h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Marge,
I frequently go to a little nearby film theatre that shows lots of films which are not so common on the big circuits. The film I’ve most enjoyed in the most recent 4 weeks or so was ‘Sex and Lucia’ - for its intricately woven story of how people’s lives cross. I also liked that it wasn’t a straight-forward tale, so sometimes you don’t know in which part of the story you are, or what’s ‘real’ and what’s not. It has nice, whimsical ideas too, like an island that floats. It’s a ‘European’ film – no action or heavy drama. Do you know it?

Before the film began, they were playing music I didn’t recognise, so afterwards I asked at the desk and the foriegn lad there told me it was a recent CD from Moein (a Persian artist now living in L.A. I later found out). He offered to burn me a copy, so when I went back a week later, I picked it up. If you into ‘world music’ I can recommend it, a sort of delicious cross between Arabic and western pop; you might enjoy listening to it with a nice cup of tea!

Hi yeah I do know of it but not seen it. I love to see European films though, we have 2 small independant cinemas in the city where I live as well as the multiplexes, and usually visit the indies at least twice a month. I'd go more - but its time that contrains me!!

The music sounds pretty good, I love to listen to different music. I'm listening to Manu Chao at the mo' he's sooo good

I forgot to say, have you seen Hable Con Ella?

Hi Marge
It’s on at 9 pm on this coming Monday and I’d already marked it in my calendar. Have you seen it?

Then the following Monday I want to see “Halbe Treppe”, a german film which got a prize at the Berlin film festival last year (this year’s is on just now). The name refers to saying one is halfway up the stairs when in middle-age. The film is about two couples who live in a Kirkby type area, and what happens when wife A and husband B find themselves standing daftly there as the other two get together.

In March the programme includes the episode film "Ten Minutes Older – The Trumpet" with contributions from such as Spike Lee, Wim Wenders and Jim Jarmusch (you know I like him! I know you like Manu Chao! ), so should be good. Supposed to be about the transitoriness (what a word! Maybe I mean transitory nature) of time. And it says in the preview ‘with wonderful music’. Bodes well!

The cinema will also show stuff like My Big Fat Wedding so there’s a good balance. And if I want to see something more popular there are two multiplexes not far away, one small and cosy, and one huge.

I never have been much good at puzzles...but is that you J??

anyway...presuming it is..have you seen the Man Without a Past?

Hiya C! Who said you’re no good at puzzles? Rubbish!!! Yes it’s me ( - what a let-down!).
Thought from my first message, that you might cotton on it’s somebody you know, because I mentioned interests of yours which you’ve made known elsewhere, world music and . Don’t understand why my email the other day didn’t arrive, because now you’ve 'added' to your intro here, I can see I did get your addy right afterall!

I haven’t seen ‚Man without a past’, but it’s on in my local on 24th March. What about you? You also haven’t yet said whether you’ve been to ‚Hable Con Ella’. What film have you liked best of those you’ve recently seen, and why? I know from the other MB that you liked ‚Gangs of New York’ (haven’t seen that yet).

I saw ‚Lucia’ about 3 weeks ago and have been to the pictures I think 6 times in the last month, a bit more than normal. I also frequently watch films at home, not videos – I get a good enough selection from satellite. Last night I enjoyed ‚Badlands’, from the 70s with Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen.
Last week through the satellite I had a real treat, I saw an original Ed Wood film ‚Plan 9 from Outer Space’. It's amazing how scrappy and amateurish it is, acting and style, with simple sets; but it’s endearing and entertaining for that. (Coincidentally, the man from outer space lectures the americans he meets about the stupidity of trying to solve problems with guns). Maybe you know of Ed Wood from the film made about him, with Johnny Depp in the role of Ed Wood?

Not sure how I’m going to use h2g2 for messages, it all seems so very open. I don’t suppose it is any more than a normal MB, maybe just seems so because ‚conversations’ aren’t right on the surface, but are nonetheless still accessible if you go into somebody’s space, which is as easy as carrots.
I also haven’t yet figured something out. On my space intro I mentioned I liked bitter chocolate and I’ve already received a message from someone about chocolate, but I don’t know how he/she found me. So I don’t know how to find someone who, say, likes to roll around in pomegranates.

Of course I’ll stay with DID and the other normal MBs (since last summer I’ve written occasionally to the current affairs MBs, though I often think I’m wasting my time there!) and perhaps there'll be an occasion for email too (any now?).
Do you post in the Back Row MB? I glance at it now and again but somehow it never incites me to join in. Maybe I’ll stick something in the latest topic before it disappears – it’s time must soon be up.

