work and movie watching

I've been juggling work on three original anthologies plus YBFH over the past week: line editing stories for The Beastly Bride and Other Tales of the Animal People (we're awaiting three more plus a poem, I think). Reading the stories that Nick Mamatas passed on to me from his Haunted Legends slush pile, and working on the ones we've decided to buy. Reading for and working on stories for Lovecraft Unbound, and reading for and working on stories for Naked City. And in between, for a break, reading for YBFH #22. Today I received the copy edit of the Nebula Award Showcase Anthology to go over. It all takes focus.

So this evening I watched Code 46 an sf movie directed by Michael Winterbottom starring Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton. I enjoyed it, although was a bit frustrated. I'm not sure I understand everything about the movie...total spoilers below, so if you haven't seen it don't read any more. If you have...perhaps you can explain what I don't understand.
addition: I've checked out the comments on IMdb and some make a lot of sense, but they don't answer all the questions I have.

















An investigator from Seattle travels to Shanghai to catch the person selling fraudulent travel passes. He's attracted to a woman working there, they have sex, she disappears and he discovers that she's gotten pregnant, which brings up a Code 46.

Code 46 provides penalties for having sex with someone whose DNA matches 25%-100% of your own --if it's deliberate there are more severe penalties than if it is not. He and the woman (they are both brought up by nurture parents --maybe everyone is but that's one point not clear) have close DNA and she has the same DNA as his mother--is she a clone of his mother? I'm not clear about this either. I have no problem with him "falling in love with her" immediately--part of that is obviously the "empathy virus" he's been infected with for his job. And others pointed out that it might be that she's a clone of his mother-which doesn't make sense if he was not brought UP by his own mother and besides that's just too stupidly Oedipal.

The world is polluted and protected enclaves exist in which the privileged (or those willing to follow the rules) can live and work. Everything outside is desert. People can only travel outside their enclaves if they have permission, and some of this permission seems to be determined by their genetic disposition--which is decided by the Sphinx corporation. (mysterious and not explained unless I missed it-computerized? I've no idea).

I don't get the maguffin, I'm afraid, although the repercussions of it are fascinating. It seems as if most (maybe all) women are artificially inseminated --because of this it's crucial to keep track of genetics to ensure that close relatives don't reproduce. Makes sense.

But...birth control is never ever mentioned--this is what frustrates me...because the entire plot centers on a woman getting pregnant. If there was some reference to why birth control is not an option, I'd get it. There's a scene where a couple is counseled that they are too genetically close to have children but they're encouraged to marry anyway so one presumes they can use birth control....

Another nice sf touch, viruses are "given" for certain tasks--eg an empathy virus so the Tim Robbins character can do his job as investigator.

So for anyone who has seen this can we please discuss? I missed some of the dialog I think that might explain points I missed...but maybe not.

Rain rain --Hannah is here

NYC has had incredibly humid weather the past two days. This afternoon I went over to the Greenwich House pottery sale around 1pm. It's an easy walk through the west village (down W 4th street) of about half a mile each way--going was fine but hummmmmid. The studios are not air-conditioned and although they have area fans those fans don't cool much. Within minutes I was dripping from sweat.

Even so, I enjoyed being there because of the wonderful items for sale--mugs and tea bowls, bowls, vases, plates, cups. In many different styles and textures. And nothing for more than $15. The students donate their pottery to help support Greenwich House programs for kids (and other things). I stocked up on several lovely items, many of which will likely be Xmas gifts this December (I don't have room for much). The sale continues tomorrow for anyone in the area. It's off West 4th street at 16 Jones Street. If I have time, I may go back again tomorrow.

By the time I got home, my shirt was partially soaked through so I changed my clothes and got ready to go out gain to meet friends for drinks/early dinner (or late lunch). It started raining a bit on my way to the Miracle Grill--only a few blocks away--the other two had to come from uptown. One friend was late and arrived just as it started pouring (but she had been in a taxi so missed getting soaked). We drank frozen margaritas (blood orange for me) and watched as it rained heavily and not so heavily over the next two hours. We left while it wasn't too bad. It was cooler out.
So far no thunderstorms, although there are still some expected between now and midnight.

I love being inside looking out when it's pouring rain.