Sometimes Love is in a Different Language

I watched Aimee & Jaguar the other day. I've seen it before but for some reason or other, this second viewing was much more affecting. The film, set against the backdrop of a falling Berlin in 1944, tells the story of the beautiful but horribly doomed love affair between the wife of a German soldier (Lily; nicknamed Aimee) and a secretly Jewish secretary working for a Nazi newspaper (Felice; the enigmatic Jaguar). Felice also helps with the Resistance movement - a dangerously precarious life as you can imagine. Exciting times, as she poignantly puts it. She meets the lonely, romance craving, short-sighted housewife Lily at a concert-hall, but it's a brief and impression-less meeting as far as Lily is concerned. Felice however becomes fascinated and as fate would have it, they meet again and become better acquainted - both a little more intrigued by the other, both craving for a chronically absent sense of security. And despite the bombs and the fear, they fall quite helplessly in love.

It's a case of where bombs fall, may love flourish. And despite the impending tragedy, they remain honest human beings who eventually pay the ultimate price for a taste of happiness when happiness was as rare as a food ration card.

The story is beautifully told. It's an affecting tale that's bound to remind us that love comes when it is least expected, or wanted. Juliane Kohler and Maria Schrader, who play Lily and Felice respectively, deliver one of the best performances I have ever seen. In German, no less.

A Good Cause

Recently, I was offered an insight into the good work of Princess Azizah of Pahang who has taken up the often under-looked cause of families who want to be families. She has brought to light the plight of parents who have been unable to conceive through her foundation, the Tengku Azizah Fertility Foundation (TAFF). With the help of this organisation, parents are given the financial and medical aid needed for IVF treatment. 

My mother and I were invited to the TAFF Family Day not too long ago and we were able to witness her kindness and genuine care for these families. It was so touching to see the proud parents with their bundles of joy - their faces radiant with happiness. But the credit really does go to the Princess who was without snobbery and who had given her whole heart into the project. She is aided by able doctors and a dedicated team who believe in her and in the cause. 

I was most impressed by her good work and it really was an eye-opening experience. I do wish the foundation well in all its success. 

The X-Files Always Rings Twice

Last night, after 3 agonising days of waiting, I was finally awarded a trip to watch the X-Files Movie: The X-Files 2: I Want to Believe. To say the least, I was far from disappointed. Trish (not her real name. Her identity remains protected by the forces that be) in an act of selflessness, agreed to accompany me on this historic journey. She knows of my like of the X-Files and didn't think my alien rap too bad. Besides, I would not have seen it with anyone else. Well, David and Gillian were both busy for the premiere anyway.

My family was there, thus making the treat even more delightful. The film opened scarily enough with a kidnapping and a severed limb in the snow. Very classy. Although the pace could've been faster, the film stayed true to its identity as a thriller, more disturbing than outright frightening show. Mulder and Scully, sans their agent-status, were wonderful as always. Special mention to Mulder's facial hair, and I do mean his beard. Dr Scully, as she is now known as, looks awfully sexy in a lab-coat. Needless to say, I was sitting in a pool of drool half-way throughout the film.

This film has everything you want in it: love, hope, chills, overcoats, Ford cars, heads, two-headed dogs, snow, blood, more snow, gay marriage and everyone's favourite agents.

Through the doors of the Sublime Porte

Istanbul's been on my mind: I've been thinking about the Byzantines, the Ottomans and the Bosphorus. I've been emersed in its history, its very rich and vibrant history. Its buildings, morning light across the Golden Horn. I've been reading John Freely's Istanbul: The Imperial City, and I highly recommend it. It's very well written and full of pictures (miniatures, photographs) for the visually inclined. He alludes to many of the great classical works about and from Istanbul. I was particularly drawn to Elivya, a religious scholar who was attached to Sultan Murat I and his court. An extract of a procession is as follows:

"All these guilds pass in wagons or on foot, with the instuments of their handicraft, and are busy with great noise at their work. The Carpenters prepare wooden houses, the Builders rasie walls, the Woodcutters pass with loads of trees, the Sawyers pass sawing them, the Masons whiten their shops, the Chalk-Makers crunch chalk and whiten their faces, playing a thousand tricks... The Toy-Makers of Eyup exhibit on wagons a thousand rifles and toys for children to play with."

Another place, another time. Take a walk through these doors once in a while, even if it's all just in your imagination.




Ah to be an illuminator at the palace!

It's on my little list...

Before I begin my little preamble about the Mikado, I'd first like to give a shout out to Fairuz, or who I should soon be calling Dr. Cousin. Remember to enjoy your course and to never lose sight of you - who you are and what shoes you wear. Keep it real, I know you will. :)

And now back to the Mikado. It's one of those things that's constantly on my mind - background music, if you will. It really is a masterpiece, in terms of music, lyrics and all the rest of it. It tells the story of Nanki-Poo, a wand'ring minstrel who plays in the Titipu town band. He's in love with Yum-Yum who's the ward and fiancee of the Lord High Executioner, Ko-Ko (who quite luckily rose to such a rank after being reprieved from his own death sentence). Yum-Yum, bless her, is in love with Nanki-Poo too. Here they are doing things they would never do...

