Protagonist & Praxis: Moonstruck

Cher’s 1987 Moonstruck won 3 Oscars for its portrayal of Loretta (Cher) and Ronny’s (Nicolas Cage) unconventional, inconvenient, and quirky love story. The interwoven stories, from the relationship between Loretta and Ronny, her fiancé’s brother, to the rekindled romance between Loretta’s uncle and aunt to the challenges within her parents’ marriage, reveal the interconnectedness of family bonds, the changing faces of love across generations, and the timelessness of “snap out of it!”.

Grandpa Castorini loves his dogs: he feeds them at the dining room table, sings opera to them, and loyally walks them around New York City throughout the film. Support no-kill shelters like the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago through donation or adoption.

In homage to Ronnie’s job at a bakery, try the Bay Area’s famous Acme Bread Company. Co-founded by Chez Panisse’s Steve Sullivan and voted one of the top 20 bread companies in the country by Saveur in the spring of 2012, Acme has been the staple of California organic bread for nearly 30 years. 

Enjoy the music of Puccine’s La Boheme, the opera Ronnie takes Loretta to see on their date with the famous box set with Luciano Pavarotti, Mirella Freni, Elizabeth Harwood, Rolando Panerai, and Nicolai Ghiaurov.

Perhaps the best scene is when Raymond and Rita Cappomaggi, Loretta’s uncle and aunt, see Cosmo’s Moon, inspiring the film’s title. SkyView is a free app that reveals constellations, planets, and stars when you aim your iPhone and iPad anywhere, any time of day.

Protagonist & Praxis: "Chocolat"

 

Chocolat tells the story about Vianne, (Juliette Binoche) her daughter, Anouk, and their enchanting chocolate shop in early 20^th century France. Their nomadic life brings them and their recipes to a small Catholic town during Lent, creating a contrast and eventual harmony between traditional religious practice and the mystical powers of Vianne’s chocolates.

Sisterhood Necklace: Vianne’s restorative friendship with Josephine and close relationship with her daughter inspire a strong community of women. Check out Dogeared’s Sister collection here.

Gypsy Advocacy: Johnny Depp’s gypsy, Roux, charms at boat parties with guitars and dancing, but his rejection from the town points to the reality of oppression against Gypsies worldwide. Support causes like Friends Family and Travellers that seek to end discrimination against Gypsies and other nomadic and immigrant groups.

Mayan Hot Chocolate: Embrace the Artist in the Kitchen, Kathryn Lee Seidel’s term that honors the creative in domestic work. In homage to the name of Vianne’s shop, Chocolaterie Maya, try this Mayan Hot Chocolate recipe inspired by the one Judi Dench’s character loved in the film.

Protagonist & Praxis: Everyone in 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'

In Woody Allen’s 2008 film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, friends Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) have opposing views of love that represent dry stability and unfulfilling passion, respectively. Their summer in Barcelona, complete with meditations on Catalan culture, affairs with the charmingly eccentric Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), and enchantments with the captivating Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz), inspires personal artistic and romantic journeys.

-Moleskine: Channel the artistic vision of Juan Antonio and Maria Elena’s paintings with a watercolor album like this to store musings and doodles.

-Sunhat: Maria Elena’s black sunhat carries her throughout her adventures with ease and sun protection. Grab one like this one from Anthropologie and get picnicking.

-Build Your Own Darkroom by Lista Duren & Will McDonald: This classic book can transform the average bathroom into a darkroom and the average iPhone snapper into a print photographer.

-La Nez Du Vin Wine Scent Kit: Get inspired by the ample supply of Spanish wines in the film and learn to recognize aromas within wines. Use the classic La Nez Du Vin Wine Aroma Kit to familiarize yourself with scents from sandalwood to tobacco to cherry.

Protagonist & Praxis: 'Practical Magic's' Sally and Gillian Owens

In the new Snaps! project, Protagonist & Praxis, figures from film are imagined as muses for artistic perspectives, personal vocation, and calls to action. 

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Sisters Sally and Gillian are a part of a maternal line of witches with both magical powers and a curse that dooms the men they fall in love with to tragic deaths. With help from the other women in their family, they confront the curse with their supernatural powers and home-brewed spells.

-Fleetwood Mac’s “Mirage:” Channel the mystical with Fleetwood Mac’s album, “Mirage,” which includes “Gypsy,” “Book of Love,” and “Love in Store.”

-The Complete Dictionary of Symbols by Jack Tresidder: Keep the magical within the everyday: Tresidder’s dictionary includes origins and meanings of symbols from folklore, religious traditions, and cultural beliefs for interpreting dreams and daily iconography.

-Terrarium: Take a cue from the Owens’ ample garden and get inspired by Alice Walker’s “In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens,” her 1983 nonfiction testimony for women of color’s creative spaces within the kitchen, garden, and other domestic spheres. Flex that green thumb by learning to make a terrarium or buying one like this.

-Homemade Potions: Linda Rodin, of Rodin Olio Lusso’s “near-magical” essential oils, first dreamed up her recipes apothecary-style in her kitchen. Read Into The Gloss’s interview here for inspiration on home potions.