Detroit Symphony Live Broadcast

Saturday was Detroit Symphony Live night once again.  Superstar violinist Nemanja Radulović gave an energetic and lively performance of the Katchaturian Concerto in D Minor.  A superb violinist, he actively listened to the orchestra as he played, giving them much credit at the end for their own hard work in this monstrously difficult piece.  After intermission the orchestra tackled Strauss's Alpine Symphony.  Their numbers had swollen to nearly 120 instrumental performers on stage, up significantly from their usual 80-90 players.  This is quite an amazing piece, describing a hike in the Alps to a high summit, and back down again.  22 micro-movements describe the adventure in detail, including a storm on the descent.  The piece begins with night, followed by sunrise, followed by the hike and its return at sunset, followed again by night.  This might be the only piece by Richard Strauss that I really like.

 

In film news, there are three to report.  It's Deb's festival weekend, so she gets five picks in a row.  So far so good with her picks.  My two picks before hers were lumped into one gigantic film, lasting 7 hours and 19 minutes.  Yup.  This is a film that scores 9.2 on IMDB.  Don't let that fool you into thinking you are seeing a great film, my friends.  Satantango is from 1994, directed by Bela Tarr, a Hungarian.  The film describes the dismal life during the autumn rainy season of the inhabitants at a farm collective.  The very thin plot actually makes very little sense.  The essence of this film is its photography.  The landscape is flat and nearly featureless, the farm buildings are badly run down, and it is constantly raining and muddy.  Life goes on, if this is life.  It seems more like Hell itself, especially after we see the title dance not once, but twice, in the pub.  But the everlasting camera shots grow wearisome very soon.  Watching a person walk down a straight road into the distance, in real time, and then walk back again, is hardly wonderful cinema.  There seems to be no editing in the picture.  Cutting it down to two hours, the film still would not make much sense, except that the farmers are tricked out of all their money by one of their own.  I won't even talk about the most controversial part of this film, the infamous cat torturing and cat poisoning scene, which the director insists was necessary to the film (it wasn't).  There are no really decent characters in the film; most of them live closer to the animal kingdom than the human one.  I may be the only one saying so, but avoid this film if at all possible.  Do not get fooled into thinking this is some kind of cinematic masterpiece of art; it isn't.  Rather I'd say the director has pulled the wool over many eyes (like a certain past president of the US).

The poster image sums up the film nicely--an empty wasteland. 

The film has now left Mubi.

 

Deb's first three choices were as follows.  Seeing The Lunchbox right after Satantango was like restoring my faith in film as an art form, and clearing my head of the mud it had accumulated during the previous screening.  From 2013 and directed by Ritesh Batra, the action takes place in Mumbai.  The system of getting lunch boxes from the cook to the intended person involves an intricate system that flawless delivers food day after day.  The film opens showing a lunch being cooked, packaged, sent out for delivery, the journey it takes and who gets involved, and the successful appearance on the right desk just before lunch.  When a woman's cooked lunch meant for her husband is delivered to the wrong man, the film really begins.  This is a totally entrancing comedy, featuring mostly the two people.  "Auntie", the older woman in an upstairs apartment, is always heard by never seen.  It is her secret recipe that is supposed to win the day, helping the young wife get back her husband's interest.  Instead, it goes to an accountant who is just about to retire after 30 years.  Though the two characters never actually meet during the film, by the end we know that they will, soon.  A life affirming film, this one is a joy to watch.

 

This film is showing on Mubi. 

 

Though falling far below Lunch Box (though far above Satantango), Flight of The Red Balloon still has some very fine moments.  Directed by Taiwanese auteur Hou Hsiao-Hsien, it all takes place in Paris.  From 2007, it is a slice of life film that shows the struggles of a single mother trying to raise her young boy.  Her schedule is so busy that she hires a Chinese nanny to help out.  As the red balloon bounces about town, it (and we) follows the daily routines of the boy and his adult caregivers.  It's nice to see a young boy depicted in films who isn't a holy terror.  The boy is quiet, sensitive, and besides playing piano he enjoys pinball and his Gameboy.  The two bedroom flat is a highlight of the film, crammed as it is with books, records, and cds.  The film does not promise to deliver more than it gives.  It is a kind of film I would imagine French people might enjoy seeing.  Juliette Binoche gives a winning performance as the mother who occupation is to supply the voices for puppets during performances.  The red balloon significance comes from the Chinese girl who babysits the boy; she is studying film in Paris and is fascinated by the 1956 French fantasy film The Red Balloon.  This can be considered an hommage to that film.

Now showing on Mubi. 

 

In astronomy news, it's been pretty cloudy and rainy this cycle.  I have had one very fine night so far, but that may be it.  And piano practice is ramping up, as I try to prepare for some upcoming performances.  Nearly there.

