ida

ida is the name of the young lady about to take her vows
but prior to that mother superior suggests meeting her aunt
so the opening scenes thankfully move out from the sterile convent
polish director pawel pawlikowski setting his intent from the first scene
this film is going to be as much about cinematography as it as about content
sublime black and white filming with very deliberate staged and clever settings
so i settle in for taking in the obvious superb filming and see where the story goes
we're in poland in the 1960's so b&w perfectly represents the austere times
winter as well so there's snow, layers of clothing and bleakness in the mix
ida's aunt is a chain-smoking, alcohol-imbibing, depressed judge
upon meeting ida she wastes no time in telling her she is jewish
the aunt's son and ida's parents taken and killed by the nazis
ida left with the nuns and raised in the convent as a catholic
the two of them then set out on a journey to get some answers
or at least find where they have been buried and do the right thing
this transpires with the confession of the polish soldier responsible
a re-burial in the family grave is completed and the aunt/niece closer for it
lots of opportunity for emotion but little displayed or evoked for the viewers
there's the introduction of a jazz musician and some hint of a love interest
as suspected the stunning camera-work making the journey worthwhile
finding it a bit difficult to engage with the slow and deliberate pace
(and me thinking ahead - this one is going to be hard one to blog)
ida is drawn back to the convent - aunt resumes her sad life
a judge by day and a lonely drunk one night stander at night
and then - a film-changing scene and we are fully engaged
ida returns from the convent and tries an alternative lifestyle
hits the bottle, drags on the ciggies, partners up with the musician
he's a sax player - he playing coltrane with the band as she looks on
great scene - powerful music and setting up for what comes next
ida moving further away from a nun's life and testing matters of the heart
we're heading off to a happily-ever-after conclusion in this film
and happy to go with that too - seems a very natural ending
but - when she innocently questions what is in store for them
he says - a dog, marriage, a house, children - normal life stuff
the next and final scene sees her heading back to the convent
this is totally unexpected - a powerful end to this superb film
the obvious question - why is life in a convent so appealing
for an orphaned girl with no family it is her only home
especially after a lifetime of indoctrination and shelter
thought-provoking and like the publicity stated...
- it haunted me - i can't wait to see it again -
i'd definitely be up for that...

eye winterwork album launch

avant-garde/improv/electronica music night at chicks hotel port chalmers
probably my favourite genre of music only seen sparingly lately
exhilerating when it clicks and at least admirable when it doesn't
total respect for any musician laying their musical soul bare on stage
for all including the audience a guaranteed unique experience every time
tonight local trio eye are celebrating the release of their new album
they have asked 3 other local acts to play on the bill on this night
local legend peter gutteridge is first up and billed as pure
that the title of his recently re-released album from 1989
suggesting the material in tonight's set is from that album
he is side of stage twiddling knobs on a synthesizer
gets the noise happening then he's onto the piano
to the left of the floor stage is a lady and a guitar
stratocaster or look-alike - but not much is heard
synth loop piano and his indecipherable voice dominate
there are tunes happening - presumably from the pure album
organic piano and analogue synth making for an appealing sound
the final tune sees mr gutteridge in lead guitar mode
a throbbing machine like sound also being looped
the intensity of his playing building to rock-god histrionics
very good but going on 1 passage too many for these eyes and ears
next up is little deaths - glen ross on guitar and tim cornelius on all sorts
they are both seated - glen bent over and working up a strong angular sound
tim starts on a single-stringed, acoustic guitar based hybrid home made cello thing
his left hand manipulating pegs to adjust the note coming from the bowed string
a strangely organic sound and enhanced by glen's guitar matching the melody
the first tune confirming they are onto a very unique and appealing sound
subsequent tunes see tim swapping between various traditional instruments
there's a wooden flute and a cow-bell mixing it with the apple mac
the challenge to keep all in sync and in tune seems demanding
in the meantime glen has worked up a looped guitar sound
providing a second guitar sound to accompany the first
improv at it's best really - lots to look at and listen to
afterwards they seem deflated with their performance
seems a lot of technical glitches frustrating their sound
but definitely a combination that requires more attention
michael morley aka gate is next on the set list for tonight
he is sitting on the edge of the stage with his instrument on the floor
no guitar or drummer in sight so we are in for a different gate show
he has started without us noticing - a scratchy, subdued synth sound
and it goes from there - get a sound happening and then loop it
add in all manner of other sounds from knob switching and fiddling
total electronica happening here and actually quite a warm sound
michael constantly page-flipping a small booklet throughout
prepared notes for the show or instructions for the device?
whatever - his confidence overrides for another enjoyable set
the main act then hits the stage - eye - 3 piece noise merchants
peter stapleton (drums) peter porteous (guitar) and jon chapman (synth)
their new album winterwork out on vinyl and this the launch party
this band new to these ears so very much looking forward to it
peter porteous plays a note or 2 and lays guitar on top of amp
setting up a very effective rumble while peter stapleton goes to work
some very energetic and rhythmical drumming in place from the get-go
jon chapman seated on the stage behind a curious set of equipment
looking very much like the inner guts of a valve radio with colours added
he twiddles and tweaks to get the pops, hisses and scratches in the mix
and so it goes - volume is up and attention is demanded and given
beguiling really - the second tune sees introduction of some vocals
peter stapleton hunched and indecipherable shouting into a hand-held mic
fortunately there's a commonality to their sound that keeps us hooked
no let-up in the intensity, volume and confidence of their playing
their last tune in particular features some staggering guitar-noise
peter porteous surely pushing the limits of strings and amps
well supported by his cohorts on stage adding their noises
the audience is relatively sparse but we are all mesmerised
an almost eerie silence when it ends and applause fades
peter porteous admitting they have nothing to add
4 acts on the bill on this winter's evening
winterwork very well launched
hope there's more coming...

