Merzan, the Destiny of an Artist Page 6
Simultaneously, to answer Matahina’s question, Élise says, “No!” while Temaru says, “Yes!”
Eeva takes Matahina by the shoulders, face to face.
“Matahina, you are only 15 years old.”
“I am almost 16 Mother!”
Temaru inserts, “But she will have counselors.”
Élise adds, “You have never been away from us.”
Temaru includes, “But she will have guardians.”
Élise notes that, “Paris can be a difficult place.”
Temaru specifies, “And she will be kept safe.”
Élise looks at Temaru and says, “Matahina has never been away from us.”
Temaru tries to relax her concern and says, “She will have many new friends. There’s a high school with students from 40 different countries.”
Turning to Matahina, Élise shows concern, “You have never been away from us.”
Temaru adds another point that, “She will have a complete education in the arts.”
Élise, losing strength to argue her concerns, “You have...”
Temaru interrupts and puts his hands on Eeva’s shoulders. He says, “... and it’s only for a few semesters.”
Matahina softly, slowly asks, “Do I have anything to say about this... your Majesties?
Silence fills the room for the longest time.
There is a crescendo of island drums in the distance.
“But Mother, I will be alone,” Matahina expresses.
Sensing the trips opportunity – overpowering her motherly concerns, Élise tells her, “No Matahina. You will never be alone.”
Eeva uses the Island’s influences on their life styles and, with hand gestures, speaks philosophically to share the story told by the stars.
“The Gods guide every step you take. You are the Princess of Mo’ore’a and your destiny has been written in the stars.”
Tears are rolling down both their faces. You can see that they are a family filled with love and caring concern, yet guided by adventure. Still, they are confused by something that can be so wonderful, yet so unknown that it causes them great fear.
Matahina cries out, “Oh Mother!”
Matahina collapses against her mother, sobbing with emotion. They both are emotional, but Eeva tries to become strong to help steady the situation.
Temaru has become tear-filled as well. The whole idea has caused quite a bit of emotion for the three of them.
Élise tells her daughter, “Matahina, you are a Princess. You have royal blood and like your ancestors before you. Not only will you fulfill an important destiny, you are a very strong Princess.”
The Queen turns Matahina around to see her father who is now a complete emotional wreck.
“Unlike your father...”
Eeva nods her head with a sarcastic royal gesture of respect.
“...the King!”
Matahina runs to her father’s arms and hugs him, his head resting on her shoulder, to give him comfort and strength so he can regain his composure.
Eeva displays her deep-rooted love to see all of this going on, then grabs her stomach area and winces ever so slightly. This causes the Queen an unwanted reality check that raises questions about her own health and future.
17 I Am not an Artiste
It’s daytime at the high school in Paris. Merzan has been called to the administration office. The door opens and Merzan walks in. He approaches the secretary. She is expecting him.
“Ah! Merzan, bonjour!”
“Bonjour madame.”
“Please, Merzan, come with me.”
“Oui, madame.”
She escorts him into the Headmaster’s office, another room attached to the large administration area. She opens the door without knocking.
“Monsieur, may I present Merzan L’Granaré.”
Looking up from his work with a stack of papers occupying his desk he greets Merzan.
“Merzan, it has come to my attention that you are a photographer, oui?”
Merzan answers, “Ah! No monsieur I am no...”
The Headmaster simply interrupts, “S’il vous plaît, Merzan, sit here.”
He gestures to one of the two empty chairs positioned in front of his desk.
Merzan looks at one chair as if he expects to see something in that empty chair. He studies it carefully, looking up and down the back of the chair, then sits in the other.
The secretary remains in the room standing over him, dominantly, yet somewhat protective.
“Merzan?”
“Oui monsieur,” Merzan replies.
“Merzan, our school needs a photographer. Can I count on you to take on this task?”
Without waiting for an answer, “I won’t accept any response but yes! This is your duty as a student of the arts at the Lycée Michelet. Do you understand this Merzan?”
“Oui monsieur, but...”
Obviously stuck without choice, Merzan asks, “Monsieur?”
“Oui Merzan?”
“There is a camera shop on the Avenue Victor Hugo.”
The Headmaster is familiar with it.
“Oui, Philippe Sopoko is the shopkeeper.”
Merzan acknowledges this is so.
“And you mention this because Merzan?”
“Well,” shyly “monsieur, I am not a photographer...”
“But you can be Merzan. You can be a great photographer if... you want to be a great photographer.”
Merzan explains, “I have spent some time at this shop and Philippe, I mean, Monsieur Sopoko has told me I can have a job at his shop.”
“Merzan, do you want to have this job at his shop?”
“Oui monsieur. Very much so.”
The Headmaster considers some options.
“Now, I am prepared to set aside some of your class time for you to spend at the shop so you can learn more about photography from Philippe... uh, Monsieur Sopoko.”
Merzan sits forward in his chair. His eyes grow big with wonderment and gratefulness.
Merzan agrees, “Then I suppose I am the photographer for the Lycée Michelet. But...”
