blog news

More than two weeks in the new year and three weeks in the existence of the blog it is time for some news and clarifications.

Yes, I do have a professional life, and a very busy one actually. I am an engineer in the field of the Internet, I am working for a company named AVAYA, and much of my responsibilities at this point in time are related to the technical standards that make the Internet and the applications running on the Internet possible. It is a fascinating field, I love it, and I have spent most of my last 20 years working in it, and I hope to do it for the next 20 years as well. I will however seldom write about my profession and even more seldom about my job. I may comment about the impact of the Internet in our lives or culture, but I will not bother the readers of this blog with any technical discussions, I am doing this on other Internet media every day of the year. This blog is actually about almost everything but my professional life and my private life.

In another piece of news, as they say, I will start including in the blog valuable contributions authored by a few friends whom I appreciate and respect a lot. I hope that you will find those interesting.

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Bela Kamocsa (1944 – 2010)

Bela Kamocsa died last week. He was the founder of the Romanian rock band ‘Phoenix’ in the 60s, at a time when doing rock meant in Romania not only music but also a political stand. The band played an important role in the history of Romania rock.

youTube keeps some of his recordings.

‘Canarul’ from 1969 with Phoenix:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXtIubtuKDY

‘Lady Madonna’:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFMgdB3-JGE

‘Totusi sunt ca voi’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2NDVRp8OgM&feature=related

with Bega Blues Band at the Sibiu jazz festival in 2002:

jam sessions with Mircea Bunea in 2008:


and the recording of a TV interview with Daniel Vighi with scores of interesting information about the musical history of Timisoara.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTxIpOvoENY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7yRdFJdGGc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY5BvW0KZVQ

May his memory be blessed.

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Ottoman Haifa

Another (too) beautiful weekend took us to Haifa. After having survived the ‘Avatar‘ film experience on Friday night we visited the Ottoman Haifa exhibition open by the Haifa City Museum:

http://hma.org.il/Museum/Templates/showpage.asp?DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=10000&FID=1203&PID=0

The Web page provides more information about the exhibition as well as more selected images from the exhibition.

city of Haifa Museum

The Museum is hosted by the oldest building in the German Colony of Haifa. Started by Templars in 1868, soon after the 1864 sultan edict that allowed the development of the cities all over the Ottoman Empire, the German colony in Haifa was one of the several settlements established by the German between the 1860s and second world war. The former People’s House was a church and a school at the same time and was recently renovated. The museum is ‘on trial’ for several years, I have visited it for the first time, but judging by the exhibition I have seen it is very much worth a visit.

oldest building in the German Colony in Haifa - 1869

The exhibition contains lithography, paintings, photos and artifacts reflecting the period of the Ottoman rule of Haifa between 1516 and 1918.

While the name of the city is mentioned in the Mishnah and Mount Carmel is considered sacred by the three religios for its association with prophet Elijah (Eliakhu), it was just a small fishermen hamlet until well in the 17th century.

mount Carmel view from the Sea - 1677

Gravures that became popular by the end of the century represented the small village, the monastery at the top of the mountain and the city of Acco much more important  at that time.

Haifa viewed by David Roberts

The city revival starts in the 18th century when rich Arab family start building North of the original hamlet and the harbour develops. yet when the Scottish painter David Roberts arrives and paints the Holy Land in the 19th century his rendition of Haifa from 1839 shows little more than a very pastoral view with a sunset in the best Orientalist tradition.

German Colony in Haifa seen by Jakob Schumacher

Things change with the opening of the foreign presence after 1864, and the German Colony is one of the examples of the development fo Haifa. Here it is how it looked in the 1870s, seen by one of the founders of the colony, Jakob Schumacher.

Haifa photographed by Felix Bonfils c. 1880

The Beirutian photographer Felix Bonfils caught the city around 1880. Other powers beyond Germany invested in the city – for example Russia built part of the harbour. A Persian district was born, populated partly by the believers of the Baha’i faith.The Jewish presence also started during that decade with Jewish immigrants from Europe populating the city, although it will take a long time until Jewish population will become the majority in Haifa – this happened only after the Independence War and the establishment of the State of Israel.

