Mendl’s Cakes (Film: The Grand Budapest Hotel – Wes Anderson, 2014)

Cakes made at the Mendl’s patisserie play an important role in this film. They are sweet round things, with an appetizing and improbable shape and pastel colors which emanate sugar. They are made by a sweet girl and delivered to the Grand and Imaginary Budapest hotel on the peak of the mountains of an Europe that ceased to exist, or maybe never existed but in the imagination of writer Stefan Zweig and later taken over, amplified and brought to screen and to us by director Wes Anderson. A reverence to a world of beauty and aesthetics, of culture and respect, of honor and pleasure of living which is crushed by history, same as the world of Jewish Austrian writer Stefan Zweig was in the events of the  second world war.

 

source www.imdb.com/title/tt2278388/

source www.imdb.com/title/tt2278388/

 

The story written by Wes Anderson freely develops the themes and atmosphere of Zweig’s writings without being specifically based on any one, in a fantasy which extends beyond the historic boundaries of the life and works of writer. Europe survived the war but could not recover its history, its style, it’s human quality. If buildings survived they are condemned to decay, if men survived they are reduced to their shady selves. What is left is to remember the world that was – now retreated back in a past that looks more and more like a fairy tale. And fairy tale is what we are served on the screen, albeit a very fun and entertaining ones, and there are many reasons to like this picture even without philosophizing too much about its deeper meanings.

 

(video source StreamingTrailer)

 

One of these reasons is of course the cast – one of these exquisite gathering of stars that usually get together only on the Academy Awards night. Shining over all is Ralph Fiennes in the lead role, and I will stop here but I ensure you that even if you recognize some of the faces you will find out that most of them do something different and in a different manner that you always knew (Edward Norton may be the notorious exception). Second is the amazing visual world created by Anderson which coupled with the camera work gives the viewers sometimes a 3-D feeling (although no special spectacles are involved), and in other cases seems to play with the dimensions of the rectangular screen extending them at will. Third and neither last nor least the settings contribute to passing to viewers the flavors of well-being of the times that went away.

Stefan Zweig did not survive the war. When the world he loved crumbled crushed under the boots of the Barbarians he committed suicide. This film can be read like some kind of revenge. At least in the fantasy space created on screen by Wes Anderson a world similar in feeling, manners, colors, smells and tastes to the one Zweig loved survives. A world like Mendl’s cakes. Almost poisonously sweet.

 

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the portrait of the artist as a mother (Film: Bloody Daughter – about Martha Argerich, 2012)

We know about the great musicians of the past only from written stories if they lived and played until the end of the 19th century. We can only imagine and read the stories of the contemporaries about the sound of the violin of Paganini, or the piano under the hands of Chopin or Liszt. Sound recordings started to be available at the end of the 19th century, and film rendition soon after, with film and sound synchronized since the end of the 20s. The great advantage of the artists playing today is that their music is available – if they allow, of course – for the times to come on recordings and films. More recently their lives and careers became also subject of documentary movies. Form now on not only their music but also their lives, characters, loves, families crisis can be documented for the posterity – if they allow so (or even if the do not, I guess).

 

source welltempered.wordpress.com

source welltempered.wordpress.com

 

 

I have seen three of them recently, all made in the last two years. The first was the closest to the traditional documentary genre retracing the life and career of the Hungarian-born conductor George Solti. The second one focused on how the Chinsese pianist Lang Lang grew up under the strong influence of his father and how he built a world-famous career starting from the very improbable career of a Chinese workers one-child family. Today I have seen Bloody Daughter, the documentary that Stephanie Argerich dedicated to her mother, the famous Argentinian pianist.

 

(video source EuroArtsChannel)

 

If somebody wanted a proof that it is practically impossible to live the life of a great artist and build a normative family with happy partners and children, Bloody Daughter is certainly one. Stephanie is the younger of the three daughters that Martha Argerich had with three different partners, and much of the film is dedicated into bringing together the pieces of the biography of a pianist who was another of these wonder children, raised and educated to be an artist – but also a beautiful woman, with a strong and unconventional character who decided to live her life as she wished to, placing her career at the highest priority. She is also a woman who does not have much of verbal communication skills, so although there is a lot of private footage of her on screen she talks very little about her art (and no great wisdom results) or even about her private life or feelings – we understand more from her looks, her facial expression, her eyes.

 

(video source mmoynan)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnSc0c7uRus

(video source DieVogelQDU)

 

Stephanie Argerich wanted this film to be not only about her mother but also about herself, her feelings, the relationship with her mother. There are implicit questions that she seems to want to ask her but never dares to. The puzzle of the family relations is carefully built in the first hour of the film, with the story of each one of the three daughters retraced and brought to its place. I would have personally wanted to dig more into the Jewish past of the family, but this seems to be a subject that neither Stephanie, nor Martha queried too much – maybe this is not that important to them, something buried in the past of Martha’s parents for unknown reasons never asked about. The last third of the movie does not bring too many new and interesting information about the great artist, and instead of the redundant family footage more music would have been preferable. Of course, this is just a personal opinion, but it might be shared by the many of us who love her art.

 

 

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confusing (Film: Shanghai – John Cusack, 2010)

Maybe too many pictures were already made about that city and that period and they look too much one like the other. Or maybe after Ang Lee made one of them (Lust, Caution) there is not too much to say about this subject, even of that was not even Lee’s best. In any case Shanghai made by Swede director Mikael Hafstrom does not succeed to be more than routine and confusing, and looks much less authentic than other attempts which were part of the same stream.

