Postcrossing Blog

The writing prompts invite postcrossers to write about a different topic on their postcards’ messages every month. These are just suggestions though — if you already know what you want to write about, or the recipient gives you some pointers, that’s great too!

November was long, and it’s been getting cold here, so I’m thinking cosy thoughts here and planning on snuggling up. Of course, I’d usually choose a book… but even I have some favourite movies that I like to watch over again, at least once a year. So that’s our writing prompt for this month!

When I mentioned I was picking this prompt, I immediately said that I’d have to flip a coin and choose between Howl’s Moving Castle and Apollo 13, two movies that have almost nothing in common except that I’ve watched both at least a dozen times. Miyazaki’s animation is gorgeous, and I love Calcifer (“here’s another curse for you: may all your bacon burn!”)… but then, you know, Apollo 13. Even though they get safely back to Earth, I still choke up every time.

Of course, there are many other movies I could give an honourable mention. The more I think about it, the more they crowd my mind! Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, of course, and the extended cuts of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, and—on a completely different note again—Amélie.

How about you? Is it an easy choice? Do you have a long list of favourites to share? We’d love to hear in the comments, and don’t forget: you can write about this on your postcards this month if you’re stumped for what to write!

Since we’re sort of on the topic of movies, have you ever seen “Il Postino” (aka, The Postman)? The movie might be over 20 years old, but it’s a magical one, featuring a postman as the central character. Timeout’s synopsis is pretty spot on:

“When, in 1952, the exiled Chilean poet and diplomat Pablo Neruda (Noiret) takes up residence in a house on a quiet little island off the Neapolitan coast, the fan mail he receives is so copious that the postmaster hires Mario (Troisi), the none too bright son of a local fisherman, to deliver the celebrity’s mail. At first, Mario is simply star-struck by Neruda, who responds with understandable wariness to the postman’s gauche attempts at conversation; soon, however, he’s teaching Mario about metaphors, and when the postman falls for Beatrice (Cucinotta), a lovely but rather aloof barmaid, the poet agrees to try to help him win her with words. Inspired by an incident in Neruda’s life, the story’s engaging blend of easy humour and sunny romance takes hold from the start and never lets go. Much of its seductive charm derives from the excellence of the leads: Noiret does his gruff but malleable turn to perfection, while Troisi (who died soon after filming finished) exudes a simplicity of heart, mind and soul that never seems excessively sentimental. Mercifully, Radford avoids making the small peasant community too glamorously Arcadian. Old-fashioned it may be, but it knocks the spots off pap like Cinema Paradiso.”

And here’s the trailer, if you’d like to have a look:

So that’s our suggestion for your weekend entertainment! Do you have other mail-themed movies we should check out? Let us know in the comments!