Poland has been always been the place where outstanding ideas were shattered. Lots of people are wondering why there is still very strong Polish emigration movment in Europe. Well, it is like struggle with unknown enemy that occur somwhere in the air. The example below says much of it.
In Lodz, in my beautiful and exciting hometown something amazing is planned to be build. Everybody is heated, young people, old people, students, professors, politicians, investors. Even me. The fuzz started with the international Camerimage Festival which allowed the cream of movie industry to see the city. Then worldwide acclaimed architect, Frank Gehry designed breath-taking project of cultural and event centre that has never been seen. It costs great amount of money (roughly $150 m.) but at the same time it could be also power speed for the region and for culture. It is also worth to mention that the neighbour of the centre will be an old energy plant where David Lynch will have his own film studio. Pretty cracking idea!
But then we are hit by polish reality. The whole project can collapsed due to the fight between politicians from different parties who have to give the formal approval for the investment. Everybody is watching this political comedy with pity for all of them but mostly I feel sorry for Lodz. So now the situation looks like this: Marek Zydowicz, the director of Camerimage, threatened to quit and move the festival to another city, students are protesting, politicians are fighting, and Frank Ghery probably can’t understand what’s going on
A desire of being journalist is, even unconsciously, a willing to take part in Fourth Estate. And obviously, men are still ruling the world in each sector, even they try to pretend they acknowledge the need of equally chances among genders, there has still not enough been done to make it real.
Every monitoring survey indicates that there is no significant disproportion in number of women and men journalists working for media. European Federation of Journalist proved that in Europe average number of working female journalists is 47%. That is almost a half. The problem is not he number then but something more intangible, so called which make it difficult for women to cover hard topics or issues which are concerned as not ‘female’. Why it is happening like this that women are perceived as those who are not suitable for dealing with complicated issues or even can not manage the media?
There are a few factors that make it possible. The most obvious one is that nowadays media are linked to the power in incredible scale like it has never been seen before. These two words ‘media’ and ‘power’ have become almost synonyms. That is the media which creates the world, shapes people’s thoughts, creates phenomenon, make profit. Everybody knows that media has the power of creating the politician, celebrities, people who are known as heroes. It can also destroys them in one day, buries authorities.
Media are described as the Forth Estate, but to be honest and reflect actual situation they have become the First Estate, factual virtue. Even the most powerful governments have no such influence on people’s mind like media have, unless they possess the media. That is the one of the most important reasons why women are under-represented in high-quality news. If the media are related to the power, or even more, they actually are the power, so they are owned by men. Important politicians, managers in international corporations, owners of giant media outlets are mostly men. That fact was constituted by long history, when men as stronger representatives of mankind, had been taking the leadership in every field. Young boys were raised in conviction that it is natural for them to get all the highest peaks wherever they decide to go. On the other hand girls’ education looked slightly different. Young women were taught that the best thing for them is to learn very useful things which mainly considered household and children. They were not learnt how to discover and penetrate the world. The system of education is changing slowly but above belief about women’s role in society is deeply rooted in women’s mind.
The other problem which legitimates the lack of women in hard news coverage is the perception of females as decorative objects, not specialist but the most likely an assistant. Again glass ceiling. Will we ever be able to change this stereotype?
Then here we are in 2010, with new hunger for what is meant to come. Because everybody loves sums up, I’ve decided to create my very subjective list of the best movies in 2009.
It was difficult regarding great amount of underground amazing movies from very exotic countries that I had chance to see this year. Another thing is my list probably would differ every single day considering my moods, the weather or news in newspapers. So for today, Monday, 4 January, my list of champions presents like this:
Mature debut features excellent documentary. The top comedy about the romance of Miss Sabina, and from the inside – a subtle psychological movie about adolescence, fighting with the oppressive regime and the conflict with the woman’s male element. And that cast! New quality in the story of Polish history.
This is not another idle entertainment cinema. That thing is about how the movie plays with us, shapes our collective imagination – and even memory. Brilliant director, and the scene at the bar certainly will be written in the history. And so bastard was named a classic.
