Mais Cartões Postais para Clara

Your Father’s shadow…

Dear Clara,

The last months since your birthday I’ve been traveling most the time.  I went from Portland, Oregon, to friends in Redding California, and then down through San Francisco to Los Angeles, doing screenings along the way.  And then flew from LA to Detroit Michigan to go to Ann Arbor where I did a 5 day visit at the University of Michigan, and then back to Los Angeles.  Along the way I saw many old friends, new landscapes (for me), and took many photos.  Then I went to Korea for a festival with two new films, spending two weeks there, and again, seeing friends.  I came back to the USA to Portland, and now am in Phoenix, Arizona after a short visit to the Grand Canyon to which I will return in a few days to shoot a film, a kind of re-make of one I did in 1970.  And then to Portland and on to Butte, Montana, where I’ll spend the summer.  Perhaps to Europe some time in the autumn.   And, perhaps I travel too much!  Here are some photos from these days on the road.

I love you, Clara.

Your Father,

Jon

[Sent from Phoenix, Arizona.]

My friends in San Francisco,  Lynne Rutter and images of her wonderful garden, and Erling Wold, who composed the music for many of my films.  A wonderful stay with wonderful people.

 

Nathaniel Dorsky, a really special filmmaker and friend I’ve known since 1985 or so.  In his apartment in San Francisco where he showed me several of his newest films – truly beautiful.

Bakersfield, CaliforniaBarn, CaliforniaPost boxes, Big Sur

Big Sur, coastal CaliforniaAccidental “art” near Castroville, Ca.

Getty Museum, Pacific Palisades, Ca.Sherman Oaks, Ca.HollywoodSan Fernando ValleyEagle Rock Mexican dinerAlicia and Morrie Ruvinski in Santa MonicaCarpinteria, Ca.Alenka Pavlin on her 50th birthday in Venice, Ca.LA at night, flying to MichiganParking lot, Ann Arbor, MichiganPacific OceanLee Sangwoo, Lee Hyonjong, Moon Seohyun in Seoul

Jeonju

The journey of the last months will soon come to a stop, and I will have the time to write you another letter with things you should know about our families, and so, yourself.  Meantime I will send you some more postcards and snapshots before I get to Butte for the summer.

Love from your father,

Jon

Your father, at 70 years and a week

Amo-te, Clarinha !

Parabéns a Você, Clarinha !!

27/03/2013

Querida Clara

 

Nesta data, o final da tua 16ª rotação à volta da nossa estrela mais próxima, o Sol, desejo-te amor e alegria, e espero que nos vejamos em breve.

Parabéns!

Amo-te, Teu pai
jon

March 27, 2013

Dearest Clara

On this, the finish of your 16th spin around our nearest star, the Sun, I wish you love and joy, and I hope we see each other soon.
Parabens !
Amo-te,