Listening to some smashing authentic instrumental music from Egypt and Lebanon as I write. J

lol you gave me enough clues! anyway can't stop now - loads of work to do, I'll post later. I'd love to talk films with you - do you want to carry on here? or email? I don't mind. Why don't you try mailing me again

mmmkay as you haven't mailed me (but maybe you're busy cos I haven't seen you on DID either for a few days), Hable Con Elle was a real melodrama, a film that unusually asked you to consider the innermost thoughts of men in the usual way that happens with women in film. Very good, sentimental to a degree, and definately one of my 'wet sleevers' (always forget kleenex) oh and the music was gorgeous, specially "Cucurrucucú Paloma" by Caetano Veloso. My Spanish friend Montse, was whispering a translation to me, but your heart would break even if you couldn't understand a word....

The Man without a Past, was a look at the povertystricken of Finnish society, but they were treated with dignity and given a deadpan humour that was so funny, that it was only afterwards you thought that living in a container wasn't a normal thing to do.

Hello C&M,
I was ski-ing for the weekend, where it was freezing cold; so drinking tequila too (tip - sprinkle cinnamon on the lemon slice, mmm!). Brought some presents back for you, here catch .

Got back in time to go and see ‘Habla con ella’ Monday evening, and enjoyed it. I wouldn’t call it a melodrama, as you did, but think you’re right to mention the ‘male’ aspect of it. I thought the relationship of the two men a fairly accurate portrait of a possible friendship between certain men, sensitive types without being weak or gay, if you know what I mean; though, I don’t think all men could manage such a relationship by a long shot. In fact I thought the whole film rather ‘sensitive male’ – Marco’s tears and Benigno’s romantic obsession and fantasy (don’t mean that negatively). I only didn’t really feel convinced about the decision not to tell Benigno that Alicia had recovered; this to me was just a poor artificial way to eliminate Benigno, by prompting his suicide.

You’re dead right about the , both the overall theme and the individual songs. Was that a Billy Holiday song towards the end, during the ballet? The version I watched had subtitles when Caetano Veloso sang ‘Cucurrucucú’ so I didn’t need my Spanish friend Marcellino there whispering to me!
Apropos film music: Have you seen Wong Kar-Wai's film ‘In the mood for love’?

Maybe you initially mentioned ‘Habla’ because of the switching back and forth in time I said was in ‘Lucia’. The story isn’t as complex as ‘Lucia’ but still it’s interesting that how the girl became pregnant remains unanswered -. Benigno never fully admits to it (though everyone believes it’s him) and near the end, Geraldine Chaplin mysteriously remarks how complicated the life of a ballet teacher can be.

I see you’ve been swirling around in this new open-plan environment. I’m on the way to making use of the possibilities too. But meanwhile I’ve just sent you a brief email - I’d be really glad to hear if it arrives this time; it’ll open up even more possibilities.

get my mail? think its ok now.

Cheers for the snowballs just having a little sip of Montepulchiano while finishing some work.

Don't know if that was Billie Holiday, I've just looked at the soundtrack listing and she's not on there but kd lang is. That couldn't have been it could it? I saw it too long ago to remember. (thinks kd lang...billie holiday...maybe not )

What have you got next on your viewing list? I've already seen the Magdelene Sisters which is here next week, but we have Irreversible...are you going to see that? I'm toying with the idea but not sure because of its subject matter. We also have Love Liza on the week after which I'll see because of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and there is the Mexican film Perfume de Violetas.

I want to see Frida too, I heard that the music by Lila Downs was good.

No haven't seen In The Mood for Love, got a good write up though hey? I take it you enjoyed it?

I'm a member of a postal video/dvd club where I go though stages of films, I'm on Ken Loach at the mo' .

c xx

Work and , that must be good. What work do you do, wine tasting?

I mentioned in previous posts some what’s coming up soon in my local independent and what I want to see, like Halbe Treppe, Ten Minutes Older and Man without a Past. At the moment it’s showing the Magdelene Sisters for a few days, so might go this evening

Also coming is 11-09-01, which seems to be some short films with some relation to Sept 11 by various directors (including a Ken Loach contribution). Other things on there or at the more commercial flics include Catch Me If You Can, My Big Fat Greek Wedding (been told is good in a light way), the Gangs of NY, Possession and Eight Women. Not sure I’ll go to all though. Which do you recommend of them?

As you go through Ken Loach’s films, have you seen My Name is Joe – that’s one of his I’d like to but I missed it when on here on TV.

Apart from the Magdelene Sisters, the only film I already knew of those you mention coming your way is Frida. I haven’t seen it but heard how it didn’t go down well in Mexico, for both who was chosen as star and how Frida Kahlo was portrayed; shown too pro-American apparently.
I have a book about Frida Kahlo, part biography by her stepdaughter Guadalupe Rivera, and part recipes of what she would have eaten at different times of the year or at different fests. The recipes look great, but I’ve only tried two so far, though having the book 4-5 years.