Haifa viewed by Julius Rotschild 1915

By 1915 the city was well developed and shadowed quite for a long while its Northern neighbor Acco. In October 1918 it was conquered by the Indian corps of the British Army, and soon after the British mandated started. The Ottoman period came to its end, and the modern era of the history of the city started.

I also found a collection of photos on youTube with many other interesting aspects from the history of the city, complementing what I saw in the exhibition today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJ2mo5HbY0

Back outdoors we had a few more minutes to wonder through the streets of the former German Colony. Many of the houses are renovated, some host restaurants, and the opening of the main street of the area (which is called today Ben Gurion Road) provides nowadays a spendid panorama to the Baha’i gardens on one side and to the sea on the other.

Haifa German Colony building

HaShdera Restaurant in a 1872 building

German Colony area nowadays

Baha'i Gardens viewed from the German Colony main street

The ‘Ottoman Haifa’ exhibition is open at the Haifa City Museum until the end of February.

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John Lee Hooker

I have seen tonight a documentary about the life and nusic of John Lee Hooker. He was born i917 and grew near Clarksdale in the Mississippi Delta, the place where the delta blues style originated. As a child he worked with his family of descendants of slaves in the cotton fields

Boogie Chillen in 1948 was one of his first successes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYrVwGxlcFA&feature=PlayList&p=12A58C50552790AA&index=0&playnext=1

‘Hobo Blues’ is from the start years.

‘Boom, Boom’ is a song from the start of the 60s. Hooker started to build a name for himself as a bluesman. See the foot rhythmic which became a symbol of his innovative approach in these years

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77pmWCpMNkI

‘Tupelo’ is another famous traditional blues of his, about the floods he witnessed as a child in the Mississippi Delta

Hooker inspired a number of beat musicians in the UK, and especially The Animals – here is a song of Hooker played by the British band in 1964.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43yvS6bPZDs

Here he is with Carlos Santana in the 80s. Santana as many other musicians (Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton) admired him, and invited him to play with them at the pick of their careers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aFKgi5D6eU

Finally ‘The Healer’ also with Santana – a song about the magic blues music that heals everything.

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The Edict of Turda

I learned today from a History Today article that the first legislation of religious freedom, pluralism and prevalence of the state power over religious autorities was given by king John II Sigismund of Transylvania in the city of Turda in 1588.

king John II Sigismund

His majesty, our Lord, in what manner he – together with his realm – legislated in the matter of religion at the previous Diets, in the same matter now, in this Diet, reaffirms that in every place the preachers shall preach and explain the Gospel each according to his understanding of it, and if the congregation like it, well. If not, no one shall compel them for their souls would not be satisfied, but they shall be permitted to keep a preacher whose teaching they approve. Therefore none of the superintendents or others shall abuse the preachers, no one shall be reviled for his religion by anyone, according to the previous statutes, and it is not permitted that anyone should threaten anyone else by imprisonment or by removal from his post for his teaching. For faith is the gift of God and this comes from hearing, which hearings is by the word of God.

coat of arms of Turda

At that time Transylvania was under Turkish suzerainty. The edict covered the various West European Christian faith – Catholicism, Reform, and the Unitarian church to which the king belonged. Orthodox Christians to which most of the Romanians belonged and Jewish faith were just tolerated. Yet, it was the first legislative act of pluralism at the end of a century marked by the Reform, Counter-Reform and the bloody religious conflicts.

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Wannsee

Intr-o discutie pe una dintre listele internetice verisoare a venit vorba despre Wannsee. Colegi de pe acea lista au vazut un film, cred ca o docudrama despre conferinta tinuta la 20 ianuarie 1942 in care a fost pecetluita soarta evreilor din Europa. Nu am vazut filmul (inca) dar am fost la Wannsee in 2007 si pot adauga cateva fotografii de la fata locului la aceasta dezbatere.  Multumiri Marianei Smilovici, o parte dintre fotografii ii apartin – pe vremea aceea ea fotografia mai mult decat mine.

Wannsee

Wannsee este o suburbie a Berlinului pe malul lacului cu acest nume, un fel de Snagov situat la o distanta comparabila cu locul de agrement al bucurestenilor de capitala. Peisajul este idilic.

