I saw Dr. Ling again yesterday for a followup, after two months of taking the prescribed medicine for my Meniere's attacks. I haven't had a vertigo episode or dizzy spell since October, and some of the hearing in my right ear has returned. I was taking three pills a day, and it really helped, especially in removing the feeling of intense pressure in the ear. That feeling is rare now. So I am cutting back the meds to 2 pills a day, and if that seems to work, I can cut to one a day, then one every other day, and then none. Or go back to three a day if needed. Progress. I will see the doctor again in early July. Interestingly enough we spent about 7 minutes discussing my ear, then we got sidetracked on piano. After telling him I was a pianist and happy to have my hearing return, he told me he was, too. So we spent the next 15 minutes discussing Chopin, Beethoven, etc. I deeply apologize to all the waiting patients, but it was pretty cool.
Turning to political news, as I write this police are still trying to clear rioters from the Capitol Building in Washington. That is actually of minor importance at the moment--the big news is that the Democrats have won both Georgia Senate seats, meaning that the good guys control both the House and the Senate, at least for the next two years. Huzzah!! The rioting will get sorted, some of them will be charged with federal crimes, and Trump has sealed his doom, politically and personally. Things actually couldn't get any better! Funny, I never thought I'd share a border with a banana republic, even temporarily.
In movie news, I'll begin with the most recent film watched, Palermo Shooting by Wim Wenders, from 2008. The movie begins badly, and it seemed for a short time that we would not get through it. However, after a stretch of bad music and following the nearly pointless life of a big league art and fashion photographer, the film gained steam, getting better and better. Once in Palermo (capital city of Sicily), the film really rocked. It doesn't get any better than many of the dream sequences included in this film, or having Dennis Hopper play the figure of Death! Never take a photo of Death! Worth more than one viewing, and highly recommended.
Now showing on Criterion Channel, a film by Wim Wenders from 2008.
Earlier, we watched Kirikou and The Men and Women, from 2012, Deb's main pick for the week. This is our 2nd Kirikou film (one more is still out there somewhere). This hilarious and artistically successful animation stars the amazing baby boy named Kirikou, living with his mother and tribe in West Africa, and getting into several unique adventures. The evil sorceress is back, with her hilarious fetishes to do her bidding. This film is a compilation of four shorter tales, each one a treasure and a delight to watch. Don't miss!
From 2012, now showing on the Criterion Channel.
Earliest was Deb's pick from films leaving January 31st. She chose King of the Hill from 1993, directed by Steven Soderbergh. Purported to be from on the memoirs of A. E. Hotchner, the screenplay is by Soderbergh. However, despite being a well-liked film, I see Hollywood written all over it. The lead child actor is good, if a bit too well scrubbed for depression era St. Louis, and the period autos are just a bit too clean and sparkling and highly waxed. The bad cop and bad bellboy, who both get their comeuppence at the end (thanks, Hollywood, we feel better now), to the over dramatization of the downhill car scene, all seems to be laid on a bit thick for my tastes. Even so there are some lovely moments, as the boy dances with a female friend who has epilepsy, and almost any scene with his little brother, who is even cuter than the lead boy. There are many harsh moments, including a harrowing encounter with a man who used to live down the hall from the boy, now living rough and looking totally defeated and helpless. Of course there is a happy ending for our boy hero, as the separated family reunites and lives happily ever after.
Showing on Criterion Channel until the end of January.
Coming soon, an update about our local fateful fight with covid, and some art from the DIA. And likely one more film.
Mapman Mike
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