 

Mapman Mike

 

 

The Prisoner (2009)

First some local news.  My tooth was repaired today, and it seems to be just fine again.  My wounded leg still looks terrible, but it is healing.  All bandages will come off tomorrow for a closer look.  And in some astounding news, the LTC home no longer has restrictions for visiting outside of the country.  So Deb will be able to come with me next time I cross the border for a day trip!  Yay!  And in Patti news, her older sister finally e-mailed me with a nice letter, bringing me somewhat up to date with Patti's life.  Nothing I wish to share here, but it seemed like a turbulent one, and perhaps not altogether happy.  She died of a heart attack at 60 years of age 8 years ago this month.  Thank you, Joanne!

In film news, Deb has decided to film a short SF story I wrote.  Pre-production is underway, as we try to whittle down the story to fit a short animated film.  It's a one character story, with only one major setting.  It will be a major project for Deb; most of my work is already done.

Of course we were fans of the original series from 1967, The Prisoner.  So when we first heard about a newer series, we watched it as soon as we could.  The six-part series is currently showing on AMC+, and we finished watching it yesterday.  Very little remains of the original project.  There is a village, there is a #2 and a #6, and they are in conflict over the idea of freedom and happiness.  Oh, and there is the giant white balloon that keeps people from escaping the village.

Now streaming on AMC+. 

I actually prefer the newer one to the old, which has aged quite badly.  It is a SF drama about a man fighting against a system that tries to smooth over differences, conflicts, and other rough patches one encounters in human beings.  #2 (Ian McKellen) is in charge of the village, trying to create a society based on wellbeing and happiness.  When #6 arrives (Jim Caviezel) he first tries to make him into the likeness he wishes him to be.  Eventually, however, #6 proves to be too strong, and he's sentenced to death.  However, with his failure to convert #6, combined with his failure to properly raise his son, #2 has a breakdown, and decides to leave the village in #6's hands.  Though no sequel ever came forth, it would have been interesting to see how #6's village came out.  Probably a bit on the messy side.

There is a lot of mystery to the story, and sometimes attempts at explaining things make things even thicker.  But that's okay!  It's good to have something on TV that isn't all totally explainable in the end.  But creating the village requires a full time dreamer, which changes the equation each time a new dreamer is brought in.  When #2's wife is called back to reality, the village doctor (#313, played by Ruth Wilson) takes over the job.  She has been trying to run away from a childhood trauma, with little success.  So perhaps her dream world will aid her recovery.  Or it might make a very dangerous village in which to bring forth freedom.  The series is highly recommended, and a rewatch is not out of the question.

On the Wondrium streaming channel, we have now completed our second course, this one on Archaeology of North America.  24 lectures just on US and Canadian archeological prehistoric sites.  It was brilliant!!  And tonight we watched a 90 minute 2015 documentary on that channel called Hieronymous Bosch: Touched By the Devil.  It's a behind the scenes look at putting together a centenary exhibition of the artist's paintings and drawings in his hometown of Den Bosch.  A truly remarkable film, it takes viewers right inside the details of most of his paintings.  The Prado also had a major exhibition that year, creating some conflicts.

Now streaming on Wondrium. 

And now for my two movie picks for last week.  We begin with another interesting mess directed by Terry Gilliam.  The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus is from 2010, and follows the fortunes of a one coach, two horse travelling sideshow.  Dr. Parnassus is very, very old, and he has bargained with the devil for a longer life.  Of course there is a catch.  And of course he tries to beat the catch.  The film has some wonderful visuals and stunning special effects.  However, Tom Waits makes a terrible devil, and the director often goes overboard and tries to channel Monty Python a few times.  It's difficult to pinpoint where the film really fails, but it's likely in the telling of a story, which seems to get blasted apart too many times to keep putting it back together.  Worth watching for fans, but not the masterpiece it could have been.

Now streaming on AMC+. 

Yesterday was Full Moon, so it was party day/night.  It was clear, as per usual this summer, and we did see the moon eventually, through the trees.  We undertook two major projects.  The listening one was the opera Salome, by Richard Strauss.  Based directly on the play by Oscar Wilde, this is one fantastic opera!  With probably one of the best Biblical stories ever, Strauss came up with an impressive masterpiece, all taking place during the night of a full moon.  By and large I am not a fan of Richard Strauss, but I am of this opera.  With an orchestra of 100 musicians (Vienna Phil. conducted by Herbert von Karajan, with Hildegard Behrens singing the lead), this is a must hear opera.  What a world!!

And we also watched my 2nd movie choice of the week, all in one sitting.  Forbidden Planet is the quintessential 1950s SF movie, and we have seen it many, many times.  This Criterion edition was in mint condition, and the Cinemascope production is jaw dropping in its scale, beauty, and concept.  And it's got Robby the Robot, and Ann Francis is the shortest, tightest dresses one could ever imagine (all manufactured by Robby).  Two things are badly needed here: a remake, and a prequel.  Are you reading this, Steven Spielberg?

Now showing on Criterion until August 31st. 

Mapman Mike