Everybody's Fine

We were at Easter Brunch reading newspapers when I came across an article entitled "Movies for the Soul." There were a few on the list but the ones I took note of in my idea notebook were 1) Life is Beautiful 2) Gandhi 3) The Boy with Striped Pajamas 4) Everybody's Fine.
I proposed to go buy the DVDs and Chi chuckles at the fact that they're "Movies for the Soul" and says that Everybody's Fine hasn't shown yet. I was looking through the newspaper later that week and saw an Ad saying that Everybody's Fine was showing only at Greenbelt 3 and Glorietta-- or something to that effect. Naturally-- or maybe thats just gullible me-- I think "Oooh, this really must be a good movie since it's not mainstream enough to show in all cinemas-- but too good to pass up= Selected Cinema Screening. Perfect logic, I think. So I resolved to watch with the family over the weekend.
We got around to it for Sunday Family time. Mom had been busy finishing-- or stressing over finishing her paintings for the Babaylan Exhibit she has opening tonight.
After easter brunch, I proposed a new sunday family time schedule. We used to have dinner out every Sunday night, (and unfortunately all too often at Mr. Kurasawa) after hearing mass by myself. On easter, we heard mass at 9 all together then went to Easter Brunch till 2 and was able to relax the rest of the day which I found so much better. I tried to take advantage of the high spirits from the day to make sunday mass a weekly thing, but it was a fail. We waited for Chi to wake up which was already 11 in the morning.. I was hoping to make it to the 12 o'clock mass but he goes.. "I don't want to go to church" so that was the end of that. Pfft. But I was happy that Mom was willing. Another bump in the road was UCC (that's what those fighters are called right?) was on TV and Chi had to finish it "it was my favorite fighter." We ended up leaving the house at a little past 1 with grumbling stomachs and no mass. Chi and Mom headed straight to Kai-- told them to order beef and veggies for me (yes, we can still stick to the diet when we eat out) while I bought the tickets. The walk from Greenbelt 5 to the cinema felt like eternity in the heat. Greeenbelt was practically empty. It is really way too hot now-a-days.
I had stuck to my diet so I rewarded myself with--- (tantantantan) Cold Rock Ice Cream-- Cheesecake with Cookie Dough and Tim Tam! Hahahaa :)) Chi had Chocolate Mint I think.
Now to the movie...

I was sold when I saw the poster with Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Robert De Niro. I had no idea what it was about. But since it was beside Life is Beautiful and Ghandi I thought they'd be uplifting, inspirational movies.. When Chi found out we were watching Everybody's Fine he says "The old people movie?" True enough the cinema was packed with senior citizens and we talk about the free screening for Senior residents of Makati. They movie was pretty heavy and a bit dragging to be honest. But the moment the film started my heart melted for "Dad." Robert Deniro's wife had recently passed away. He was so excited for a family reunion they were going to have for the weekend. He went to the grocery and asked for an expensive bottle of wine to impress his kids-- 10.99. He bought a new grill just for the occasion and happily asked for the best cuts of meat from the butcher because all his children were coming home for the barbecue. They all cancelled. :(
"Dad" had devoted his life to making PVC pipes? The material that encases power lines. He says "A million feet of wires to get them where they are today."
My tears had been flowing for most of the latter part of the movie. Fathers and family are very emotional matters for me.. Nearing the end of the movie Chi turned his head towards me and saw how hard I was crying and started to giggle-- he was sort of embarrassed by my emotions I think. Maybe my crying had grown audible.. When i saw him I started to bawl. The kind that I couldn't suppress the sound of. When the movie ended Chi was still so flabbergasted at my emotions. "I think you were the only one crying in there"-- half laughing and "what the hell?!" I ask him if I look like I cried too much and he say "Ummm... YEAH!" I try to hide behind him until I reach the bathroom. When I get out he's still looking at me in mischievous disbelief and I say "Parang lahat naman ng tao sa banyo umiyak ah!" and he goes "LOL."

It broke my heart. I would have done anything for a father like that.