Director of “American Beauty” peeps again the life of the inhabitants of the suburbs. This time the action revoke the 50s, but the historical costume covers here extremely universal dilemma: to agree to a little stability, or to pay a high price for rebellion. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet is the film couple of the year.
Memories of World War I veterans, told the Lebanese (or rather – shown) with an interesting animation technique called rotoscoping. And in the background, Max Richter is introducing a trance music. The effect is hypnotic sadness, depression, addictive in a great way. Amazing movie!
Hell is in us. Do not believe me? So see the “White Ribbon”! Haneke returns to the centre of his creativity: exploring the mechanisms that lead to violence. And it is a social dimension, even though his characters are the real people. Black and white film, a semblance of order and the ordinary, the voltage reaching the zenith. Here’s “Funny Games” transferred to the times before the war.
Mickey Rourke enters the ring and breaks down all the blades. Director intertwined fate of the actor and his character so much, that it is difficult to determine where the movie ends and life begins. The largest and most spectacular (directing, acting) return of the year.
Smarzowski shot the form of morality in shape of thriller that includs the story of Poland, history, the human condition and whatever you want. Returning the term of “Polish Coen brother” does not fit. Smarzowski does not need patrons.
These sounds certainly will not let you fall asleep easily. Here is the most troublesome and nauseous with chills film of the year. The fictional story about a dying, done well and dressed in document images is so evocative that you can reach the deepest emotions, and even – do not be afraid of the word: truth. Just live, not die.
The film was based on Robert Saviano shocking report on the activities of the Neapolitan Camorra. Crimes, stifling omnipresent violence, the structures that involves children, clever penetration into economy circulation: thrrreat. Would you like to see the real Italy? Garrone can be a guide.
Adaptation of a children’s book by Neil Gaiman. Coraline exists in the land of block, rain, and parents focused exclusively on the job. This fairy tale is fascinating not only because of its relatively not obvious for children’s film dismal aesthetics, but also because of energetic heroine.
So that’s it. Surprisingly, even for me, I include in the list three Polish movies. That is really ground-braking, as never before Polish cinema was in such good condition as in 2009. First in my life I watched films which were breathtaking, narrative unexpected, structurally and technically stunning. If the flow from 2009 will still maintain high level, I can bet there will be positive fuss around completely new quality cinema from East Europe. Fingers crossed.
One morning, there is a special edition of The New York Times. Readers are atrracted by the first page with the message – the war in Iraq finished. Only after a short moment some can observe that the newspaper is dated in the near future – a future created by Yes Men.
Six years ago, two filmmakers ‘opened’ in Prague fictitious supermarket. The origins of a store that has never existed were described in the film ‘Czech Dream’. In both people were furious – they accused of cheating people and make fun of the poorest. Lots of potential customers came for the grand opening of the market that offered basic food products with attractive prices, elder men, thrifty mothers, families hoping to have fun on the occasion of the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Opinion on “Czech Dream” were divided – some felt that the film is of major criticism of capitalism, others that it is frivolous joke.
Few bother about the hoax with advertising agency sponsoring the project or the manufacturer of expensive suits – business people can be ridiculed. Such a belief is shared by Men Yes, who, like authors of “Czech Dream”, create a fictitious project to show how bad the capitalist world is.
Yes Men did not built a supermarket on the fake field near Prague, Yes Men created fictitious company and fake representatives of major institutions who want to fix the world. That at least had a plan.
Another story: Yes Men sit before a computer screen and provide the illusion of a website page that resembles the well-known company. They give contact addresses for you and wait. One day, the organizer of debate and conference decided to invite a representative of this company for a discussion. He goes to a web search engine and gets Men Yes in his programme. He did not even realized how big mistake he made. At the conference, there were two gentlemen in suits, who include a professionally prepared presentation of an ad of a new energy source – the human body or a new invention – overalls, who is also the home, shelter, rescue capsule and looks like a big balloon in the shape of a worm.