The other three films you mention (Perfume de Violetas, Irreversible, Love Liza) I had to look up on the Net, they all sound worth going to see, your local cinema gets a from me.
I don’t understand your hesitation about Irreversible, all three films deal with potentially uncomfortable themes, even if the style of that film is more brutal than the other two. I would go.
I imagine Love Liza is done with some humour. Apart from the star, I would also be interested to see it because it is apparently set in Mobile. I used to know a lot of people from there, though I never visited them (and have now lost contact).

The reason I mentioned In the Mood for Love was because of the music, so as a follow-on to your comment on the music of Habla can Elle. The music is excellent, haunting; the film is very good too, different, subdued, I liked it a lot. Go and see it if you can.
I wanted to buy the -track, but despite no longer needing to be, I’m still careful with the pennies, so rather than get it in a shop, I went to ebay. There I was outbid for the CD, so instead turned to the film, as video, and got that. Which is good too.

j

Wine tasting I wish, but I probably do too much of that at home
We are Licensed Trade Auditors, which is basically liquor and food stocktakers. We work for ourselves so we have no one to answer to - or blame (except each other !!)....

I'd be interested in what you think of the Magdelene Sisters, we'll talk if you get to see it. 11-09-01 never reached me here disappointingly, as some of the contributions looked very good - hope you report back on that one. Out of Catch Me If You Can, My Big Fat Greek Wedding (been told is good in a light way), the Gangs of NY, Possession and Eight Women...I'd recommend Catch Me If You Can. Did you see Oceans 11? It has the same snappy 60s feel, done very well, great credits, music and style. The Gangs of New York I liked too, have to say that it is one of those period dramas that is very larger than life - if you've seen any clips of Daniel Day Lewis in it , then you know what I mean. I enjoyed it though for that almost 'Oliverish with extra blood' feeling. How much of it is true remains in doubt to me, I'm about to read a book that may shed some light on that. Haven't seen BFGW, Possession (although loved the book) or Eight Woman.

I love Ken Loach's films. My Name is Joe is very good. I saw The Navigators last night - have you seen that? About the breakup of British Rail, and the union solidarity being broken by setting workers against brought in non qualified agency staff? Excellent film - right till the end when there was an incident that just didn't ring true to me...shame. (won't say in case I spoil it for you). Did you see Sweet Sixteen when it came out?

I will report back when I get to see In the Mood for Love

Hi Marge,
I think I must have had too much when I wrote last – I’ve already seen My Name is Joe!!! I get mixed up not only cos I’m not one for remembering names, but also cos the same film often has a different name in a different land. Anyway I liked it and thought it good.

Of Ken Loach’s other films of the last decade or so, the only other one I’m sure I’ve seen is Riff-Raff. I did recently see another film set in Scotland in the same milieu as My Name Is Joe, but in my present muddlement I don’t want to be so bold as to say it was Sweet Sixteen. Maybe it it was Orphans (so by same director as The Magdelene Sisters).

"I went to the pitchers tomorrow,
I gorra a front seat at the back,
I bought a ice scream from the lady,
I ate it and give it 'er back"

I haven’t seen Oceans 11 and from what I know of it, I don’t imagine it’s my sort of film. And at the moment I’ve had enough of George Clooney, not my type really . He appeared in every TV report about the Berlin Film Festival, if only walking back and forth in the background, while someone else was being interviewed. He must have been wearing Dr. Martens’, the amount of walking he did!

Will I like your recommendation Catch Me If You Can, when you compare it to O-11???
Though CMIYC has Natalie Baye in it, doesn't it, and I’ve seen several good films with her in, most recently A Pornographic Affair. I’d recommend that if you don’t know it. The film ends with good music from The Sea and The Bells by the Rachel’s (with apostrophe), as the credits go up. In real life Natalie Baye was married to frenchrocker Johnny Haliday for a while.

Matt Damon is in O-11, isn’t he? On Sunday I went to the early performance of The Magdelene Sisters, picked up a takeway pizza on the way back, then watched the Tom Ripley film with Matt Damon on TV, the second time I’ve watched it. There’s something unconvincing about the way he plays Ripley, not only does it not match with the character of Patricia Highsmith’s books but also his Ripley varies throughout the film.
I think the french version of the same story, with Alain Delon as Ripley, is closer character and book storyline. But I still like the Damon film, and Rome looks good in the film. I’ve watched the Delon film twice too. Maybe the appeal, of either film, has to do with the idea of taking someone else’s identity.

break

I wasn’t sure what to make of The Magdelene Sisters. I thought it was a swizz to tell us, at the end of the film, what happened afterwards to the main characters, and that 30,000 girls had been in the claws of such Sisters/Nuns. And then further down the credits, to say that the film was wholly fictitious. What was the point of that?

