Ever since the movie Fingernails was released on Apple TV+, I have been obsessed with it.
Like a, I watched it every night during the first two weeks it was out, but now I only watch it a couple times a week, kind of obsession. Listened to the instrumental soundtrack on repeat for entire afternoons while I wrote and revised short stories, kind of obsession. Analyzed the hell out of it and insisted I share all my latest insights with my husband, whether or not he wants to hear them, kind of obsession.
It was probably after my third time watching Fingernails that I made my husband watch it with me. I simply wanted to share something that I loved with him. He didn’t come close to loving it as much as me… or really, at all. But he could see what I liked about it. He picked up on the weirdness, awkwardness, and sweetness of it all that made me smitten. He understood that it’s a similar recipe of weird/awkward/sweetness I’ve been hoping to infuse in the short stories that I’m currently working on.
The movie is directed, and co-written by Christos Nikou, and stars Jessie Buckley as Anna, Riz Ahmed as Amir, and Jeremy Allen White as Ryan. It’s filled with wonderfully clumsy and funny moments, dialogue, dancing, and concepts. Some of the awkwardness feels like it’s intentionally there (I want to believe it’s intentional) which adds a layer of meaning and tension to the story. It seems to be set in a world that’s like ours, but it’s not clear if it’s a near future or an alternate world to ours (I’ve linked an interview with the director below where he speaks to this a bit more). And I LOVED everything about it.
If you’ve watched Fingernails and loved it, perhaps you too have a friend who replied to your enthusiastic text, the one where you asked them what they thought of the movie, with, “Not for me.”
If that’s the case…
Rude.
Remember that not everyone was blessed with good taste like ours, but we will continue to love them.
What are YOUR favourite parts?
Here are some of mine: (in no particular order)
I’m trying to do this without giving away any spoilers if you haven’t seen the movie. But also, this is the kind of movie that you’ll likely figure out what’s going on and what’s happening soon enough. (If you choose to watch the movie after reading this, feel free to use the following as a sort of scavenger hunt. See if you can find the things I’m referring to.)
If you have watched the movie, can you figure out which scenes I’m talking about? (If you feel like sharing, I’d love to learn what caught your attention, too.)
Alright, back to some of my favourite parts:
The music! If a song used on a soundtrack isn’t complimenting a scene with its mood and volume, it pulls me right out of the story. In Fingernails, each song chosen matched its scene and helped me sink deeper into my enjoyment.
How many times is too many times for the same two characters to struggle with the etiquette of using stairs and doorways when they’re together? Why was it SO hard for them? And yet, I can’t look away from any of those scenes when they’re happening. I’m fascinated by how wrong they get it. Each. And. Every. Time.
The dancing! There’s so much dancing! I loved the one and only couple dancing at the dinner party. And the assistant dancing with the wine bottle. And the seems-to-be-sped-up dance that accompanies this song is one of my favourite scenes. (I can’t keep the smile off my face when I watch it, and I’m still playing that song on repeat.)
The assistant in every one of their scenes.
The colour palette. The muted tones helped sell the world to me because it made me feel nostalgic for the colours, and home and office interior designs I remember as a kid/teen. I don’t know how else to explain it other than it felt nice to be immersed in something that felt familiar to me.
Riz Ahmed.
“Bear’s” interest in caribou… and lack of interest in almost everything else.
Wardrobe, except all the short pants, for the same reason as the colour palette.
“I would love that.”
All the silent glances.
Going after specific initials iced on the cake.
“I think I’m a good dancer.”
They filmed part of the movie in Toronto, so I always enjoy catching glimpses of a city I used to live and work in (many moons ago).
The hug!
Some of those tasks/challenges were wild.
The entire premise is wild. But I don’t find it farfetched at all regarding what people will endure to find love.
Every scene in the red car with the faulty window.
That soup place showed up earlier in the movie! Did you catch that? It might be a lot of nothing, but I made it into a big thing in my head because of the differences in the two scenes it’s in. And I convince myself I’m right every time I see it. (And yes, I question the amount of gluten in those noodles during every viewing!)
