My host and guide was Dr. Richard Larschan, neighbor and friend of Aurelia Plath from the mid-1970s until her death in 1994. His memories and opinions are controversial; just remember that you are listening to someone Aurelia found companionable. The original Elmwood Road house is so small you can't believe that three adults and two adolescents once shared it. Larschan (professor of English, emeritus) and his wife Laurence (she's French) drove me around that August day and finally to their house and the beach on the dreamlike South Shore of Massachusetts, complete with sand castle.
It took me six months to accept that the final film would be imperfect, and to feel convinced that what's more important is that it is unique.
2 comments:
Very interesting! Seeing how tiny the house was really puts the Bell Jar summer into perspective.
Thank you, Dr. Larschan! The only missing features to the film might be treats to the nose, such as an occasional classic ‘50s cookout that Plath found “self-conscious,” whiffs of Arpege, Chanel No. 5, and Old Spice, Revlon Fire and Ice nail lacquer, a Tom Collins… what else?
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