If only Dagny were played with expressiveness of Leila Josefowicz

[GALTGULCH8]

I enjoyed Taylor Shilling's performance. I think she played the role well. She was sufficiently assertive when dealing with her altruistic brother and with the union representative of the locomotive engineer's union.

But when I watch the youtube video of Leila Josefowicz you see a range of facial expression equal to the passion of Bruch's music. The fact that none of this emotional passion is written into the novel makes one wonder.

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[Xray]

I enjoyed Taylor Shilling's performance. I think she played the role well. She was sufficiently assertive when dealing with her altruistic brother and with the union representative of the locomotive engineer's union.

But when I watch the youtube video of Leila Josefowicz you see a range of facial expression equal to the passion of Bruch's music. The fact that none of this emotional passion is written into the novel makes one wonder.

Dagny Taggart is a level-headed, tough businesswoman, which imo makes it difficult to compare artistic passion to Dagny's feelings.

Maybe examining composer Halley's artistic passion would be a better choice here. Halley's passion is expressed in his deeply moving concertos.

The fact that none of this emotional passion is written into the novel makes one wonder.

While the characters in Rand's novels often seem to have have problems with feeling compassion, they do exhibit emotional passion in many instances.

For example, it can be found in connection with the violence of the sexual scenes.

Then there is the passion pervading every fiber of the novel when it comes to the total commitment the 'prime movers' have toward their work. They show passionate pride toward their accomplishments.

Galt's speech, although it is cumbersome to read because of its length and the many repetitions, still brims with passion for his cause.

What makes the first run of the John Galt Line so unforgettable (imo even for those who criticize a lot of other things in AS) is also the total passion masterfully woven into the scene.

Has anyone ever read anything by Ayn Rand which surpasses this scene in creative power?

The passion for the new railroad line running on Rearden metal matches the passion Dagny and Rearden feel for each other. And the more the train progresses, the more it all becomes one great passion, with the reader sharing it. One cannot not share it here. The reader rides on that train too and takes part in it all - at least this has been my own experince when reading this part of AS.

Edited June 5, 2011 by Xray

[9thdoctor]

But when I watch the youtube video of Leila Josefowicz you see a range of facial expression equal to the passion of Bruch's music.

If an actress emoted to this extent in a film role, the effect would be comical. During love scenes maybe, but not generally. However, getting into the spirit, have you seen the cellist Han-Na Chang? When I saw her in concert she looked like she was having non-stop orgasms for 30 minutes. The piece was the Prokofiev Sinfonie Concertante, but this Shostakovich clip looks good enough that you’ll get the idea.

[Xray]

But when I watch the youtube video of Leila Josefowicz you see a range of facial expression equal to the passion of Bruch's music.

If an actress emoted to this extent in a film role, the effect would be comical. During love scenes maybe, but not generally. However, getting into the spirit, have you seen the cellist Han-Na Chang? When I saw her in concert she looked like she was having non-stop orgasms for 30 minutes. The piece was the Prokofiev Sinfonie Concertante, but this Shostakovich clip looks good enough that you’ll get the idea.

Even a film character's faking the emotion on screen can already have a ridiculous effect, like Meg Ryan's 'performance' in "When Harry met Sally".

Edited June 6, 2011 by Xray