A conversation at a bar tonight made me think of this film. It stemmed from the question of favorite books. One of mine has always been The Sheltering Sky, a book that, almost in a sad way, becomes more relevant with each passing day. I read it again recently and, more than ever, it seemed as if Bowles wrote it all in a burst, yesterday.
Anyway, I'd like to see this film again for a lot of reasons. When I first saw in 2000 I remember thinking how amazing it was that this man who wrote one of my favorite books had this entire other calling as a composer. I just remember really liking this film because it captured one of my favorite writers during his last days.
There's a part at the end when a young boy comes and sings to Bowles while he is resting. There's a comfort in that scene, a joy that seems to sum up all that is good about being alive. Bowles is frail and weak, but, as he closes his eyes and smiles it's clear that, right then, he's more alive than most of us ever allow ourselves to be.