56–58 Am Grossen Wannsee

Conferinta a avut loc intr-o vila situata pe malul lacului la 56–58 Am Grossen Wannsee, construita in 1914 si cumparata de SS in 1940.

Wannsee - in muzeu

Dupa razboi locul a devenit muzeu, in mare parte datorita eforturilor istoricului Joseph Wulf, el insusi supravietuitor al Holocaustului.

Joseph Wulf

Wulf nu a apucat insa sa vada locul transformat in muzeul si memorialul care este astazi. S-a sinucis in 1974 impartasind soarta multor alti supravietuitori care nu au fost capabili sa duca povara ororii, si dezamagit de taraganarea deschiderii muzeului. Abia in 1992 muzeul si centrul de documentare au fost deschise publicului.

Conferinta de la Wannsee a fost pregatita cu meticulozitate in lunile care au precedat-o.

participantii

Printre particpantii la conferinta s-au aflat Reinhard Heydrich caruia avea sa i se incredinteze misiunea de a rezolva ‘problema evreiasca’ conform planurilor si deciziilor conferintei, si Adolph Eichman.

protocolul

Cu meticulozitatea si ordinea specific germane au fost inregistrate dezbaterile si hotaririle conferintei. Secretarul conferintei si raspunzator cu protocolul care a pecetluit deciziile a fost Eichman.

who is a Jew - varianta Nurnberg

Criteriul dupa care a fost stabilita evreitatea celor care aveau sa devina victimele solutiei finale au fost legile rasiale promulgate la Nurnberg in 1938 si aplicate initial in Germania.

statistici

Statisticile pe care le-au avut la dispozitie planificatorii Holocaustului includeau populatia evreiasca din toate tarile Europei, URSS, nordului Africii si Orientului Mijlociu. Erau impartite in doua categorii: A – tari aflate deja sub ocupatie germana, B – tari neutre sau aflate in conflict cu Germania. In total aproximativ 11 milioane de evrei. Au reusit sa ucida ‘doar’ 6 milioane.

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‘Yentl’ la teatrul Cameri

Teatrul Cameri din Tel Aviv in colaborare cu teatrul din Haifa prezinta in coproductie spectacolul cu muzica ‘Yentl’ dupa povestirea lui Isaac Bashevis Singer in adaptarea scenica a lui Leah Napolin si traducerea lui Dan Almagor. Folosesc intentionat termenul ‘spectacol cu muzica’ similar celui ‘film cu muzica’ folosit de Barbra Streisand pentru filmul ei din 1983 – mi se pare mai potrivit si in acest caz pentru un spectacol in care partea muzicala si coregrafica nu este lipsita de calitati dar care nu are in el niciun shlagar memorabil, in schimb este binecuvantat cu fluiditate si tensiune dramatica.

Bashevis Singer este unul dintre scriitori mei cei mai iubiti. L-am descoperit tarziu, dupa ce am ajuns in Israel si am fost imediat fascinat de lumea evreiasca est-europeana pe care o descrie in romanele si povestirile sale, in care eroii isi traiesc pasiunile si iubirile in mediul permanent amenintat al comunitatilor evreiesti din Rusia si Polonia, in care coeziunea culturala bazata pe intelepciunea Torei si a Talmudului se confrunta in sufletele eroilor cu tentatiile carnale si culturale ale lumii din jur, cu deschiderea ei, cu teatrul, circul, ziarele si cartile sale, cu posibilitatea de a calatori in locuri de legenda cum ar fi cel numit America in care evreii nu ar mai fi vesnica victima a istoriei. M-a fascinat acest spatiu cu dimensiuni tragice si magice in acelasi timp, cu care am o afinitate ciudata, poate genetica, in ciuda pretentiilor mele de evreitate moderna si nereligioasa, si in ciuda ignorantei mele totale in ceea ce priveste idishul. Mai tarziu am descoperit povestirile si romanele sale americane, si din nou m-am regasit in nelinistea si dramele emigrantilor, in setea lor de adaptare exterioara si tensiunea fata de acea parte dinauntru care este ramasa pe veci in spatiul est european, in retrairea Holocaustului si de catre cei care i-au supravietuit si de catre cei care isi cara vina de a nu fi fost acolo.

