Exils
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Mario Vargas Llosa, the Peruvian novelist now resident in Europe is not everyone's cup of tea. Aside from being an inventive and very competent writer (does this sound like faint praise? - I actually like his writing a lot but there remains a slight doubt as to whether it scales the heights of greatness) - he is a once would be politician and now chronicler of modern events. Among his recent 'targets' is the state of Israel. In El Pais newspaper, Madrid and reproduced in La Naciòn, Argentina we have recently been able to read a number of articles on his visit to Israel and his exploration of both the Israeli and Palestine sides. His daughter accompanied him to take photos with her Jewish boyfriend in tow. The interesting feature of the articles apart from his excellent interviews with a variety of people from writers, politicians to ordinary people in the street is that this once defender of the state of Israel has become decidedly more critical of what he has seen. He spares little criticism of the Israelis and tends to blame most of the mess of the Palestine state on the restricitions Israel has put on it. Not surprisingly a variety of Jewish voices have come out against him and seem at least disappointed with his stance. Given Vargas Llosas rather right wing attitudes on certain issues in the past, is he mellowing with age? If you get a chance to read these articles, they are well worth the effort.
Carlos Varela is Cuban. A singer songwriter very much of the protest mould, he is adored in his homeland as somone who narrates the reality of Cuban life today, who puts people's stories to music. Among his hits is Guillermo Tell which takes the well-known children's tale and uses it as an allegory to describe Cuba. Other songs of his that I love are La política no cabe en la azucarera and his hymn to Habana - Habaname.
Habana Blues. Otra pelicula sobre Cuba. Y del tema eterna - como salir de la isla. Lo que tiene esta peli es muy buena música con roqueros cubanos y otros grupos tocando en vivo. La historia es bastante obvio y no te engancha mucho pero se puede ver la pelicula justo por las canciones y las imágenes de la ciudad.
This is the poster for a new Argentine film, 'Iluminados por el fuego'. It is quite a harrowing story about two former soldiers from the Malvinas who are battling with the memory of that time. One has attempted suicide and is lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life. Esteban, whose approach is to write about what happened -he is a journalist, visits him and the ugly memories come flooding back. It is based on a true story and the battle scenes are specially vivid. I can't really place a critical judgment on this film because of the loaded subject matter. In the cinema I went to the public was gripped and saddened by this tragic episode in Argentine history and by the fact that the returned servicemen have never been well treated - nearly 300 have committed suicide. I'm glad I saw it and it is at least a decent representation of that period. Gaston Pauls gives a suitably sober performance in the lead role.