 

source en.wikipedia.org

source en.wikipedia.org

 

 

The story is set in the few months before the entry of the US in the war against Japan, and actually the heroes (some of them American agents) seem to discover preparations about Pearl Harbor and the breaking of the war in the Pacific, but they do not seem to care very much, as they are busy with their personal intrigues and revenge, as well as romantic stories, none convincing, all confusing, and certainly lacking the burning eroticism in the film by Lee. Actually never had John Cusack looked to me so uninvolved emotionally as in this film! I personally have a lot of sympathy for this actor, but he really seemed by himself unconvinced about what his character is supposed to do, so he failed to convince us as well.

 

(video source ClipsFever)

 

Besides Cusack we have in this movie Li Gong, one of the greatest stars of the Chinese-speaking screens who makes all efforts to create something credible and worth remembering but eventually fails as well because of the lack of clarity of directing intentions. Ken Watanabe on the other hand is such huge an actor and has so much charisma that he looks convincing and deadly dangerous all over the film, with a human twist by the end. He may be actually the only reason for which the sentimental turn taken by the story towards its end does not look so bad despite the (bad) cartoonish Shanghai in flames.

 

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Au coeur de la nuit (Film: La Rafle – Jean Reno, 2010)

The Jewish people faced many dark moments in its long and troubled history. What happened in the night of July 16, 1942 in Paris – the arrest of more than ten thousand Jews, men and women, young, old and children, their detention at the Velodrome d’Hiver, followed by their deportation to transit camps in France and then to the death camps in Poland – was one of these dark moments. It is for the French nation however that I dare say this was maybe the darkest moment in their history. Never has France – or at least modern France – abandoned the principles of tolerance and generosity to the weak and prosecuted who knocked at its gates as did that night Petain, Laval and the other collaborationists who were accomplices to the sending to hell and death of so many innocent people.

 

source www.imdb.com/title/tt1382725/

source www.imdb.com/title/tt1382725/

 

I have used a few film reviews back the term of ‘docu-melodrama’ and I guess that I can use it here as well, adding maybe the adjective ‘historical’ in front. ‘La Raffle’ ambitiously retraces the story of a few Jewish families of all conditions living in Paris at the time of the German occupation in 1942 and falling victim to the deeds of the German occupiers and of their French collaborators. Although the characters may be fictional the stories are essentially true, and the film starts with a written message attesting the historic accuracy of all the extreme situations that are being described. The fiction parts are interleaved with a few documentary sequences, as well as with re-enacted scenes from the headquarters of the German army and French police, of the discussions between the French leader Petain and prime minister Laval, and between Hitler himself, his faithful executioner Himmler and other people in his entourage. The script written by Rose Bosch (who also directed) takes good care to balance the acts of the ‘bad’ and ‘good’ French but the horror of the situation of the descent of a whole people from trust and hope into fear and despair is the strong message that cannot get lost.

 

(video source MOVIECLIPS Trailers)

 

There is great acting to be admired in this film – first of all Jean Reno as the Jewish physician trying to face an impossible situation, alleviate sufferings, save lives, while knowing about his own faith. Melanie Laurent is sensible and credible in the role of the nurse that aims to represent what was left good and human among the French in those times. Some of the supporting roles are also memorable such as the Trotskyst family father played by Gad Elmaleh, a victim of a double disillusion. I liked less the historic background scenes, especially the ones related to Hitler’s environment, and the actor playing Hitler who was badly miscast and directed, undecided whether he should be evil or operetta-ic.   Overall the film has however very strong scenes, some of the best in the Holocaust movies and asks the right questions about the French role in the tragedy of its Jews. Is this melodrama? yes – but very strong and well made, impressing to tears and nothing is wrong with this – there are no bad genres, just bad movies and La Raffle is certainly not among them.

 

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Passover Movies

The traditional Passover posting on The Catcher is this time about the Passover movies. There are not too many movies dedicated to the Passover history or even to Passover nowadays, and I am wondering why. The Exodus is one of the fundamental myths of mankind and of the culture some call Judeo-Christian  (I am not crazy about this syntagma, but this is a different subject) – it is about national and religious identity, about slavery and freedom, and the story includes several fascinating characters. I am of course referring to Moses and Ramses, but also to those who gather around the Passover Seder table each year. Yes, that aunt too 🙂 So, not too many films but a few memorable ones, and at least one in the making which will be added to the list sometime later this year.

 

source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ten_Commandments_%281923_film%29

source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ten_Commandments_%281923_film%29

 

One of the first notable productions belongs to the era of the silent movies and was produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille in 1923. His first The Ten Commandments included a prologue with the Biblical story and a ‘modern’ story inspired by it. Some of the scenes in the prologue where filmed in Technicolor, one of the first big screen attempts of using this technology.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKEp7WYrMmY

(video source MoviesHistory)

 

It is however the second, 1956 version of The Ten Commandments directed by  Cecil B. DeMille that became famous. Its cast included Charlton Heston (Moses), Yul Brynner (Rameses), Anne Baxter (Nefretiri), Edward G. Robinson (Dathan). It was filmed on location in the Sinai Desert, and was nominated to seven Academy Awards, eventually receiving only one. It made it however for perpetual TV programming in the holidays season.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAtRCJIqnk

(video source skinnyalley)

 

You will find a somehow different perspective of the story in Mel Brooks’ History of the World, Part I made in 1981, where Moses is the first of the five characters imagined and played by Brooks in his comical alternate version of the history of mankind.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xubKqMY2tPg

(video source JB91283)

 

Passover is not only history but also a yearly reality for Jews who spend that one night of the year remembering (or not) the Bible, reading (or mostly not) the Hagadah, meeting (happily or not) with the family, and eating (yes, this for sure). ‘Crimes and Misdemeanors’, one of Woody Allen’s films I love most includes a wonderful Seder scene with the character played by David Landau being in the situation of repenting for some very bad deeds.

