Claudine's balcony garden, Paris

Dear Readers

I wish you a good day and night, always.

Thank you, Mr. Roald Dahl, for having written ESIO TROT (  esiotrot is “tortoise” spelled backward)

Thank you, screenwriters Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, for the movie ROALD DAHL’S ESIO TROT

When depression robs my creative energy to write, I look for “happy movies” to lift me which then inspires me to write about the themes in the movie which then leads me to resume working on my own projects.

Yesterday (June 3), the names (“tags”) of these two actors helped me find the movie ROALD DAHL’S ESIO TROT

Judi Dench (as Mrs. Silver) and Dustin Hoffman (as Mr. Hoppy) and James Corden (as Narrator)

Soundtrack includes Louis Armstrong’s singing “A Kiss To Build A Dream On” composed by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby and Oscar Hammerstein II.

https://genius.com/Louis-armstrong-a-kiss-to-build-a-dream-on-lyrics

This is a movie I want to watch again and again… it’s like re-living a joyful day.

In the movie… Narrator tells us:

“Mr. Hoppy, the hero of our story, lived in a nice flat in an apartment block in London. There are three things you should know about Mr. Hoppy.  He’s kind, he’s shy, and, most importantly, he’s not that guy in the hat.”

(Mr. Hoppy is the man holding the elevator door for  Mr. Mavrokoukoudopolous the old man with the hat and cane. By the way, since the setting is London. Elevator is called a “lift”)

At the fourth viewing of this movie … I see just how wonderfully the story is crafted.

At  two minutes into the movie – first foreshadowing of Mr. Hoppy’s door which is crucial for the “climax” scene.

He turns on his CD player – Louis Armstrong’s singing “A Kiss To Build A Dream On”

Mr. Hoppy reaches into his satchel and places into his fruit bowl – one apple, one orange, one banana.  He opens his refrigerator, we see one tomato.

Narrator tells us “It’s [This story is] going to be full of passion, surprises… as indeed is our Mr. Hoppy.”

As the volume of the musical instrumental increases, we see Mr. Hoppy affectionately tending to his balcony-garden; his irrigation system drips water onto the colorful plants.

Narrator says:

“The truth is, there were two loves in Mr. Hoppy’s life. One was his flowers. The other was his secret love that he kept all to himself. Like so many secrets, it was the most important thing of all about him. Because Mr. Hoppy was in love… with the girl downstairs.”

(“the girl” is the vibrant Mrs. Silver, a widow,, probably in her seventies. Mrs. Silver’s balcony is on the floor below Mr. Hoppy’s.  We hear her at around four minutes and thirty-three seconds into the movie when she says “Good morning, Mr. Hoppy.”  Then we see her.    Her main love is her tortoise named Alfie.)

By the end of the first five minutes, I am pulled into the story world.

By the end of the first seven minutes, I am completely hooked with these two characters.

At 13:36 when Mr. Hoppy has the courage to say something personal to Mrs. Silver, he can’t see from his balcony that Mrs. Silver (in her wide-brimmed straw hat) has just inserted earbuds and couldn’t possibly hear him.

At 28:57 we see the second foreshadowing with Mr. Hoppy’s door.

At 54:38 we see the third foreshadowing with that door.

LAUGHING LIFTS DEPRESSION

In the scene where Mr. Hoppy is approaching the lift in the lobby with THE gadget, Mrs. Silver (wearing happy colors) is coming out of the lift. She tells him that she’s going to a dance marathon to raise money for charity and that they need sponsors. Mr. Hoppy says he would like to be a sponsor, would donate a pound. When Mrs. Silver reminds him that this is for charity, he says:
“A pound a minute”

(I laughed out loud; laughing shifts energy, lifts depression. So does smiling for one’s self.  For me, laughing is a stronger elixir.)

I learned these British phrases:

“very good news”  -  In the lift (elevator), Mrs. Silver says:  “What a quiet lift. It’s very good news.”

She calls herself “a silly sausage”

“a good old knees-up” means “to dance”

The little boy’s mother says to her son: “I’m doing dinner.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In the children’s book, Mrs. Silver never finds out about Mr. Hoppy’s using deception to win her affections; in the movie, her finding out that he used trickery serves as the climax of the story.

In the children’s book, there is no Mr. Pringle;  in the movie, this character serves as archetypes Herald and Trickster and is the person who creates complications for protagonist Mr. Hoppy.

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3205394/

Directed by Dearbhla Walsh

Writing Credits:

Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer

Based on the novel by Roald Dahl

Stars (in order of appearance in the movie)

• James Corden
• Salo Gardner
• Dustin Hoffman
• Richard Cordery
• Judi Dench

• Awards
  • 1 win & 1 nomination

In the movie, Mrs. Silver tells Mr. Hoppy and Mr. Springer that her favorite book is THE RAILWAY CHILDREN, children’s book written by E. (Edith) Nesbit

Sasa's vibrant garden 2024.05.22 photo by Jade

Thank you for reading my blog post: “Roald Dahl’s story ESIO TROT, Judi Dench, Dustin Hoffman, Balcony Garden, Love, Kindness Themes…Lift Depression”

Wishing you all the happiness that a vibrant garden would bring.