Teu pai
jon

Aqui estão fotos de dois lugares onde vivemos: Roma e Lisboa

Francisco Goya, dome of San Francisco el Grande, Madrid

Amo-te, Clarinha !  Teu pai

Lettera # 12

Querida Clara
Em breve terás 16 anos, em 27 Março deste ano. Não mais uma criança, nem uma pequena rapariga, mas já uma jovem mulher. Gostaria de ter estado contigo todos estes anos, desde que foste raptada, em 2 Novembro de 2000, pela tua mãe, e então mantida, com a colaboração dos tribunais de menores de Portugal, sem qualquer contacto comigo, teu pai. Isto é ilegal, em clara violação com as leis italianas, país do qual foste sequestrada, e também em desacordo com a Convenção de Haia sobre subtracção de menores, e muito mais relevante, é absolutamente imoral e terá decerto infligido graves danos á tua pessoa, em particular porque durante três anos e meio fui eu quem principalmente cuidou de todo o teu bem-estar diário, fazendo tudo o que se convencionou ser do papel de “uma mãe”.
Das fotos que mostras no teu Facebook, cresceste uma adorável jovem, parece-me que tocas musica – guitarra, acho eu – e cantas. E também creio estares de boa saúde e em boa forma. Por isso, estou feliz e contente. Também toco guitarra e escrevo musica, e também me encontro em forma – talvez ainda consiga fazer um pouco mais de 80 flexões. Costumavas fazer esse exercicio comigo. Tenho uma foto em que estamos os dois a fazer tal! Aos meus olhos, as tuas imagens demonstram claramente a tua ascendência, aparência, e algo que me recorda de mim, em tempos mais jovens.
Face à tua idade, e porque já as consegues compreender, há coisas que deves saber. Acerca da familia do teu pai, coisas boas e más. Coisas que todos devemos saber acerca das nossas heranças e passado. Começarei a dizer nesta carta tal. Acerca da minha familia e sua historia, e também acerca da familia de Teresa, coisas que estou certa nem a tua mãe nem a tua avó te contarão.
Antes de mais, deves saber, legalmente, és norte-americana, além de portuguesa. Dentro de alguns anos, quando fizeres 18, pela lei portuguesa, podes fazer o que quiseres, pois serás uma adulta. Se quiseres ter um passaporte americano (ainda tenho o teu antigo, de quando eras criança) ou visitar-me ou mudares-te para os EUA, será o teu direito, e se assim decidires, ficarei feliz em tudo fazer para te auxiliar.
Face á má situação economica portuguesa, terás um melhor futuro aqui, apesar dos muitos problemas que tem o meu país.
E depois, Clara, penso que seja muito importante para a tua vida e futura felicidade veres-me antes de eu morrer – em breve terei 70 anos e não posso garantir nada.  Sinto-me e pareço saudável, talvez tenha mais 20 anos de vida, mas nunca se sabe. Por isso, quando for possivel, devemo-nos encontrar e passar tempo juntos. Mudar-me-ei para Lisboa em qualquer altura que seja possivel.
Na proxima carta enviarei informações sobre questões clinicas – o que se passou nesta parte da familia.
Entretanto, tem um maravilhoso aniversario, e save que estarei como sempre a pensar em ti.  Faço-o sempre que escrevo um mail: clarandjon@msn.com.
Lembro-me dessa noite há 16 anos, e dos anos de felicidade que se seguiram até que me foste retirada.

Amo-te, Clarinha
Teu pai,
jon

Dearest Clara

Soon you will be 16 – on March 27 of this year, 2013.  No longer a child, nor a little girl, but a young woman.  I, of course, would have liked to be with you all these years since you were kidnapped, on Nov 2, 2000, by your mother and then kept, in collusion with the Portuguese Juvenile Courts, from any contact with me, your father.  This was illegal, in violation of the laws of Italy, from which you were taken, and the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, and, far more importantly, it was immoral and inflicted great damage on you, especially since for three and a half years I had been overwhelmingly your primary caretaker  with you everyday, doing what “mothers” normally would do.

From the photos which you showed on your Facebook pages, you have grown into a lovely young woman, and it seems you play music – guitar it seems – and sing.  And that you are athletic and in good health.  For these things I am happy and glad.  I too play guitar and write music, and am somewhat athletic  – I can still do 80 pushups and maybe more.  You used to do them along with me.  I have a foto of you doing it!   To my eyes your pictures clearly show your lineage, and look, as should be, a bit like me in younger days.

As you are now old enough to understand, there are things you should know.  About your father’s family – good things and bad. Things we should all know about our heritages.  I will begin to tell you these things, beginning with this letter.  Both about my family and its history, and also about Teresa’s  -  things I imagine she and your grandmother are not likely to tell you.

So firstly, you should know that you are, legally, an American, as well as Portuguese.  And in a few years, when you turn 18, by Portuguese law, you can do what you wish, as a full legal adult.  Should you wish to secure an American passport (I still have your old one, as an infant), or visit or move to America, it will be your right, and if you wish to do so then, I will be happy to help you do so.  Given Portugal’s sad economic situation it might offer you a better future to do so, though I have severe problems with my country.

