Luxembourg Film festival: a review

Some of you eagle eyed twitter fiends will have seen that I recently had the opportunity to take in (for free!) the DiscoveryZone film festival, which is still a very young festival being only in its third year. Luxembourg, being a small country, reveled in the opportunity to place local films alongside festival staples borrowed from the schedules of Sundance, Toronto and other European events. Despite being a new festival the organization was good, publicity seemed to reach a wide audience and the overall experience was warm; as on many occasions you recognized fellow cinema-goers from other films in the festival. The crowning glory of the festival was its choice of venues, aside from the obvious choice of the multiplex for the set-piece events of the festival (opening night and the awards night), they made the excellent choice to take over half of Utopia (Utopolis’ smaller cousin) and the Cinematheque. Both of these small venues sustained the intimate feel the organisers we’re aiming for. The Cinematheque being a real treat, the oldest cinema (I believe) in Luxembourg, having retained its 1940’s glamour and style, and on the balcony the seating too (ouch!).

If I was to label any criticism at the festival it would be language. I love world cinema and I love independent films, but sadly the local Luxembourgish offerings were restricted to native speakers. Sadly that meant my film choices were limited to a select few American or Canadian options. I totally understand that the festival is designed to be in a mixture of languages, evidenced by the film introductions being conducted in the applicable language of the film. But if the festival was designed to give a platform for the local film industry, then they missed a trick.

So what of the films? Well here is my rundown from 7 through to 1 (most enjoyable) of my festival views.

Spring Breakers

The first film of my festival, and the most disappointing. I had high hopes for the concept; a group of girls need to find the money to go on Spring Break in Miami, but run into all sorts of trouble and the decidedly shady character that James Franco plays. The film’s style was up close, wobbly cam shots and plenty of flesh on display. However seriously the first half of the film took itself, it unraveled into panto and farce in the second half. The point I lost faith in this film was when gangsta Franco sat down at his piano next to his swimming pool to sing Britney Spears’ “everytime”, whilst three girl wearing pink my little pony balaclava’s danced whilst wielding semi-automatic machine guns. Just read that last sentence again. Yeah that’s what I thought too?! Deeply implausible farcical concept that seemed to be for the amusement of the Director and Franco.

Call Girl (Swedish)

I can’t begin to say how let down I was by this film. The trailer makes this look like a fast paced, 70’s stylisesd thriller, focusing on the daring do of a Call Girl madam who provides entertainment for senior government officials in the run up to an election year. This is a true story, which has caused much consternation in it’s native Sweden for implying that Olaf Palme was also implicated in the scandal. The film has an excellent soundtrack, borrowing heavily from synth inspired Kraftwerk beats, the soundtrack to the action is significantly enhanced by taking nearly two hours before an ABBA track is clumsily inserted to remind us this is Sweden. A lot of the commentary about this film surrounds that excellent attention to period detail (I agree) and the juxtaposition of the election campaign’s key issue of women’s rights against the unglamorous depiction of senior government officials engaging in illicit sex. The second point is almost obscured by none of the characters talking about this hypocrisy (this could be wrong as there were no English subtitles) and because the story jumps between the stories of two girls decent into the sex trade and that of the lone wolf police officer investigating the corruption of officials. This film would’ve been better (and shorter) for focusing on one of those stories, my suggestion being to tell the story of the girls’ gradual detachment from society and the complex relationship they have with their madam (the final 30 minutes a great example of the Stockholm syndrome- no pun intended).

