THE TODDCAST · WITH TODD MICHAELThe Wardrobe Screening
Todd Haynes laid painted frames beside the shy mirror while Todd Field waited with a camera. Green reflected a garden; yellow reflected a puzzling room of lemons. A cat appeared in the blue frame and sat down.
No one rushed the mirror to choose. The cat blinked once, the camera clicked, and the lemons were invited to stay in their own frame.
A frame of its own
Todd Haynes found a shy mirror in a wardrobe of painted doors. It reflected every frame in a different shade, except the blue one, which made it glow like evening. Todd Field carried a camera but did not switch it on. The mirror seemed to prefer a quiet audience and a little time to consider its options.
Todd Haynes laid out the colored frames like scenes in a film. The green frame showed a garden; the yellow one showed a room full of lemons, for no clear reason. Todd Field held each frame up and waited. A cat walked through the reflection, paused in blue, and sat as if it had reached the ending.
The mirror chose the deep blue frame, with the cat reflected beside it. Todd Field took one picture after the cat blinked. Todd Haynes titled the scene “A Door Left Open.” The wardrobe’s yellow frame was moved to the kitchen, where the lemons felt represented. The mirror kept its blue view and stopped looking like it needed to decide anything.
An Alternate Frame
Todd Haynes showed the mirror a yellow frame. It reflected lemons. Todd Field showed it green; a cat walked through the garden and sat in blue.
The mirror chose blue, and the cat stayed for the picture. The lemons were content with a kitchen scene and asked for their own title card.
Blue Frame
Todd Haynes brings frames of yellow hue,
Todd Field waits for one in blue.
A cat sits still inside the glass,
While lemon scenes and gardens pass.
The mirror picks a quiet door,
The camera waits, then asks no more.
The cat blinks once; the scene is through,
The lemons keep their yellow view.