s life.
The first, Kadambari, is on his sister-in-law Kadambari Devi who committed suicide at an early age. Pics 1 and 2 are of Konkona Sen-Sharma and Parambrata Chatterjee as Kadambari and Rabindranath in the movie.
The second, Jeevan Smriti, is a documentary based on Tagore’s life and made for Doordarshan for the author’s 150th death anniversary by Rituparno Ghosh. The documentary spans Tagore’s life from his childhood to his death. Raima Sen and Samadarshi Dutta play Kadambari and Rabindranath.
Both films draw on the many images of the Tagore family for costuming, the latter more so it would appear from the stills.
Do you want me to swallow insults? To crawl? To kneel? To beg? Play both sides? Flatter? No, thank you. Live for other people’s opinions of me? No, thank you. I prefer a different life. My own. I answer to no one, and I am content, thank you.
Clash of generations. Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” of Austria and her mother-in-law & aunt Archduchess Sophie symbolising the two opposing parties of their people on the example of Crown Prince Rudolf’s education. In short, new liberal ideas versus the conservative tradition.