 

(video source Liz Bradley)

 

Still in the US, still in SederLand, here is an example of TV comedy dealing with the topic: In a segment from the very popular (in the 80s) Anything But Love, Jamie Lee Curtis learns a few things about the Seder traditions.

 

(video source Paramount Movies)

 

An animated version of the story was realized in 1998 by Spielberg’s Dreamworks company and released as Prince of Egypt. Ralph Fiennes, Michele Pfeiffer and Steve Martin are among the actors who borrowed their voices to the characters, while Ofra Haza sang the song that won the Academy Award for the Best Original Song. At the Oscar ceremony the song was sung by Whitney Houston and Maria Carey.

 

(video source Trailer Maker)

 

The story goes on, and the number of films dedicated to the subject slowly increases. As Bible-inspired movies seem to have been identified by Hollywood as a lucrative business we will have a few of these in 2014, among which a version of Exodus directed by Ridley Scott with Christian Bale as Moses. No trailers with moving images are yet available, but in the meantime you can listen to the music and see a first poster in the clip above.

I hope that you enjoyed this review, and that you will see some good movies (related or not to Passover) during the coming vacation, and also that you will bravely face the Seder and happily survive the week of the matzot. To all:

Hag Sameakh! Happy Passover! Un Pesah Fericit!

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Carte: Antonio Munoz Molina – Sefarad

Istoriile spaniolilor si evreilor sunt strans legate. Nu exista, poate,  un alt popor care sa fi influentat mai mult istoria Spaniei, caracterul si cultura spaniola decat evreii. Nu exista, poate, un alt popor al carui caracter, istorie si nume sa fi influentat mai mult istoria evreilor decat spaniolii. Si sunt multi concurenti la acest titlu! Jumatate din evreimea lumii se considera a fi ceea ce in limba ebraica se numeste ‘sfaradim’, ceea ce se traduce simplu – spanioli! Jumatate din evreii lumii se auto-definesc drept spanioli. Adica, originari din Spania – Sfarad – Sefarad precum in transcrierea in romana a titlului culegerii de povestiri a lui Antonio Munoz Molina, tradusa impecabil de Eugenia Alexe Munteanu si aparuta la Curtea Veche, in Bucurestii anului 2008.

1492 este un an cheie in istoria ambelor popoare, dar nu cred ca este posibila o prapastie mai mare in semnificatiile acestei date, interpretarile istorice ale acelorasi evenimente, si felul in care aceasta borna istorica a ramas, s-a transmis si este amintita dupa mai bine de jumatate de mileniu in memoriile colective ale spaniolilor si evreilor. Pentru spanioli 1492 reprezinta un moment de triumf in care dupa secole de razboaie sangeroase ultimii ocupanti mauri au fost izgoniti din Peninsula Iberica. Este si anul in care Cristofor Columb pleaca in prima sa expeditie spre Indiile care se vor dovedi a fi Lumea Noua, punand bazele imperiului spaniol. Pentru evrei 1492 reprezinta insa anul groaznicului edict prin care evreii spanioli care traisera in Peninsula Iberica vreme de peste un mileniu erau fortati sa-si piarda identitatea prin convertire, sau sa aleaga calea exilului – un eveniment traumatic de o intensitate cum putine au fost in istoria bogata in tragedii a evreilor. In cuvintele lui Isaac Salama, evreul ajuns in Tanger, pe care cumplitul an 1944 il gaseste nu in alta parte decat in ochiul infernului, Budapesta lui Eichman, si a carui viata este salvata de pasaportul sau spaniol:

‘Sefarad era numele adevaratei noastre patrii, desi fuseseram expulzati de acolo acum mai bine de patru veacuri. Imi povestea ca familia noastra pastrase timp de generatii cheia casei noastre din Toledo, imi povestea despre toate calatoriile pe care le-au facut de cand au plecat din Spania, ca si cum mi-ar fi spus povestea unei vieti care a durat aproape cinci sute de ani. ‘ (pag. 123)

 

sursa www.observatorcultural.ro

sursa www.observatorcultural.ro

 

In pofida titlului (si a copertii editiei romanesti) cele 17 nuvele care alcatuiesc colectia Sefarad nu se ocupa numai de exil si de trauma istorica a evreilor spanioli (sefarzi) ci de spatiul spaniol in general. Sefarad = Espana s-ar putea spune si Munoz Molina gaseste multe paralelisme intre destinul celor doua popoare ale caror istorie comuna a creat o legatura simbiotica, si al caror divort istoric violent la mijlocul mileniului trecut a creat o senzatie de vid cutural, de lipsa a unei parti esentiale a culturii si personalitatii. Unele dintre casele vechi din orasele cetate spaniole inca poarta insemnele prezentei evreiesti si a absentei care a urmat. Evreii sefarzi poarta in ei nu numai amintirea locului in care au trait, prosperat si contribuit la crearea unei culturi comune intr-o perioada ramasa in istorie ca ‘Perioada de Aur’, ci au si luat cu ei in exil si limba spaniola si au creat un dialect (judeo-espanol) care pastreaza probabil cea mai curata si apropiata forma de spaniola vorbita in prima jumatate a mileniului. Comune sunt si experientele fracturilor istorice, ale traumelor de mari dimensiuni care au distrus generatii intregi in prima jumatate a secolului 20 si au lasat sechele adanci in istoria celor doua popoare – Holocaustul si razboiul civil.