Impersonating others in the administration of press officers is an effective method. Yes Men were already advocates of the World Trade Organization, McDonald’s, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Dow Chemical. For the latter one Yes Men delivered before the cameras of BBC the statement in which they announced that Dow Chemical is going to pay compensation to all victims of environmental disaster in Bhopal. In 1984, there was the explosion at Union Carbide’s factory. More than three thousand people were killed. Dow Chemical acquired Union Carbide, but did not feel obliged to assume the obligations to the victims of the disaster. Yes Men found that this is not how it should be. BBC presenter went speechless when he heard the statement. The public was surprised by the decision of Dow Chemical. The news were rearranged to tell the world about the sudden return of the financial policy of a great company. That information also surprised the shareholders of Dow Chemical – quotation of the company, which announced that it will spend many millions of dollars to help the other, decreased and the corporation has lost two billion U.S. dollars. For the people of India news of the generous gesture was a ray of hope and opportunity to remind the world about the biggest ecological catastrophe in history. For the owners of Dow Chemical the message meant loss of money.
Director of “Czech Dream” shamelessly shows world’s mechanism of advertising, Yes Men measure higher. To trick a group of several hundred inhabitants of Prague with the help of a professional firm is nothing comparing to cheat the biggest media with fake website. Yes Men mock the big heads, provoke, remind of the painful problems of the contemporary world – they do not complain, do not point out mistakes, but fix the world bravely.
This is a film about thinking, in which Peter Singer, Slavoj Zizek and Judith Butler are inviting to stroll through the world of philosophy. This movie is inviting to looking at everything very closely.
In the movie “Mask” – not including Jim Carrey, but with Cher – there is a scene in which the character “shows” to a blind girl colors. He puts in her hand an ice cube extracted from the refrigerator, and explains that it is blue. After a while he gives the girl hot item and makes it clear that it is red. Method enslaves simplicity. Touching scene with colours reminds me when I think of movies talking about flavors and fragrances, about cultural phenomena, the feelings about thinking. The film “Examined Life” is the document which handle the philosophy.
The unexamined life is not worth living – This is Socrates. Director of “Examined Life “, Astra Taylor reaches for the sentence of the Greek philosopher and the tradition of discussing during our walks. Aristotle and his students conducted disputes strolling through the streets of Athens. Astra Taylor invites eight contemporary philosophers for a walk in the park, the promenade along the coast, Fifth Avenue in New York. The filmmakers are moving from the philosophy of the university auditorium and the library to walk to her place in the fresh air and space, which is its natural environment. What we probably forget.
Astra Taylor chose to walk with Cornel West, Avital Ronell, Peter Singer, Kwarne Anthony Appiah, Martha Nussbaum, Michael Hardt, Slavoj Zizek, Judith Butler and Sunaura Taylor. Cream of modern philosophy itself. Each of the characters talks about something else, each appears in a place that is associated with the expression touched by topic. Peter Singer walks along Fifth Avenue luxury boutiques’ exhibitions and talks about money, shopping and consumerism. Cornel West is going with Taylor through the streets of Manhattan by car, and compares the philosophy of music:
“I am a blues thinker, jazz musician of the world of ideas” – he says. Judith Butler visits with disabled friend Sunaurą Taylor second-hand store with clothes – measuring jumpers and paying for it has become an integral part of the Butler’s argument on corporeality.
Most original place was chosen by the most original philosopher – Slavoj Zizek who talks about the reality in the hall landfills. During the walk in an orange reflective vest among the heaps of debris, looking for an old rusty refrigerator and he explains why each of these old, dirty worn items should be loved by ecologists.
Astra Taylor made four years ago the film “Zizek!”. Now she decided not only to portray the other great modern philosophy, but mainly to show what philosophy is, what is the philosophical thinking is. Strength of the philosopher is not when he sells thousands of books, written his thoughts on topics as general and abstract as possible, but whn he goes out and tells the world that is close to him. “Examined Life” is a successful attempt to show that philosophy is not outlandish snobbery or secret knowledge. Astra Taylor gave a video invitation to philosophy, an invitation to ask questions, find holes in all. It is also an invitation to discussion and reading.