Keeping in mind that this is feudal Japan, the Mikado has decreed that all those who flirted leer'd or winked, unless connubially linked, should forthwith be beheaded. Now, not a welcoming prospect for the young lovers! We soon find out Nanki-Poo's little secret - he is actually the son of the Mikado! He assumed the disguise of a minstrel when his engagement to Katisha (who has a caricature of face!) was forced upon him. Now how shall we get out of this dilemma? Ta-da! The Mikado issues a decree to Ko-Ko instructing him to execute somebody if not the town of Titipu will be reduced to a village... Seeing that he's already been condemned to death before, he becomes the first choice of the town officials (Poo-Bah is after all the Lord High Chancellor, Master of the Rolls, Chancellor of the Exchequer... you get the picture). Here they are, accompanied by Pish-Tush (Poo-Bah's the overbearing one while Ko-Ko's the one in the middle, in case you were wondering!):

He finds a willing substitute in Nanki-Poo who agrees to be the victim if he can marry Yum-Yum for a month. But all hell breaks lose when Katisha comes to Titipu in search of Nanki-Poo! She threatens to reveal his true identity, but with some help from Yum-Yum, she fails... but threatens to return with the Mikado! Ooo I don't think Kat's very happy about all this:

In the second act, Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo prepare to marry...when Ko-Ko enters with some law - once a husband is beheaded, his wife is burried alive! It really dampens the mood, as you can imagine, and here's Nanki-Poo, Yum-Yum and Ko-Ko contemplating the delicateness of their situation.

And with the Mikado on his way, Ko-Ko assumes that he may want to see that an execution had taken place. While everyone's scratching their heads (or rather wigs...), they come up with an idea. Bing! Poo-Bah will declare that Nanki-Poo has already been beheaded when in actuality, he'll marry Yum-Yum and disappear! Oh bother Yum-Yum! Nanki-Poo and Ko-Ko come to an arrangement...

Marvelous...except that the Mikado is looking for his son and not to check if someone had been executed. And you can of course imagine the madness that ensues when Ko-Ko presents the document saying that Nanki-Poo had been beheaded. The Mikado takes the news somewhat calmly but declares that the punishment for killing the heir apparent has boiling oil in it... Hmmm. Here's the Mikado gleefully talking about boiling oil, to Ko-Ko, Poo-Bah and Pitti-Sing (Yum-Yum's sister, one of the three little maids from school!), and you can see Katisha sternly looking on.

How to resurrect Nanki-Poo without Katisha's claims on him? Ko-Ko goes to him and relates the trouble. Bing! Another idea! Ko-Ko must woo Katisha so that she'd marry Ko-Ko instead. With his best suit and maybe even some flowers, he chances upon her (and her wrath) and woos her with all his charm. He surprisingly succeeds and he is married to her. They present themselves to the Mikado, who had gone to eat before the impending execution of Ko-Ko. Katisha pleads for his life before the Mikado. Her case is helped when Nanki-Poo appears together with Yum-Yum. The Mikado is pleased to see his son again and general rejoicement ensues! Katisha's a little pissed at Ko-Ko but after some elbow-kissing, all ends well.

Just a note! All the pictures where the players are in traditional Japanese costume are from the D'oyly Carte Company production of the Mikado. I actually grew up with this and it retains a special place in my heart. The pictures that have the players in 20s costume are taken from Jonathan Miller's production. I was very fortunate to catch this earlier this year and I consider it an absolute masterpiece.

And my little review can be viewed here!
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/opera/article3308130.ece

Things We Learn

I had the recent good opportunity to visit a children's home in Cheras. You may have passed it once or twice, or even every time you go home or go to work. I know I have. But this time, I paid the place a visit. It's simplyamazing that there is a place for these abandoned, orphaned children (some babies). These are children that were unwanted at birth but have been rescued from their dire circumstances and are now loved, by the dedicated staff that man the place (though most are women!). We are not aware of the good these people do, and the home they provide to those who are not as fortunate as us who do have homes.

Humanity still exists then, despite all.

On a lighter note, I've become quite a fan of Sandi Toksvig. If you get the chance, check her out or listen to her show on BBC Radio 4. Here she is, folks!



Ah isn't she lovely!

Stop the campaign of conspiracy theory

As the title says. Rumour is running rampant. 

I am not concerned with pet theories nor political insinuations. My priority is my father. 

We have the truth on our side. We have the facts. And we know my father is innocent. That is my campaign. Not to spread further rumours nor hate. 

May the truth prevail and may justice be the only judge. Not politics or gossip. 

Thank you. 

This blog is a personal one that I share with my friends and family. This is not a place for rumour nor negativity. 

 

Like they do in the movies...

I'm talking to you Humphrey, I'm thinking of you Ingrid,
I've always wanted to eat Chinese from a white box,
I've dreamt of using a hairclip to pick locks.
I know for a fact: Germans are known as Hans and Siegfried.

Could life be like the movies?
Where we fly to New York at 3 o clock.
That we could pull of a red sock
With blue shoes and pink hair
That we could be pretty and fair.

Can we meet on the top of the empire state building,
Where we'll meet just in time and have that happy ending.
Life could be fun definitely.
And we could live decently.
Well more than decently.
More like, fantastically!

Can we live like they do in the movies,
Where our speech is rehearsed and we move on cues.
Where we live in dreams and never get hurt.
Where we are never rude, evil or curt.
Where every disease had cures.
Not just one but two,three and four.
Where love was a never ending galore.

Aliens and Shakespeare don't gel as well as you'd think...

Hey there Mulder,
How're you doing Scully,
I guess you should've told'er,
That questions are my folly.
Have you got each other on speed dial?
Would you both go the extra mile?
Have you got me on a file?
Do you think Trish thinks me mad,
That I've got the shipper bug this bad?
Stay cool and always have fun,
Even if you're only on reruns.

Peace out, agents.