The place beyond the pines

The daily mail gave this film a good review…. Nuff said? Nah let’s not be hasty. Starring Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper, this is set in a typical small American town in upstate New York. Gosling’s character robs banks to provide for his estranged son and ex-fling. Cooper is the cop that inadvertently becomes involved and the story moves on focusing on him. The plot is effectively 3 short stories merged into one, I won’t ruin it by explaining this, as to describe it gives away the suspense. What the three stories lack is a thread between them to hold them together, and so the jump through each one feels slightly forced and each story requires a sort of 5 minutes series of explanation scenes/shots to bring the viewer up to speed. Having said that I enjoyed the stories and I though Cooper put in another good performance (following on from Silver Linings playbook) which hopefully will see him put those awful Hangover movies behind him. Gosling, was, well, eye candy. He is becoming typecast as the hunky silent youngish man with issues; which are never fully explained. Don’t get me wrong he is good at this (Drive, Blue Valentine, Gangster squad and now this). His range of facial expressions and his physical movements on screen make up for the lack of dialogue his characters are provided. In summary a decent watch but unconventional plot and direction.

Queen of Versailles

Having read Robert Frank’s two excellent books (Richistan and High Beta rich) on the pre-2008 crash rich and the follow-up on their fall from grace I already knew how this one went, as he profiles the couple at the centre of this drama. This documentary chronicles the life of Real Estate king David Siegel and his stereotypically rich trophy wife Jacqueline, from pre-crash to inevitable decline as they try (unsuccessfully) to build the largest private residence in the US modeled on the Palais de Versailles. The book really makes you not want to ever be rich, the documentary shows that the new rich are only billionaires on paper and that this is a precarious life to lead. The two central characters are superb, David; brought up poor and destitute has a much better understanding of the value of money, rants and raves at the excesses of his family (even before the fall), even imploring them to turn off the lights to save electricity. Jacqueline; a damaged former beauty queen with a big heart and sense of community, but tragically out of depth in the real world. The best scene in the film is when Jacqueline and some of her (8) kids fly economy to her old neighborhood, on arriving at the airport she goes to the rental car desk to hire a car, asking the poor guy at the desk “who is going to be my driver”… comic genius. This is a great documentary, which David tried to stop being shown. This puzzled me as the film paints him as committed to his business and his employees, doing everything he can to save his empire, the only unflattering scenes are when he is around is family; where he is understandably pretty annoyed at their continued excess whilst he is scrimping and saving to revive his business. Great documentary, catch it if you can

Imposter

Another documentary about a Spanish kid that impersonates an Texan child that has been missing for three years, and goes to America to take his place in the family’s affections. Told by the protagonists, with dramatized aspects to make the story flow. This is how documentaries should be made, it works like a film building suspense up to an almighty crescendo, containing twists and turns to keep you deeply engaged in the participants. As a story this is pretty improbable, as the truth it is even more compelling. Wonderfully crafted, leaving more questions than answers, a really impressive documentary.

I couldn’t  separate my two favourite films; Lore and 7 boxes. They both have phenomenal performances from their leading actors, they both have engaging stories, they are both beautifully shot.

Lore is a film about the children of an SS officer, and their journey (without their parents) across Germany in the last throes of world war II, to get to the safety of their Grandmothers house. Again this is shot in close-up, and is imbued with a sense of nature being all around them as the make the trek north. I watched this film in German with French subtitles, despite this it maintained my interest and even without understanding every aspect you are still drawn to the characters. It is pretty stark and a challenging watch; they are hungry, their 18 month old brother is close to starvation, they find out their father was a leading proponent in the Holocaust, they have to challenge their values by teaming up with a Jewish kid to survive, the lead character is forced to come of age in a society that is falling apart at the seems. I found this thought provoking and moving, as well as showing the opposite viewpoint to the typical WWII movie.

7 Boxes is the Paraguayan equivalent of a Hollywood action movie, in which cars are replaced with wheelbarrows. Fast-paced, thrilling, farcical (at times), fun and full of suspense. What’s in the boxes, why does everybody want the contents, why are the police so inept, etc etc. I loved it, the audience loved it so much that when the credits rolled it got a round of applause (the only movie I saw at the festival that got this response). Every South American film seems to be compared to City of God; this film has that same yellowy sun bleached look, but I would say where City of God is complex and dark, 7 boxes treats its subject matter as light entertainment. Great film, seriously suggest you check it out!

my 1st NFL fantasy draft

So aside from having to get up at 4am to participate, and also figure out controls etc. I really enjoyed my first NFL fantasy draft. Like i say, i wasn't really sure on tactics, and i saw a lot of strange movement in the early rounds. I sort of just assumed that everyone would pic their QB first, but there were people picking out their 1 allowed TE starter and some premier running backs going too.

