Cold Soul: A Movie for Our Souls

Last weekend, I went to see "Cold Souls", the new movie starring Paul Giamatti.

Cold Souls is a perfectly imperfect movie that tries to make us understand that it is ok to be exactly who we are, going through exactly what we go through, having our own challenging experiences. Its message is that the shoe fits--even if we think it is not the right shoe. At least that is what I got out of the movie

Sophie Barthes, the French director, brings an interesting angle to addressing our souls through the possibility of soul trafficking: To choose to live with the soul we have or exchanging it with another in the hope of eliminating some of the turmoil, angst and stuckness we are experiencing. She opens up a field of possibility where we ask ourselves, 'If I could exchange my soul with someone else for a day would I? Who would it be? Why?'

In the movie, Paul Giamatti plays himself as he prepares for the role of Uncle Vanya. Vanya's suffering begins to permeate Giamatti's soul and he starts to feel suffocated. As he says, it is as if his heart is being twisted. To ease his pain, he visits the Soul Storage place to extract his soul in exchange for feeling blank, empty and emotionless.

Not surprisingly, he soon discovers that the exchange doesn't measure up! After being soulless for a while, Paul takes on the soul of another. After experiencing that soul's challenges, he wants his own back and all that comes with it. He realizes that that is what makes him feel alive and connected to himself.

I loved the movie, not because it is perfect, but because it reaffirms something that I have always believed: We come here with our own soul "blueprint." We are dealt a set of cards and then we play. The way we react to the choices we make, the lessons we learn, the knocks we endure become the grist for our soul and are what make our souls evolve and grow. Even during our most anguished times, the times when we think we cannot go on anymore, become the springboards to go deeper into our soul and become who we truly are. These are the opportunities to free ourselves from what bind us and constrict us.

Without these times life is purposeless and boring. Every bit of them creates the texture of our lives, and it is a privilege to go through them, as they shape our individuality and build our beautiful lives.

To want to remove anything from ourselves, even a morsel of our daily lives, is a form of denial and causes separation and more pain. If we can bring loving and compassion to ourselves and affirm the perfection of what seems so imperfect, we will be able to untie the strings that bind our hearts.

I would have liked a little more of that heart unbinding as the movie progressed, instead, Ms. Barthes takes the approach that by viewing life through another soul we can see more of ourselves and find inner peace. Go see it and let me know what thoughts it awakened in you.

If I could exchange my soul with someone else for a day, I would have to take Shakespeare's, just to glimpse into the prism of that mind, but I stay content with my Greek soul and all that comes with it!

If you were to switch souls who would you choose?

Comments

[Dr. Cara Barker - Huffpost Blogger]

What a fun article, Agapi. The truth is that I've got 'more than enough on my plate' with the Soul I've got! The trick is to come into harmony with what's before me, rather than dodge it by striving for something else 'out there.'

What is useful is the idea you've raised, though. As a Jungian Analyst, I spend a great deal of energy with leaders looking at their 'unlived life,' (ie the 'them they do not know') to look at how that unused life energy could bring back greater resilience, passion, and robust living, and, of course, expanded contribution. Sometimes, simply looking at what attracts us 'out there,' is a very helpful clue to the development awaiting us on the upcoming path.

Underneath it all, we are all facets of the same jewel that is Creative Intelligence.


Blessings your way,
Cara

[Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald - Huffpost Blogger]

Agapi,

What a thought-provoking post! I want to see that movie.

I think it would be fun to pop inside different people's souls for a brief period of time to experience what they experience. There are so many interesting people of past and present, it's hard to pick just one person.

Love and Blessings,
Patricia

[ModernTimes1]

We have a soul at times.
No one's got it non-stop,
for keeps.
"A Few Words On The Soul"

by Wislawa Symborska, Nobel Prize for Literature

Day after day,
year after year
may pass without it.

Sometimes
it will settle for awhile
only in childhood's fears and raptures.
Sometimes only in astonishment
that we are old.

It rarely lends a hand
in uphill tasks,
like moving furniture,
or lifting luggage,
or going miles in shoes that pinch.

It usually steps out
whenever meat needs chopping
or forms have to be filled.

For every thousand conversations
it participates in one,
if even that,
since it prefers silence.

Just when our body goes from ache to pain,
it slips off-duty.

It's picky:
it doesn't like seeing us in crowds,
our hustling for a dubious advantage
and creaky machinations make it sick.

Joy and sorrow
aren't two different feelings for it.
It attends us
only when the two are joined.

We can count on it
when we're sure of nothing
and curious about everything.

Among the material objects
it favors clocks with pendulums
and mirrors, which keep on working
even when no one is looking.

It won't say where it comes from
or when it's taking off again,
though it's clearly expecting such questions.

We need it
but apparently
it needs us
for some reason too.

