Piece Comment

Review of RN Documentary: Ode to Josephine: Memories of a Parallel Mot


My first childhood friend had the New York City 1950s equivalent of an ayah. I hadn’t thought about Lily in years, but this beautifully narrative brought a wealth of childhood memories to mind. It’s a perfect piece to listen to on a snowy Sunday. Took my mind away from the chill to warmer climes, took me back in time and into all sorts of mental meanderings on the power of love and mentors, the intensity of scent and sound in memory, the comfort of shared remembrance. I loved listening. The writing is poetic, evocative, the imagery radiant. Lovely to eavesdrop on phone conversations between the producer and her sister as they tumble back in time, sparking each other’s memories –– Josephine teaching them the twist on a talcum powdered floor, singing and sweeping on the balcony, her voice like fine sandpaper. Their reflections on parental jealousy, on values they learned from Josephine, and on their own parenting styles is interesting and provides a study in contrast –– the sisters are very different in nature. Fine use of music and occasional ambient sound to change the scene that always feels organic to the story. My only note is that the curry-making section felt a little forced, but it is a minor quibble. Rich and rife with nuance, this is a program Proust would enjoy.