Story of my draft:

#1 Cam Newton, QB, Car- Had a good year last year, and i my view will only get better. They've strengthened his offensive line and improved the D. But don't get me wrong, with 6th pick i was hoping Brady would still be on the table. Not surprised that Brees took so long to go, i think people are worried about no Payton on the sidelines

#2 Wes Welker, WR, NE- Obvious, Brady's pet receiver, a points monster in the last few seasons, expecting the same from him again

#3 Frank Gore, RB, SF- the 49ers don't tend to air it out, Gore is their 1st down back, and he is coming off a good season. I was hoping Turner would still be available, he breaks tackles

#4 Aaron Hernandez, TE, NE- I think NE are gonna have a good year, would've preferred Gronkowski, but that was never going to happen, I think Jimmy Graham was still available at this point aswell, but again nervous about the impact of the bounty programme.

#5 David Akers, K, SF- this was a risk, picking him early. But more often than not the 49ers don't convert in the red zone, and Akers won them a couple of games last year on points alone. the alternative was picking Dan Carpenter (Mia) but i can't guarantee the Fins will be getting out of their own half this year!

#6 Demaryius Thomas, WR, Den- Peyton has gotta throw to someone, i just hope it is this guy

#7 Houston defence- Moved from ranked 31 to top 5 in the league last year. All of the parts are still in place. Alternative was to pick Baltimore, but they've got big names that are getting old and banged up 

#8 Randall Cobb, WR, GB- Rogers spreads his passes around, as 3rd receiver on my draft, i figured he would generate regular points, rather than a big name that could be shut out of a game.

#9 Jonathan Stewart, RB, Car- Badly wanted Redman, as Pit are a run first offence (not sure Haley is going to change that), plus i though Mendenhall was still out with an injury. What i got as my 2nd RB was Stewart.

Bench

#10 Michael Crabtree, WR, SF- so i obviously think the 49ers are going to have a good year. I'm not sold on Thomas and so having Crabtree is a good back-up option

#11 Heath Miller, TE, Pit- Finally showed some love to the city i spent 5 months in. If Hernandez isn't get the receptions then i'll swap Heath in

#12 Nate Burleson, WR, Det- Figured that Stafford had to throw to someone other than Johnson, and maybe some D's have figured out how to play Detroit

#13 LaGarratte Blount, RB, TB- i agonized over whether to make him my 2nd RB, sadly i remembered that TB have drafted a franchise RB, and so Blount might not get a lot of rushes.

#14 Matt Flynn, QB, Sea- I don't think i'll need to bench Cam, but Flynn should be a confirmed a starter by the time Cam has his bye week

#15 Jerome Simpson, WR, Min- have no idea who this kid is, might Wikipedia him later. Simply the highest ranking WR in the final round.

First game is this weekend, looking forward to it.

And now i shall bore you with my holiday reading

So having recently returned from a luxurious week of lounging around by a pool in Tunisia. Batteries fully recharged and mind cleansed etc etc. I thought I would write a quick blog post on my holiday reading. Having so much free time on my hands and aiming for maximum relaxation, I was able to get through 5 books! Here follows a short review of each of those.

