Wow, this is a gorgeous photo. At first I thought this was Angelina Jolie with Jon Voight. But then I cleaned my glasses. This man is the real-life Louis Zamperini, who is 96 years old!! Zamperini’s story was told in Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken – he was a bombardier during WWII, then a prisoner of war. He was also an Olympic runner and he’s an all-around amazing man. When Angelina and Louis met, he presented her with a gift: a gold necklace with a running shoe pendant. You guys… I’m totally crying right now. That’s so sweet.
Angelina Jolie met Louis Zamperini, the 96-year-old former Olympic runner and World War II prisoner of war, last winter when she signed on to direct Unbroken, based on Zamperini’s life.
The pair became fast friends.
“Angelina is a human dynamo, and I know she will tell this story in the right way,” said Zamperini, a bombardier who survived 47 days adrift in a lifeboat after a plane crash – only to be taken prisoner by the Japanese. Author Laura Hillenbrand’s biography, Unbroken, became a bestseller in 2010.
For inspiration, Zamperini bestowed Jolie a gold pendant in the shape of a running shoe – a prize from his running days – which she plans to wear during filming, which kicks off later this month.
Jolie says she only hopes the movie does him justice.
“It will be hard to make a film worthy of this great man,” says Jolie, in a statement. “I am deeply honored to have the chance and will do all I can to bring Louie’s inspiring story to life. … Like all readers of Laura’s book and all people who love and admire Louie, I am a fan who has learned so much. He has made me a better person.”
This darling, lovely man. If he gave me a necklace, I would wear it every day for the rest of my life. How sweet! Let me see if Angelina has been wearing the necklace while she’s in preproduction in Australia… in all of the photos from the past few months, she’s wearing necklaces but I think I only see one photoset (at LAX) where Angelina is wearing Louis’s special running shoe necklace. Which is still cool. I’m actually positive that the necklace will be something Angelina treasures for the rest of her life. Also: I love that Louis fan-girls Angelina!! I want to take him home with me and feed him. Also: Entertainment Weekly says that Louis lives in the Hollywood Hills, so he and Angelina are neighbors. Amazing.
Header photo courtesy of Universal Pictures/People Mag, additional pics by Fame/Flynet.
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- Angelina Jolie meets 96 year-old WWII bombardier
Agree, gorgeous picture 🙂
Absolutely.
I saw this story yesterday. It is lovely and that photo is superbly moving.
That is a beautiful photo, and I like that he is the focal point. He is who I notice, while she is secondary. What a lovely story. I haven’t read the book yet, but I’ll add it to my pile of “Must Reads” somewhere near the top.
Unbroken is an exceptionally compelling book. Very inspiring how resilient this man is.
Laura Hillenbrand is a great historical writer. She also wrote Seabiscuit, what was even more awesome than the movie.
It’s a great book, and he’s a great man. He endured so much! Get the book! Louis is AMAZING! I really hope she does his story justice.
Unbroken was literally life changing for me to read. As a person, I have always chosen to learn my lessons the hard way, and that once led me down a very dark road of drugs, anger and self destruction. Years before I read the book, I had already stabalized my life, but I would not be the person I am today if it weren’t for reading it. I made the choices, after reading it, to accept responsibilities for the struggles I have caused myself and the effects my behavior and actions really have and will continue to have on myself and others, and I learned peace with the struggles ive endured that were out of my.control. it taught me self awareness and to be the best person I can be, and in turn I found peace and happiness in my life that I never thought I could have. As a teen and young adult, i spent years in residential treatment programs and juvenile rehabilitation jails and programs, so I had the information, but no one could force me to use it and the harder they tried to corral me, the harder I rebelled. Only those who know me really understand how wild I once was. A residential treatment facility I was in kept trying to get me sent to jail but the judge kept telling them to try harder, I had at the time, six assault charges from the staff, and one day they gave up on trying to help me and just sent me home because they couldn’t reach me. I made sure to brag about this to everyone at the time, I was so proud that this program, one of the countries most acclaimed juvenile treatment centers, actually gave up on helping me. I really cannot explain how out of control and in control I was, at the same time.
Now I do things I used to laugh at, like talk about positive and negative effects of everything and speak in cliches, ha theyre so true! The things I disliked about myself have become things I love, because I have channeled them in positive ways. For example, my stubbornness is now a healthy defiancy to protect human rights. I love my life, and no one can affect my emotions anymore except myself. I have never, ever tried to contact a celebrity but I did tell my story to Louis to give him thanks and recognition for what he did for my life. I carry the book around with me like its a security blanket and I probably wont have more kids, but if I have another son, I will name him Louis. That is how grateful, obsessed, call it what u want, I am. He is an amazing human being and I hope his story can affect others like it did me. I believe now I can accomplish greatness, not for just myself but for others, and I have concrete plans in motion to do everything I can to make this world a better place. A man I never met taught me to believe in myself, and I am forever grateful.
