A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups

Turn Left, Turn Right is a story, a film I came by thanks to a little American Chinese girl I know on youtube who goes by the name perfectjeanie ~ and perfect she is ~ she plays Pachelbel’s Canon superbly on piano (the best interpretation I have heard) in duet with her brother on violin. You can pick that upon my profile page ~ it’s well worth a listen or three!

She also plays another melody equally gracefully and it is another BIG favourite for me; it’s called The Moment and it is what led me to the great movie Turn Left, Turn Right which is a real cracker and a veritable fairy tale for grown ups. I’ll include her rendition of it here at the end.

The film tells the story of two people, Eve Choi, a translator, and John Liu, a budding (like a young André Rieu) violinist  who are destined to be together but fate keeps intervening and by some twist of circumstances they never actually find each other.

The film also exhibits some great piano and it’s theme music and song sung by the beautiful Chinese Sūn Yan Zī, better known to Westerners as Stephanie Sun (Yan Zi) is sweetly sublime and superb; it is absolutely beautiful and here it is Yu Jian (The Moment)  

Ting Jian Dong Tian De Li Kai
Wo Zai Mou Nian Mou Yue Xing Guo Lai
Wo Xiang Wo Deng Wo Qi Dai
Wei Lai Que Bu Neng Yin Chi An Pai

Yin Tian Bang Wan Che Chuang Wai
Wei Lai You Yi Ge Ren Zai Deng Dai
Xiang Zuo Xiang You Xiang Qian Kan
Ai Yao Guai Ji Ge Wan Cai Lai

Wo Yu Jian Shui Hui You Zen Yang De Dui Bai
Wo Deng De Ren Ta Zai Duo Yuan De Wei Lai
Wo Ting Jian Feng Lai Zi Di Tie He Ren Hai
Wo Pai Zhe Dui Na Zhe Ai De Hao Ma Pai
Wo Wang Qian Fei Fei Guo Yi Pian Shi Jian Hai
Wo Men Ye Ceng Zai Ai Qing Li Shou Shang Hai
Wo Kan Zhe Lu Meng De Ru Kou You Dian Zai
Wo Yu Jian Ni Shi Zui Mei Li De Yi Wai
Zong You Yi Tian Wo De Mi Di Hui Jie Kai

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If you don’t speak Mandarin and want me to translate, hit me up but it works just as it is!

If that’s not enough, there is a rather beautiful poem in the film too from a very talented Polish poet, a previous winner of the Nobel prize for Literature; she is called Wisława Szymborska. The poem is recited (translated in English) in the film by the female lead character Eve Choi. Here it is in English and in it’s original language Polish as published. Milosc od pierwszego wejrzenia ~ Love at first sight.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

They're both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is more beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.

Since they'd never met before, they're sure
that there'd been nothing between them.
But what's the word from the streets, staircases, hallways--
perhaps they've passed by each other a million times?

I want to ask them
if they don't remember--
a moment face to face
in some revolving door?
perhaps a "sorry" muttered in a crowd?
a curt "wrong number"caught in the receiver?--
but I know the answer.
No, they don't remember.

They'd be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them
now for years.

Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.

There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn't read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago
or just last Tuesday
a certain leaf fluttered
from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and then picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished
into childhood's thicket?

There were doorknobs and doorbells
where one touch had covered another
beforehand.
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night. perhaps, the same dream,
grown hazy by morning.

Every beginning
is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.

***

Milosc od pierwszego wejrzenia

Oboje są przekonani,
że połączyło ich uczucie nagłe.
Piękna jest taka pewność,
ale niepewność piękniejsza.

Sądzą, że skoro nie znali się wcześniej,
nic między nimi nigdy się nie działo,
A co na to ulice, schody, korytarze,
na których mogli się od dawna mijać?

Chciałabym ich zapytać,
czy nie pamietają -
może w drzwiach obrotowych
kiedyś twarzą w twarz?
jakieś "przepraszam" w ścisku?
głos "pomyłka" w słuchawce?
- ale znam ich odpowiedź.
Nie, nie pamietają.

Bardzo by ich zdziwiło,
że od dłuższego już czasu
bawił się nimi przypadek.

Jeszcze nie całkiem gotów
zamienić się dla nich w los,
zbliżał ich i oddalał,
zabiegał im drogę
i tłumiąc chichot
odskakiwał w bok.

Były znaki, sygnały,
cóż z tego, że nieczytelne.
Może trzy lata temu
albo w zeszły wtorek
pewien listek przefrunął
z ramienia na ramię?
Było coś zgubionego i podniesionego.
Kto wie, czy już nie piłka
w zaroślach dzieciństwa?

Były klamki i dzwonki,
na których zawczasu
dotyk kładł się na dotyk.
Walizki obok siebie w przechowalni.
Był może pewnej nocy jednakowy sen,
natychmiast po zbudzeniu zamazany.

Każdy przecież początek
to tylko ciąg dalszy,
a księga zdarzeń
zawsze otwarta w połowie.

And not forgetting, as promised, perfectjeanie’s exquisite cover. . .

Yu Jian ~ The Moment 

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~ m8ed ~