I’m Ok, You’re Ok by Thomas A. Harris

What a way to kick off the holiday reading, a 200 pager on the psychology of relationships based on the pioneering work of Berne’s Transactional Analysis. I was introduced to this book by an enlightened HR business Partner in about 2005, and despite its last re-draft having been in the early 60’s it still stands the test of time. I like to try and read it every year (this doesn’t always happen), and I find it a useful tool for reflecting on recent work, personal and social relationships and interactions. The book essentially explains why people “game play”, why some people just love moaning and complaining and there are a couple of handy chapters on those overly emotional characters you meet from time to time. I won’t go into the theory here, other than to say that it gives you plenty of examples of how to engage the rational, compassionate, logical aspect of each of our personalities, and escape the overbearing lecturing of the Parent and the zero-sum games of the Child.

Richistan by Robert Frank

Recommended by the Economist, and written by the Wall Street Journal’s own wealth correspondent. Feels a tad dated now that the financial crisis has swept through. However I particularly enjoyed the opening chapters about Butler school, and the 3 distinct periods in the history of rich people (admittedly in America); The gilded age, the roaring twenties and the current (1985-2008) period. Some of the stories and 1 on 1’s were fantastical and well told, so much so that I read 3/4’s of the book in one evening. On finishing the book, my overriding sentiment was 1. That I didn’t want to be rich (well not a millionaire anyways) and secondly that I actually felt sorry for these people! They had chased the American dream, but it had consumed them to the extent that only being a $10millionare was not enough. Let me be clear this wasn’t a Gordon Gekko style “greed is good” but more of a dependence on the lifestyle and the need to keep up with the Joneses. Also there was a great chapter on the impact of wealth on the children of the Richistani’s, which made me despair for future generations! Great read

Moneyball by Michael Lewis

Bit late on this one, and also totally missed the movie (despite promising myself I would go see it). Lets tackle the big criticism up front: People claim that the new owners of Liverpool are investing in the Sabermetrics that made the Oakland A’s punch above their weight. Anyone that actually reads this book will realise that is absolute bunk. J.W Henry was late to the scene in baseball as Owner of the Red Sox and tried to employ the workings of Billy Beane and Bill James (he later employed Bill), and secondly football does not fit the structured nature of baseball, additionally crosses or goal scoring opportunities created is not the same as on-base percentage (the metric used by Beane and the gang).

Now to the book. I loved it, Lewis tells a great story; it isn’t linear and isn’t meant to chronicle the achievements of the A’s during a season. It explores in enough detail the history of baseball statistics, the reason why Beane is attracted to this way of selecting in the draft, and the closed shop club like atmosphere that hinders the evolution of baseball as a sport. It also contains some lovely vignettes on particular players unloved by America’s Pastime but adored by Beane.

A couple of things I took away from this book: Having been to a couple of games when I was out in Pittsburgh last year, this book removed some of the mystery from RBI’s, Triple A, pitching innings of relief, watching the pitch count etc. Although the NYTimes baseball reports still look like a something churned out of the Enigma machine, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the game. Now if it is possible to hold two conflicting opinions at once, I also thought less of the people in the game of baseball; old crusty former players desperately holding onto the practices of the 1950’s in scouting and tactics. Also the way in which they closed ranks when the book came out, and declared (without reading it) that Beane had commissioned the book to make him look good (it doesn’t by the way), virtually excommunicating him from a community in which he was already viewed as an outsider. I drew some parallels with this and Football (both versions). If anyone in the premiership is adopting Moneyball style tactics it is Newcastle, but alas Alan Pardew still isn’t getting the respect he deserves, also in the NFL they say defense wins championships and that every team needs a good running game…. Just like bunting and stolen bases in baseball these are orthodoxies not to be challenged, and are holding back innovation in both sports.

The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford

I’ll keep this one short: I enjoyed learning more about economic theory, but not as much as I had hoped. I love his Financial Times column’s but this was a tough read. Sorry Tim, but I’ll still follow you on Twitter!