Astra Taylor made the film which has many features which combine the documents, describes the problem difficult to describe, brings subjects that may intrigue the viewer and encourage them to seek self-development in other sources. After leaving the screening, I heard a dialogue:
- Interesting this.. philosophy, so human.
- I have Butler’s book, but never read. I guess it’s time to break.
Usually there is too much music in films. And besides, hardly nobody knows how to write about it.
Interestingly – film music is popular as never before. Many soundtracks filled shelves of shops and get on the bestseller lists, composers have the status of celebrities – in descriptions of American films their names appear before the names of the cameramen, as if the movie could exist without pictures, and could not without music.
And while reviewers of the film are silent about the music in their own writings. Sometimes only one – how originally and exceptionally – they write that music was “amazing”, “great” or “intriguing”. I know that film critic are not musicologists. I also know the quotation attributed to Frank Zappie (and a few other musicians) that “talking about music is like dancing about architecture.” Yes, the music speaks the language out of any rule, but that is the reason why talking about it is a challenge that we approach. However, to speak about the music, you need to combine the power of precision – not to flee in excitable poetical and stereotypical metaphors and cliches.
On the other hand, the music in the film is easier topic to write about than music “in general” because it performs in the media as a kind of service. It should emphasize the mood, raise the tension, given the tone, etc. Its power is great. Once the experiment was held when several composers were asked to write music for the sequences derived from a film thriller (now do not remember the title). And it turned out that – depending on the nature of the “musical setting” – sensation turned into a comedy, in a subtle psychological drama, and even experimental track.
Quite recently, the distributor and asked me and some journalists to see production in the “raw”, without music. After twenty minutes, we had the impression that we do harm to the film, watching it in this form. Only music gave him the pace and character. Bette Davis – when she played the scene glide down the stairs – she asked soberly: “I go alone or with music by Max Steiner?”. Fundamental difference. Try one day turn on full blast Mahler or Wagner, and then let ‘s do a few steps in stairwell . Your movements will become immediately grandeur and full of dignity. Is something completely different than moving with MP3 player in the rhythm of hit such as Lady Gaga.
On the occasion of “Waltz with Bashir” a lot has been written about an innovative way, which combined animation with the document, but hardly anyone noticed that the climate and the importance of building the music here. Processed sounds of the other, the dark part of Schubert’s sonatas, scroll through the whole film, echoes of Chopin waltz in the key, surreal – given the circumstances – the scene during the fire dance in Beirut, a party on the ship proceed to war with the “virgin”, unaware the price which the soldiers had to pay is illustrated by OMD “Enola Gay” in favor of disco rhythm on the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima ( “Enola Gay, you should have stayed home yesterday”).
Another example – “Inglorious Basterds” by Tarantino. Sequence that opens the movie is accompanied by a treatment “Für Elise” by Beethoven. And it is not static shots that attract our attention in this passage, but just music. We have the feeling like we know it from somewhere but at the same time it is something new.
But very likely that the movie itself is responsible, at least in part, for our indolence and ignorance of sound. Most contemporary American production is filled with what Adam Garbicz called “post-romantic musical wallpaper.” It sticks a movie, and its sole purpose is doubling pattern from the image. When the love scene is on a screen is cascaded by violin. When to battle, you play the drums. When to chase, the rush notes with the hero. Tautology. A matter of fact this music takes care of work for the viewer. Because she cries, laughs, fears. I feel so at that time exempted from the film’s emotional experience.
In the first place in movie hits there is too much music, and secondly – it is usually trivial and neuter (can someone could sing to me a theme from one of the most recent screen hits?). Paradoxically, the more you hear now … is silence. Films without musical illustration immediately draw attention to itself. So it was with Dogma, so even with the “White ribbon” Hanekego. Do not duplicate, do not complete a dialogue with what you see.
