Remembering Heath

I must say upfront that casanova types actually repulse me. What's with a guy who had copulated with countless females, even in the name of love and conquest. Isn't he sick??? Like there is something very wrong with his physical, mental and emotional make-up, soul even?????? Thankfully I never know any friend who behaved like a casanova, nor had i encountered any.

Having said that, I must admit I am very drawn to Heath Ledger's portrayal of Giacomo Casanova in the 2003 film Casanova. I first watched it en route to KL on the Aeroline luxury coach. It made the 5 hour journey more enjoyable indeed. Then it was aired on national TV, Mediacorp 5 with all the cuts relating to sex, (actually there was hardly any!!!!) sans subtitles. I was so captivated by the film location, Venice and the music, some Handel some Vivaldi, some original compositions with lots of strings, and Heath Ledger of course, I bought the dvd.

This is the movie that I want to remember the late Heath Ledger by. The romantic comedy which was never nominated for any awards unlike Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight that won countless awards, in the latter posthumous. May be its my romantic soul that loves the 18th century Venice with all the paintings, costumes and palazzos. I love movies where there are horses, carriages, swords instead of guns and where the guys wear wigs with ribbons and really elaborate costumes, tights and very chunky heels.

In this beautiful movie, the legendary Casanova, the greatest lover in the world, met his match. The feminist Francesca Bruni who also cross-dresses as a male doctor Giordano and wrote feminists books under the pen name of Bernando Guardi. Francesca (Sienna Miller) was not only beautiful., she was highly intellectual, philosophical and good in sword fighting. She unlike the many countless woman had despised Casanova and refused him despite his many disguises. Casanova fell in love with her. He tried hard to get close to her, risking his life and reputation and the story ends victoriously with true love.

Heath Leger was about 24 when he filmed Casanova. The 1.85 m Australian born, hunky good looker with a memorable deep husky voice was voted 50 most beautiful people in 2001. He's one of those actors who make a mark in the movie industry at a young age and was careful not to be type cast. In 2006, he actually took a year off filming to help raise his daugther, Matilda Rose, whose mum Michelle Williams he met on the set of Brokeback Mountain 2005.

I got these quotes from imdb:

She's (Michelle Williams) my soul mate and we couldn't love each other any more than we do already. We're like two peas in a pod. Matilda is adorable, and beautifully observant and wise. Michelle and I love her so much. Becoming a father exceeds all my expectations. It's the most remarkable experience I've ever had - it's marvelous."

My life right now is, I wouldn't say reduced to food, but my duties in life are that I wake up, cook breakfast, clean the dishes, prepare lunch, clean those dishes, go to the market, get fresh produce, cook dinner, clean those dishes and then sleep if I can. And I love it. I actually adore it. I'm not good at future planning. I don't plan at all. I don't know what I'm doing tomorrow. I don't have a day planner and I don't have a diary. I completely live in the now, not in the past, not in the future.

[about growing up with his mom and his sisters] I learned respect for women, and patience. You grow up with all those women around you...you learn to wait your turn. - Cosmopolitan, June 1998

I don't know about you. But as a woman, I think i like him and what he had said.

Its a pity and shock to me that he would go so soon. Born 4 April 1979, Heath Andrew Ledger left us suddenly on 22 Jan 2008, age 28. He had died of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs including painkillers, sleeping pills and anti-anxiety pills in his Manhattan NY apartment in SoHo. It is a known fact that the actor, who won several posthumous awards for his ultimate Joker role in The Dark Knight was a shy person, with difficulties sleeping and overwhelmed with work stress and anxiety for quite sometime.

To prepare for the role, Ledger told Empire, "I sat around in a hotel room in London for about a month, locked myself away, formed a little diary and experimented with voices — it was important to try to find a somewhat iconic voice and laugh. I ended up landing more in the realm of a psychopath — someone with very little to no conscience towards his acts"; after reiterating his view of the character as "just an absolute sociopath, a cold-blooded, mass-murdering clown."

I am saddened by his sudden passing two days after my birthday last year. With his many achievements and great potential, I believe there might be many more Oscars had he not left us so prematurely. His daughter, Matilda was the recipient of the posthumous Oscar currently held in custody by the mum till she turns 18.

I bought the dvd to "own"a memory of Heath Ledger, a great actor. Sigh. Missed him already.