Textul adaptarii pentru scena (original pentru Broadway) al lui Leah Napolin si al filmului Barbrei Streisand este insa departe de a fi fidel povestirii lui Bashevis Singer. Este ignorata in ambele productii una dintre componentele esentiale ale  povestirii. Eroina lui Bashevis Singer traieste si drama ambiguitatii orientarii sale sexuale. Nu numai ca impreuna cu inteleptul sau tata inchidea obloanele si invata Torah (caci vorba batranului rabin in Dumnezeu poti avea incredere ca va intelege de ce o fata aspira sa invete Torah, dar in vecini nu) dar Yentl insasi era ‘diferita de celelalte fete din oras, inalta, subtire, mica in piept si ingusta in solduri. La amiaza Shabatului, cand tatal sau dormea Yentl ii imbraca pantalonii, caftanul de matase, talitul, chipa si palaria …’. In film ca si in piesa pusa in scena pe Broadway si la Cameri, ambiguitatea sexuala lipseste si  Yentl se dezvaluie ca femeie iubitului sau Avigdor si isi redobandeste identitatea feminina in final, elemente de intriga care nu exista in versiunea originala,

Spectacolul de la Cameri este regizat de Moshe Kepten, regizor tanar care a inregistrat un succes de scena si de public anul trecut cu o noua versiune a ‘Violonostului de pe acoperis’ dupa Shalom Alechem, alta creatie cu versiune cinematografica celebra. Nu am vazut acel spectacol dar am citit cronici dupa care ‘Yentl’ ar fi o ralativa dezamagire. Daca este asa probabil ca am pierdut un spectacol foarte bun, caci mie si prezenta montare a lui ‘Yentl’ mi-a placut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy2QGDXoUGo

Spectacolul dureaza o ora si 40 de minute fara pauza si are cursivitate si sensibilitate. Spatiul scenic este folosit in mod inteligent si legatura intre episoade este realizata prin proiectii de texte din Talmud care ilustreaza perceptele care guverneaza viata eroilor si cu care acestia trebuie sa se confrunte si pe care trebuie sa le incalce pentru a-si trai pasiunile. Cele doua conflicte principale – cel al setei de invatatura si al dragostei se imbina si se confrunta in permanenta. Eroina porneste de la dragostea fata de invatatura celor sfinte pentru a continua cu dragostea si atractia erotica si a se intoarce in final la invatatura – fiecare dintre aceste pasiuni o confrunta cu dilemele inerente statutului ei de femeie in societatea evreiasca traditionala si pentru fiecare in parte raspunsul este in incalcarea regulilor pentru a putea respecta principiile adevaraului si a dragostei – si a celei omenesti si a celei fata de Creator.

In rolul principal este distribuita Ola Schur-Selektor, actrita si cantareata pe care eu nu am vazut-o pana acum si care se achita cu brio de sarcina, joaca cu un amestec de naturalete si pasiune care cuceresc si canta cu aplomb si forta. Dansatorul si coreograful Yehezkel Lazarov ii da replica in rolul lui Avigdor la nivel bun, fara a fi stralucit, si lui i se datoreaza si conceptia coreografica si miscarea de scena care joaca un rol important in spectacol. Una dintre gaselnitele reusite este rolul vanzatorului de carti jucat de Tal Weiss, un alt personaj din mitologia evreiasca est-europeana care furnizeaza premiza initiala a povestii si joaca si rolul corului in finalul deschis si ambiguu, diferit de cel al povestirii lui Singer dar potrivit atmosferei si mesajului spectacolului.

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Evan Christopher in concert

L-am vazut ieri seara in al doilea concert al seriei Hot Jazz la Muzeul de Arta din Tel Aviv pe clarinetistul  Evan Christopher. Nascut in California in 1974 Christopher aduce pe scena si in muzica sa elementele traditiei si placerii de a face muzica si a trai a capitalei americane si mondiale a jazzului.

