Jamie passion and passionfruit!

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Yesterday I could not write about this film.  This first ever film in Zulu about the plight of a mother in South Africa with HIV is a spare sad tale, hauntingly beautiful and evidence of the hopelessness of many lives there.  I notice that while Nelson Mandela and many other African names have lauded the movie, critics have been less than praiseworthy.  The problem is that we are in the realm of social conscious movies and they do end up being tear-jerkers.  You can`t expect the same sort of film making auteurship when the point is to tell the story straight.  Maybe there are melodramatic scenes like the dying husband staggering to his cabin out of the village but the drama and misery is no doubt part of their daily lives.  I thought the acting in this part was superb.  Are the critics just squeamish when they criticise this?  Perhaps these films like 'El Cielito' can`t be judged against others.  In some cases it is enough that the tale be told and that the public be reminded of what is happening to others.  Speaking of which, the cinema was almost empty when I saw this and Hotel Rwanda has not had a release here - where is Africa in the consciences of the Argentines?

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Finally a chance to update this!  I saw the Edukators yesterday.  A German film about the idealism of the young, of the gap between rich and poor, about playing the game, about the innocence of youth, about loyalty.

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I took time out from my enormous translation to watch some tennis on the box yesterday.  First up Venus and Serena Williams.  Moments of brilliance as you would expect from these two powerful players and the contained tension of two sisters meeting over the net.  Then Serena crumpled and it was Venus all the way to the end.  She`s playing better these days so it was probably deserved.

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2046

Ever since I saw Chungking Express on video I have been attracted to the films of the Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai.  His latest, 2046, has the same aesthetic look as 'In the mood for love' and covers similar ground - impossible loves, indelible memories and one or two very pertinent philosophical questions.  Accompanying this is the usual sumptuous photography and a beautiful soundtrack mixing opera, orientalised Latin classics, Nat King Cole and original music. 

I liked it but wonder if all the packaging is really a front for a rather limited story.  The bonus is seeing the sublime Gong Li, one of my all-time favourite actresses and Zhang Ziyi who both appear.

ôôôô

Yet another grey day in Buenos Aires.  It is hard to feel bright and perky when there is no sun.  The only good thing is that you just get on with work!

What a sad situation!  What a mess!  The great state on its knees.

 

ciao for now