What I've done

Finally, this week is over. And I've done a lot of interesting things these days. I watched "Thirst" by Park Chan-wook, which I'd really wanted to watch earlier, but could't find time. Well, interesting movie, but maybe too much blood. I don't mind watching bloody thrillers or horrors, but "Thirst" is a psychological love-story (as it seems to me). It should have been less violent.

Also I watched "Kirot" with my favourite Olga Kurylenko. Rather interesting plot, but maybe it's not realistic. I want to say, that it's hard to imagine such story happens in real life. Of course, movie shouln't be realistic! It's only my opinion. "Kirot" is an action thriller and again too much violence...

I attended interesting lections about Soviet movies and about traditional female-gods in slavic mythology. Second one was very very interesting! And I decided to buy some books on this topic, because I have only a little knowledge...

And yesterday I really wanted to have a rest and read a book. But I suddenly got an invitation to the theater and I couldn't refuse! So I went to Alexandrinsky theater and watched french performance "Kazimir and Karolina". It's love story. And I liked it, because it's not too modern and it's clear what is happening on the stage (not like in David Lynche's "Inland Empire" which I rewatched this night).

So this week was full with different events, but left no time for studing and preparing for seminars at the University...

Low Rising

It's a fabulous video by my favourite Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. I think it's a masterpiece.

Involuntary

Yesterday I watched "De ofrivilliga" or "Involuntary" as it's translated in english. It should have been a swedish comedy by Ruben Östlund. But it was the strangest film I have ever seen. There are a lot of heroes in this movie: sincere teacher, stupid school girls, man who hurt his eye with firecracker... All film consists of stories about these people. But they aren't completed! So when the closing credits appeared I understood that I didn't get the main idea of the film... I was disappointed.

As a bonus video short movie "Incedent by a bank" by the same director was shown. It got Golden Bear as Best Short Film in Berlinale in 2010. Östlund tells a story about failed bank robbery, which really took place in 2006. It's interesting because it was filmed without any cut. But I think it's not an Art par excellence!

After the cinema I met my friend Julia. We wanted to attend lecture about USSR movies, but it was postponed to April 27. Unfortunately my cultural thirst wasn't satisfied yesterday...

Horses can read

Film of very talented journalist Alexander Nevzorov "Lectio Equaria Palestra" convinced me that horses almost as clever as we are. Just look at the eyes of these gorgeous animals! Of course, all animals are clever creatures. But I could never imagined that horses can read and understand letters, pictures and teacher's verbal requests.

"L.E.P." is a kind of ancient practice. The main point is that our mind is similar to horse's. Nevzorov proves it in his movie. Small child can't read. He even doesn't know letters. But we can teach a child. And after this film I'm sure that horses can be taught too. Author showes teaching methods he uses. When horse learns a new word, it have to pass a simple test. A picture of something familiar to horse is shown. Animal takes special cards with letters and "writes" the word.

In addition to lessons with horse an exciting story of "L.E.P." is shown in this film. Nevzorov made a great work! And it's a pity that there are only few articles about this practice in the internet. I'm interested in topic and I think I will go to library to find some books about it. I'm really impressed...

How I ended this summer

Have just returned home from the cinema. Movie I watched called "How I ended this summer" by Alexei Popogrebski.

It got 3 Bears at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival this year. Two Silver Bears for best actors: Grigori Dobrygin and Sergei Puskepalis. And one for outstanding artistic achievement in the category camera (Pavel Kostomarov).

Whithout any doubt "How I ended this summer" is thriller, because story keeps viewers in suspence. And it seems to me that script is written in a style reminiscent of Hitchcock's stories. It reminded me of the play "Rope" by Patrick Hamilton. Thriller film with the same name was directed by Hitchcock in 1948.

"How I ended this summer" is story about fear, fib, frienship, lonelyness... My friend Nastya felt sad about the heroes. But for me the last picture said everything about the main theme of movie. Popogrebski filmed a brilliant drama. And it's about hope.

I recommend to watch this movie. It is worth while!