Kcaia: wow! I must read this book after reading your comment… I love this:
“The things I disliked about myself have become things I love, because I have channeled them in positive ways.”
That is so powerful. Good, no Great for you! I’m sorry you had to go through the dark times, but I think those are the things that shape us if we can learn the lessons that are being taught.
Well Kcaia, you have definitely moved the book to the top of my list, thank you for your story.
Thanks, i dont feel bad about anything in my past except the bad effects it had on others. I think we really control our own destinys and everything bad that happens to us, whether in or out of our control, can be turned into a positive or negative reaction by us, even in the saddest of circumstances, which mine were not. I very much was in control of myself at the time but chose to act like I wasn’t. Louis Zamperini is the perfect example of the human strength to overcome. I bought four books at the time and read Unbroken last, because I thought it would be the least interesting!
Kcaia: I think that’s the best post I ever read on this site.
Kcacia
don’t know you but after reading your post, sending you a virtual hug and love
I really appreciate the love. Im really very private about most of these things but im trying to stop being harsh with myself and open up more. I think we need to stop being ordinary and be the extraordinary people we are capable of being. Our country needs us and our world needs us but it starts here at home with ourselves
KCAIA – thank you for opening up and letting us know how you turned your life around with the help of this book. My dad was a WWII bomber pilot, survived 2 plane crashes in North Africa, and was the sweetest man I know, so I’m really looking forward to reading this book, and seeing the movie.
You are a brave and wonderful woman and I wish you much happiness in your now positive life.
Seriously lovely portrait of him and yes, Angie, but mostly him. LOVE!
Such a good book. I read it on audio while I was training for a half marathon. It literally took my breath away sometimes, but it was incredibly inspiring. He’s amazing. I’m glad this is getting turned into a movie.
PS– I just can’t get over how the author has a fatigue illness where she sometimes couldn’t even get out of bed… battled that illness while writing this story. She’s also inspiring.
It’s too early for tears!! I love that picture sooooo very much and the story too. Ugh, so many emotions right now.
Louis Zamperini and my four kids are on a near even scale for getting happy tears out of me.
I agree! The picture is amazing, and I really like that Louis is the focal point.
Beautiful photo – beautiful people!
Can we talk for a minute about how AJ wears her own hair… I love that. I look at all the injected and stuffed people out there and then look at her and feel like it’s so refreshing to see someone’s actual skin and hair – how crazy is that!?
I feel the same. Everyone wants to be malibu (whatever race) barbie these days. That look is more plastic than pretty to me. So many beautiful women covered with so many manufactured layers
Louis has the beautiful face of a life well lived. Read the book, and loved it Looking forward to see Jolie’s interpretation of his amazing life.
is this the same shoe necklace she wore earlier in the year when she’s traveling around for the warzone rape campaign with Hague?
e.g.:
http://www.celebitchy.com/289492/angelina_jolie_opens_girls_school_in_kabul_funded_by_her_style_of_jolie_jewelry/
http://www.celebitchy.com/288741/angelina_jolie_arrives_at_lax_tells_paps_that_shes_not_wearing_a_wedding_band/
yes u r right i saw that necklace many times but i did not know what was it lol
good on you Sherlock
I love old geezer veterans. I could listen to them forever.
I don’t know this book!
*goes off to investigate*
Yeah, right? Those old veterans are very cool and very limited in numbers nowadays. There’s a reason they were The Greatest Generation: they did so much during their lives that when they talk about it, you WANT to listen to what they have to say.
If only today’s younger generations would shut their yaps and listen, they might learn some things.
I would love to have a cup of tea with Mr. Zamperini. He seems like an amazing gentleman.
He reminds me of my neighbor–Guy Caspary. He’s 90 years old now, and he served in WW2, in Italy–he was an engineer, went to Michigan Tech for his degree. His job was that he went and found all of the landmines that the Germans planted, take them out, and blow them up. And they also rebuilt roads and bridges that had been blown up.
He’s really cool. The funny thing is that he spent all his time in Italy, then after the war, he came back and married an ethnically 100% Italian girl. They lived in two different towns, ten minutes apart from each other, but didn’t meet until a few years after WW2.
He doesn’t really like to talk about the war too much, I think because the one story he told me was that on his second day in Italy, his very best friend growing up (they were neighbors and the same age) was killed (he was part of a mountain division) when the Germans had machine guns and were just mowing them all down. So he was really sad about that when he told me, and didn’t really say much afterwards.
