As a kid the mothers secret stash of gold coins - that she draws upon to work a miracle for her daughter - because she too was courageous and untamable - was the dramatic climax rather than the race itself - which felt like a foregone conclusion.
For me it was poignant but I didn't fully understand why - now I think it is because her mother had put aside her uniqueness and accepted a role that was ordinary and in some ways beneath her - a choice my mother and so many gifted women of that time also made.
I was a horse too. My mother used to say I was even sounding like one. Of course I grew up on national v, but funnily I prefer it’s mediocre sequel International Velvet. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Plummer and Ryan O’ Neil’s daughter Tatum i’neil whom I was obsessed with because she was by the time I saw the film, at age five, was my tennis idol McEnroe’s wife. I watch international velvet every year as a ritual . I’m close to fifty now. The opening credits already reduce me to tears. I also loved the black stallion trilogy- I think Coppola did the second and maybe the third. They’re cinematographically incredible. The first still makes me cry. Strangely little luz Taylor’s velvet never touched me that deeply in the core as these.
As a kid the mothers secret stash of gold coins - that she draws upon to work a miracle for her daughter - because she too was courageous and untamable - was the dramatic climax rather than the race itself - which felt like a foregone conclusion.
That’s wonderful! Do you remember that from reading it yourself? I wish I’d read it to my own.
For me it was poignant but I didn't fully understand why - now I think it is because her mother had put aside her uniqueness and accepted a role that was ordinary and in some ways beneath her - a choice my mother and so many gifted women of that time also made.
I was a horse too. My mother used to say I was even sounding like one. Of course I grew up on national v, but funnily I prefer it’s mediocre sequel International Velvet. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Plummer and Ryan O’ Neil’s daughter Tatum i’neil whom I was obsessed with because she was by the time I saw the film, at age five, was my tennis idol McEnroe’s wife. I watch international velvet every year as a ritual . I’m close to fifty now. The opening credits already reduce me to tears. I also loved the black stallion trilogy- I think Coppola did the second and maybe the third. They’re cinematographically incredible. The first still makes me cry. Strangely little luz Taylor’s velvet never touched me that deeply in the core as these.
Very charming piece on NV. I also appreciate AK's continuously shrewd coverage of the book world.
Thank you so much! Trying to give the subscribers a little extra something.