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

As I’m currently in training for a 10 mile run in the south of Luxembourg, I figured this would be a good complimentary read which might give me more inspiration. Having suffered a couple of injuries over the last few weeks, despite moving into new distance territories I took comfort from Murakami’s own struggles and the advice he gives for getting through them. The book is incredibly personal and at times very self-indulgent, although he is clear to make the point he is no expert on running and that the book serves as more of a memoir of his lead up to the Boston Marathon and re-starting triathlons. It was good to read, but unfortunately Pitcher’s Law of Hype (2009) applied, and it couldn’t rise above the recommendations and army of advocates pushing its credentials. On the plus side it only took about 90 minutes to read cover to cover, perfect for the plane journey from Djerba back to Luxembourg.

The LinkedIn Blog

Some really great advice on refreshing your linkedin profile
http://blog.linkedin.com/2011/04/07/linkedin-tips-springclean/

Sent from my iPhone

Coping with Injury

Following on from my first post (of many I hope) about rediscovering running, I thought I would add some context about why I fell out of love with it, or as was the case got “torn” away from it.

Having fell in love with cheesy bread (Zaatar W Ziet!) and never really recovered, I decided in the summer of 2008 to kick start an mini fitness drive, having not really got into the summer running groove that year. This was also as a result of my second Dubai 10km which was 12 minutes slower than the year before, and a dislocated shoulder which stopped me from doing Yoga.

The early training was good and I had lost about 5Kgs in the first month. However after every Wednesday night footie game in the park, I was finding it difficult to walk and subsequently hobbled around a lot longer than I would normally. I put it down to the lack of fitness I was evidently showing and thought about it no more. Until I got on a plane back to the UK.

Halfway through the flight I felt a pain in the sole of my left foot. Which felt like the sort of pain you get when you’ve gone out dancing and placing it flat on the floor feels like it is going to split in half. So I went up onto tip toes to try and loosen it up, and I felt a snap. But like all men thought- I won’t be doing that again in a hurry.

I was looking forward to a few runs back in the old country, but found that I couldn’t get to the end of road in my trainers as it was too painful. What this needs is a few weeks rest. So I left it.

Weeks went by, months even, and I still couldn’t go more than about 30 meters without turning round and cursing my way back to the flat. But now I was also finding it difficult to walk most mornings until the foot had woken up (I’m sure that is the technical term). At this point I went to my first doctor, cause I was getting pretty peed off.

Essentially it was nothing to worry about, get a gel heel from the shop, and it will be fixed in a month. Back in a month, ah ha Plantar Fasciitis! I was advised. Three options;

1. grow up big man and deal with it
2. Ultrasonic therapy- the medical equivalent of applying a massive hammer repeatedly to the base of my foot, to “stimulate healing”.
3. Platelet transfusions- illegal in the UAE (and most countries, I later found out). Taking blood from my arm, spinning it with a culture (sounds like a cheese experiment I did in biology once) and injecting into my foot to stimulate healing

Keen on option 3 (which was a tough choice I can assure you), but ultimately checked out some websites to find out it was not as promising as the witch doctor had suggested. So option 1 it was.

It wasn’t until I got back to the UK and went to a real doctor (with a certificate and everything!) that I realised the only option was 6 months physio and daily stretching exercises for life, with no guarantee that I would get back to my former strength.

I stopped physio 15 months ago, and last month finally got back to 10km for the first time since 2008! Some people would punch the air and go on an all night bender. I just sat in my hotel room unable to move as my whole body had seized up! Rock and Roll, but a sign of the long road travelled and still to travel if I am going to get back to running half marathons.

Everyday I start off by doing a set of pre-determined stretches to loosen up my tired old muscles, joints and tendons. I take more care of myself now than I did; Yoga once a week, swimming after runs to work out the aches, a better calorie controlled diet that has seen me lose a stone since Christmas and plenty of water to keep hydrated!

My first official race back is booked for May 8^th in St Albans. 5 weeks to get close to 60 minutes for 10km. 

Why i run

Running, not my first addiction, but I hope the one that lasts. Those that know me now as the lumbering heavyweight of a runner that struggles to break 70 minutes for 10km, can’t take my dedication to running seriously, but it has a long history.