I went to a school where there were some priests who preached fire and brimstone and insisted on rigid discipline and punishment, often in an arbitary manner or for the slightest reason, justifying this in some way with religion , so I certainly think that film might have had some truth in it.

"Back home in Liverpool,
that's where I went to school,
The teacher brought me out,
And gave me such a clout,
I went home and told me mudder,
And she gave me anudder"

But I think some scenes were done for effect and inaccurate, like the Nuns breakfasting well while the girls didn’t, and the 'biggest breast' competition. I think the Nuns probably lived by the same rules they imposed and the terror was more psychological, like the film did occasionally demonstrate.

Overall I didn’t think the film that good to warrant awards (forget where it got some but it did). I felt it was unclear what point it was trying to make, if any. Still, for those who don’t know, I suppose it was informative.
The at the beginning, the priest playing some sort of drum, was good.

Yesterday evening I went to see Halbe Treppe. I thought that pretty good and would recommend it if you like the Mike-Leigh, Ken-Loach type films, about people 'down there' with their drab lives and real problems, and with a bit of comedy in how it is presented too. It has quite a bit of hand-held camera, which I’ve seen in a couple of danish film recently, as if this is currently popular.

I looked on Internet and found out that in England the film is called Grill Point and was shown at the Cambridge Film festival in 2002. If you go to http://film.greencathedral.net and enter Grill Point in the film search, you can read a summary and a couple of reviews.

I wondered how they did subtitles for it in the UK, since sometimes several people talk at once. At other times one or the other speaks so softly or indistinctly, that it seems to me having the same size and font subtitles throughout the whole film would be inappropriate. In order to match the actual dialogue, they would need to vary them in size and they sometimes be in bold, sometimes not. Maybe you have found this in other films.

Expect you’ll need a and a lie-down after ploughing through all the above! Treat yourself, kid!
Schõne Grüsse, J

Hello C

Yesterday I went to see ‘Ten Minutes Older - The Trumpet’, which I mentioned in an earlier message.

After the adverts and the short film of the week (they always have one), the went on and the projectionist came and asked me ‘Was I sure I wanted to see the film tonight, I could watch it on Wednesday too’. This ‘cos I was the only one there! (The place holds about 80)

I said Wednesday wasn’t the best for me, so he went off to speak with the management. He came back to say , he’ll run the film, though still asking ‘Wouldn’t I rather watch it with people too, otherwise it will be like sitting at home’. It was all very pleasant, friendly and ; there was no problem. Maybe he just felt sorry for me!

And so I stayed: a whole film just for me – Whoopee!!! - nobody talking, laughing loudly or at inappropriate moments, rustling, nobody eating or popcorn, knocking the back of my seat, or trying to get by, no heads in front blocking my view or bobbing back and forth, no babies crying, men falling over, or someone riding a through the auditorium!

One contribution was from the Man without a Past director.



I went to see 11’09”01 last week and all that I can say is, go and see it if you can, it’s really imposing or some such expression.
Really good short films in it, some more political than others, most strongly covering more the human predicament (if that’s the word) at personal level - I mean the worries, concerns and living conditions of the people in the episodes (lest we forget them). And the different film styles of the directors’ are very interesting too.

Since seeing it I’ve read a british review which made out Loach’s was the best contribution but I think that musta justa been a touch of patriotic loyalty; I felt his was one of the weaker ones, though all are well worth seeing in one way or another. I liked the Egyptian episode for its ideology and approach, and the Burkina Faso one for its touch of humour. I wish the Bosnian contribution had been stronger, had more impact, – I don’t know how much about Srebrenica is known in the UK, but it is still very remembered here, because of the proximity and the refugees.



I had a look at the BBC MB you mentioned and have noticed the discontent here about it (in the Voting with our Feet convie). What are the problems encountered?
Though I understand many of you would prefer to stay there, I thought the suggestion from one of the h2g2 guides (Abi) to create a film conversation forum here a good one, so I’m setting one up with her help.
It seemed Lil and to a lesser degree Katchoo and Fiona thought some such forum might be of value (don't know them but read their messages). Should have it up in a day or two and will send you (actually it’s already up, but I wanted to change the introduction a bit and put in some start conversations).

J

Hi J - Funny that I just noticed that this teeny indie cinema (that I've never even been to but always mean to) is showing 11'09'01 in a few weeks just for one day so I've marked it in my diary. I thought it sounded interesting when I read the reviews a while back but it never made it up here. I'll let you know when I've seen it what I thought.

I'll mail you