LIFT

The aim of Life is not to be Happy, but to make ot...

2009-06-27T19:01:02.307+02:00

The aim of Life is not to be Happy, but to make others Happy, than you will be Happy.

The above quotation is apt to this film. The main characters especially the one played by Jack Nicholoson are changed throughout the film by one main thing. LOVE.

Do you permit yourself to be changed by LOVING those around you?

People still suffer today from mental illnesses. I...

2009-06-27T18:53:40.882+02:00

People still suffer today from mental illnesses. In life it is not what you have that matters but how you deal with it.

John Nash overcame his mental illness and won a Noble Prize in spite of his condition.

How can I overcome my difficulties?

Regards

Pierre.

I'm sorry I couldn't attend this film night (due t...

2009-06-24T13:48:23.368+02:00

I'm sorry I couldn't attend this film night (due to the school Prize Day), but I had seen this film a few months ago - and it's one of the best films I've ever seen.

I really admired the character of John Nash in this film since when he realised what he was going through he showed a strong determination in becoming better - it's not easy at all but he still managed to hold on to it - and he did so for a long time. And what's a man without a woman?! :) I also admired Alicia who stood by him and helped him throughout.

As an aside, I think that it's very important not to judge anyone (as Joseph said here) because you never know what a person is going through or where s/he is coming from. Accepting someone as s/he is (not referring just to Schizophrenia) may give encouragement or help someone, even without us knowing it. Besides, feeling accepted is one of the nicest feelings we can all have! No?

In my opinion "A Beautiful Mind" is an exceptional...

2009-06-24T09:19:27.302+02:00

In my opinion "A Beautiful Mind" is an exceptional story, but it is only an exceptional film because of its director. Ron Howard does an amazing job of engaging his audience, introducing a brilliant main character, and making the audience experience the reality of mental illness. This could have been an unbelievable story to which very people could relate; however, the directorial mastery Howard shown throughout allows the audience to accompany Nash on his journey and awareness of his illness. Anyone who has been close to the frailties of the human mind will appreciate how respectfully and honestly this film approaches the subject. Howard is able to portray all the complex reactions to mental illness while maintaining the humanity and dignity of the patient.

On a different note, the narrative of the film differs considerably from the actual events of Nash's life. The film has been criticized for this, but the filmmakers had consistently said that the film was not meant to be a literal representation. One difficulty was in portraying stress and mental illness within one person's mind. Sylvia Nasar stated that the filmmakers "invented a narrative that, while far from a literal telling, is true to the spirit of Nash's story". The film made his hallucinations visual and auditory when, in fact, they were exclusively auditory. The PBS documentary A Brilliant Madness attempts to portray his life more accurately. You can watch it on youtube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrAc5CVw2zQ

The differences were substantial:

- Few if any of the characters in the film, besides John and Alicia Nash, corresponded directly to actual people.

- The discussion of the Nash equilibrium was criticized as over-simplified.

- In the film, schizophrenic hallucinations appeared while he was in graduate school, when in fact they did not show up until some years later.

- No mention is made of Nash's supposed homosexual experiences at RAND which Nash and his wife both denied.

- Nash also fathered a son, John David Stier (born 19 June 1953), by Eleanor Agnes Stier (1921–2005), a nurse whom he abandoned when informed of her pregnancy.

- The movie also did not include Alicia's divorce of John in 1963. It was not until Nash won the Nobel Memorial Prize that they renewed their relationship, although she allowed him to live with her as a boarder beginning in 1970. They remarried in 2001.

- Nash is shown to join Wheeler Laboratory at MIT, but there is no such lab. He was appointed as C.L.E. Moore Instructor at MIT.

- The pen ceremony tradition at Princeton shown in the film is completely fictitious.

- The film has Nash saying around the time of his Nobel prize in 1994: "I take the newer medications", when in fact Nash did not take any medication from 1970 onwards, something Nash's biography highlights. Howard later stated that they added the line of dialogue because it was felt as though the film was encouraging the notion that all schizophrenics can overcome their illness without medication.

- Nash also never gave an acceptance speech for his Nobel prize.

Owen C

Jien nemmen lil kull suggett ghandu jigi diskuss s...

2009-06-21T18:43:22.254+02:00

Jien nemmen lil kull suggett ghandu jigi diskuss sakemm ma jaghmilx hsara lil xi hadd mill-udjenza. Ma nahsibx li dan il-Film ghamel hekk. Dan kien film li beda minn tluq partikolari fejn Melvin Udall kien bniedem maqtugh minn kulhadd u fuq kollox arroganti. Bniedem li kellu problema psikologika jew disorder - izda li talabx ghajnuna ghax ma fethax qalbu.

Izda fil-Film ma kienx Udall l'unika wiehed li kellu problema. Kull karrattru kellu problema interjuri. Kemm il-waitress u kif ukoll il-pittur gay kienu ghaddejjin min-niket - ejja nghidu ghaddejjin minn 'kondizzjoni'.