Intreaga carte se afla insa sub tutela unui personaj care desi a fost evreu nu a fost sefard – Franz Kafka. Un citat din ‘Procesul’ serveste de motto intregii carti, si premonitiile lui Kafka par a desemna traseele absurdului sub semnul caruia s-a desfasurat istoria restului de secol de dupa disparitia fizica a scriitorului evreu din Praga. Lui Franz Kafka ii supravietuieste o femeie, o iubita careia ii fusesera adresate scrisorile sale de dragoste, cu care traise o aventura posibila sau poate imposibila la o frontiera europeana de inceput de secol. Milena Jesenska este numele ei, si destinul va face sa ii supravietuieasca mai bine de doua decenii lui Kafka pentru a-si sfarsi viata intr-un lagar din sistemul concentrationist nazist.

Cateva dintre cele mai impresionante nuvele din carte se ocupa de Holocaust si perspectiva pare oarecum recuperatorie. Spaniolii care si-au trait propriile traume istorice in secolul trecut stiu foarte putine despre acest popor care nu numai ca a lasat o decisiva amprenta istorica, dar care se regaseste si in genele culturale, daca nu chiar in ADN-ul la propriu al multora dintre spanioli. In ‘Copenhaga’ este vorba despre gari si trenuri, transformate in statii ale cosmarului si visele rele care le leaga intre ele:

‘Cum ar fi sa ajungi intr-o gara germana sau poloneza intr-un tren pentru vite, sa asculti la megafoane ordinele strigate in germana si sa nu intelegi nimic, sa vezi in departare lumini, garduri de sarma ghimpata, cosuri foarte inalte ce scot fum negru. Timp de cinci zile, in februarie 1944, Primo Levi a mers intr-un tren spre Auschwitz.’ (pag. 37)

… si in continuare legatura cu realitatile de astazi:

‘Cum ar fi sa ajungi noaptea pe tarmul unei tari necunoscute, sa sari in apa din barca in care ai traversat marea pe intuneric, sa vrei sa te indepartezi cit mai repede spre interior, in timp ce picioarele ti se afunda in nisip; un barbat singur, fara acte, fara bani, ce vine din oroarea bolilor si masacrelor din Africa, din strafundul iadului, care nu stie limba tarii in care a ajuns, ce se arunca la panant si se ascunde in sant cand vede pe sosea farurule unei masini ce se aproprie, poate cea a politiei.’ (pag. 41)

 

sursa www.escritores.org

sursa www.escritores.org

 

Nuvelele din ‘Sefarad’ creaza un mozaic divers si impresionant al spatiului spaniol si european al secolului 20. Unele dintre ele pun fata in fata tragediile Holocaustului si ale Gulagului. ‘Munzenberg’ de exemplu traseaza portretul si biografia unui personaj fascinant pe nume Wili Munzenberg, creatorul programelor de atragere a intelectualilor ‘tovarasi de drum’ in masina de propaganda sovietica intre cele doua razboaie mondiale. Tovaras si complice al lui Lenin cade el insusi in dizgratie in perioada proceselor staliniste din anii 30 si are parte de o trezire tarzie la realitate care il pune in mod incomod pe lista de dusmani de moarte ai stalinismului si nazismului in anii in care cei doi dictatori isi disputau Europa. Sfarseste tragic si in imprejurari neclare, nici pana astazi nu se stie care dintre serviciile secrete – NKDV-ul sau Gestapo-ul) a sfarsit prin al lichida intr-o padure din Franta sub ocupatie. ‘Seherazada’ este povestea unei ‘babe comuniste’, poate fiica fanaticei conducatoare comuniste Dolores Ibarruri (prietena a lui Ceausescu pentru cine isi aminteste) care la anii pensiei (in Spania desigur) isi aminteste de copilaria in exilul sovietic si de fascinatia niciodata disparuta si nestearsa de nicio realitate a secolului 20 pentru comunism in general si Stalin in special.

Alte cateva povestiri se ocupa de perioada de tranzitie a Spaniei dupa descotorisirea de dictatura. Pentru cititorul roman cel putin unele aspecte vor suna foarte familiare, caci spaniolii si Spania lui Munoz Molina par sa fi trecut in anii 70 prin aceleasi fenomene de dezorientare, pierdere a busolei morale si incertitudine economica si personala prin care au trecut romanii si Romania anilor 90. ‘Oriunde te-ai duce’ schiteaza tabloul unui cartier din Madrid in care dupa somnolenta dictaturii apar contrastele si excesele libertatii economice si individuale, dar si tragediile cauzate de lipsa de securitate sociala. Si totusi in acest infern al tuturor pacatelor se naste o incredibila poveste de dragoste. Tot o poveste de dragoste, sau poate doar de atractie si fascinatie este redata in ‘America’ in combinatie cu o alta tema importanta scriitorului – cea a rolului religiei institutionalizate in Spania din timpul dictaturii si dupa caderea acesteia. In fine, in ‘Spune-mi numele tau’ scriitorul surprinde cu remarcabila exactitate psihologia refugiatului politic din Europa de Est care pentru prima data in viata sa trece o frontiera sub pavaza unui pasaport al unei tari de drept, care ii garanteaza dreptul elementar la libera circulatie:

