Living is easy with eyes closed

"Go, wanderer. You won't have arrived until you've lost it all"

An English teacher in Spain uses the Beatles lyrics to teach English to his students, apart from imparting the deep meaning of their songs :) He listens to the radio in an effort to write the song lyrics in his notebook. He cannot understand/ listen to some words well. On hearing that John Lennon is in Almeria to shoot a movie, the Beatles - obsessed teacher makes a pilgrimage  to meet him :) He wants to show John his notebook. On the way, he picks up two hitch hikers - one pregnant girl and a rebellious teen. Against all odds, he meets John. John playfully fills in the blanks 'with crayons matching words (Like Yellow submarine in yellow colour) :) Word has it that the Beatles began to include lyrics in their albums after this incident.

The fab four

Inspired by true incidents, this movie chronicles a phase during September and October of 1966, when John Lennon was in Spain to act in a movie - How I won the war. He stayed in a house called Santa Isabel where he is supposed to have gotten inspired to write 'Strawberry fields forever'.  The movie's name is derived from a line in this song (doh!).

The movie is a visual delight. Almeria and its sun-kissed surroundings are captured beautifully. The camera slides ever so gently giving us very relaxing shots of the characters and of town. Javier Cámara is very convincing as Antonio, the effusive teacher. He is the selfless man with a very generous heart. Natalia de Molina is extremely enchanting as Belén, the pregnant hitch hiker, although the trouble in her life may not be apparent in her face. Her radiance overcomes all else in the movie :)

Baby you can drive my car

For the Beatles fan who worships every bit of history behind each of their songs, this will no doubt be gold class. It adds the extra dimension in the Beatles universe in your mind. Watch this while in the throes of Beatlemania for added excitement :) The last sequence is enough to melt one's heart for some reason. The wind in your hair and the sun in hers, as we amble down on a snaking road by the ocean, with 'Strawberry fields forever' playing on an old cassette player. What more does one need?

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*