It's not that I am unaware of world events and choose to ignore them. This blog was created as more of a "what I am doing lately" thing, for family and close to friends to keeps tabs on Homestead happenings. I have usually avoided political discourse here, and will continue to do so. If I were to start a political crises blog, I fear I would be writing in it 24 hours per day. So I do keep up with world current events, but you will find very little of that here (so far). Making it through four years of a Trump presidency without much commenting was a daunting task. Watching the UK go through Brexit was another challenge for me to keep my mouth shut. Now it is Putin's turn. And on it goes. Now, putting my rose coloured glasses back on....
I have been sending out my Valeria manuscript to more English publishers. I have a very good chance of having it published in France, but the translating costs are huge. I am having the first three chapters translated into French for submission, but I will await the English deadlines before committing to more translation costs. The second volume is also ready to send out, if and when the first one gets published. And the third is inside my head, waiting to come forth should the 2nd one get a green light.
In film watching news, I am a bit behind, and there have been some memorable ones lately. One of the creepiest films we have ever the dubious pleasure of watching is called The Cremator. It is a Czech film from 1967, directed by Juraj Herz. It's about a man who works at a crematorium during Hitler's rise to power. He is mad at the beginning, getting more insane as the film progresses. He is possibly one of the scariest villains in film history. And the picture is a dark comedy, so don't totally despair. He likes to brag about his firm's gas furnace, which can reduce a body to ashes in 75 minutes. He combs his hair a lot, using the same comb on dead bodies, and on his children. He commits four murders, and tries for a fifth. For his efforts he is rewarded by the Nazis, and given the task of making more efficient gas furnaces. Yikes! A horror film, indeed.
Next up was Cronos, Del Toro's first film, from 1993. It is a very unique film, though not entirely successful, mostly due to excessive violence. At its heart it is a vampire tale. An older man who runs a small antique shop gets his hand on a strange little metal device, in the shape of an insect. When he winds it it suddenly clings to his hand, and sharp needles penetrate it, injecting him with a life prolonging formula, provided he supplements his diet with human blood. A rich older man is after the device, having come across a text about it from the 1500s. Ron Perlman plays his nephew and strong man. This was the actor's first film with Del Toro, and he has some funny comments to make about him in one of the many extras that come with the film. Definitely worth seeing, but I think that a great idea was virtually wasted here. Be warned; there is a lot of blood, and some hilariously gross scenes (such as the first older man licking blood from the floor of a rest room).
Next came Fassbinder's 1979 film, called The Third Generation. Starring his usual cast of actors and actresses, the director takes on home grown terrorism in this darkly funny tale about a group of misfits who band together to try and create mayhem on the streets. We are never told why, and I doubt the group knows why. They are completely ineffective. However, there is an informer among them, who does his best to destroy the group. The ending is quite good, as the film suddenly ends during the making of a ransom film of a kidnapped millionaire. He is under the impression that this is part of his plan to boost business, and is not worried in the least. The film had much trouble in Germany, but was successful elsewhere.
As Spring finally arrives here in SW Ontario (though more snow is coming on Monday), it's time to take a look back at what real snow looks like. These are more photos from my colour slides scanning project, and are from 1976, the final winter we spent in Sudbury.
February 1976, Sudbury. Younger brother Steve, about to be put to work.
Front of the house, standing in the driveway which needs some shovelling....
The driveway is clear, but not much else.
Enjoy your weather, whatever it might be!
Mapman Mike
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