Friday, July 24, 2009

Movie heaven

Two weeks into the International Film Festival, and just three days to go, with three more films for us to see.

Last night we went to Dogtooth, about a surreal Greek family where the three adult children have been kept totally isolated from the outside world by their over protective parents. Things start to go badly wrong when the father brings in a security guard from his workplace to perform sexual favours for the son. The trailer here gives a hint of the weirdness that ensues. Great movie. I love films that totally transport you into another world that is both surreal but plausible. It reminded a little of the Natasha Kamplugh and Josef Fritzl cases.

We also saw 'I'm Not Harry Jensen'- a locally made low budget film of the 'whodunnit' genre filmed in the bush and coast west of Auckland. We got comp tickets as Paul had provided the film's website, the Director/Writer being a friend of his from school days.

'Paper Soldier' was an unfathomable Russian film set amongst the 1960's cosmonaut community. It was made even more unfathomable by having white subtitles on a snowy Siberian background.

The last 2 days my eyeballs have been red and irritated, I wonder if over-dosing on movies could do this, or if I have been contaminated by another movie-goers toxic perfume...

Friday, July 17, 2009

Memories of youth

My headcold & cough seems to be waning, and I have regained my taste buds, thank goodness. Still not much energy though, so am having a lazy day today.

This clip always makes me smile, because Bob's having a laugh and because I can remember what it feels like to be this stoned...

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Masked and Anonymous

On a routine visit to the GP for a repeat prescription for some sleeping tablets, I had to wear a mask in the waiting room, due to my head cold I've been sniffling with for the last week. I was also asked to sit at the far end away from the main seating zone. Kids eyes furtively looked me over, the creepy lady in the face mask!

On a brighter note, the NZ International Film Festival is underway. We've seen 3, missed 3 that we'd booked for (due to sickness) and have 8 more planned in the next 10 days.

The highlight so far is 'Big River Man' about the Slovenian Martin Strel whose hobby is swimming the length of the worlds longest rivers. This film is about the Amazon swim. Amazingly, Strel is not a super-athlete, but 53, overweight and a heavy drinker. After swimming the Danube, Mississippi and Yangtze, the Nile had been proposed as his next river, but Strel said, "I am not going to do the Nile. It's long but not challenging enough, it is just a small creek. The Amazon is much more mighty."

He barely survived the 66 days, 5000+ km in piranha infested waters. This is the trailer for the film.

Big River Man - Trailer from KNR Productions on Vimeo.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Exposed, and covered

On the home front the roofing is complete. And the torrential rains we've had caused no drips at all which is a relief. The house smells less musty already and looks a good deal smarter too.


I was amused by the Air NZ safety video featuring staff wearing nothing but body paint. The video is "The Bare Essentials of Safety", part of the 'Nothing to Hide" campaign.
Cleverly done - you can just spot the odd nipple. View the video here.


I've been enjoying the CD Leonard Cohen "Live in London". Great renditions of songs I liked on the studio versions and also some I now like after hearing them live. This one is called Boogie Street. Beautiful vocals by Len and co-writer Sharon Robinson.



Great to hear his voice in such good tone at the age of 75. If only Bob's voice had mellowed as well.

Basil and Micky having a brotherly kip on the window seat.

Have a good weekend!