A fost unul dintre acele show-uri in care nu numai ca poti asculta si trai muzica buna ci si poti invata enorm despre jazz si istoria sa. Desi relativ tabar Christopher preia si transmite isotoria unui instrument care a fost important in primele decenii ale istoriei jazzului, pentru a fi mai tarziu dupa anii 30 eclipsat de saxofon. De aceea in afara de faptul ca este un instrumentist excelent Chrostopher isi si alege si prezinta repertoriul fara a imite sa preia si sa explice piese care apartin istoriei genului. In concertul de ieri a vorbit mult despre Sam Morgan si formatia sa si a cantat doua dintre piesele sale:

Am cautat pe youTube doua piese apropriate ca atmosfera de ceea ce s-a cantat ieri seara. Am gasit ‘After the Rain’ – in stil de balada si atmosfera de blues, cum au fost cateva dintre bluesurile clasice cantate pe scena.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCSeiAwZzSM

In cu totul alta atmosfera si poate cea mai caracteristica stilului lui Chistopher este piesa pe care am gasit-o cu grupul Django a la Creole intr-o interpretare care preia elemente traditionale de muzica creola din zona New Orleans-ului

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHJK4pIivCI

Din grupul care l-a acompaniat ieri pe Christopher a facut parte si chitaristul Amos Hoffman care a reusit sa dea o replica pe masura clarinetistului american. In bucata de mai jos Hoffman poate fi ascultat si vazut cantand un standard la chitara rece, ieri a cantat la chitara electrica si intonatiile sale in special in piesele de blues au sunat exceptional

Despre Evan Christopher si muzica sa pot fi citite mai multe la http://www.clarinetroad.net/

Despre Amos Hoffman lahttp://www.amoshoffman.com/

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The Dark Side of the Moon

History Today a publicat in urma cu ceva timp (dar eu abia acum am ajuns sa citesc) extrase din cartea lui Gerard DeGroot ‘Dark Side of the Moon: The Magnificent Madness of the American Lunar Quest’.

La 25 mai 1962 presedintele Kennedy lansa in plenul Congresului chemarea catre intreaga natiune americana de a explora spatiul cosmic si de a trimite oameni pe luna inainte de sfarsitul deceniului sapte al secolului trecut.

DeGroot, profesor la universitatea St Andrews demistifica in cartea sa premizele, desfasurarea si rezultatele programelor de cercetare spatiala americane, si in special a programului Apollo de explorare a lunii. Articolul din History Today se concentreaza asupra procesului de decizie din cadrul administratiei americane si rolului jucat de presedintele Kennedy.

Teza lui DeGroot este ca John Kennedy a fost departe de a fi fost suporterul inflacarat al prgramului spatial care a ramas in istorie. Subiectul a aparut pentru prima data in cadrul campaniei electorale din 1959-1960 cand America se simtea in inferioritate fata de Uniunea Sovietica in cursa pentru explorarea spatiului cosmic. Era vorba nu numai despre prestigiu ci si despre capacitatea de a lansa rachete care aveau si aplicatii militare. In cursa pentru nominalizare din cadrul partidului democrat Lyndon Johnson era cel care sustinea cercetarea cosmica in special datorita numarului de locuri de munca potentiale, in timp ce Kennedy sustinea mai degraba programele sociale. Situatia se schimba dupa ce Kennedy ajunge presedinte. Primul an al presedentiei sale a fost catastrofal. Uniunea Sovietica lanseaza primul om in spatiu in aprilie 1961, cateva saptamani mai tarziu invazia exilatilor cubani la Golful Porcilor se termina in dezastru. Mai mult din criza de idei este readusa ideea egalizarii si depasirii sovieticilor in cursa pentru spatiu, si luna pare a fi primul obiectiv tangibil si cu sanse de reusita pentru americani. Aici intuitia lui Kennedy si a consilierilor sai este corecta, caci avansul sovieticilor este bazat doar pe capabilitatea de a trimite obiecte mari in spatiu, in timp ce in toate celelalte domenii necesare unui program stiintific de explorare a spatiului – automatizare, comunicatii, sisteme medicale si aparatura de colectare si analiza – americanii erau superiori tehnologic. Cu toate ca este constient ca programul va costa mult mai mult decat cele 7 pana la 9 miliarde estimate initial in conditiile in care bugetul american din acei ani era sub 100 de miliarde de dolari Kennedy lanseaza apelul si da organizatiei NASA fondurile necesare inceperii programului.