‘… jandarmul, fara sa se uite macar la pasaport, fara sa-i priveasca chipul i-a facut un gest grabit cu mana, i-a spus sa treaca cu oarecare mitocanie spanioleasca, si acest gest cu mana si cele doua vorbe grosolane i s-au parut primirea cea mai frumoasa ce i s-a facut vreodata, semnalul neindoielnic al cetateniei sale.’ (pag. 385)

In final voi mentiona insa inca una dintre povestirile legate de Holocaust – ‘Nerva’. Este povestea unui ofiter spaniol care in timpul razboiului ajunge pe frontul de Est si se confrunta pentru prima data nu numai cu existenta sau mai bine zis cu disparitia prin exterminare a evreilor ci si cu felul in care germanii abordeaza soarta acestora. Ofiterul german cu care spaniolul se imprietenise, cei doi fiind reuniti de pasiunea pentru muzica lui Brahms si a lui Gershwin ii descrie cu un singur cuvant scrasnit – Juden! – ceata de suboameni purtand cu ei barele de sarma ghimpata care ii desparteau de omenire si de omenie in marsul lor spre moarte. Este una dintre cele mai expresive relatari pe care le-am citit ale confruntarii oamenilor de rand cu Holocaustul, a asumarii sau neasumarii responsabilitatii fata de ororile secolului 20.

 

 

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Solti, Dix and Alina Szapocznikow (two documentaries and one exhibition)

 

source www.icr.ro

source www.icr.ro

 

We spent a nice late morning and early afternoon in the Tel Aviv Museum of Art with two documentaries in the program of the 5th edition of the EPOS International Art Film Festival and a few exhibitions, one at least worth mentioning here. All three are related to artists who lived and created in the 20th century, and whose biographies were related – in different ways – to the wars of the 20th century and and the Holocaust.

 

(video source GeorgeSoltiAccademia)

 

The first one was also the best. The documentary ‘Maestro or Mephisto – The Real Georg Solti’ directed by Andy Kings-Dabbs and co-produced by the BBC covers the biography, the career, the life and personality of the Jewish Hungarian conductor who was a pupil and disciple of Bartok and Toscanini, dared involve himself in the reconstruction of the Opera houses in Munich and Frankfurt immediately after WWII, brought to fame and close to musical perfection the Covent Garden Opera and the Chicago Philharmonic. He was a perfectionist and not an easy person to work with, some disliked his style or his involvement in Germany after the Holocaust, but he left a legacy of wonderful music, he built orchestras and opera houses which remain until today among the finest in the world, and he also encouraged young talents (I did not know about his role in the career of Angela Gheorghiu). It’s a wonderful documentary film for music lovers, I found it on youTube – enjoy!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiwYhHkUVCQ

(video source ARTIS4YOU)

 

Otto Dix is one of my preferred artists in the 20th century art. The Canadian documentary ‘Ten Times Dix’ directed by Jennifer Alleyn did not throw too much new light on his life and work, but at least gave us the occasion to see again some of his best works gathered in the North American exhibition which I also have seen three years ago in New York, at the Neue Gallerie.

 

(video source GroupeLocomotion)

 

Unfortunately this film does not seem to be available on youTube. See above the trailer.

 

source www.hauserwirth.com

source www.hauserwirth.com

 

Before and in the break between the movies we could visit some of the exhibitions currently open in the museum. One which is worth a visit is of the Polish-Jewish sculptor Alina Szapocznikow. Born in 1926 her life and biography was marked by the Holocaust which she survived but which left her with a frail health. To some extent her biography and her art reminds the one of Frida Kahlo sharing the same focus on the suffering, human body, physical pain, and sexuality – all blended in the case of Szapocznikow with the influences of surrealism. There are many poignant works in this exhibition, I avoid using the word ‘beautiful’ as some of them shout in a manner that does not fit with the norms of nice aesthetics, but the pain seems they radiate feels authentic.

 

Posted in art, music | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Twin Peaks in the Alps (TV Series: Les Revenants, 2012)

One of the best series of the last few years comes from a rather unexpected place. I do not remember having seen a French series of such a quality and intensity. With ‘Lost’ and ‘Fringe’ now over, with ‘X-Files’ back away in the remote history, ‘Les Revenants’ is strange and beautiful, discomforting and mysterious, and leaves enough things unexplained for the viewers to enjoy and for the fans to wait for the next season.

 

source www.imdb.com/title/tt2521668/

source www.imdb.com/title/tt2521668/

 

The setting immediately reminds David Lynch’s ‘Twin Peaks’, the American series that dared in the 90s break many taboos of the commercial TV fiction. A French village located between mountain peals and near a picturesque lake and a dam in a remote location in the Alps is faces a phenomenon that is impossible to explain by human logic. Dead come back, some only a few years after their violent deaths, some other many decades later. They do not seem to remember too much of the time spent in-between and are eager to continue their lives from where they left. Are the living ones ready to receive them back? Can the joy of seeing again a child or a lover though to be gone forever overcome the fear of death and unexplained, and the changes in the very own lives of the living?

 

(video source Madman Films)

 

As in Lars von Trier’s The Kingdom there is an original sin, a terrible story back in history that may be at the root of all that takes place. Do not worry, however – not two much is being rationally explained, and the scene in the final of the season provides a great opening for what is to come. Hopefully the second season will avoid the temptation to go too deep into the zombies genre. Until then I definitely recommend this series for all the fans of fantastic, mystery, science-fiction or horror genres and their combinations. It’s well written, beautifully filmed, the actors are good and expressive building characters that will be hard to forget, and the music will haunt you well after you turned off the TV. Look for the first season if you did not see it yet, watch with me for the next one.

