When I watch a film that has a profound emotional impact on me or that sticks with me for days at a time and prompts me to reflect on my own life experiences in a deep and meaningful way, there comes with it a certain feeling of euphoria as the credits roll. Perhaps you know the feeling: a flood of endorphins that culminate in proverbial “goosebumps” as you realize that the film you were just watching has changed something integral about you. In a sense, your molecules and atoms have been reorganized in a new and distinct pattern and you are better off for it, permanently rewired by a masterful piece of cinema.
So what about visual storytelling is so alluring? Film is my favorite artistic medium because of its ability to engage multiple senses, combining them into a sort of cerebral orchestra. Film has the ability to transport us to different worlds, to involve us in the lives of others while giving us the feeling that we are walking in their shoes, to teach us new and enlightening things about ourselves, to aid us in reflecting on our pasts while also grounding us in the present, and above all, to tell a beautiful story.
I am fascinated with the human experience and the wonder of the completely unique and singular nature of the story. All people on this earth have a story to tell, each different, if even slightly, from the last. The crucially important element of film lies in its ability to convey these stories in impactful and beautiful ways. Because film is a medium that allows for the full range of artistic expression, the most carefully crafted films can provide a powerfully resonating experience, which can bring one closer to fully understanding his or her own story at a deeper and more meaningful level. The best filmmakers understand the ability of the medium to truly connect to an individual through the use of a myriad of techniques and layers that convey the broad spectrum of human emotion. Each aspect of film plays a part in a whole and it is only when they are used in harmony with one another that the full effect of film as an art form is felt.
My favorite films are ones that teach me something new about myself. I find that there is an interplay between art and life and that each reflects the other like constantly bounding shards of light, playing off one another, expanding and contracting. My opinions and mindset on film shift and bend as time moves forward and as I gain more life experience just as the films that are made change based on our state of being as a society and culture. At times, art feeds off of life and at others, life feeds off of art. It is now the year 2020 and it is one of the most critically important periods for our species. The doomsday clock is two minutes from midnight and I have found that it is during the times where the atmosphere is at its most tense that art is at its best and most vivid and alive.
I have had the idea to create a film blog for many years and the time has come to bring it into fruition. I want Film is the Warmest Color to be a place where I can put my thoughts, emotions, and passions regarding film into space in an effort to extend the connection between filmmaker and viewer to a wider audience. I also want this to be a platform for friends and other film buffs like myself to develop content whether it be in the form of reviews, lists, ruminations, reflections, discussions, or just ramblings about whatever film related thing that they feel the need to throw into the void. I want to use this blog as a link between myself, the medium of film, and other film aficionados. I think there is so much conversation to be had surrounding good art, specifically film, and I want this to be the place where that conversation can develop and thrive.
In addition to writing about my love for film, I also want to use this blog as an avenue to explore my own self-growth as it pertains to my film-viewing experiences. I am at a critical turning point in my life and I hope that this blog and the discussions that will take place here can inspire others to grow from art and to not just go to movie theaters to see the latest Star Wars film, but to dig deeper and to truly challenge themselves. Film has so much to offer those who are willing to step over previously self-created boundaries and open not just their eyes and ears, but their hearts and souls to the stories that so many are telling through the lens of a camera. Welcome to Film is the Warmest Color. This is just the beginning.