But he is so cool. And he’s completely self sufficient. His wife has to go around in a walker, so she’s pretty much homebound and he takes care of her and does everything for her. The cleaning, the grocery shopping, he helps her get dressed, brings her food to her–all she has to do is sit down and eat it.
He’s such a sweet guy. See if he wasn’t married, I’d marry him. He’s great. AND he showed me pictures when he was young, and he looked just like James Dean, but with darker hair in a military cut.
My grandparents were the generation that lived through WWII, my grandad was a Desert Rat and never, ever spoke about the war, my grandma from the East End’s road was doodlebugged. Now she’s in her 90’s and in hospital and it’s so sad to see this woman of a thousand stories settling into the end phase.
Off to listen to Let England Shake by PJ Harvey.
For reals, I am in awe of the last great generation. They had such interesting lives and lived through so many hard times. *sob, misses father (born 1914)*
One of my dad’s best friends was a bombardier in WWII. He was stationed in Norfolk, and my dad didn’t meet him in England but later when he was working here in the US. When dad died, I notified Frank that he’d passed away and he and I have had a lovely email correspondence. He’s led an amazing life, and not all of it during WWII.
one of articles said the necklace has a shoe pendant so it s the one on the first picture(after the article).
I thought the actual writing in the book stunk (there, I said it), but the story itself was incredible. I can’t believe how much that man went through. I’m so glad Angelina is bringing it to life – I’m sure she’ll do it justice!
I have to agree. I tried to read it, really tried, but the bad writing defeated me.
Agree. And not to digress to far off topic, I was shocked to read that the author has been mostly bedridden for the past couple decades and did all of her research on the phone and online, from her bed. She didn’t even meet Louie until after the book was complete.
I’m with you. The writing was horrendous-I actually quit reading the book because it was so distractingly sappy, but I love the story.
OK thank you all for your honesty. This book was terribly written.
What a gorgeous woman and one of the most inspiring human beings in the world.
I can actually see his inner strength when looking into his eyes. There should be more people like him in the world.
Angelina looks wonderful as always and I have no doubt she will do justice to this movie.
+1.
True
The necklace is even more important because it was a prize from a running competition from his youth.
Anyway, I don’t like angleina as the director of this movie but if Louis gave her his approval, the nobody else’s opinion matters.
Hmmm, I think if this movie is done well, she could be a director to be reckoned with. I didn’t see Blood and Honey, but then I didn’t hear much praise for it. I hope she does this man’s story justice.
The picture itself I’m not so fond of. I can’t see Stephen Spielberg or even Kathryn Bigelow resting their head lovingly on his shoulder and closing their eyes. A bit much in my opinion. A little too… pandering.
The necklace is adorable and I’m sure she’s honoured.
Agree re the pic. I actually think it’s rather self-serving on AJ’s part and takes the focus away from him. Why not just a straightforward shot of the two together, I wonder?
Anyway.
@ lucy…I agree with you about the pic. It looks so posed that it’s a bit uncomfortable – unprofessional. I have the highest respect for this wonderful veteran — I would have thought they would have picked a director with actual long-term experience to tackle a project of this magnitude.
I agree, which is why I commented above that I’d rather not have Angelina direct it but his story has been in development hell for 50 years so isn’t it nice we are actually getting the movie finally? Also if Louis gave her his approval, who are we to judge? Finally the studio said it gave her the job because of her humanitarian experiences, letting her see the true horrors of war up close.
Rme. You haters have to have something to pick for a fault. So sad. smh I think its a classy, human photo. We don’t know how many photos were taken and who chose it either. Even though it looks like a mid-snap sort of thing it really captures so much.
But of course! When its AJ the picture is all wrong (rolls eyes)… Its an amazing picture and too cute for words to describe!
LOL.
You Aniston fans are so predictable.
Jolie has shown time and time again how compassionate, touchy and huggy she was wether with refugees or older folks, intellectuals with a life of purpose, peole who are definitely not from the Hollywood circle.
She doesn’t care embracing the stench of refugees camps, she doesn’t mind embracing nacked malnourished refugees, sitting next to them. Why would she not have the same penchant with old people whose heroic/humanitarian acts trigger and feed her own compassionate side ?
She is a humanitarian first and foremost who happens to do movies, not the otherway around.
She also tends to connect more easily with people she portrays or the one she directs, hence how she became friends and had similar pictures with Marianne Pearl or Clint Eastwood.
We have seen her embracing them, having some very touchy gestures with old people wether this gentleman or Jane Goodall….
Definitely not your average actress embracing, touching and hugging other average Hollywood folks whose main activities are gossiping, boozing or fashion.
The sentiment is sweet, but the pose is a bit much. It’s more like a granddaughter posing with a beloved grandfather than a director posing with her subject. Especially the eyes closed thing, I don’t quite get it.
