Create Your Mood, Atmospheric Art House Films

August 9, 2020,

Events may dictate what sort of day you will have, affecting your mood.

Having said that, perhaps the events that you schedule for the day can create the mood that you choose to achieve.

We like the latter.

The legendary singer David Plant knew that. His lyrics speak to that.

I'm in the mood for a melody
I'm in the mood for a melody
I'm in the mood

I can make you dance
I can make you sing
I can make you dance
I can make you sing
If you want me too

There are many tools and skillsets that you can use to set a mood for the day and for us, there is none better than scheduling art house films to set the mood.

Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, as of this August 7, 2020 writing, the economy is struggling, many businesses have shuttered as numerous companies have shifted their employees from office to home.

When you are at home, away from supervisors, crowded traffic and city noise, it allows you to set the mood.

For the day.

Maybe for the week.

We have some films to help get you started.

It would be beneficial if you subscribe to Netflix, Prime Video and Tubi.

We love how the cable landscape has changed. Dramatically.

Screaming at the top of our lungs about how much we hate to pay the exorbitant Comcast cable rates ruins the mood. It is painful. In our business we have no choice.

Previously we purchased their packages that would include HBO, Showtime, Cinemax and Starz but what we found was that there were so many repeats and few first run movies that we actually wanted to watch that we tried to cut our cable bill by cutting them out.

Then streaming came along and boy are we ecstatic. There are so many more offerings on Netflix, Prime Video, Tubi, Hulu, Epix and Sling, that we have been rejuvenated

“While writing, I tend to repeat the same song, endlessly, for thousands of times. This helps me ignore any lyrics, and helps create a consistent mood for each book.”… Chuck Palahniuk

It is time to set the mood.

For you.

We’ll stay in one country. Next time we will take you elsewhere, around the world, as you shelter in and have the power to set the mood.

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a 1975 Australian mystery drama film which was produced by Hal and Jim McElroy, directed by Peter Weir, and starred Rachel Roberts, Dominic Guard, Helen Morse, Vivean Gray and Jacki Weaver.

It was adapted by Cliff Green from the 1967 novel of the same name by Joan Lindsay, who was deliberately ambiguous about whether the events had really taken place, although the story is entirely fictitious.

To this day, we’re still not sure.

The plot involves the disappearance of several schoolgirls and their teacher during a picnic at Hanging Rock, Victoria, on Valentine's Day in 1900, and the subsequent effect on the local community. Picnic at Hanging Rock was a commercial and critical success, and helped draw international attention to the then-emerging Australian New Wave of cinema.

For good reason. We have thoroughly enjoyed the Australian offerings.

Picnic at Hanging Rock got us off to a great start, years ago.

Darkened the windows, close the doors, cut off as much outside noise as you can and watch this one in the dark. Whatever ails you, it will begin the process of detaching you from that mood to another.

Alexandra's Project is a 2003 Australian drama thriller film written and directed by Rolf de Heer and starring Gary Sweet and Helen Buday.

Here is the storyline:

Upon returning home from work on his birthday, Steve (Gary Sweet), a middle class husband and father of two, finds the house dark and his family not home.

He notices a chair, his television set, and a video tape obviously set out for his viewing. He turns the TV and VCR on, and begins to watch a tape made for him by his wife, Alexandra (Helen Buday).

The first clip shows his wife and children wishing him a happy birthday, but after the kids leave the room, Alexandra begins a striptease, and it appears to be nothing more than a birthday gift.

Talk about setting the mood.

But don’t get too excited just yet.

As it progresses, however, it becomes clear that the tape is designed to humiliate and torture Steve for marital problems that Alexandra has been stewing about for years. As part of her show, Alexandra feigns breast cancer, has sex with their neighbor, and tells Steve that neither she nor their two children are ever coming back home again.

Emotionally speaking, you’ll need a strong stomach for this one but it could have the effect on your mood that you certainly are glad that you are not Steve and more important, it is not wise to take your mate for granted, especially if there are children involved.

The above is a slow burn that will absolutely suck you in.

To be watched in the dark.

Next up is Dawn.

A woman running from a terrible truth hides out in a remote hills town with her young daughter until her past catches up with her and an impossible choice must be faced.

Here is part of the review at adelaidereview.com.au, “Writer and director Christopher Houghton’s follow up to his moving, award-winning documentary Sons & Mothers is a mystery starring respected stage and screen actors Matt Day (Rake, Muriel’s Wedding) and Leeanna Walsman. Walsman plays Dawn, who is hiding out in a motel with her daughter Steph (Onor Nottle) after she violently assaults a man. With someone closing in on her.”

When you first begin viewing Dawn, there is a completely different tone than where it will eventually lead, which we must admit surprised and saddened us.

It satisfied us as well.

We applaud Screen Australia.

Screen Australia is the Australian Federal Government's key funding body for the Australian screen production industry.

It was created under the Screen Australia Act 2008, and from July 1, 2008 took over the functions of its predecessor agencies the Australian Film Commission (AFC), the Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC) and Film Australia Limited.

Across its various departments, Screen Australia supports the development, production, promotion and distribution of Australian narrative and documentary screen content.

Thus far, they are doing an exceptional job.

We could stay watching films from Australia for some time. There are some intensely unique thrillers that do not follow a formula that we’ll have lined up for you.

Thriller or atmospheric gem, Australia has them in abundance. When should you watch them?

It depends upon your mood.

And that depends upon you.

~ ~ ~

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picnic_at_Hanging_Rock_(film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandra%27s_Project

https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Leeanna-Walsman/dp/B074MJ8FS4

https://www.adelaidereview.com.au/arts/cinema/2015/05/27/a-thrilling-touch/

https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/mood-quotes

https://fciwomenswrestling.com/

https://www.fcielitecompetitor.com/

https://grapplingstars.com/

fciwomenswrestling2.com/ 

https://femcompetitor.com/