Nature vs. nurture; why do people turn out the way they do? Are people born naturally with certain inclinations, or are certain traits grown and cultivated by one's environment, including and especially the people in it? The debate becomes particularly interesting when it comes to the question of art. Are artists born or raised? Is inherent talent essential, or is everyone a blank slate artistically upon birth? Perhaps it is a little of both? Surely it must be; no matter how much innate talent a person has, it still must be cultivated and nurtured. Many times, this is where parents come in. I consider my own creative endeavors and aspirations – where would I be right now had I been more encouraged by my parents? What would I be doing with myself?

Although you may not have heard of famous sculptor Isamu Noguchi, he is certainly pertinent to our topic today, that topic being the film Leonie, playing now at Village 8 as the newest installment in the Louisville Exclusives series and starring Emily Mortimer as the title character and Shido Nakamura as her husband Yone Noguchi. Isamu is their child, the result of a passionate affair. After his birth, they move to Japan, where Leonie has to deal with and adjust to the strange culture and customs.

Leonie is scheduled to play at Village 8 until next Thursday, March 21, but this is subject to extension. Village 8 is located at 4014 Dutchmans Lane. Further theater information and showtimes can be found at the Village 8 website.

Image: Internet Movie Database