Edible Thistles of the UHB Unite!

“Metropolitan” is easily one of my top 10 favorite movies. I watch it every December and probably always will. I simultaneously abhor and adore slimy Rick Von Sloneker, and can’t ever get enough of Chris Eigeman’s sneers and Taylor Nichols’ pretentious pontificating.

And there is just so much to love about “The Last Days Of Disco,” from Chloe Sevigny and Kate Beckinsdale’s little Yorkshire striving existence to what is arguably my favorite bit of film dialogue ever:

“You know that Shakespearean admonition, ‘To thine own self be true’? It’s premised on the idea that ‘thine own self’ is something pretty good, being true to which is commendable. But what if ‘thine own self’ is not so good? What if it’s pretty bad? Would it be better in that case not to be true to thine own self?”

And, while I remember enjoying “Barcelona,” I actually don’t remember any of it. 🤷‍♀️

Forgettable “Barcelona” notwithstanding, suffice it to say I was thrilled when Whit Stillman announced a new movie—“Damsels in Distress”— his first in 13 years, first since “Barcelona.” And then, oof, that movie was NOT GOOD. Just. Really. Not. Good.

But I remember one scene, even now. A girl, I think from Bumblefuck, USA, probably on scholarship, sees her first artichoke, bobbling in a pot of boiling water, and her mind is blown. That scene sticks with me, the actress’ large eyes, wide with youth and the discovery of something new, wide with the realization that that weird globular thistle was something to eat, something that she would eat that night, for the first time.

I think about how lucky I am, how fortunate so many of us are, to have access and exposure to fresh, healthy, interesting foods, and how privileged I am, how privileged my four year old is that he already knows that what is on this plate is an artichoke and doesn’t bat an eye when I bring it out. (He won’t eat it though. We will get there.)

So, that bad Whit Stillman movie gave me something, I guess— a different way of looking at an artichoke. And also: Greta Gerwig. And I am soooo ready for the Barbie movie. Though @alphajada did just write a book on “Oppenheimer,” so does that mean I have to switch allegiances?