Water from the wound
Water from the wound, such a soulful turn of phrase. I first heard the expression in The Year of Living Dangerously, back when Peter Weir was still making edgy movies, Mel Gibson was sexy, and Sigourney Weaver hadn't met an alien yet. The phrase popped into my mind a few days ago for no particular reason and stayed there. A day or two later, I noticed a post in the feed at OS with that title. Synchronicity.
But what does it mean? That is somewhat ambiguous. In the film, the words are spoken by an Indonesian man high atop a mountain plantation in "old" Java just before the civil war between the communist rebels and President Sukarno's military erupts in 1965. The man, Bembal Roco, works for Gibson, who plays a gauche, ambitious Australian broadcaster. He knows that the coup is doomed, but he is committed to fight for his desperate people despite the corruption of the political process on both sides. When Gibson asks him what "water from the wound" means, the man answers with an expression of unutterable sadness on his face: "It means something that you can never have."
In that context, he is referring to freedom from poverty and dictatorship, something that Indonesia has yet to achieve. He may also be referring to something more personal. Weir is a subtle enough filmmaker to leave the possibility open. Roco asks Gibson's character, "Am I a stupid man for wanting to change my country's condition?" and points out that in the western world, even stupid men are rich and free. That scene and expression have stayed with me for so long -- apart from being in a well-crafted, wonderfully acted and written film that also features Linda Hunt who won an Oscar for her performance -- because it was the first time I viscerally experienced the despair of what living as an ordinary person in the Third World means. I knew intellectually, but it hadn't hit me emotionally. Gibson's character undergoes a similar transformation, and it was doubtless Weir's intent that western audiences unaccustomed to putting a human face on faraway conflicts be made aware of the real cost of our indifference.
Since that time I have travelled extensively in Indonesia, and found the film authentic in its depiction of the country and the expatriate journalist community. Yet that isn't what I am writing about here. What I really want to know is: water from the wound. What does it mean to you?
For me, it is about yearning for a sense of belonging to myself and others that I have never truly experienced. My fierce independence may prevent me from embracing that acceptance, but nevertheless, it is the most important thing in my life that eludes me.
Water from the wound. Enlighten me.
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movies, something you can never have, indonesia, the alien, signourney weaver, linda hunt, peter weir, mel gibson, the year of living dangerouslyI loved that movie; I took so much away from it. It's a movie that more people should experience.
Great post.
Water from a wound. My latest piece is just that. But still, I cannot have what brings that writing. Rebecca.
My favorite exchange from The Year of Living Dangerously-when Pete wants Billy to go with him to find prostitutes...
Pete: .....I'm telling you, you will love this action. You want to spend the night? Costs you one dollar.
Billy: Starvation's a great aphrodisiac.
When the film was first released I remember how surprised viewers were that Billy Kwan was played by a woman. Great post. xox
Beautiful piece, emma peel
Interesting. R
When I think of "water from the wound," my mind immediately goes to the crucifixion of Christ: after Christ was apparently dead, one of the soldiers thrust a spear into Christ's side, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
In a phrase, I would say it means a non-sustainable situation, living off a mirage, a stopgap.
I've never seen that movie (and will only see it because you've made me curious). I can't stand that guy -- Gibson.
Great thought-provoking post, Emma.
Very interesting Emma.
R
Thought provoking, rated.
I guess to me what it means to me is that you cannot change the wrongs and injustices done to people. It's already happened and happening to people. But can you change the conditions from which these wrongs and injustices arise.
"But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." John 19:34
Despite the obvious horrors of crucifixion, death most often resulted from suffocation as the weight of the body pressed more and more against the lungs. It was a slow, agonizing death, a punishment for those like Spartacus and his followers who the Romans wished to make a very public example of.
It often took two or three days to die from crucifixion, and it is said that the water the burst from Jesus' wound was proof he was already dead after only a few hours on the cross.
Sorta off the subject, but Jesus first miracle was said to be turning water into wine, and the wine at the Last Supper was "transformed" into blood. The interplay between water, blood and wine in the Bible is fascinating.
And that film was one of the best of the 1980's. A masterpiece.
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Unfortunately the subject matter of this film is all too prescient. War, poverty, and, "in the western world, even stupid men are rich and free."
What "water from the wound" means to me is that life has been sucked out of the living being and only death will follow. Namaste.
Here's a completely different take: Water is necessary for life. Perhaps it could be construed as affirmation........
Rated for reminding me how very provocative that movie was, politically, socially, and sexually. And for Linda Hunt! Yowza!
It is as relevant today as it was in 1982 when it released. I can hardly believe it's been that long since I first saw it. My, my. I thought "water from the wound" was a Javanese, or Indonesian expression from the film. But perhaps as many of you have mentioned, it is more universal. Like the best poetry, it has endless variations and interpretations.
I am trying to contact an Indonesian friend to get his take on it. Stay tuned.
Water from the wound. I need to think. But I, too, have been overwhelmed by all that needs saving as it all seems to be drowning.
So I did. Last thing before I went to sleep, almost the first thing this morning over my first cup of coffee.
I still don't know what the hell that statement means, although several people have offered their explanations. It just lies there: I know it has a resonance for me, but damned if I can put my finger on why.
En tout cas, this was rated for bringing to memory a fine movie ... and making me think.
phrases like that stymie me because they me feel as if everything is bigger than I am and there's nothing to be done, which I imagine is is somewhat Buddhist-ish and passive and accepting. and yet we do not accept, we fight, we struggle and not to passively lose either. we, humanity struggle to change fate and destiny - if we are determined to achieve something.
we cannot accept water from a living wound. we fight to stop the flow, stop the inevitable. or we are not living.
we're just dramatically floating down the river, being plopped about by frogs and rocks and trolls living under the bridge.
@Owl: I don't know why but that word just popped into my head. It seemed appropriate.
@dragonlady: I agree with "What then must we do?" I believe Billy's answer, as was Tolstoy's, was to help whoever is in our path.
@Kathy: I've posted a draft by accident, but I don't think anyone noticed as I salvaged it pretty quickly.
@Aunt Mabel: I don't think I will ever grow up somehow.
@Ginny: It is a very erotic movie back when Mel was a stud. Now, not so much.
@fingerlakeswanderer: I know what you mean. I often feel as though I am drowning in all the suffering of the world.
@Boaneges1: I felt the same way, which is why I decided to seek the opinions of others.
@General JK Brady: I am going to watch the movie again this weekend myself. Perhaps all will be revealed.
@foolishmonkey: I like your explanation very much. And I agree about the frogs and the trolls et al.
Ever heard the phrase, "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose?" Same thing! It isn't rocket science , the Year of Living Dangerously was for Mel Gibson, his first starring role. It has nothing to do with Christ or Mel Gibson and his fundamental Catholic beliefs. He was just an actor! One can not take an ancient Asian saying and apply it to a Hollywood interpretation of Jesus.