starting this week on april 23on channel 4 is a series of 7 tv programmes from 1 giant leap . their first album and dvd was brilliant - a window into world music and global culture but whilst still remianing contemporary. looks like an album and feature film is also to follow...
[update: you can watch the episodes here]
i saw the golden compass at the weekend and really enjoyed it. i have read the books and loved them too. i just don't get why christians get their knickers in a twist about stuff like this. it critiques power and control in religion (or any other institution) which seems like the kind of thing christ himself did and got killed for...
kester blogs about it and is spot on (as he often is apart from when he talks about football ;-) )
If we try to protect our faith from criticism like this, we seal it from the tricksters, and prevent it from being refined. If we truly believe it, we should allow our children to see the film, and trust that the truth will out.
congratulations to my amazing sister esther! last night we watched the film premiere at the national film theatre of rains of fear, the first film she has directed. she founded synergy theatre company, an inspirational company that works in prisons and with ex offenders teaching drama and putting on plays. over the years we have watched plays in several of london's prisons. every time the sense of achievement and worth the prisoners gain by performing is brilliant.
taking it to another level synergy ran a competition in prisons for writing a screenplay. this was won by damo whose script became 'rains of fear'. esther had done a course in film directing and raised money and away she went with the confidence and daring she has always had in abundant supply. the results were brilliant. it's a short film that tells a tale in the life of irish travellers - dark and brutal at times. i chatted with damo - he was so warm and gushing about esther and the transformation that has come in his life. 6 years ago he couldn't read or write and yesterday he stood up to introduce his first film at the national film theatre! isn't that incredible? esther has always loved prisoners - she sees the good where others fail to look. it's an amazing gift. i was a very proud big brother...
last year first at the big chill festival and then at the roxy in borough i saw belleville rendezvous with a DJ/live rescore. it was unbelievably creative - along with a whole bundle of instruments and DJ'ed tunes, at one point a note was even played on a stove top espresso pot! i love this film - it's a quirky and charming animation, with beautiful illustration. i don't want to sound obsessed but there are more tour dates this year. if you are in london, oxford, brighton, york or edinburgh you simply must go...
the strangest review of borat - from culture watch.
i thought it was obvious that christianity is mocked just like everything else (and let's face it a lot of what we do looks very funny when put on camera and is almost irresistable to take the mick out of). i'm astonished anyone could read something sincere into the film...
one of the things about living in london is that there is so much fab stuff to do. whilst there is a lot that can cost loads there is also a lot of free stuff. here's a few i'm going to be checking out...
art installation at the V and A - 25 november - end january. robert del naja and neil davidge have collaborated with massive attack's tour designers UVA on an installation in the courtyard of london's V&A museum. 'volume' opens on 25th november and runs until the end the end of january.
belleville rendezvous with live music score - 3 december. i am really excited about this one. i caught some of this at the big chill. the film is shown but with a live score that is a mix of DJ and live instrumentation. it may sound weird but it will be a wonderful experience.
ben westbeach at big chill house - 28 november. ben wetsbeach is a new kid on the block, and his no 1 fan seems to be gilles petersen, (and his no 2 fan seems to be joel). he's playing a live set
jon hopkins and ulrich schnauss at big chill house - 30 november. second fab free gig in a week at the big chill house. jon hopkins album contact note is one of the most played on my ipod at the moment along with the compilation the art of chill 2 which he put together a few years back and is currently a bargain on amazon.
laura b at the big chill house - 6 december.
and some things i'm lining up that are not free (sadly)...
a visit to the wildlife photographer of the year exhibition - always an annual baker family pilgrimage
chelsea v arsenal - yes i have got tickets - can't wait - will be our first match of the season
DJ shadow at brixton
ice skating at kew gardens - that's also become a bit of a christmas tradition for a few of us from grace
looks like it's going to be a good month...
on saturday jen and i set to see volver but it was full so we ended up seeing little miss sunshine instead. you simply must see it - laugh out loud. sort of in the same vein as napoleon dynamite - brilliant. the audience burst out in spontaneous applause at the end which i don't remember happening since i went to see lord of the rings.
on friday we went to see a preview of shooting dogs in london. it tells the story of the rwandan genocide through the true story of a school which provided refuge for tutsis. it's a harrowing tale. if you haven't seen hotel rwanda go and see this at the cinema when it comes out in a few weeks. if you have, the plot is very similar - it's a shame it's so similar really - this time it's a school instead of a hotel. but it's a story that needs to be heard.
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you probably haven't noticed but there's been a steady conversation going on in the comments on my brokeback mountain - wondering what's redemptive post. i love the latest riposte from ian...
why on earth would you think that a movie that has gay characters at its core is trying to 'convert' you to something? Is King kong trying to convert us into giant apes? Is Big Mommas House trying to make us into robust black women?
Technorati Tags: brokeback mountain
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