I might not love the photo, but I think it’s great she’s taken this on. It’s a very tough story to film, I would think–after the youth, such constant misery, especially the Japanese POW camp abuse stories. I do hope he is front row and center at the premiere. One brave, strong man.
Angelina does not have this kind of elder relatives, i am guessing.
I do not know about you, but ever since my elder paents died, when i see an elder person, I connect that elder with my own much loved parents, wishing i still had them here.
In a little way, i am a childless teacher, and once ina while I have 2 or three students who are very… Let’s say their personalities are like i imagined the child that I never got to have would have.
Hahaha, those children are always nice, well behaved and do their homework.
One can dream.
I bet Angelina felt that this man was like a gr ndpa ina way. Walking history. They deserve attention, love and their stories to be told.
First, She’s not Kathryn Bigelow or Steven Spielberg.
I can’t see Steven Spielberg resting his head and closing his eyes either but not because he’s a great Director.. it’s that I don’t see Steven Spielberg resting his head/closing his eyes on any elderly man’s shoulder.
I can’t speak for Kathryn since I don’t much about her personality but I’m sure any female director would be taken by this 96 year old man story and sweet gesture. Just reading about him, I want to give him a big grandfatherly hug.
I’m glad I’m not the only one re: the pic.
She’s a great lady and all, and him giving her the necklace is a wonderful and touching gesture and I’m not surprised she was moved by the gift…but…
…yeah, that pic is a little bit over the top, IMO.
I agree that I cannot see other directors in a pose like this, but then we must recognize that she is not just a director. She’s a humanitarian. I’ve seen countless photos of her holding and hugging refugees that she has just met. I think she is deeply empathetic, and her expression in that photo does not seem fake, but heartfelt. I suppose it is easy for some to dismiss her as self serving, but I think that reflects on them, not on her. I think she is someone who can and feels connection to others through their struggles. The children she adopted were from areas that were deeply troubled and that says a lot about her.
+1 Very well said!!
True.
I agree 100% jodysee, and with the commenter that said they want to give him a grandfatherly hug that’s how I feel too! Im jealous of Angelina for meeting him! No really, ive loved her since Gia, even when everyone thought she was nuts! Her directing this is the icing one the cake for me because I know she wants it because she is passionate about it and his story touched her, because she doesn’t live her life in wasted moments. I believe in this book and movie. It doesn’t matter how sick the author was, it is impeccably researched and beautifully written.
Agree! SMH at the people who call the photo “staged”. OF COURSE it was staged, it’s a PUBLICITY PHOT. That in no way means that it wasn’t genuine and heartfelt emotion being expressed, or that it was some calculated self serving intention of the Jolie. The Iwo Jima picture was staged. The Sailor kissing the Nurse in Times Square was staged. That doesn’t lessen the emotional IMPACT of the photos themselves, unless of course someone is just LOOKING for something to criticize to pieces. (*rant off). Holy moly, her FACE. I could stare at that face for hours…
It’s not like she met him, he gave her a necklace and they took a photo. If you read Variety article about it, Louis and Angelina spent many hours over many days talking and discussing project. Laura Hillenbrandt even wrote last winter a funny story about one meeting of Angelina, Louis and Brad. She is passionate about this project and she won it by having the best ideas and plan how to approach this epic story.
+1
And they are both neighbours in hollywood hill. Meaning they met severally to discuss about unbroken and his experience. But you know she can’t please people she always has a fault on anything she does!
Maybe if those directors was doing the life story of a person they have become friends with they would take an intimate photo.To my knowledge neithee one of them has done a life story of a person who is still alive
Correct me if I am wrong
“neithee one of them has done a life story of a person who is still alive”
By Spielberg:
-Empire of the sun: based on the autobiography of Ballard, now deceased but very much alive at the time of filming
-Catch me if you can: based on the life and book of Frank Abagnale, who was a consultant on the film and even did a cameo. Still alive.
-The terminal:true story of a refugee, still alive.
Not familiar enough with Bigelow filmography to be sure,but wasn’t the heavy Oscar campaign for Chastain about the way she portrayed an existing agent?
So Steven became friends with those gentlemen? Are there ANY pics of him with those men?
I’m not a fan of Jolie’s but I do think this is a very sweet picture. I think she and Zamperini are genuinely fond of each other. As for whether this turns out to be a good movie, we shall wait and see.
On the other hand, Jolie’s fans often overreact when anyone dares to differ from them.
You may be right I just read comments from someone saying they want to stab her 100 times if they saw her person. I guess that coupled with the racist and homophobic Comments I have read about JP kids makes some of us a little hypersensitive .When everything she does is deemed wrong or bad it gets to be frustrating causing that overreaction.