[agapigold]

This is soooo lovely and soulful
Was she a polish poetess or Russian ?
thank you for sharing
Agapigold

[ModernTimes1]

Ms.Symbors­ka is Polish. Here's a link to some of her poems.
My favorite always been the bitter-sweet "A Thank You Note."
Sorry this is not the best translation available. Just a starting point.
http://info-poland.buffalo.edu/web/arts_culture/literature/poetry/szymborska/poems/link.shtmll

[ModernTimes1]

A teacher was asked by novice monk on acheiving enlightenment.
Teacher:" When you finished eating your rice, wash the bowl."

[skymuffin]

A dog's soul. If it's for a day. The ones who are pampered pets really don't worry about anything, now, do they?

[ModernTimes1]

The anguish of a dog waiting for his/her master is not to be denied.

[denisew]

Possibly an ancestor of mine, like a great, great, great grandmother. I would hope to get more insight into who I am. Not only might I have inherited her hair coloring, I might also have inherited her philosophy on life.

[FrEaKoNaLeAsH657]

{When a challenging situation hijacks our focus, the world begins to narrow, the pressure we feel increases, and our mind shuts off ... it's like we cut off the circulation and the blood that oxygenates our brain. We diminish our sense of self and lessen our ability to problem-solve. How, then, do we break open our focus and cause time to expand so that we may regain perspective and wisdom? Ah, there is the rub!}-
Agapi Stassinopoulos
Posted: October 22, 2008 12:25 PM

When human's get depressed or in a stressful situation, are we subconsciously turning the oxygen off to our brain's? Are we setting ourselves to fail? Our people who have disorder AADD, AADHD, ADD(adolescent form), ADHD(adolescent form) are they already set to fail?!? I feel (believe) that (ALL HUMAN's who are in touch with there CREATOR); have the ability to have control over there mind, this space and time we are in, with the help from their CREATOR.

Your post on this time and space distortion 3005 is very interesting. I am going to be looking into your literature, your perspective is intriguing.

[agapigold]

Thank you for your interest and insights yes more to come watch for it
I am very interested in rapid eye movement therapy
where may I find more about it
thank you for your appreciation
Agapigod

[agapigold]

I am very interested any time that I hear about
Creator
I think all of us will be so much better of if we could glimpse and know that we are
co creators and when we connect with our creator we feel safe and inspired to do good and participate
thank you
Agapigold

[FrEaKoNaLeAsH657]

3005 was. 3005 - is the distortion of time and space and giving your mind back it's oxygen so human's can fill our mind's with the positive message's, and ward of the daily evil (sin) so we can refocus our mind's on the right thing to do, and stop dwelling on the past and the evil (sin). I've found for myself that an (AADD){me :) }, (ADD), (ADHD), (AADHD), we tend to dwell on the past often, our misfortune's our wrong doing (sin), and it eats us down to our core, and depression set's in, and we're worthless and it make's our disorder run us. I've been to this place 3005 as you call it, I notice I am there when I am in really heavy REM(Rapid Eye Movement) sleep.

[Bearangaria]

I'm fine with mine.

[MerrieWay]

hmmm...may­be the good me...

[Hair ShirT]

I think I would chose a great thinker like an Einstein or Hawking or Galileo. They had/have such insight into what really IS. They have/had the ability to envision things other worldly but in a purely scientific sense. Or maybe Mr Hooper from Sesame Street.

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Lovely post, Agapi! If I could travel to a different soul - Methusaleh - how did he manage that longevity? He must have found lots to be interested in to live that long.

My preference is to stay with the one I have which I have become quite attached to.

Loving you,
Anne

[Agapi Stassinopoulos]

Anne darling
love to know more about Methusala me too my soul fits me and alwlays find new ways to exprerss it
and to know it !
love reading you and hope to see you sooon
love to you always
Agapi

[Michael Strong]

What a fabulous, intelligent review! It does make me want to see the movie, and to meet the author of this wonderful review ;)!

Really, as someone loves the life of the mind, and who loves authenticity, I am exhausted by the shallowness of most electronic media today. Another Facebook or Twitter on "I went to the mall today . . . " or "I got drunk last night . . ." and I will despair of humanity. This is so refreshing in comparison to 99% of what I read online. I rarely, rarely encounter anything like this, and now realize how much I miss real, authentic, intelligent human beings.

I love Agapi's spirit and her voice! More!

[agapigold]

Hi Dear friend
lets do our documentary on Socrates !!!
it s time to put those minds to work and help the twitter world !!!
more to come
agapigold

[SaigonHappened]

I'd settle for knowing whether or not I even have a soul to begin with.

[humaneismyth]

i take it the "soul" adopting is actually just the taking on anothers hopes dreams fears and sufferings­.Interesti­ng.It would eliminate a lot of assinine judgements we make of others and each other if we could walk a mile in another's shoes.That is really what it is..walkin­g a mile in another's shoes.Imag­ine all the snide comments and dismissals and assumptions we couldnt make about each other! oh dear..a alot of people are glad we can not walk a mile in each others shoes.Sorr­y I tgopt something completely different from this article than what I supposed to.