My Journal if a COVID-19 Year, Day 35: “I’m wearin’ a Fur Pyjamas I ride a Hot Potata’”

Today is a gift for minds bogged down with far too much of the ordinary. In 1986, David Byrne, of Talking Heads fame, released an amazing movie called True Stories, which has remained one of my favorite movies of all time. The film is essentially an anthology of stories in a loosely tied narrative about the people of Virgil, Texas who are in the midst of the town-wide “Celebration of Specialness” to mark the towns 150th anniversary. Byrne acts a a narrator who is visiting the town and learning of its true specialness. The various scenes from town, culminating in the talent show that is the capstone of the celebration, all provide commentary of various aspects of modern life, to the soundtrack of Talking Heads music. Though the entire story is filled with wild characters in surreal situations, there is a recognition of our life and ourselves in these residents.

Byrne is joined by a number of well-known actors including John Goodman, Spaulding Grey, and Swoosie Kurtz, each playing one of the slightly askew townspeople. One bit of trivia I discovered when preparing to write this today is that one of the writers was Stephen Tobolowski, probably best know as Ned Ryerson in the movie Groundhog Day!

A favorite scene is a fashion show that takes place in the town mall as part of the celebration. While the “fashion” ranges from the truly mundane to the insane, the seriousness with which it is conducted, and the commentary of the hostess, bring into focus our own sense and conventions of fashion beauty, and comfort.

Enjoy this scene and watch the full movie if you have a chance.

Be safe, be strong.

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