Bird, I CAN assure you that such things HAVE *INDEED* been said here.
Besides, my comment was not restricted to JUST here, I don’t know where you got the idea it was. My comment was a general observation on the type of, er, rubbish that seem to be attracted to Aniston. Like attracts like IMO. To me, it says a lot that her supporters have all this violent rage inside of them. Talk about intense!……
@ Bird…I’m with you. I have never seen anything on this site stabbing etc. As a matter of fact — I have never read that on any site & if I did…I wouldn’t be returning. Trolls love to play with super STANS because they are so easily riled up. The trolls probably get a big kick out of raising STANS’ blood pressure to epic proportions & it looks like it doesn’t take much.
The strange thing is, all these ‘new’ nicks popping up claiming they know what has been posted on this site when I and others have been here for a couple of years or more, have never seen these nicks before but have seen a lot of posts on here, many bad ones deleted, some not. The strange thing is all these “new” nicks come on here and act live they’ve been here for years. hmmmmm
Cecilia, if you think trolls are saying these things just to rile fans up – think again. 99% of these people saying these things are UBER Aniston stans and spend a long time posting pro-Aniston things and on Aniston/Friends threads on many sites. They are too dedicated Aniston fans to be doing it purely to ‘rile fans up’. They truly believe, and truly feel, the things they say.
NOT ONCE did I say the stabbing comment or the racist comments was on CB .I said reading those comments on numerous of sites is why I’m hypersensitive.
Cecelia,your comment actually made me laugh,you really think Angie’s haters say all those horrible things about Angie and her kids just to rile her fans.hahaha.
Also lenje I get what you mean but I think JP’s fans are oversensitive because this is the only site that is Aj friendly,while there are many other sites that wouldn’t even accommodate any good comment about her.So her fans feel comfortable here,then you have haters who have so many options still come in here to say awful things about her when they could go anywhere else.Also she has very passionate fans,why do you think she’s still successful?her fans love her and they love her for her and not because they hate who she hates.
@Kim,do people really say those things?if they do,she’s got to be very careful because you never know what people driven by hate are capable of.
Yeah, people do say awful things, but this is internet and anonimous gossip, there will always be people posting crazy and hateful stuff, on any topic. Actually, such a small, small percentage of people pays attention to this. In real life, Angelina is really liked all around the world and people are always happy and excited when they have chance to meet her.
@Mayal,I too was shocked to see the hate she was getting when I started visiting gossip sites a few months ago.Because where I come from this triangle is not even an issue and people love her,you’re right about few people paying attention to celeb gossip,I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t on holidays and I still am.
@Mayal,you are right about few people being involved in celeb gossip, because where I come from she’s loved.
@ Faith…Glad I gave you such a good laugh. Where did the terms troll, trolling & don’t feed the trolls come from? Trolls are agitators deliberately delighting in stirring the pot.
@Cecilia, who wrote: “@ Faith…Glad I gave you such a good laugh. Where did the terms troll, trolling & don’t feed the trolls come from? Trolls are agitators deliberately delighting in stirring the pot.”
You mean … like you?
Not to be a Debbie Downer but I hope he lives to see the movie.I think it will be released late 2014 or 2015.I hate that it has taken all these decades to finally make a film.God Bless him.We just lost a WW2 veteran ,my neighbor he was ONLY 90
Have you been to the WW2 monument in DC? I took my boys this summer and I was completely teary seeing all the vets coming in from those “honor flights” (where they fly veterans in for free so they can visit the monument).
Only 90? That seems like a very respectable age though? Anyway, I’m sorry for your loss.
I was being facetious, although he was too young(at heart) too die
My grandfather, a WWII vet who fought at Iwo Jima, died when I was only 10. I so wish he was still around. I would LOVE to hear his stories, although he probably wouldn’t talk about it. A lot of those guys never do.
+1
Great article! What a sweet man! I must read the book and see the movie. Give him a hug for me AJ
Beautiful people beautiful picture!!! I trust her to do justice to the amazing story of this man.
I like the picture—it doesn’t seem staged when Angelina is someone who is a hugger (remember those pictures of her hugging that child who was tied to a tree?), and in a lot of her UN videos, she always has someone in her arms. Plus it says they’re neighbors–I’m sure that’s how she learned about and took on this project.
I really liked In The Land of Blood and Honey, so I think she’ll do a good job with this one.
She’s a hugger? Here’s what she actually said about hugging.
Don’t Cry for Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie isn’t a fan of hugs.
‘The Good Shepherd’ actress revealed she finds it difficult to talk about
her emotions and finds hugging people particularly uncomfortable.
