About Love

Love exists in many forms, Storge, Philia, Agape, and Eros. Eros in Ancient Greek refers to intimate love or romantic love; Storge to familial love; Philia to friendship; and Agape to selfless love, or charity. Among four forms of love, Eros is the most controversial one!

Eros is used in philosophy and psychology as an equivalent to "Life Energy". To me, I have doubt if there is Eros between a man and a woman without the lust in mind and the intimate body contact! I don't believe in Platonic love between a man and a woman, unless it's about Storge, Philia, and Agape. If I'm marooned to a remote desolate island, I probably would have sex with any male counterpart regardless his age, except he is family.

I was 30 minutes late to watch "Lust Caution" directed by Ang Lee at Joy's movie & dinner gathering, March 23rd. I first saw the movie at a movie theater in 2007, I was overwhelmed by the erotic and S&M scenes of a man and a woman in bed, it was very much like a porno, but more aesthetically. Comparing with Brokeback Mountain, Director Ang Lee used more obscene images to highlight the struggles of love and lust of a young and naive woman, Wang Jiazhi (Wei Tang) who got trapped in a dangerous game of emotional intrigue with a powerful political figure, Mr. Yee (Tony Leung).

Eros is natural between rich and powerful men and young and pretty women, to exchange the life energy, so to speak! Old and Shrewd Mr. Yee knew women. Jiazhi was one of his dolls. She betrayed her friends eventually and got herself executed for espionage for a Diamond ring she wore no more than 12 hours! "Diamond is a girl's best friend," knows Mr. Yee. Material is best lubricant of love and lust. Without bread, love and lust can't last long!

At  Joy's movie lounge, I was less embarrassed to watch the sex scenes in "Lust Caution". In stead, I was more attracted to the six carats pink diamond ring from Cartier. It reminded me of the day I walked in Cartier in Paris 15 years ago. My colleague and I stayed at a fancy hotel, Cartier was just across the street. Upon her request, I accompanied her to buy a leather belt at Cartier for her husband. In the end, I bought a big Topaz ring. I had to call the American Express to upgrade my credit allowance!

The small dinner gathering of seven movie fans was cheerful and blissful. I made a big pot of hot and spicy rice noodles with stinky bean curds. Mary boiled 20 dumplings. We had a rich array of desserts, including sweet yam soup, a log cake from Indonesia, and a home-made sponge cake.

After dinner, we watched Diary of a Nymphomaniac (2008) directed by Christian Molina. It's a Spanish erotic drama about a woman's sexual adventures. Valére (Belén Fabra) is a young, middle-class French woman in Barcelona. Val is a sex addict, obsessed with sex, with a strong and insatiable desire for sex. Val was attached to her grandmother Marie Tasso (Geraldine Chaplin). Marie told Val to jot down her life experience and Val decided to keep a diary. She documented her promiscuous love life and her lovers since her first sexual experience at age of 15, her then fall into prostitution, and her ultimate redemption. Despite many love scenes in the movie, I like the intimate dialogues between Val and her grandmother! Life is to cherish! Seize the moment and enjoy love & lust!