Back 12 years ago, I was preparing for yet another outing on the stage with my school summer play. Having been an ever present in the rugby team that year, and with the season finishing I decided to pick up trainers and do what I had known my Dad to always do…. Go for a run. How hard could it be I thought? I mean I can go 60 minutes on the rugby pitch, and could spend two hours having a kick about in the park with the guys.

How wrong could I be? What a nightmare that first run was. I was reminded of just how horrible by a colleague the other day- she asked me if the chest pains ever went away! On that first run I made it less than 8 minutes. The high impact nature of running and the constant movement is quite strenuous. But it didn’t take long after that first fleeting attempt to get well and truly bitten.

I went out running typically in the evenings, and even quite late at night, always lodging the house key under my foot in my shoe (a painful experience that eventually led me to get a proper clip). When I think about how much technology and planning goes into my runs now I am amazed that I ever got started. Back in Brighton, I just set off, with a general, if vague, idea of where I was heading, not sure if it would take me 30 minutes or 1hr 30mins. Up hills, along the seafront, round parks etc, I didn’t really matter.

These days running is a bit more (if you’ll excuse the pun) pedestrian. Having moved to the UAE after my first (and so far only) half marathon, I initially struggled to adapt to the suffocating atmosphere of running in 37 degree heat with 70% humidity. Despite the fitness levels I had built up I had to satisfy myself with 2 mile runs on the treadmill to start off with, before braving the intensity of the Dubai summer. I went out with a couple of guys from work that had a keen interest in running. This was the first time since school that I had gone out running with someone else. In those days it was Critch and Sheriff waiting for me to catch them up whilst ambling around Hove Park, with rules on the amount of clothing that could be worn in the deepest of winters (no jumpers, two shirts, no trousers, and absolutely no gloves, but a hat was ok).

In Dubai I was confronted with a whole new set of challenges; no open areas to go running (although I did run the coast road once), the heat, and the local diet. It was the final challenge that defeated me. I actually enjoyed the challenge of running in extreme heat, it gave you the satisfaction of having really sweated out a good run. Often the guys and I would get back to the office building (opposite Safa Park, which had a spongy distance marked running track) looking like we’d jumped in the lake! However the local diet, or more to the point my lack of discipline over what I ate, was debilitating. I put on 4 stone from first day to last day, and have been struggling to lose it ever since!

However one other thing I can be grateful to Dubai for is discovering Yoga. Which I credit for my best ever 10km (56 minutes) and for my recovery from injury.

The Wu master

Paywalls, censorship and meddling. The Internet as a source of free speech and global ownership is over... Convinced?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/17/the-master-switch-tim-wu-internet

Check out JofJack on the Youtube

Guy i'm working with at the minute is doing some crazy mash-ups in his spare time.

please please please go visit JofJack on youtube

Brighton 0-3 Stoke

Guuuuusss Poyet on the 3-0 loss to Stoke yesterday

"But the Seagulls boss was proud of his side's efforts to pass the ball in the second half of a crushing 3-0 defeat.

The contest was over by half-time with Stoke in charge through a trio of headers.

Asked about Albion's experience at the hands of Stoke's set-piece expertise, Poyet said: "It was confirmation that what they do is very hard to cope with.

"What they do, they do it like the best.

"It is something that works in the Premiership so why is it not going to work against aLeague One team?

"I think the players were convinced they would be able to compete with all the throw-ins and the corners. Then you need to do it on the pitch.

"What you thought before you would be able to do, maybe you cannot.

"They are stronger than you, they are more powerful than you, they jump higher than you. And that is why they play in the Premiership.

"I think it was a good test. The players now know why Stoke are so difficult to play against."

watched it on a p2p site and wasn't particularly impressed, looked naive in places, but as usual dominated the play without carving out any clear cut chances. One positive was young Caskey, he came on a didn't show Stoke any respect, pinged one just wide from 30 yds, dinked a lovely ball over the top. You wouldn't have guessed he as a 16 year old!