Maria and the kids

I've been spending the last few days introducing Kaiya to my favorite old musicals. Friday was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and today was The Sound of Music. I had forgotten how good this movie is! Yes, the kids hop up and down steps while singing their respective dos res and mis, and Liesl does exclaim "WEEE" after kissing Ralph. (And while I point out these scenes' cheesiness I admit that they are some of my favorite parts.) But alongside all that cheese is a really heartbreaking story about a family in the midst of Nazi takover. I guess as a kid I didn't really pick up on the serious undertones... I was too focused on trying to sound grown up while singing Liesl's part in the "Edelweiss" duet.

Anyway - I can't stop thinking about the captain's face when he sings about his homeland in "Edelweiss". This is such a pivotal scene. Not only does it show his soft side toward his children, but it creates such sympathy for his situation. I mean come on, this guy was a naval captain decorated by the emperor, obviously affluent, and these German bullies are on the brink of taking everything away from him. By the way... I know that the festival performance is supposed to be the more dramatic scene, but I always think about how everyone in the crowd must be thinking about how p. whipped that Von Trapp guy must be that he's singing in this lame festival with his new, ugly haircutted, wife. (No offense Ms. Andrews but you were much hotter as Mary Poppins.)

I'm sure that Kaiya appreciated the film and is deconstructing its layers right now. Next up: Singin' in the Rain - she and I can discuss the modern applications of the Lina Lamont character in regards to Talent ranking second to Beauty in the entertainment industry. Ooh, and also the Hollywood romance facades cooked up in the name of publicity. Now that is a smart movie.