It is hard to believe - Hollywood is in crisis and most creative film super productions can not cope so well this year in the cinemas as cheap independent cinema.
Evidence of this phenomenon of “Paranormal Activity” – the film’s most cash this year, and “Colin” – the cheapest film of the year. Steven Spielberg was so horrified by the film “Paranormal Activity” that after watching the DVD he packed it in a black garbage bag and took to the studio. Director believed that, plate with the film is possessed by something evil and decided as soon as possible to get rid of it from home. This story had been circulating in Hollywood for a long time and it was not invented by PR department of Spielberg’s film studios or creative journalists from the gutter press. For the first time the author of “jaw” told the story by himself. If you believe his words, just after he had watched “Paranormal Activity” at home, door to his studio shut themselves up and to go out, the director had to call a locksmith.
Was it the black magic forces, or regular draft, never know, but one thing is certain – the story Spielberg corresponds well with the cheap content, which is the independent film “Paranormal Activity”. Directed by Oren Peli rookie picture tells a struggle of some young couple with demonic presence in their home. Someone or something closes the door with a bang, a noise downstairs, leaving marks on the floor, and slowly cuts off the worst of the characters from the normal world. To discover what haunts the house (and get any evidence of possession) heroes place the camera in the bedroom. And she will be carrying a silent witness to the horror of the events.
A simple idea – the camera, whether we want it or not, recording everything that happens at night – and a good, slow assembly made up of one of the best horror movies of recent years. And one of the most controversial, because “Paranormal Activity” has as many supporters as opponents. However, neither positive nor negative feedback does not change the fact that the movie, which cost just 11 thousand U.S. dollars earned in the U.S. alone over 100 million, making the “Paranormal Activity” the most profitable independent film in movie history.
What’s more – if you compare it to the big production budgets, such as “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen” (200 million) and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (250 million), it appears that a modest, ascetic Peli’s image really grossed more than the rest. None of the hits of this year’s box office did not return one hundred times its budget.
And there was little Peli’s movie would never hit the cinema. Although the “Paranormal Activity” was shot in 2007, it was kept by Spielberg (who bought the rights to him after the incident described) for two years. Indiana Jones’s father wanted Peli to make his film again with much more money – with a known cast and better special effects. Peli disagreed. The conflict between David and Goliath about the film was ended because of the audience. Peli movie hit the cinema because of the independent film festivals – where it began to collect sensational reviews. They ultimately persuaded Spielberg to let the cinema almost amateur film.
And rightly so because the success of “Paranormal Activity” shows clearly potential lies in cheap productions and only confirms the fact that 2009 is really a great year for the return of independent cinema. For a long time there was so many films in cinemas outside the big record labels realized a long time and they would not refer such spectacular successes. These are not just horror. Just to mention a fantastic „District 9” , New Zealand Blomkampa Neill’s debut (earned in the U.S. alone 120 million), romantic comedy “500 days of Summer” (46 million income) and fantastic “Moon” by Duncan Jones (son of David Bowie).
Each of these films cost pennies compared to the proceeds from the distribution. In addition, most importantly, each of them is a breath of freshness in the cinema species, Which is good when for several years sequels or old hits are rulling in this world. Even one of the most expensive and most successful directors in Hollywood, Sam Raimi, made a low-budget horror film „Drag me to Hell” – his best film in a decade.
I trully believe that modest budget forces directors to become real artist. They need to use their unseen cultural-driven power to seduce the audience not by sophisticated technical devices but just pure artistic soul. It is more difficult, however amazingly stimulating.
Peerless creators, Oscar winners, the masters of black humour – Coen brothers.
After the best comedy of last year – “Burn after reading”, they are coming with the magnificent piece of art.
The history of the right man who realizes that the whole world turned against him. Suddenly, for unknown reasons, he is left by his wife who has an affair. Her lover convinces Larry that he should leave home and live in a cheap, shabby motel. To make matters worse, research careers Larry is the big question mark. And that is only the beginning.