Muddy hands.
The natural light in that apartment!
The ending.
There’s a lot more that I could add to this list. I chose a different focus each time I watch it, so I’m always finding something new that delights me. But in writing to you about it I’m trying to find the fine line between me sharing my joy and you finding it creepy just how much I’m into this movie (that seems to have a lower IMDb rating each time I check it), because of how much I’ve shared.
But also, have you seen what’s going on in the world?
This concern I feel about sharing my appreciation for this movie is not that important.
And yet, I know full well that this movie is one thing that’s helping me recharge at the end of a night so I can keep showing up to support people on the front lines of atrocities. And for the people in my life that aren’t in any direct physical danger, but they’re affected by what we’re witnessing, too.
It’s also reminding me how I’m a lot more useful when I take a break from time to time instead of using all my might to force my way through things which only turns me into an exhausted, and useless slug.
Which brings me to this…
I’m going to take a break from writing to you here, on Substack, for a couple of months.
My hibernation mode has recruited the cats into doing its bidding earlier than usual this year. Lady Dianna and Miss Violet have made it their mission to turn me into a permanent cat bed, like they usually do, as we move into winter. When I’m hibernating, really what I’m doing is plotting and planning while I’m cozy under a blanket and some cats.
Looking back, I’m pretty sure I saw the early signs of hibernation creeping up on me in September. And I’ve been unsuccessfully trying to fight it. Until now.
If you’re a paying subscriber to this newsletter, thank you for your support, and please know that I’ve put your billing cycle on pause until January 31, 2024. You don’t have to do anything. There will be no charge for you. Payments will resume in February.
You may still hear from me before February, though. But that likely won’t be until January when one of my stories is supposed to be published, and I’ll share it here in case you’d like to read it.
Please go through the archive to catch up on posts that you missed, or read ones you’ve enjoyed, again.
Otherwise, I’ll be writing, researching, and resting up (likely watching Fingernails some more) for a big project I’ll be diving into early next year!!! I’ll tell you more about it when there’s more to share.
For now I will leave you with a brief recap of the year, similar to the one I shared with you last December about 2022.
Let’s look back on this year, shall we…
In January, I offered up some wisdom on how I like to move through the beginning of a new year. You even got a glimpse into my former life working in a grey cubicle and of course I touched on creativity.
February was all about fear, unexpected gifts, and celebrating Enya and the angel baby that popped out of me.
In March, you and I went through a shitty experience that only a shitty doctor could provide. BUT WE DANCED!
I wrote to you shortly before my tonsillectomy actually happened in April! I was giddy because I was finally only a few days away from having the surgery that I’d been advocating for… for EVER! So, this one was filled with recent delights that thrilled me during a challenging moment.
Y’all got an update in May on what I consider a “special kind of hell” day, also known as my surgery day. I also let you know that my visual journaling course, Exploring Creative Connection Through Visual Journaling, is coming to an end next year. (Sale’s still on if you’re interested. And the final live session will happen in February 2024.)
June kicked my ass, so I wrote to you in July about the stuff that makes you feel damn good.
In August, you learned that Soap Operas and 80s sitcoms are to blame for my annoyance when issues don’t get resolved within a 30–60-minute time span. And I was excited about a workshop. (It went well, and it was nice to see some of you in attendance. Thanks for you for showing up!)
In October, I rambled at you for a bit, wondering what happens to a gift that isn’t celebrated.
Which brings us back to today, when you learned of my love for the weird and wonderful movie, Fingernails. Check out this review, and this one, and this one, if you’d like to learn more about it. You can even read an interview with the director about the movie.
Do you have a movie, book, or song that you return to because you love it so much, or it brings you comfort at the end of a long day?
You KNOW I want to know about it!
Enjoy the rest of your day.
PS. André 3000’s new album New Blue Sun is the musical balm you didn’t know you needed until you listen to it. Then you’ll want to listen to it all the way through again, and again, and again.