Primii ani nu au fost usori, mai ales ca sovieticii par sa-si mentina avantajul cu zboruri de durata si primele echipaje trimise in spatiu, in timp ce americanii se complica cu un program complex si care pare din ce in ce mai scump. Asasinarea lui Kennedy la 22 noiembrie 1963 este cea care pune paradoxal programul Apollo pe traiectoria fara intoarcere. Explorarea spatiului si atingerea lunii devine in ochii opiniei publice ‘programul lui Kennedy’ si presedintele Johnson nu mai are nicio sansa de a-l anula sau de a-l schimba, oricat ar costa, si oricare ar fi celelalte probleme cu care se confrunta administratia sa. Succesul ramane singura optiune si in iulie 1969 primul om paseste pe luna, si el este cetatean al Statelor Unite ale Americii, asa cum prevazuse Kennedy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4

Privit retrospectiv programul Apollo a avut un rezultat amestecat. Luna a fost atinsa mai mult ca rezultat al concurentei dintre SUA si URSS in timpul razboiului rece. Beneficiile stiintifice au fost departe de a fi imediate si multe dintre ele au fost indirecte – dezvoltarea te tehnologii de comunicatie, fotografiere si transmitere de imagini filmate, materiale noi si a echipamente de supravituire in conditii extreme.

Cel mai mult poate ca omenirea a invatat din programul Apollo despre ea insasi – despre capacitatea de a atinge un tel dincolo de limitele existente pana atunci ale tehnologiei si organizarii. Si daca Kennedy nu a fost chiar vizionarul care a creat acest program cum sustine cartea lui DeGroot, numele sau ramane in memoria colectiva legat de cateva momente cheie printre care si cuvantarea de la 25 mai 1962. La cateva zile de la prima aselenizare un necunoscut a pus pe mormantul sau de la cimitirul Arlington un biletel pe care scria: ‘Domnul Presedinte, ‘Vulturul’ a aselenizat!’.

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Film: Vier Minuten (2006)

It’s only the second feature film of German director Chris Kraus, but it’s already a strong, mature and dark drama that goes much beyond the apparent limits of its place and time.

It’s a jail story. Jenny, the main heroine of the story is jailed for murder and has little chances to see anything than prison for the rest of her life. She is however also a very gifted pianist, but her rebellious character drives her playing as it drives anything that she does in life.The penitentiary system, as enlightened as it may be in a country as Germany has the bureaucratic, oppressive, and shadowy treats of any system that punishes and deprives men of their liberty.

It’s a friendship story. Traude, the piano teacher who gives music lessons to detainees in order to ease their time and improve their lives and who befriends and supports her is herself a survivor of the Nazi persecutions, who is too familiar with suffering and with what life without freedom and hope means. Yet their friendship is not  an easy one, none of them is a communicator, the level of mistrust and fears that the outer world imposed on both of them prevents them from relying on each other.

It’s a music story. Music is supposed to play the role of redeemer and possibly do the job of deus-ex-machina in changing the fate of the heroes of the story. Yet the director who is also the script writer avoided the easy path and never falls into conventional melodrama. More than that, music is one of the conflict reasons between Jenny and Traude and in the superb final scene of the film Hannah will win her internal freedom by rejecting the classical beauty and conventional balance of the symphonic music for the freedom of improvisation of the ‘negro’ music that expresses herself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duHGXK1PZEM

… and in the final seconds of the four minutes they seem to meet – psychologically and in music.

Acting which is traditionally a strong item in German movies is superb here. I have already seen Hannah Herzsprung in Der Baader Meinhof Komplex and The Reader – here she gets the full screen for a role of a broken young woman, which music cannot redeem completely. Monica Belibtrau is the piano teacher – she is supposed to be the redeemer but far from being linear and angelic she cannot free herself from the sufferings and guilt of the past, and from her own limitations.

Vier Minuten may surprise with its pessimistic message – if a remake is ever made at Hollywood it better keep the skeptical look, as any other approach risks to turn it into a valueless melodrama.

More information about the film at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461694/

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