Lots of movies start like this. But when you know that the Coen brothers are in charge of that footage you can expect it will not be the movie like others. America in 70’s, Jews and Rabbis, family curse is explosive combination which almost exploded in final scene. But because it did not we expect the continuation of story however the Coen leave us just with our thoughts.
Above the great story I love Coen brothers for their image of America presented in the movies. Immense and infinite spaces where drama is taking place have purposeful significance. In quiet suburbs filled with cold colours and shadows every screaming even if it is inner one becomes so powerful that it pierce you inside an armchair.
“Serious man” is this kind of movie after which you have huge hunger for more. Leaving a cinema I was strongly convinced I will be returning soon to Larry’s life again and again. Like that Dybbuk I want to attach myself to Larry and help him in some way because of course he did not deserve his fate.
Moreover, I’m sure this movie (because its topic) will help psychologically to some of us. Therapy with the film is known for some time. “Serious man” definitely should be on the top shelf in therapist’s ofiice. Must see.
Chatting with Patricia Floric is very pleasurable experience. Discovering lots of chapters from her life gives me the idea of her Frechness. Love for an art, love for cooking, love for intense relationships.
Everything in Patricia’s life is about emotions. Emotions and experience. Despite her young age she jumps from one topic to another showing her strong opinion. You cannot hear any hesitation in her voice while she is telling you about the decision which changed her life. I know I am dealing with a girl who has clear sense of self-worth.
At some point I have the notion I’m sitting in front of Sophie Marceau. The same delicate beauty, similar gentle voice, intriguing French accent. But that is misleading information. Surprisingly she reveals she has Serbian roots which are very important for her. That mixed background gives her amazing insight into understanding the world.
Apart she is down-to-earth girl she has artistic soul. “You can’t live without art”- she claims. Sharing moments in perceiving the art are crucial for maintaining close relations. It allows you investigating, experiencing and touching the most precious feelings another person can offer you.
Decision made on the train are the right one!
Why she decided to come to London? The reason is very trivial. Job interview in Paris show her lacking skills of language. But that is just the beginning.
Quick decision on the train turned her life completely. Till that time Patricia was in immensely intimate relationship with Oliver. There were like one person whatever they were doing.
Starting new life in London meant also getting new start in emotional life. Patricia describes it as one of the hardest moment in her life. Not because she was not certain about the decision. It was because that step was against what her family and friends were expecting her to do. Comfortingly she had her mother’s word in her mind: “Tomorrow is an another day!” that helped her a lot.
Another day finally came. Luckily for Patricia everything has turned to be how it should be. Happily in love, studying what she has always dreamt about. What can you ask more about?
Well Patricia is still asking the same question. Why? Why the stereotypes still exist? Are they correct or not? Patricia wants to find an answer. She believes journalism will take her there.
“I need to understand, I like to understand” – she says.
That sentence tells you everything about her as a person. She puts attention to details, to emotions, to every single word you say. Although she seems to be confident young person I can definitely say she is still searching her pathway.
Buying friends and people tracking profiles is in contradiction with the rules of Facebook. The company, USocial decided to make money using the desire of many people to have a high number of friends. This is because, for the most part, it is a determinant of social status in the virtual world – the more friends, the greater popularity.
So times when great popularity was the matter during High School are gone? Now we start living in virtual world, that is great. But who are those people who are paying for having friends on Facebook. I recommend a visit to a shrank. There have to be some serious problems with their personality.
I thought that the service that deal with acceptance of friends who you want to add on your list has particular purpose. What is the purpose of accepting stranger and getting information about a shape of egg he had on breakfast? Personally I know people who consider the number of friends on Facebook list as significant issue. On the other hand I know people who put more attention to a quality of relations than its number. And with strong conviction I truly believe that those last mentioned are people with uncommonly interesting life.
But knowing the nature of mankind the possibility that companies like USocial will have bright future.