Dan il-Film nahseb jurina kemm hu importanti li persuna jiftah qalbu ghall-imhabba u ma jinghallaq qatt ghalih wahdu ghax ikun propju hemm li l-problema tigi problema IKBAR.

Nahseb li kiteb Ray huwa minnu. Ma kienx ghalfejn jiehu ghalih hadd ghax dan hu film li jittratta fuq karrattri normali li nghixu u niltaqghu maghhom il-hin kollu.

Min hu normali? Jew kif wiehed jista' jiehu standard ta' wiehed normali??? Il-verita' hi li ma tistax. Kulhadd hu differenti. Ma hemmx kejl.

Li hu zgur hu li minghajr imhabba ma nkunux nistghu nitghallmu nghixu flimkien u nimlew in-nuqqas li ghandna ma' haddiehor - u huma fina - minghajr 'aktarx' ma nindunaw.

Prosit Ray.

Siehbi id-differenza wahda hi li in-nies jaraw il...

2009-06-21T15:53:28.821+02:00

Siehbi id-differenza wahda hi
li in-nies jaraw il film u joqghodx jidhu u min ikun qieghed jesperjenza jitkellem differenti hafna ghax x'jaf min ma garrabx !!

Unfortunately I was unable to attend this film nig...

2009-06-17T18:25:56.288+02:00

Unfortunately I was unable to attend this film night due another commitment. I watched this movie quite a few years back but after reading Ray's blog, I DEFINITELY want to watch it again!

I enjoyed reading the savory quotes and Ray's fav. (Melvin opening up) was the cherry on the cake!! I thought the 'love needs only ONE ingredient' message was really great!

Proset Ray and team! And I look forward to more such entertaining nights! :)

Hello Why were these 3 LIFT weekends a success? W...

2009-05-25T23:23:08.572+02:00

Hello

Why were these 3 LIFT weekends a success? What made them so special? Why the 2nd weekend still lingers in my memory? Why?

Because of the word EXPERIENCE. For the 2nd weekend was a truly an experience to me. That's why.

I experienced teamwork. In these weekends members worked as team.

I experienced friendship.

Last of all I experienced spiritual growth.

Regards

Pierre.

Hello I want to mention three points about these ...

2009-05-25T23:01:32.756+02:00

Hello

I want to mention three points about these LIFT weekends by using the word LIFT itself.

1) LIFTs LIFT you from a floor to another. These Weekends permitted you to LIFT yourself to a higher level.

2) Do you want a face LIFT? You had a character and spiritual LIFT by these weekends.

3)I don't drive. So sometimes I have a LIFT by car by LIFT members. These weekends gave you a LIFT to a better life.

I saw this film last weekend, it is simply great.....

2009-05-04T22:37:00.000+02:00

I saw this film last weekend, it is simply great...makes you think a lot...a must see...

Hello hbieb, Minn qalbi nixtieq nghid grazzi kbir...

2009-05-04T17:19:00.000+02:00

Hello hbieb,

Minn qalbi nixtieq nghid grazzi kbira, lil Fr.Ray u lil organizzaturi u lil kull minn attenda l-live in 2, vera hadt gost u sirt naf hbieb godda! Grazzi talli ghamiltuni welcome!:) Grazzi ta' kull attivita li torganizzaw, kull meta gejt dejjem hadt gost! Keep it up!
Grazzi ta kollox, vera nies tal-genn!:)
Hudu hsieb!
Jane
xxxx

Gheziez Lift, Xtaqt nghaddi l-hsibijiet tieghi dw...

2009-04-27T16:43:00.000+02:00

Gheziez Lift,

Xtaqt nghaddi l-hsibijiet tieghi dwar Lift Weekend 2. Qabel Anton inkoraggieni biex nigi kelli idea ferm differenti ta' dak li kien se jigri fil-weekend. Pero bhal-hafna drabi fil-passat, Anton ikkonvincieni u gejt. U vera hadt pjacir, ovvjemant ghax kien hemm hbieb antiki tieghi bhal Anton, Ray hu Anton, Ray u Fr Ray etc etc imma anki ghaliex il-weekend kien organizzat tajjeb hafna u ghax sirt naf nies ohra iktar mill-vicin. Ezempju sirt naf mhux hazin il-Pierre u skoprejt kemm hu bniedem intelligenti u simpatku ukoll. Waqt id-diskussjonijiet sirt naf in-nies iktar mill-vicin u vera hemm it-tajjeb fihom, hafna ukoll. Minn wara l-weekend sirt naf naqra iktar il-Jane bil-karattru ferriehi taghha...habiba gdida li diga sirt inhossni komdu niftah qalbi maghha.

Nixtieq nghid proset il-Fr.Ray u l-core team ta' Lift tal-organizzazzjoni u l-energijja li jaghtu ghal-dan il-grupp. Lift huwa mudell ghas-socjeta ingenerali li juri li hawn hafna zaghzagh tajbin u b'valuri b'sahhithom.

Komplu sejrin hekk, il-Mulej min hemm fuq zgur kuntent hafna b'dak li qeghdin taghmlu.

Sahha hbieb,

Neville
www.nevilledem.com

I think this film is a great film that leaves you ...