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Carte: Marta Petreu – Biblioteci in aer liber

Marta Petreu este o autoare care rezista orcarei incercari de clasificare. In librarii sau in biblioteci vom putea gasi in numar substantial de carti ale ei in sectiile de poezie, de eseistica, si de istorie a culturii si filosofiei romanesti. Este autoarea a doua substantiale carti de interviuri si a scris unul dintre cele mai bune romane ale ultimului deceniu. A conceput, editat si prefatat multe carti de autor si antologii. Seria proprie care apare de cativa ani la Polirom va fi atunci cand va fi completa una dintre cele mai interesante, mai diverse, si mai de calitate serii ale unui autor roman al epocii. Biblioteci in aer liber’ recent aparuta la Polirom, prima carte marcata cu 2014 ca an al aparitiei pe care am placerea sa o citesc si sa o recenzez este o culegere de publicistica a carui continut se constituie intr-o fumoasa carte de memorialistica si de portrete literare si culturale ale celor pe care Marta Petreu i-a intalnit, i-a citit, si (pe unii) i-a iubit. Celor care cred ca publicistica nu este neaparat si scriere frumoasa cartea aceasta le prezinta un argument elocvent cat de mult gresesc, cu colectia de portrete care imbina intelegerea caracterului, acuitatea istoricului filosofiei si a pasionatului de cuvinte si dragostea si respectul fata de multe dintre persoanele evocate:

‘L-am iubit si il iubesc pe Alexandru Vona, caci iubirea nu moare cu moartea celui iubit, ci numai deodata cu moartea celui care iubeste.’ (pag. 107)

‘ Despre Nicolae Manolescu putem sa spunem linistit ca, daca nu ar fi existat, literatura romana si intreaga cultura romaneasca din 1962 ar fi aratat altfel, si anume cu mult mai rau’ (pag. 95)

 

sursa http://www.oradestiri.ro/razboi-intre-intelectualii-clujeni/

sursa http://www.oradestiri.ro/razboi-intre-intelectualii-clujeni/

 

Marta Petreu este ardeleanca si mai specific clujeanca si Clujul face parte nu numai din biografia ei personala ci si din structura ei spirituala. Am intalnit cativa prieteni ardeleni si unii dintre ei au expus mai explicit sau mai discret ideea Ardealului ca o entitate distincta daca nu politica (desi a fost si asta in istorie) cel putin culturala si ca tipologie, un creuzet de fragmente de popoare cu destule diferente specifice pentru a fi usor identificate ca atare printre ai lor si cu destule elemente comune pentru ca intr-o alta varianta a istoriei sa fi putut creat poate o comuniune. Daca granitele unui Ardeal politic nu au fost trasate de istorie, cele ale Arealului spiritual cred ca exista fara a-si fi declarat formal vreodata independenta, si ele transcend nationalitatile, limbile si desigur conflictele locale. Desi in niciun moment Marta Petreu nu scrie asa ceva explicit in cartea ei, am avut in permanenta senzatia ca o simte si o spune implicit in paginile dedicate generatiei Cercului Literar din Sibiu si celor pe care ii considera descendenti ai Cercului – grupati in anii 80 si 90 in jurul revistelor ‘Echinox’ si ‘Apostrof’, cu totii urmasi ai curentului maiorescian si lovinescian in cultura si literatura romaneasca sau in cele in care descrie personajele marcante ale vietii literare si universitare ale Clujului – Blaga, Zaciu, Papahagi – peregrinandu-se prin geografia afectiva a orasului care a fost, in epocile pe care le-au trait.

Al doilea spatiu geografic si spiritual in care traiesc altele dintre personajele evocate de Marta Petreu este Parisul. Specializarea ei – daca ii pot spune asa folosind un cuvant nedrept pentru orizontul larg de preocupari ale autoarei – sunt ganditorii si scriitorii romani cazuti sub mirajul dreptei si mai ales al naeionescismului in perioada dintre cele doua razboaie mondiale si dintre care cei mai cunoscuti au ajuns la Paris dupa a doua cumplita conflagratie – Cioran, Ionesco. Despre ei si despre alti reprezentanti marcanti ai emigratiei – Vona, Tepeneag, Tacou – Marta Petreu a scris mult. In aceasta carte ea completeaza alte scrieri mai ales cu dimensiunea umana, cu amplasarea in peisajul geografic si spiritual, cu descrierea relatiilor dintre ei si a prieteniilor infiripate de ei cu ea insasi.

Una dinre personalitatile ne-clujene despre care scrie Marta Petreu este Vladimir Tismaneanu. Din nou avem de-a face cu o excelenta caracterizare tipologica, tematica si stilistica:

‘Vladimir Tismaneanu scrie ca un om perfect liber – si este un asemenea om. Alegerea sa voluntara, deopotriva profesionala si morala, a fost sa studieze si sa scrie despre totalitarismele secolului al XX-lea, si anume de pe pozitia unui democrat liberal. O face asumandu-si, la vedere, mereu si mereu, parintii, adica originea intr-o familie de comunisti. Si asumandu-si foarte limpede si ruptura.’   (pag. 233-234)