Sincerely,

 Teresa Jade LeYung

My short short movies of Paris 2024
https://m.youtube.com/@teresajadeleyung/videos

Love Made Of Heart ®

Dear Readers,

I wish you vibrant health and happiness always.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Love Made of Heart (mother-daughter love story) by Teresa LeYung-Ryan

October 2023 marks the 21st anniversary of my mother-daughter novel LOVE MADE OF HEART

Written by Teresa LeYung-Ryan (now Teresa Jade LeYung)

In loving memory of Rita Leung (Yun Yuet Kwai), Yun Gim How, Yue Shue Ngun, Leung Tai Oy, Carmen Ryan, Lisa Craft, Angie Hu.

My deepest gratitude to everyone who has been supportive of my work.

https://lovemadeofheart.com/Love-Made-of-Heart-a-Daughter,-a-Mother,-a-Journey-Through-Mental-Illness.html

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

October 2023 marks the third anniversary of the delightfully illustrated children’s book

LITTLE HEROES OF BAY STREET: And How They Stay Strong in an Unhappy Home

Written by Maria Kawah Leung; Ilustrated by Maria Kawah Leung, Sandra Elyse Chavez, Maren Sleire Aasgaard

Dedicated to: Rita Yuet Kwai Yun and Pak Chung Leung

https://mariakawah.com/

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

These past weeks, while my nervous system is learning  from Neuro Integration System (N.I.S.) treatments and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) treatments from Dr. Jae Reed, D.C. and is continuing to learn from Chi Nei Tsang treatments from Stephanie Wilger, NC … watching / listening to these two British TV series written by Bob Larbey have given me much joy.

Bob Larbey wrote all 26 episodes of

A FINE ROMANCE

British TV series 1981-1984 (starring Judi Dench as Laura;  Michael Williams as Mike; Susan Penhaligon as Laura’s sister Helen; Richard Warwick as Helen’s husband Phil)

Thank you, YouTube channel users, for posting episodes https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=A+FINE+ROMANCE+full+episodes

According to  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083416/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ql_1

Series Directed by

Series Writing Credits

Bob Larbey wrote 67 episodes of

AS TIME GOES BY

British TV series  1992–2005  Judi Dench as Jean Pargeter; Geoffrey Palmer as Lionel Hardcastle; Moira Brooker as Jean’s daughter Judith; Philip Bretherton as Alistair (Lionel’s book publisher); Jenny Funnell as Sandy (Jean’s employee)

According to https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105943/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm

Series Directed by

Series Writing Credits

Thank you,  Thinking Out Louder,   for posting  As Time Goes By | BBC RADIO DRAMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKJ2lXmVWz4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf05x9jwDGY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMq46ByWxLM

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

While on https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094452/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm  looking up writing credits for British TV series DOUBLE FIRST  1988 (Michael Williams as N.V. Standish) . . . a trailer of the movie EDUCATING RITA appeared.

Esmonde & Bob Larbey wrote DOUBLE FIRST

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Willy Russell wrote the stage play and screenplay  EDUCATING RITA

(the movie – starring Michael Caine as Dr. Frank Bryant and Julie Walters as Rita/Susan; Michael Williams as Brian).

The name “Rita” carries precious symbolism for me and my sister.

“Educating Rita” – what better inspiration for me as I am being educated on what clear communication is between Brain and Body.  Neuro Integration System (N.I.S.) treatments and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) and Chi Nei Tsang treatments remove obstacles and let my Body repair itself the best way possible -  naturally.

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I am grateful to these healers and to the folks who led me to them:

***

Stephanie Wilger, NC for Chi Nei Tsang, Breast Wellness, Nutrition  https://stephaniewilgernc.net/

***

Dr. Jae Reed D.C. for Neuro Integration System (N.I.S.) and Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) https://azureskychiro.com/

***

Amy Grace Lam, Ph.D.  https://www.vibrationalenergywellness.com

***

Loduskia “Dusky” Pierce, MFT  http://www.duskyswondersite.com/about/

***

Gilles Marin, master teacher and practitioner of Chi Nei Tsang
USA: https://www.chineitsang.com/   France: http://chineitsang.marin.free.fr/

***

Marie-Christine Cornet in France:  http://www.mariechristinecornet.com/

***

Sincerely,

Teresa Jade LeYung

Teresa Jade LeYung wishes everyone peace and wellness!

photo_by_Nan_and_MEK

http://www.OurBeautifulBrains.com  goes to Teresa Jade LeYung’s Blog

  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Writing Coach Teresa says:

“I love helping writers identify the themes in their manuscripts to hook readers, and, build and fortify their platforms before and after publication. Reach out, not stress out.”

Love Made Of Heart ®