Revisiting and Catching Up

I suppose you might be wondering what I’ve been up to since my last post on Midsummer Eve… I’m kind of wondering myself where the time has gone to.

The rest of the Midsummer weekend was kind of chilly and I spent much of it indoors, catching up with an abandoned book, a bit of paperwork and “whatever”.

I’ve also let myself get wrapped up in revisiting (on DVD) the classic British TV series Brideshead Revisited from 1981 (adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel from 1945). There’s something kind of hypnotic about the tempo in which it’s told; and even more so when one is able to choose one’s own pace of watching (not having to wait a week or whatever for the next episode)…

Then on Monday I revisited the exhibition of sculptures in and around the Textile Fashion Center, together with my aunt and uncle, who were in town for the day. We also had lunch at the restaurant within the Center.

This is Michael by Xavier Veilhan.  It’s supposed to be “reminiscent of early Modernism’s endeavours for reduction, to portray the human body as a regular structure – man as architechture”. The artist is the same who made the sculpture Vibration  which I’ve shown in an earlier post (blue horse and wagon).

Why this one is called Michael, the brochure does not tell. Thinking about it now, I come to the conclusion that it must include a reference to Michaelangelo (who was good at angles as well as bodies). I had to think in English to come up with that, because in Swedish that play on words (angel/angle) does not apply!

Later on Monday I got my HP Slate Book back from the “computer hospital” where I had to send it a couple of weeks ago when it suddenly collapsed and refused to recharge its batteries (after I’d only had it a few weeks).

As I suspected, the fault turned out to be in the AC charger, and all it needed was a new cord. But of course they would not take my word for that, so I had to send the whole thing to the repair shop. And before I did that, I thought it best to uninstall the personal apps and accounts I was logged into… Which means that when I got it back, I had to start everything over more or less from scratch. So no wonder perhaps that yesterday seemed to swish by rather quickly too.

Today I’ve basically had a householdy day of washing and cleaning; but also managed to slip away to revisit a nearby shoe shop and catch up with their sale…

 

 

A New Start

“A New Start” is the Swedish-translated-back-into-English title of the DVD with which my friends and I ended the old year last night. No use to go googling for that title, though, because the original is We Bought A Zoo…

Benjamin’s wife died and he is left with two children to take care of: a little girl and a teenage boy. The boy is having some trouble in school since the death of the mother, and father and son don’t communicate very well either. Benjamines decides they all need a new start as a family. The house and property he and the daughter fall in love with turns out to come with a very special surprise challenge, though: It includes a zoo, which is in need of some repair (and has to pass an inspection) before it can be re-opened to the public. It also includes a group of experienced but tired staff, rather sceptical whether the new owners will really be up for seeing the project through…

The film is based on a true story. I did not notice that until the aftertexts (although there was a note about it on the DVD-cover as well) and was a bit surprised, as I found “the plot” as such to be the weakest part of the film.

It’s a charming film however, and much thanks to the actors (both animals and people). Matt Damon plays Benjamin, and Scarlett Johansson the sceptical zookeeper. Maggie Elizabeth Jones in the role of the little daughter is a true ray of sunshine, and Colin Ford does a convincing surly teenage son who mostly prefers to withdraw into his own world, expressing his dark moods in artwork.

It’s a feel good family movie; the plot and some of the side characters rather simplified, but at the same time not too much sugarcoating of the genuine feelings to do with the main characters’ process of dealing with grief and “getting on with their lives”.

Trick or Treat

About a week and a half before Halloween, I ordered some DVDs from an online shop. Among those I wanted was a collection of three films by New Zealand film director Jane Campion.

When I received my package, it turned out that 3-disc box had been replaced by a totally different film, entitled The Condemned. Which, judging by the cover, I had no wish at all to see…

  -No thank you!-

Ah well – mistakes happen. I contacted the company; and within a couple of days I got a new package. I opened it eagerly, again expecting to find the films that I had ordered. Guess what met my eye? Another copy of The Condemned!

That’s when I began to fear that this might go on for ever…

However, third time round - and Halloween behind us! - the curse seems to have been lifted. Today I received yet another package. To my relief, this one did contain the right DVD-box.

Tomorrow I send back the two copies of The Condemned and pray they’ll not come boomeranging back! ;)

Now remains to be seen when I’ll find the time to watch the films I did order: An Angel At My Table, The Piano and Bright Star.