Angelina said: “I’m not a hugger. People make fun of me. It’s something that
I have a hard time with.
“If someone hugs me, I hold my breath. Snuggling, cuddling, hugging,
crying – all that stuff makes me very uncomfortable.
rme people change. Oh – I forgt. Angelina is NEVER allowed to change or grow. rme. I feel sad for you that you are so invested on pouring cold water on her that you took the time to look for that decades ago interview.
I’ve noticed her hugging more people SINCE she did that interview.Maybe she became less guarded after interview.
LOUIS ‘ son also said some lovely things about Angie and Brad.So obviously they have developed a friendship.
Talk about making yourself look like an idiot. Did you actually read your own comment?
Angelina said SHE doesnt like to be hugged when she is upset nor talk about her own feelings etc.
Angelina doesnt have any problem hugging others nor afraid to listen to other’s suffering.
I am like her – I dont talk about my feelings nor do I welcome hugs whenever I am sad. But I will be the first one there if someone needed a shoulder to cry on.
There is a huge difference between those two things. But then how would a person like you understand that – you are always here writing negative stuff about Angelina and Brad whenever there is an article about them. You only seem to see negative things in people.
Why do people think EVERYTHING she does is manipulative,i mean even the most manipulative person on earth doesn’t spend 100% of their time conspiring.And whats wrong with not being a hugger?(i don’t know if she is or isn’t)but i am and i’m not a bad person,i just don’t like hugs there make me uncomfortable,but that doesn’t mean i don’t hug at all,i do just not all the time.
@ Kim1…that is definitely a possibility.
People can change their tendencies & sometimes it takes great effort. Maybe she went to Therapy & got it sorted out, but none the less, she did say it. I know quite a few people that aren’t fond of hugs. Me being one of them. I was just responding to Virgilio saying she was a hugger.
First that quote was from over eight years ago, I said that I noticed that she hugged a lot of kids that she had never met before, in her UN work–like the kid who was mentally disturbed and had to be tied to a tree to keep him from running off and hurting himself.
He looks like a sweet old guy, and obviously it’s a posed pic–with the lighting and makeup, but it is something that I see her doing, not just as a pose, but as someone who cares about people, and likes a bit more contact than she previously did.
But it’s just a picture, a promotional one at that.
I can tell you from personal experience that non-huggers can turn into huggers. I was always very uncomfortable too, but now I actually make the first move!
@bluhare what happened that caused to go from non hugger to hugger?
Angelina has said that she does not cry in sentimental movies (my total opposite).
that, along with the “doer” personality she has, probably makes her more practical.
I bet that when she is there, listening to others and understanding her UN representative and have 6 children and learn things like piloting if she did.
she is living her life to the fullest.
Now if every YOLO thinker was positively driven like Louis Zamperini or Angelina Jolie, Malala and many others…
I don’t see her hugging Louis in this photo. I see a beautiful touching moment between two people that obviously built a friendship and have much respect for one another. Has the world become so cold that photos that were once considered sentimental are now suspect?
sorry part of my answer was erased accidentally.
I bet that when she is visiting refugees, her mind is also looking for ways to help them.
She is inspiring.
I hope she does a good work with this film.
@Cecilia : I was a non hugger, too—-since it’s not something my parents feel comfortable to do so even with their own family. They’re not a big fan of showing emotion so I grew up like that. Surprisingly, I started to be one after I met my hubby and even more after having my children. So, yeah. People change. 🙂
Jen-Hens can be as mean and passive-aggressive as their Idol–Jennifer Aniston. The ‘apple’ really doesn’t fall far, does it?
Hi Rhea…Looks like we had the same parents! I grew up in a very formal household. There was very seldom any form of physical or verbal affection.
I thought this was normal. I have gotten a bit better about it but it has taken a conscious effort. You know where I started?? I started with my parents. I remember the first time hugging my Dad. I had to pick up his arms & put them around me. I love them to pieces but that is the way they were raised as well.
Hi, Cecilia. Yup. We’re pretty much the same then. My mom especially raised the three of us (I’m the youngest) not too show our emotion easily under any circumstances. Crying is a big no-no and something to be embarrassed about since for my parents it shows your weakness. When you’re happy, you can not show it too much and the same goes if you’re feeling sad. I seriously only remember hugging my dad—never my mom—and it was only one time and a very short moment.
Actually, a lot of people still surprise I’m with my hubby—we’re very different in personality and how different I’ve become now. I hug my parents and siblings more often now—although they still have that horrified look whenever I do that :)and I hug hubby and my children countless in a day.
You said maybe Jolie went to therapy & got it sorted out but I think—sometime (although it may sound cliche)—it’s as simple as finding the right person to bring out a side of you that you never knew existed, to reveal another layer of yourself to you. I think that’s what happened with BP and AJ. At least that’s what happened in my case.