Exista de fapt multe lucruri comune intre sferele de preocupari ale lui Tismaneanu si a Martei Petreu. Ambii se ocupa de extremele ideologice ale istoriei si culturii romanesti, ambii examineaza fractura petrecuta in anii 30 si 40 ai secolului trecut care a dus in cele din urma la instaurarea a ceea ce Marta Petreu numeste in cartea ei ‘socialismul real’ (termen care se cuvenea poate explicat) – cu alte cuvinte dictatura comunista cu cei 40 de ani de prapastie in istoria Romaniei. O prapastie atat de adanca incat autoarea se intreaba la un moment dat daca mai exista o sansa de recuperare a normalitatii, a continuitatii filonului cultural romanesc in care autenticul nu se inchisteaza in izolare nationalista ci continua dialogul inceput in secolul al XIX-lea de generatiile pasoptista si maioresciana cu culturile Europei si ale lumii. Diferentele constau nu numai in biografiile personale (spre deosebire de Tismaneanu, Marta Petreu nu are o descendenta de care sa se distanteze, din contra, se revendica permanent din acel spatiu taranesc ardelean care isi trimitea copiii de exceptie la studii asteptand ca sub o forma sau alta sa reintoarca in matca investitia materiala cu infuzie si inoire spirituala) ci si in abordarea de catre fiecare a unei extreme diferite. La Tismaneanu este vorba despre extrema stanga care a rezultat in oroarea Gulagului, la Marta Petreu este vorba despre extrema dreapta a carei oroare suprema a fost Holocaustul si care in cultura romana isi are originea in cel numit in titlul uneia dintre cartile sale (desi atribuirea nu ii apartine) ‘diavolul’:

‘ Stiu care a fost cu adevarat rolul sau in interbelic. Cu diavolii cei mici pe care i-a puit in lume nu ma inteleg, caci n-are nici unul nici pe departe, nici avengura lui, nici inteligenta lui, nici fair-play-ul lui. In intunecimea lui versatila si in metamorfozele lui perpetue, Nae Ionescu era onest – onestitatea omului care are grandoarea proprie. Baietii astia si fetele astea de azi, care-l adora saracindu-l, care-l iubesc precum fanii dintr-o povestire a lui Cortazar pe Glenda, astia, copiii lui degenerati de azi, astia sunt rai in mod meschin si prostesc. (pag. 317)

 

sursa https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/biblioteci-in-aer-liber/

sursa https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/biblioteci-in-aer-liber/

 

Cateva cuvinte despre structura cartii. Este impartita in patru sectiuni, dar acestea sunt diferite in numari de pagini si in continut. Cam doua treimi din carte sunt ocupate de prima sectiune numita ‘Oameni si carti’. Gasim aici un amestec de evocari memorialistice despre persoane si personaje pe care autoarea le-a cunoscut direct, dar si evocari indirecte construite pe baza lecturilor sau ale evocarilor altora despre figuri cum ar fi Eugen Lovinescu sau Elena Vianu. Unele dintre articole sunt datate (si putem presupune ca datele sunt cele ale aparitiei in publicatiile vremii), altele sunt lasate fara data si suntem lasati sa deducem singuri daca sunt scrise ulterior, daca este vorba despre scrieri mai vechi sau texte scrise special pentru acest volum. Despre unii dintre cei evocati si despre scrierile lor (Mircea Zaciu, Alexandru Vona, Cioran, Manea) sunt incluse mai multe articole scrise in perioade diferite si nu lipsesc unele repetitii, dar sunt putine si niciodata suparatoare, caci este vorba tot timpul despre descrieri excelente, informatii inedite si opinii clare – toate scrise intr-o limba frumoasa care fac din lectura cartii un exercitiu delectabil.

A doua sectiune este intitulata doar ‘Carti’ si aici accentul este pus pe litera tiparita desi nu lipsesc si relatarile despre autori. Este vorba despre o colectie de recenzii intr-o selectie destul de eclectica, alaturi de volume semnate de Dumitru Tepeneag sau Ion Vianu, de cartea de succes a Ruxandrei Cesereanu si cea de dialoguri intrigante dintre Moshe Idel si Sorin Antohi, alaturi de Bulgakov si de Dimiseanu apar recenzii ale unor carti ale lui Edgar Reichmann, Dora Pavel, sau Ovidiu Pecican. Un hobby sau o alta vocatie, poate colaterala, care nu si-a gasit pana acum timpul necesar in biografia autoarei? Una sau alta, si aceste cronici mi s-au parut exacte si clare in opinii, le-as reprosa poate doar tendinta de a povesti in prea multe detalii intrigile cartilor, uneori pana la dezdonamant, ceea ce in cazul beletristicii in special poate fi considerat un dezavantaj de catre unii cititori

‘Teze neterminate’ se intituleaza cea de-a treia sectiune a cartii in care Marta Petreu aduna o serie de note si fragmente (inca) insuficient de consistente sau consolidate pentru a se constitui in carti, eseuri, articole de sine statatoare. Sunt aici desigur multe idei si formulari care isi asteapta si vor capata poate candva locul in scrieri consistente, dar si cel putin doua fragmente care se constituie in perle publicistice demne de a fi mentionate: cea despre visul cu Nae Ionescu si cea despre Clujul cu orasul sau de jos si orasul de sus.