He imagines trying to use his (old) camera – pretending he’s picking it up to shoot.
“...I have no film monsieur.”
The Headmaster resolves the concern saying “Merzan! You will have film. Now! Go to breakfast, and hurry before you are late for your classes.”
Merzan and the secretary walk out of the office. Merzan is feeling pretty good about everything and imagines sending a few photographs home to his family with his occasional letters.
Merzan gets to the administrative office front door when the secretary calls out to him. Merzan looks back and she is posing with a hand on her hip and another pushing up the back of her hair.
“Merzan?”
Merzan turns back to see what she wants.
He responds, “Oui?” as he turns around.
Merzan is completely jolted by the view.
The school secretary has plastered on a ridiculous smile.
She asks Merzan, “Am I beautiful?”
Merzan, very pleasantly and wisely, has a quick look around the empty room.
He says, “Madame! You are the most beautiful woman in this entire room.”
Merzan backs out the door quickly presenting bowing gestures before she can return a response.
The secretary, momentarily stuck in her pose, bathes in the compliment. Just then the Headmaster pokes his head out his office to ask her back in – only to catch her in this
awkward compromised position.
He raises his eyebrows with surprise.
She embarrassingly tries to untangle herself from her modeling stance. She tugs at her clothing to straighten things a bit in an effort to camouflage the awkwardness.
While entering the Headmaster’s office, she notices that the compliment Merzan paid to her about being the most beautiful woman in the room was less special when she realizes that she’s the only one in the entire
front office. Even so, she continues adjusting her hair and face to bask in what’s left of her new-found beauty in the eyes of the young new school photographer.
18 What We do not See Shines Brightest
Close to the dock in Mo’ore’a, Matahina is bidding farewell to a group of tourists. They are preparing for their return on Captain Bell’s ferry. She stands on the beach waving, then gathers her basket and belongings as the captain’s boat departs and heads out to sea. Matahina watches while the boat grows distant on the glistening horizon.
The wind is stronger than average and the water is turbulent.
Toanui stands almost hidden in the trees edging the beach displaying his anger at the tourists, now out of sight.
He steps out and approaches Matahina. He has an aggressive attitude.
Toanui says to Matahina, “The Gods are angry. These tourists are not welcome on the Island...”
He looks at the blowing palms and turning sea.
“... the wind and sea are angry.”
Matahina responds with her witty sarcasm, “and Toanui is angry.”
Toanui tries to hide from her that something else is on his mind.
Matahina continues, “Toanui is MORE angry than the wind and sea, but not about
tourists coming to my Island.”
Matahina pushes her basket into Toanui’s hands and he takes it from her and sets it
down on the sand.
Toanui tries to act busy fixing wrappings on his knife handle – pretending not to acknowledge Matahina’s insightful words.
Matahina tops off her comments with, “and Toanui has wisely learned not put flowers in
Matahina’s hair.”
She pushes him back gently to create a respectful distance between them. Matahina crosses her arms on her chest and stares at Toanui forcing him to disclose the thoughts he is truly hiding.
Toanui confesses, “The King speaks to my father of sending you away to Paris.
Matahina responds with uninhibited excitement, hugs Toanui and spins him around, “Yes! To study art and help our island build tourism through a cultural exchange.”
“But you are the Princess of Mo’ore’a, not a common student in a foreign land.”
Matahina discounts Toanui’s words, “When I am in Paris I will be a student. Besides, in the end, even a Princess will mean no more than one who is common when they are cast away to be held in the eternal arms of the Gods.”
Matahina gestures with her arm and hand showing something being cast off into the bay
to support her metaphor.
Toanui answers her protectively, “Paris is not safe for the Princess of Mo’ore’a.”
He accidentally kicks over her basket, spilling the contents on the sand.
Matahina reacts with anger to his intrusion of her affairs, “MY ISLAND is not safe for the
Princess of Mo’ore’a!”
Toanui steps back in homage and delivers a partial bow knowing he has offended her Highness. You can sense his regret for his forward and inappropriate behavior.
There is a sadness in Toanui’s expression as he ashamed he has offended her. Plus, he is equally in love with Matahina and sees no chance of ever being the one she will choose.
Matahina is insensitive to his feelings.
19 Your Camera does not Make You a Photographer
It’s daytime in Paris and Merzan approaches the camera shop window and, ceremoniously, makes his stop to look at the camera on display. He sees Philippe and enters the
shop.
Philippe realizes Merzan’s interest in that camera.
They greet each other.
“Bonjour Philippe.”
“Bonjour Merzan.”
Merzan decides to make inquiries about the camera the draws his interest. “This camera is in your window for a long time, no?”
Philippe answers, “Of course, Merzan. This is a professional’s camera that cost many
francs. But one day, the right person will own this.”
Merzan begins to reach for it, catches himself and draws his arms back.
“Go ahead. Inspect the Rolleiflex.”
He shows Merzan where to open the viewer.