Laura Hillenbrand, who knows personally both Angelina and, of course, Louis Zamperini, posted this picture on her facebook, and wrote:
They adore each other.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Hillenbrand/165038523517866?ref=stream&hc_location=stream
Thanks for the link. Its obvious they developed mutual feeling towards each other.
TY for the link!! Looks like I will be adding this book to my list!! I have had several patients in their late 80’s & 90’s who were WW2 Vets, and as a Vet myself it was an honor to treat them. My ex-boyrfriends’ father was one of the American soldiers who liberated Dachau. He verified (before he died in 2003) more or less the account in Dennis Lehane’s book “Shutter Island” about the Americans executing the German prison guards AFTER they surrendered the camp. They were so horrified and outraged by what they found~and Dachau wasn’t even an extermination camp per se, it was a work camp. The final straw was when the US Commander gave an order to the German Commander, who turned around and kicked one of the prisoners while he told him to do what the American Commander had told HIM to do. They lined them up and shot them one by one. True story~
I absolutely ADORE the picture. He looks so happy!
I loved the book. Great story! I hope she does it justice. He make-up looks like it’s been professionally done for the photo. Hmmmm
It is a professionally done photo, nobody said it was a selfie done on the couch in his living room. I don’t know why that’s a problem?
They will always find a fault in it as long as AJ is in the picture which they are not happy about. This man has lived it all his face alone says much… I pray he lives to see the movie made and watches it himself… I adore him because he triumphed through it all.
I do make-up for live theatre. I don’t think her make-up was well done in this photo. Too much powder. If Sal is offended by that then that is her/his problem. Perhaps Sal is much too emotionallly invested in a celebrity that he or she does not know. Amazing story though! My father was in the RAF during the second world war. I used to love hearing his stories.
Maggie OF COURSE she was wearing makeup it was for a PROFESSIONAL PROMO, duh! Please just stop being so offensive and obnoxious and go back to FF and leave us all alone.
Not sure how you were so offended by my comment.
Comment wasn’t offensive just idiotic IMO
FWIW Maggie’s comment that I was replying to was deleted.
Maggie, there is NOTHING offensive about your comment whatsoever. It just goes to show you how truly, shall I say, intense some of Angelina’s fans can be.
Same goes for the Aniston’s fans.
Fans (who claim not to be such) of certain other stars are so intense that they have whole forums and thousands of threads devoted to hate a certain accomplished woman.
Now that is intense.
for once, maggie’s cmment seems not offensive, but what’s with the “hmmmmm”?
Maggie, you are spinner, aren’t you? Lol, spinner disappeared and Maggie appeared, but the passive aggressive style is the same. Say hi to blonde on the dock!
Your comment makes no sense to me. By the way everyone has a right to their opinion whether you like what they say or not. My advise to you is if you dont like what someone says skip over it and dont attack. Who made you and Sal etc. the moderater of these threads? Have you read the guidlines?
Oh, Maggie, I’m just stating my opinion, like you do, where am I attacking you? I do enjoy your posts, especially all the ways you find to always write something negative about Jolie – it’s entertaining!
@Amadea : I was wondering about that too. Where’s spinner, blonde on the dock and Olivia? They suddenly “gone” but interestingly enough, new names come and become (especially) a regular in JA-AJ-BP posts…. Hmmmmm…..
That face. That’s the face of wisdom and of a life lived to the fullest. Beautiful.
Plus a million.
That is a wonderful image! One that I’m sure will be iconic in the years to come. It tells such a great story! It’s amazing enough to live until the age of 96 and made even more astounding by his rich history in life. Kaiser, thanks for posting this today…it is very heartwarming. It makes me miss my Poppy who was a WW2 vet as well. These brave people’s stories need to be told.
I’m sorry, but everytime I see Angelina now, I just can’t forget that she was friends with Asma al Assad. Brad Pitt was close to Bashar al Assad. The four dined together in Damascus a few times. Angelina even helped the Syrian first lady to establish a network of contacts abroad, including the interview for Vogue magazine.
I don’t know if she has apologized for this or tried to justify it someway, I sincerely hope so. Because if not, everything she does know seems as if she just wish to be the next Bono, as if she is more interested in her status of a UN ambassador…
Was Angelina visiting socially or in her UNCHR capacity?
I remember her going many times to the middle East mainly because of Iraqui refugees, and other nationalities/ethnicities.
Siria receiver refugees too, right maybe she was visiting them?
Other countries in Asia or Africa have received them too, but the current situation inthe Middle East call for the international attention.
The welfare of the refugees is the maing thing, they have to get the governments to tend to them, even if the host country s run by dictators or other shady characters.