2009-03-30T11:10:00.000+02:00

I think this film is a great film that leaves you in the edge till the end. The last part comes with a very good twist and quite a remarkable surprise that uncovers the real faces behind charachters. This film is a must see for everyone and also delivers many points for discussion.

Well done!
Anton

Hello It has a nice blog. Sorry not write more, bu...

2009-03-29T15:27:00.000+02:00

Hello
It has a nice blog.
Sorry not write more, but my English is bad writing.
A hug from my country, Portugal

I totally agree with Eleanor as I think that this ...

2009-03-09T17:50:00.000+01:00

I totally agree with Eleanor as I think that this first experiment for LIFT was truly a very successful one. An experience in every sense.

It was a touching experience for her and hopefully for all those who attended.

The last two subsequent years (2007,2008) LIFT organised a live-in at Gozo. This time we thought we should organise 3 'smaller live-ins' - providing an expected better qualitative feedback from those who'll attend.

Needless to less - all weekends were booked in matter of days and next weekend in line (20,21 - 22 March) is close.

Thanks to all of you and thanks to Eleanor for sharing this experience with us.

Anton

Thanks to all those who helped in preparing this g...

2009-02-21T18:31:00.000+01:00

Thanks to all those who helped in preparing this gathering. Its nice to share our talents amongst each other. Well done.

ray

Nixtieq naghmel appell ghal min jaqra il blog u jo...

2009-02-04T21:45:00.000+01:00

Nixtieq naghmel appell ghal min jaqra il blog u joqghod jghid l-istejjer fuq in nies li jibilaw certu tip ta pirmli, u li hawdu f'hajjithom bhal drogi u sess..

Meta tkun qieghdin titkellmu fuq nies li jibilaw il-pirmli oqghodu attenti li ma tpoggux dell ikrah immens fuq nies li ghandhom problemi iktar minn taghkom...

Communication is NO BUZZ word but its merely our h...

2009-02-04T17:33:00.000+01:00

Communication is NO BUZZ word but its merely our heart beat in our everyday lives. We communicate all the time - sometimes even without knowing..

Its remarkable how different we are from each other.. So this makes our encoding and decoding patterns sometimes even more sophisticated..

LIFT Gathering 3 was a very interesting activity. Fr Ray delivered an exceptional speech about the subject. Thanks also to all those who supported this activity.

What did the film Amadeus taught me?This Film AMAD...

2009-01-27T21:31:00.000+01:00

What did the film Amadeus taught me?

This Film AMADEUS won 8 oscars, including best film, and many other awards. It was a success. Everyone was behind this Amdeus success, the actors, the director, the script writer, the composer of the soundtracks, and many others. In a team everyone is a winner. And in LIFT we must work together to have a better team.

When you see the film Amadeus (any film) you tend not to be aware of the lots of work involved. When you attend any LIFT activity , be aware of the works involved.

Do you want to be famous like Mozart, or Brad Pitt, or Tom Cruise, Or Beckam? If yes be a better you. Compete with yourself and not with others. Don’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets

If you have not done so. Listern to classical music. You will enter in a different world of different moods.

Regards

Pierre.

Hello all,I would like to take this opportunity to...

2009-01-27T18:45:00.000+01:00

Hello all,

I would like to take this opportunity to invite all those attending the LIFT group to make regular comments on this blog. This blog is a powerful tool via which one can share his view point on the activities being organized by the Core Group who put a lot of energy in them.

Comment on the film themes being chosen, the activities held etc.

Let us not be passive guys.

Cheers

Owen

great film freat choice.one of my favouirts well d...

2009-01-27T07:20:00.000+01:00

great film freat choice.one of my favouirts well done to all

matthew

Amadeus is one of my favourites ever. It depicts t...

2009-01-27T01:45:00.000+01:00

Amadeus is one of my favourites ever. It depicts the life of a genious and the life of a follower. Its the perception of God through the eyes of Salieri (being the man) and the follower - who ultimately fails to follow and lose the path.

This is a film about passion, love and most of all Music. I really enjoyed that night with LIFT watching this movie (actually watching it for 5th or 6th time). It was a very warm experience and I can still feel the music tones of Lacrimosa during the ending of the film..

Well done!

Anton

Prosit lit-team!Ray

2009-01-15T09:41:00.000+01:00

Prosit lit-team!

Ray

I agree with Pierre. "Bucket List" changed my life...

2008-12-18T07:35:00.000+01:00

I agree with Pierre. "Bucket List" changed my life, made me realize with a jolt, just how materialistic I'd become, and how I wanted to experience real joy before I die. I realized that guilt over misdeeds is probably the cause of my inability to feel joy, and so I'm working on that. The critics didn't like it, but "Bucket List" speaks directly to the heart with messages we need!

The problem of the immigrants belongs to the whole...

2008-11-06T20:38:00.000+01:00

The problem of the immigrants belongs to the whole of Europe. My idea is to have a block of countries being hit by the illegal Immigrants. Malta alone can do nothing.

Regards

Pierre.