“Squeeze these buttons on top to open the viewfinder Merzan. I will be your model.”
Philippe tugs at his sweater to straighten it, then strikes a pose as Merzan brings the camera into focus. Merzan is handling the camera like a fine tool with an intuitive sense having it in his hands. He comfortably adjusts the controls. Merzan is impressed to see the view come into sharp focus through the camera’s ground glass.
“So, Merzan. Am I beautiful, no?”
Merzan comments about, “everything looks so bright and clear.” Merzan daydreams for a moment until the shop telephone rings. Philippe breaks character and picks up the receiver.
“Bonjour, Les Appareil Photo!”
Philippe listens and continues the phone conversation.
“Oui! Pour Merzan?”
TRANSLATION: For Merzan
Listening... “C’est bien. I will see to it. Merci! Au revoir.”
He hangs up the phone.
“Merzan. I will have some film for you before you leave today. It’s for your work at Lycée Michelet.”
Merzan tells Philippe, “I am now the photographer for the high school Philippe.”
Philippe acknowledges, “Oui! So it seems. How quickly you are making a name for yourself in Paris. Tell me, Merzan, when is your exhibit going to be held?”
Merzan looks at him knowing this is not something imaginable. He very quickly recalls his empty easel pieces collapsing at his imaginary mock exhibit, rolls his eyes and says, “As soon as I learn to draw monsieur.”
They laugh. Then Philippe grows very serious and puts his hand on Merzan’s shoulder.
He says, “Merzan, the dirt and the dust are a terrible enemy for a professional photographer. Do you understand this problem?”
Merzan gets this, “This would not be good for the camera or the film, no?”
“Exactement! Now today I am going to show you another important secret.”
Merzan is hesitant but asks, “What now?”
Philippe has new wisdom to share with Merzan.
“I will show you how the greatest photographers can avoid the dust and the dirt.”
Merzan perks to attention anxious for this great new photographic secret. Philippe dramatically clinches his fist, “You must attack the dust and dirt before it can attack the camera and the film.”
Merzan is drawn in with enthusiasm he repeats, “Attack?”
“Attack,” and Philippe takes a broom and hands it to Merzan explaining with figurative gestures that he should sweep the area outside the shop door.
Outside the camera shop, Merzan is now sweeping around the front door.
Merzan is thinking, “Look at Merzan, the artiste de la photographie.”
He sees the woman, who is always out sweeping her front porch, sweeping too. She sees him and aggressively demonstrates how Merzan should put some strength into his sweeping style from afar. Merzan sweeps harder and she provides her approval.
A short time later, the camera shop door opens and Merzan walks in with the broom in hand. Philippe takes the broom and simultaneously hands him a dust cloth and spray bottle of cleaner. He gestures to the glass showcases. Merzan rolls his eyes and gets busy.
Sometime later, Merzan is rolling up the cloth with all this work complete.
20 Caught by His Vision
A few days later, Merzan is taking a variety of photos around the school. Classroom activities, outdoor events, assemblies, certificate award ceremonies, students on campus, architectural shots of the school building, those being more artistic, and more make up a virtual montage of photo work.
The next day Merzan is in his art history class with other students. The art teacher is lecturing.
Merzan is preoccupied looking for any amounts of money from his different pockets trying to assess h
is financial state.
The art teacher speaks while showing slides of various famous works, “Now mostly, these famous artists cared only about their art. It was their passion that drove them to paint and to sculpt. It was very commonplace for these dedicated artists to ignore everything around them. They would do this simply to fulfill their need to create. Somehow, they all learned to survive starvation. And now, that it’s too late for them to enjoy, we have come to understand how truly great they were. When they were commissioned by the church or the head of state to produce work they would receive meager earnings. It seldom matched the value of their work. But, they were artists and this is what artists do.”
The instructor turns on the lights in the back of the room and returns down the aisle. He walks between the student’s desks, headed toward the front of the class. He notices the small collection of money organized on Merzan’s desk.
He asks the class, “Who in this class has decided to make a career of being an artist?”
The teacher looks for a showing of hands. Enthusiastically, most in the class raise their hands without hesitation. Merzan does not.
Questioning, he says, “Merzan? Why do you not raise your hand?”
Merzan, fondles the money on his desk. There’s an awkward amount of silence. All eyes are on him – being singled-out.
“Merzan? Why do you not raise your hand?” the instructor repeats.
Merzan looks up slowly, not embarrassed, but without any pride.
He answers, “I can not draw!”
“Merzan, come forward,” the teacher insists.
The students and Merzan are curious. What unexplained situation is causing Merzan to be called forward? Some students are speaking amongst themselves exchanging mixtures of curiosity and making fun of Merzan.
“Look at this classroom Merzan. Look from left to right and from the front to the back.”
Merzan, non-intrusively accommodates the teacher’s instruction. A small light breeze lifts Merzan’s hair very slightly. His classmates are playfully making fun of him, waving their hands, making faces, trying to distract him.
“Have you looked at this room carefully Merzan?”
“Oui, I have.”