The Gleaners and I (2000) and Bachelor Mother (1939)

A unique documentary and a special romantic comedy, both involving New Year’s.

The Gleaners and I (2000; in French with English subtitles; possibly on Kanopy through your library)

Legendary filmmaker Agnès Varda weaves together themes of gleaning crops, making art from trash, filmmaking, and her own process of aging in an unforgettable documentary. I never knew “gleaning” was such a central part of life. I had only read about it in the Law of Moses, that the Israelites were supposed to leave the edges of their fields unharvested for widows and foreigners to glean from, like Ruth. This short documentary will make you see free food, trash, the passage of time, and creativity in a whole new way.

For sensitive viewers: Some language in a rap song in the background of a couple of scenes. An eighteenth-century painting of the Last Judgment with nude figures rising from the dead. Themes of poverty and homelessness. A scene about gleaning grapes for wine.

Bachelor Mother (1939, free on Tubi)

A department store worker (Ginger Rogers) loses her job at Christmas, but when she gets stuck with a baby she finds abandoned on an orphanage step, her life starts to change for the better. As romantic comedies go, this is one of my favorites. It alternates between relatable humor about the Christmas shopping season, the baby’s cuteness, and comic misunderstandings about the status of Ginger Rogers’ relationship with this baby—and with her boss’s son (David Niven). Hilarious script, top-notch actors, endearing comic characters.

A nerdy note: there was a musical remake of this in the 1950s (Bundle of Joy), which lacked any of the charm of the original. I mention it because of the historical oddity that the romantic pair in that film were played by none other than Carrie Fischer’s parents! (Carrie Fischer played Princess Leia in the Star Wars films.) Quite incongruously with her character, Carrie’s mother is visibly great with child!! But don’t waste your time with that movie: watch the original, Bachelor Mother.

An even nerdier note: Watch for the name “Robert Wise” as co-editor in the opening credits. In one year’s time, Robert Wise would edit Citizen Kane. Then he would become one of my favorite filmmakers, known for movies as classic as The Sound of Music and Star Trek: The Motion Picture. In our film, there’s a gorgeous transition from a camera shot of a dress to Ginger Rogers wearing the dress, and I like to think that Bob Wise’s editing had something to do with it. I’m sure I’ll recommend some highlights from Wise’s career in future weeks.

For sensitive viewers: The premise touches creatively, obliquely, on the social shame of being an unwed mother. Social drinking.

Nathan’s Writing Update

My book about compassion and ecology in Frozen, The Lego Movie, The Chosen, etc. is coming together! I have nearly completed the first draft of my “book proposal.” I want to get this done before I go to the MLA Convention in Toronto in two weeks so that I can pitch my book to acquisitions editors there. Wish me success!