Is it good to be alone? It depends. Loneliness is a sense of isolation that often happens when one is single or alone. Loneliness persists even when other people are present. “Solitude”, in contrast, is the choice to be alone and use the time either for reflection or simply getting along with oneself.
A “loner” may not be a bad thing. Loners actively select solitude as a source of contentment and personal fulfillment. I know a senior friend who likes to spend 7 to 8 hours to wander in a strange city in a relaxed way, and without any clear direction. He said, “I walk until I am tired and lose my way. Then, I take a taxi to go back to the hotel!” I am a “Sunday loner”. I look at official Sunday events and invitations in disdain.
Have you watched the Japanese popular series (more than 10 seasons) of TV docudrama called The Solitary Gourmet (孤獨的美食家). It is about a salaryman Goro Inogashira slurping and chomping his way through more than 100 restaurants, often with little but his inner monologue for company. The contents are about inexpensive “comfort food” that you and I can afford. It is also an obvious forerunner to what is known as “ambient TV”. Most people take food as a joy or moment for celebration. The character in the film regards food as a tool for quiet healing and serious respect for the chef who makes the gourmet.
“Ambient TV program” (環境電視節目) is a new genre of TV drama that puts emphasis on atmosphere over the traditional storytelling with all kinds of twists and turns. The purpose is to create a soothing and pleasant environment through the use of beautiful imagery. Some audience are fond of it but some may fall asleep.
The Solitary Gourmet is now turned into a movie. You may watch it at the cinemas. The film makes use of its small-screen aesthetic. Pace of the motion picture is slow. You do not find it dramatic or cinematic. In a way, I feel like being a peeping Tom watching what the character is doing personally in Paris, Korea and Tokyo.
The movie The Solitary Gourmet can either bore you to death and delight you to laugh. Are you ready for the opportunity of choosing one result or the other? Enjoy the movie trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfOA6b6AEIE
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