Sparkle, Sweat, and Cheer

DIANA'S FAVORITE SCENE 2: Beethoven Escaping His Abusive Father and Floating on a Starry Lake: This movie alone is iconic in my life. It brings wonderful memories of the first day we saw it at a Tijuana Cinepolis movie theater. It was New Year's Day in the mid-nineties. We played hooky from school (with our mother's consent, obviously, as she was a participant! Haha) and we decided to stroll into the movie theater. We really didn't know what movie we'd watch. It was all quite spontaneous. :) There was another blockbuster-type movie that people were flocking to watch. And then there was this one. Only one other couple (besides us three) purchased tickets for it. But I can GUARANTEE you that this movie was INFINITELY BETTER than whatever forgettable movie it was that those people were choosing to see. THE ENTIRE MOVIE is memorable to me, but ESPECIALLY memorable is this beautiful scene. It starts out traumatically with a young Beethoven hearing his drunk father stumble into their home ready to start screaming at him. Before his dad can get to him, Beethoven escapes the house and just keeps on running and running. While this is going on, 'Ode to Joy' is playing the background. When Beethoven finally reaches his destination -- a dark, murky-looking lake -- he gets into it and starts floating and staring-off into the sky -- which is exceedingly starry and wonderful that night. As the camera pans out -- a copious amount of stars begin reflecting in the water and it literally looks like young Beethoven is floating IN SPACE. It is beautiful because of the unfortunate situation, the dark lake, the stars and the emotive music. Beethoven has escaped the trauma -- if only for a bit -- and found a special corner of the world where he can find a bit of joy. The composition 'Ode to Joy' to go along to this scene is nothing short of genius, methinks.