‘Jos in vale, vine cine vrea, ramine cine poate. Sus, in deal, in paradisul veveritelor si al mierlelor, ajunge cine moare.’  (pag. 302)

Ultimul capitol este de fapt un pamflet de vreo zece pagini scris si rostit in 2010 la un simpozion al jurnalistilor ca raspuns la campania dezlantuita in urma publicarii cartii ‘Diavolul si ucenicul sau: Nae Ionescu si Mihail Sebastian’ care i-a atras critici atat din partea adeptilor ‘diavolului’ (ceea ce era de prevazut) dar si a ‘ucenicului’ deranjati de dezvaluirile inedite pentru unii, cunoscute dar ascunse din admiratie pentru model de altii, despre tineretea absolutista de dreapta a lui Sebastian sub influenta tutelara lui Nae Ionescu. Verva polemica a Martei Petreu bine temperata in restul cartii se manifesta aici cu aciditate ironica, dar in aceasta sectiune am gasit si singura afirmatie care mi se pare in neconcordanta cu cele cunoscute de mine, cea despre presupusa alunecare spre ‘extrema stanga (comunista), cu siguranta in 1944’ a lui Sebastian. Nu stiu exact pe ce se bazeaza Marta Petreu in aceasta afirmatie. Daca insa iau ca reper notatiile din Jurnalul lui Sebatian din zilele de luni 20 sevtembrie (sic!) 1944 si miercuri 22 sevtembrie 1944 gasesc aici relatari precise ale situatiei din Rusia aduse de Visoianu care se intorsese din delegatia care incercase sa negocieze armistitiul cu rusii, si comentarii putin favorabile despre noii ocupanti. Departe de a exprima idei de extrema stanga, aceste aprecieri ma fac sa cred ca Sebastian a fost printre acei intelectuali evrei din Romania care nu s-a lasat antrenat de entuziasmul supravieturii razboiului si ca daca ar fi trait nu s-ar fi lasat inrolat cu usurinta in corul colaborationismului si al proletcultismului.

Nu stiu daca sentimentul de ‘tinta pentru gloantele criticii romanesti’ (pag. 363) este complet justificat. In definitiv Marta Petreu cel putin in partea eseistica a operei sale nu evita polemica si stie ca ceea ce scrie are darul sa starneasca polemica. In plus pe langa critici (multe intr-adevar superficiale si poate nedrepte) ea se bucura si de multe aprecieri si biografia sa cuprinde si o lista impresionanta de premii raspandite in vreme intre 1981 si 2011. Mai mult decat aprecierile criticii si ale juriilor ea pare insa sa caute interesul cititorilor:

‘Mi-ar placea sa pot pune pe coperta cartilor mele: interzis criticilor literari, carte pentru doctori, ingineri, profesori, invatatori, frizeri, timplari, strungari si tarani. Ar fi si o forma de cinste din partea mea, pentru ca de fapt la acesti cititori as vrea sa ajung. Citeodata, miraculos, am ajuns.’ (pag. 320)

Ati ajuns intr-adevar, doamna Marta Petreu. Va multumesc!

 

 

 
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Jewish Laughs – The Purim Edition

The pattern of Jewish holidays goes like this. We first say (or watch others saying) a prayer. Then we tell or read a story about how other very very very bad people tried to discriminate, kill, destroy us the very very very good people. Then we say ‘Oh vey!’ And then we eat. Unless we feast.

Purim is no exception. It is actually an especially cruel holiday. Since the moment our kids are born we need to buy each year costumes, they must be different each year, they never pass from brother to brother or from sister to sister (neither other combinations), and this lasts until the teenager says – ‘I am a grown-up, I do not need that stupid costume for Purim this year’.

 

source www.tabletmag.com

source www.tabletmag.com

 

Even more cruel is the name of the traditional cakes we eat on Purim – it is actually ‘Haman’s ears’ – so we eat each year the ears of the bad bad bad guy who tried to inflict suffering on us thousands of years ago. At least they taste better than the ‘matzah’ we will eat one month from now.

So what is left to confront all this cruelty? Humor, of course – the famous Jewish humor, the self-laughing and the smiles mixed with tears that allowed us to survive everything, from Pharaohs to the Jewish holidays. This is why my Purim article this year is dedicated to the Jewish humor, and specifically Jewish humor in movies.

There are plenty of examples. Here are a few. You are welcome to write me and add more.

 

(video source guru006)

 

Jews talk with God. In every prayer, in some curses (yes, we also have some and if not we borrow from non-Jewish neighbors) and in the day-to-day lives. Here is one of the more famous such dialogs the one called ‘If I Were a Rich Man’ from ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, the musical inspired by the – maybe – greatest Jewish humorist of all times – Scholem Aleichem.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV2N4KSh3x4

(video source MingoBlue)

 

Woody Allen could not be absent from such a review. Here he is followed by some Jewish Robot Tailors

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyPf7JjVgeU

(video source  zicrobe)

 

Non-Jew actors make for some of the best rabbis. As a proof here is the dance of Rabbi Jacob in Les Aventures de Rabbi Jacob with my preferred French comedian of all times – Louis de Funes

 

(video source Filmfood Janneke)

 

Neither could Seinfeld be absent. Here he is fighting the Jewish food curse, and preparing for the unique Jewish singles night.

 

(video source Mark Edmonds)

Way for some more controversial stuff. Borat a.k.a. Sacha Baron Cohen is joined by his audience in singing Throw the Jew Down the Well!! in a satiric reality show approach to antisemitism.

(video source GonzoBlonde)

 

Is humor permissible in treating such serious themes as the Holocaust? Why not? Most of us now Roberto Begnini’s ‘La Vitta e Bella’ but before it there was Radu Mihaileanu’s ‘Train de vie’. Here is an unforgettable scene describing the encounter between the Jews and the Roma, the two minorities targeted by extermination by the Nazis. Great music too!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRJlo2WRDbw

(video source Amma1968)

 

Last but not least – here is a scene good chances you all know. Is this Jewish Humor? No doubt for me. There is nothing more Jewish but laughing in face of adversity, of tragedy.

 

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life!

Hag Purim Sameah! A Happy Purim!

 

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