Germany #687: Mona Lisa (issued April 15, 1952)

Paolo waving at film's ending Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960)

France #B34: Smile of Reims (issued March 16, 1930)

The Sweet Smile She looks four-year-old on her Dad's shoulders with a sweet smile & hearty "Good morning!" Lucky girl, you'll be blessed all your life with men at your feet. Recall my time at the Louvre, alone with the Mona Lisa. Suddenly, an epiphany— Hammarsjöld understood her smile and so did I— seeing Buddha holding up a flower in silence— only Mahakasyapa smiled, and given Transmission of the Lamp. One of my favorite postage stamps— France #B34: "The Smile of Reims" issued 1930, red violet in color spanning the rainbow blessing us. Smiles from Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday embrace us, but my favorite is from Paola at the end of La Dolce Vita. This 1960 Fellini classic where gossip writer Marcello wanders around seeking pleasure instead of focusing on his book. He meets an angelic girl who types his writings, but at the end, he's drunk at an all-night party, everyone in erotic decadence. Paolo tries to get his attention on the other shore at dawn, but he doesn't hear her— so ends the film La Dolce Vita: "The Sweet Life".     — Peter Y. Chou         Mountain View, 3-3-2021

Girl on Dad's shoulders Buddha's Flower Sermon Mahakasyapa smiled Angel of Reims (1245) Destroyed in WWI (1914) Restored 2-13-1926 Audrey Hepburn Roman Holiday (1953) "Angelic" Paola La Dolce Vita (1960) Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960)