And secondly, I think, Clara, it is very important for your life and future happiness that you see me before I die – I will soon be 70 and can assume nothing.  While I seem quite healthy and have perhaps 20 more years, one can never know.  So when it is possible, we should meet and spend time.  I will move to Lisboa any time this will be possible.

Next time I will send some information about medical things – what runs in part of your family.

Meantime have a wonderful birthday, and know I will be, as I always am, thinking of you.  I do so every time I write an email:  clarandjon@msn.com.  I recall that night 16 years ago, and the joyous years that followed until you were taken away.

Amo-te, Clarinha

Teu pai,

jon

Amo-te, Clarinha !!

Mais Cartões Postais para Clara

Swanton Road, near Davenport, California

Cara Clara – for the last weeks I have been traveling – from Portland Oregon, to Newport, to Redding, California, and Chico, and then to San Francisco, and on down to Los Angeles.  Doing screenings, shooting some for American essay-film, and seeing many friends, some whom I have not seen for 40 years!  And then one to Death Valley where I will bring these postcards to a halt.  I hope to have some time soon to write a real letter.  But for now

Amo-te

Teu pai, jon

Toldeo, Oregon, where I shot The Bed You Sleep In in 1991

Netting, fishing harbor, Newport, Or.Pacific Ocean from Oregon coastCoors sign, Newport, Or.Redwood forest, northern CaliforniaCalifornia, near coast heading towards Morro BayOrchards, California, Sacramento Delta areaSmall town, California, near ChicoSilos, San Ardo, Calif.Sacramento Delta, California

Maricopa, CaliforniaPismo BeachDish in my friend Nathaniel Dorsky’s apartment in San Francisco 

 

Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, CaliforniaTecopa Hot Springs, California

Sign in Shoshone, California

Death Valley, California, lowest point in America

Amo-te, Clarinha !!!

Bom Ano Novo, Clarinha !

Bom Ano Novo, Clarinha !

 

Amo-te, Clarinha !

 Teu pai, jon

.

Feliz Natal, Clarinha !

Querida Clara

No dia em que te escrevo, é o dia mais curto do ano (aqui no hemisferio Norte) e de alguma forma, não tenho encontrado tempo para te escrever outra carta. Estou sempre atarefado com uma ou outra coisa, fotografia, ou á secretária, ou a filmar, ou a escrever.

Parece que estou sempre a fazer algo. Mas, antes do Ano Novo, encontrarei tempo para te escrever. Por agora, votos de uma época feliz. Fiz uma viagem esta semana, para as montanhas perto de Portland, onde estou agora, e tirei as fotos que mostro agora.

Amo-te, Clara, e espero que nos possamos ver em breve

Amo-te.

Teu pai,

Jon

 

Dear Clara
Today as I write is the shortest day of the year (here in the northern hemisphere), and somehow I haven’t found time to write another letter.   I confess, I am always busy with one thing or another – photography, or being a secretary, or making a film, or writing.  Always, it seems, something.   But, sometime before the new year I will make the time to write.  For now have a joyous holiday.  I took a trip this week, into the mountains near Portland, where I am staying now, and took the pictures I send along here.

.
I love you Clara, and hope we can see each other soon.
Amo-te.

Teu pai,

Jon

Mais Snapshots para Clara

Teton Lake, Grand Teton National ParkHot spring, YellowstoneForest, YellowstoneYellowstone fallsMeadow in Yellowstone ParkHeading to Pipestone Pass, Mt., in smoke filled skiesChurch, Logan, Mt.Don’t recall, MontanaLivingston, Mt.

Cara Clara,

The last months have been busy with work and travel – they are the same thing to me, and always also fun.  These are just a few of the things I have seen.  I’ll send more soon.

Amo-te

Teu pai

jon

Grand Coulee, Wa.Kootenai, IdahoNoxon, Mt.NoxonNear Twisp, Washington StateWhidby Island, Wa.The view from Steve and Todd’s towards Victoria BC, in Port Angeles, Wa.Harbor, Port Angeles

Sunset, Teton Lake