the title has to be Love is actually all around, no alternative

    As a person who’s never attached to any western holidays, I happen to get into the swing of the Christmas this year. Days before the very day, I happened to watch Deck the halls, which was especially made for the glamorous Christmas. And at the Christmas Eve, I was invited to a typical X』mas dinner in an Arabian restaurant and enjoyed the performance of delicious belly dance. And what cranked up the significance of this holiday was my accidental view of the film Love actually, in which though 比利 Mack was pervertedly singing 「Christmas is all around me」, the strong feeling of love and affection percolated.

    And such emotion undoubtedly resonates among a huge group of audiences as I searched the reviews and comments on this film, but I still suppose I』m the luckiest one, who HAPPENED to watch and love it at the very crucial time. Except for one more account, perhaps less arresting than others』, of the sundry short stories, I found out something rather more interesting—The British has a similar reserved personality with the Chinese, though they tend to be of more black humour, which I』m certain is a way to let go the vile feelings unutterable, while the Chinese could not be this adroit.

    The way Jamie confessed to his Portuguese lover was such an epitome. They flirted, and enjoyed. They trespassed over the Babel tower but still restrained till the very time for people to be with someone they love in their lives. Right back in the office, where peeping, gossiping is stand-by to divulge 「something」, Sarah was furtively yet widely acknowledged in love with Carl for God sake over two years but never had the guts to make anything happen. In another story, romantic Mark was in love with Juliet, his best friend’s wife long before they got married. Out of loyalty to his friend, Mark always acted aloof to Juliet even to the degree of being considered offhand. Instead of saying anything, he confessed his love with written lest he give the game away orally. And not mention the lovely Prime Minister, who fell in love with one of his housekeeping staff. The Prime Minister is a very graphic character, who is fun, charming, and nonchalant. Politics was overshadowed by romance. And political figures are also human, who are dying for love at the love-engulfed season. Besides, the singer for the rhythm that infuses love into each household eventually at the very time figured out his caring for his chubby manager, who’s always been taunted by 比利. Sometimes the fraternal love looks more truly and deeply.

    The British, as well, appear to be very prudent and sometimes even halting in their love affairs. They wouldn』t unveil their real feeling easily, just so muck like, yet somehow more open than, the Chinese. And also the gentlemanlike mindset keeps the British from unhinged manner. But they would get a grip and steer to black humour to release. We are less eloquent in articulating our feelings, for which we are even not capable of diagnosing aptly, and more often than not subject to the material circumstances other than the bosom.

    Well, but if you look into the heart closely, I』ve got a sneaky feeling that you』ll find love is actually all around.

--Claire