the two faces of january

transformers age of extinction, dawn of the planet of the apes and guardians of the galaxy
3 trailers draining the viewing energy and lodging as mental must-not-see notes
the start of the feature film not coming soon enough as way of escape
i'll see any film viggo mortensen is in - ditto fellow dane mads mikkelsen
mr mortensen in this case co-starring with ms kirsten dunst - she good
add to the mix oscar isaac last seen in the excellent inside llewyn davis
this is a book adaptation and the first film directed by iran born hossein amini
set in the early 1960's  and starting out in greece at the acropolis
rydal (isaac) is an american tour guide and expert fleecer of cash
chester (mortensen) and colette (dunst) man and wife american tourists
the opening scenes setting the intent - attention to detail in this period piece
the colours, fashions and settings making it look like a colourised b&w film
looking good and more so with the natural feel of the meeting of the 3 leads
kirsten dunst is looking gorgeous in her role playing an older than usual woman
her handsome and sharply dressed husband doting on her also very believably
there's a hint of some looming complications with young rydal's eyes on colette
more great scenes as they wander the street markets of athens and buddy up
back at the hotel chester's past makes an appearance as a private detective
seems there's some nasty financial skullduggery following them around
things turn ugly and there's now a murder in the mix to deal with
we know that but colette and rydal are unaware of this twist
and without realising it become accomplices in the deed
all very clever plotting as the 3 lives become intertwined
the story shifting from athens to crete and ultimately istanbul
it's all quite hitchcock-ish but mainly because it's a good old yarn
and raising the question of the blurred line between loyalty and integrity
suggesting also that dishonesty in any form can have undesirable results
it turns out the main man (chester/mortensen) is a right nasty piece of work
he seems to love his wife but self-protection is where he is above all else
and those closest to him are dispensible as he runs from his past life
some great scenery of rural greece as they hit the road to escape
equally some very tense scenes on a boat on the way to crete
things further unwind there and before long we're off to istanbul
long shots of mosques and filming done around the central markets
the ultimate running chase scenes dragged on maybe a tad long
and a little bit unbelievable - the chasers lost then back just too often
mainly it seems as a way to work in some impressive cinematography
making good use of narrow alleyways and abandoned buildings
one scene with lots of fire and noise in a busy blacksmith's workshop
there's nothing quite so good in a film where the outcome is unpredictable
this one lead us all the way to the final scene and some redemption
though certainly not a case of they-all-live-happily-ever-after
this is a totally satisfying film - viggo mortensen strikes again
discussion after the film about his loathsome character
and thereby proving the effectiveness of the acting
not sure of the relevance of the film's title
maybe a read of the book required
shall consider that...

city of lies

we were on the final leg of a wonderful overseas experience
the flight from sydney to christchurch offering 3 hours of relaxation
laptop? - not today - in-flight movie? - can't get no satisfaction with that mode
so a book it is and still in travel mode so something of world-y genre is desired
favourite mode of book-shop shopping is employed - wait for something to leap
and this one did that - pick me, pick me, pick me impossible to ignore
on board and settle in with thievery corporation's saudade album
very nice too - definitely one to own, recommend and thrash
this is ramita navai's first book - iran born, british based journalist
she has reported from over 30 countries so very well travelled
the brief preface to the book informing us it is based on true stories
city of lies referring to the absolute need for all residents to hide the truth
a repressive regime, dogmatic religion, poverty and crime all conspiring
it's every man, woman and child for themselves in this desperate city
but beyond that she informs us that there is goodness at it's heart
the preface promising to expose us to the real people of tehran
the book is broken into 8 short stories of 8 different people
short stories not my favourite genre but here there's a thread
early on we learn about the main street of tehran called vali asr
a wide, straight avenue very deliberately built to divide the entire city
lined with thousands of sycamore trees and the dominant feature
the author very clearly suggesting this will be a focal point
each of the 8 chapters is named after the central character
dariush - misguided young assassin realising his mistake too late
somayeh - rewarded a hard fought divorce from her porn-obsessed man
amir - forced to offer redemption to the judge of his executed parents
bijan - connected thug who uses police and violence to protect family honour
leyla - iranian beauty on a downward spiral of doomed sexual relationships
morteza - from self-flagellating fundamentalist to contented trans-sexual
asghar - gambling obsessed old man longs for the old days of honour
farideh - upper class lady who seeks escape then misses her tehran life
each story totally different but all wonderfully packaged as a whole
a sum of the parts type book that provides an appealing insight
the reference to vali asr street coming often and a binding component
with the result a feeling that we have been well exposed to tehran
appealing but equally scary - beautifully summed up by farideh
the cab turned into vali asr
two men were stripping a sheep's carcass in front of the mercedes benz showroom
farideh wound the window right down and lent her head out
she never thought she would be so relieved to be back
wrapped in tehran's mountains, protected by her startling blue sky
and warmed by her sun, enveloped by her trees, licked by her breeze
bursts of umber, russet and ochre now bleeding out of the leaves
they drove past the fruit stalls
filled with the autumnal yellows and oranges of lemons, quinces and permissons
the jumble and the chaos and the clamour
the smoky smell of lamb on hot coals which rubbed against her cheeks
the mulberry trees and the jasmine, the layers of dust
the splutter of vans, the man selling puppies on the side of the road
the swarms of motorbikes criss-crossing between beautiful girls in defiant clothes
the juice stands, the gold shops, the ancient bazaars and tunnelled walkways
the chipped blue tiles on magnificent, crumbling manor houses and the hidden gardens
farideh closed her eyes to savour the moment 
great book - tehran here we come.....well?