I remember when she went to the mountains of Thailand to visit refugees from Myanmar and when they went to earthquake ravaged PAkistan. The Pakistani president had seized power via a coupd’etat, and she still went, talked to him and carried help for the country.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/people/jolie-helping-survivors-of-pakistans-earthquake/2005/11/26/1132966003064.html
The UN representatives have to be tactful and they will be received by presidents sometimes.
Forgot to add that there are also pictures of Sting and wife laughing with the Assads while on visit in Siria.
As always, only Angelina gets the hate.
Well, this is a thread about Angelina.
What was reported in the newspapers at the time that Bashar al Assad was still well regarded, was that the Jolie – Pitts had dined at the Naranj Restaurant in Damascus, a private dinner, not linked to any UN event. Brad Pitt joked, saying he would bring his bodyguards to train with al Assad’s. One could argue that the situation as grave because there wasn’t still a civil war. But al- Assad was a dictator in power for 12 years, with a censored press and a ban to opposition. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt should know this, especially considering that she helped Asma al Assad to give an interview for Vogue and she also helped with public relations in others medias.
And my ‘problem’ is not only with Angelina, is with the Stings , with Beyoncé who performed in a private party of Gaddafi’s son, with Jennifer Lopez who also did private concerts for dictators and was rightly rebuked by the press. It amazes me, considering the current scenario, the Pitts and Stings have not received the same treatment JLo, for example.
The list of celebrities who has relationships with dictators is very serious matter, in a way they are helping them, giving them more power with this kind of publicity. The King of Jordan, for example, who is also a dictator, not much difference than Assad, is received with pomp by celebrities and by the British royal family, for example. I found it all quite depressing, really.
And now they that nothing happened, she or he didn’t come out and say “I was wrong. We shouldn’t have helped in giving them a good image…”. I tried to find some statement about the matter on their part and did not find any. Please, if there is any, someone correct.
Why do American presidents support Saudi government? They are dictators! Why did American government help take down South American democratically elected presidents ( Allende) and support junta. You should be protesting that and not worry if Angelina had dinner with Assad a few years ago.
Beynce, JLo, Swank, et al were hired, ergo, they received, accepted money from them. Some of them apologized, but did not return the money they received. NONE of it, nore they gave it to charity.
Sting was visiting and got called for a visit. I think in Siria at the time there was peace, enough for tourist to visit. Those countries have beautiful historic places worth of visits. And some presidents invite those high profilers like someone said upthread.
yes, some presidents all over the world love to mingle with famous people from all fields, it would have been difficult for the celebs to say no to them.
Now, Angelina and Brad were in a UN visit, it is official business, te government had to get involved, and if the presidents wanted to be hosts, it would have looked bad if they refused when what they wanted is to negotiate more help for the foreign refugees in their land. it would have been foolish actually to refuse.
They were in an official visit related to refugees. Nothing to ask forgiveness about.
+10000 to Amadea and Ennie! I see people are running out of attacks on Jolie So they are looking for new material. And they always come out looking foolish the whole time.
Wow…the Japenese prison camps were awful. Good for her for doing his story. I can’t wait to see it.
Adore the photo….does she ever take a bad pic? You know the media is always looking for one, but seems like she always looks EFFORTLESSLY beautiful…he’s a lovely man, too.
Aww, lovely story. And that is a lovely photo. AJ’s face is flawless.
You do know that Angelina was in Syria on a UNHCR visit DEALING WITH IRAQUI REFUGEES and that Brad was with her on this trip as he often has been, RIGHT?
You do know that UN and UNHCR and UNICEF and all UN staffers and those on UN sponsored trips are in different countries and meet with the leaders of those countries as a common and expected courtesy, RIGHT?
You are aware that Angelina and Brad met with the Assads at their invitation which is common behavior for high profile visitors to a country, RIGHT?
You do know that Angelina and Brad had also been in Jordan on this trip as Angelina was working in her capacity for UNHCR and refugees and met with the King and Queen in that country, RIGHT.
Enough of your deliberate and crass feigned FF lying hypocrisy.
Still hung up on 10 years ago and the tabloid driven contrived faux PR around a failed marriage that was not your own.
Sweetest pic ever, to say the least. Wish I met him too.
Sigh. That header pic makes my heart hurt (in a good way).
Lovely photo
Ok, Kcaia- I just placed my order on Amazon…we live in the country and our only bookstore closed last month. I would have been interested anyway just because I’m such an Angeloonie, but your testimony really put me in motion. Feeling that this will be a very significant story to me as well. Thanks for sharing!
He has beautiful & soulful eyes. He has the look of a man filled with life and great adventures. Its a life changing book read and excited for the movie.