Film Interiors: Still Breathing

The first time I saw Still Breathing was in a motel room on one of my cross-country drives. I only caught the last half hour and was intrigued enough to rent the film when I returned home. I consider it a classic in waiting, which is clear from the fact that I have already referenced it in a blog post on cairns (see post for a synopsis of the story). Besides the beautifully written script, atmospheric soundtrack and inviting cinematography of San Antonio, the set decor serves the characters perfectly. Brendan Fraser's character, Fletcher, lives in the Texas house where he grew up. It's a comfortable combination of family heirlooms and his own artistic additions. Rosalyn, played by Joanna Going, is an L.A. con artist who convinces wealthy men to buy expensive art pieces from her friend's gallery. She brings the men to her apartment for the final brush-off, so her place must look like the home of a savvy art lover. It's full of bright color and mod pieces from the fifties.

Fletcher's entryway features framed landscapes, an ornate little mirror and a simple wood lamp.

A vintage clock and tiny wooden boat sit atop cigar boxes.

A well stocked library and the hint of a leather club chair.

Fletcher's grandmother shares some of his childhood relics with a curious Ros.

The covered porch with casual drapes and vintage rattan furniture.

Fletcher's kitchen is grounded by a solid oval table.

Above the sink, a light strip highlights a collection of colorful milkglass coffee cups. Vintage postcards of his city serve as a back splash.

Glass canisters are at home with a large white pitcher and primitive wooden bowl in Fletcher's kitchen.

Rosalyn's dining room is painted sunflower yellow and features a Scandinavian table and chairs and black and white art. It seems to be the least visited room in her apartment. 

Contemporary art purchased for her by a suitor sits temporarily on her desk.

The view from her kitchen: a blue enamel fridge and asymmetrical frames hold paint-by-numbers paintings.

A feminine living room is joined by a heavy tree chunk that serves as her stress-relieving dart board.

The following items from the current marketplace share some of the spirit of the inspiration pieces in Fletcher's home.

A library ladder from Farnsworth on 1stdibs. A clock I currently have for sale at West End Garage. A rococo-style mirror from The Aviary and a leather club chair from Loftgoods.

A teak bench from Cathy's Marketplace and a sewing basket from Timberstoys.

Apothecary jars from Time for Treasures.

Milkglass coffee mugs from Modish Vintage.

And a handful of pieces that are inspired by Rosalyn's digs:

Hans Wegner wishbone chairs from Danish Design Store.

A paint by numbers sailboat painting from Sweet Love Vintage.

A blue fridge from Smeg and a tufted fuchsia sofa from Anne Coyle.

(Film images are the property of Zap Pictures, Inc. and October Films. Production Designer: Denise Pizzini. Set Decorator: Lisa Lopez.)

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Cairns: Lovely Piles of Rocks

ZapPictures, Inc.

Still Breathing has endured as one of my favorite films since I first saw it about a decade ago. Brendan Fraser plays a San Antonio musician, Fletcher, whose father and grandfather both had visions of the women that were meant for them and subsequently found and married them. Fletcher finally experiences his own vision of his bride and he travels to L.A.'s Formosa Cafe to find her. There he encounters Rosalyn, played by Joanna Going. She is a con artist who mistakes him for her next mark and sets about seducing him. Intensely pursuing her but determined not to sabotage their relationship by rushing things, Fletcher eventually breaks down Rosalyn's defenses. During a stroll down a tree-lined street, he pauses to tell her about how he builds cairns. He takes her hand, palm up, and piles several little stones on it to commemorate the moment they are sharing together. Soon after, he tips her hand and lets the stones fall. Cairns aren't built to last but rather to punctuate a moment in time.


I have since built a few cairns of my own while walking along Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. Its meditative effect makes it the perfect way to shed city life stresses. Part of the fun is trying to build something that looks like it shouldn't be able to stay standing. Balancing it on the edge of a boulder or leaving a space at the center that you can see through makes it more than just a pile of rocks. Each structure is so precarious that I always know when it has reached its limit. Usually I'll continue on my walk until I'm on the other side of the creek and then I'll watch people's reactions as they discover the cairn. Dogs and children are particularly fascinated by these unexpected art installations in the wild.


Definition: cairn 

Pronunciation: \ˈkern\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English (Scots) carne, from Scottish Gaelic carn; akin to Old Irish & Welsh carn cairn

Date: 15th century

: a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or as a landmark (Merriam-Webster)

The tallest cairn I've managed so far.

As a seller on Etsy, I love browsing at what is on offer from artists and vintage lovers around the world. It turns out that my love of cairns is shared by a number of them. Here are a few that captured my attention.

Moss Terrariums' Cairn Terrarium No 1

Made for Fun's Bottle Stopper

Leaping Gazelle's Sea Cairn

Jibby and Juna's Cairn Illustration Pendant

AntiGenre's Cairn Ring

Groundwork's Cairn No. 3--Limited Edition Print

 (which I also happen to have framed in my bedroom)

Jenifer Glagowski's Original--Orange on Grey

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