"The Man Who Fell to Earth" (1976)

Ziggy played guitar, jamming good with Weird and Gilly…

David Bowie – an alien from Mars! Since his first singles, he rocked the music world and never ceased to amaze his fans and haters. Glam rock, hard rock, industrial, ambient, disco and so on – not a single music style dared to oppose David Bowie! Sadly, two years ago David Bowie returned to Mars, but we still could enjoy his music.

Adding to that, David Bowie was an actor, who starred in some good films, but, of course, their amount could be much higher. I always saw him as Lawrence of Arabia (in David Lean’s version) or as Bond villain (especially, in View to a Kill). He never acted in those films, but he still had some marvelous roles, including John in The Hunger.

In 1976, David Bowie showed his acting skills in The Man Who Fell to Earth. Into his first major film, David Bowie played himself – an alien, who arrived from desert Mars. Only this time, he showed his alternative plan – as a brilliant innovator, who wanted to earn some money in order to finance the supply of fresh water to Mars.

David Bowie made a wise choice in choosing music, because business is a ruthless field of battle, which destroys the people and aliens alike. He presented new technology to the humans, but not a lot of people understand it and David Bowie hasn’t got an ability to realize fully his ideas. Even more, the people are turning their backs on David Bowie and, finally, send him to the psychiatric hospital.

Compared to business, the music world of the late 1960s – early 1970s presented a «window of opportunities» and David Bowie played his brilliant music from Mars to the people. David Bowie wasted no time in studying human music and achieved some wonderful results. That is why, every David Bowie album is a unique event. And if he went to business, he would become another Howard Hughes.

By watching this well shot alternative life story of David Bowie (we still haven’t found out his alien name), we could again compliment him on the right choice. I still hope, that one day he will go back to Earth and give us some great music. But meanwhile - Put on your red shoes and dance the blues!

A visit to Vaclav Havel Library (22nd of August, 2018)

Vaclav Havel - a playwright, poet, intellectual and the first post-communstic President of Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic. I did not know too much about Vaclav Havel except for the fact, that Czech people respects him. That is why, on my Czech trip (20-25 of August) I have decided to explore more about him.

On the first day, I, after three hour sleep and hotel check-in, went to Wenceslas Square, visited the first bookshop and bought a biography of Havel, written by Michael Žantovský (founding member of the Civic Forum, press-secratary to Havel, the Czech ambassador to the US, Israel and the UK and Executive director of the Library).

The book is very interesting and written by a good language, that is why reading of it is a quite joyful experience (I have not yet finished). By the 22th of August, I have read about 150 pages, and it gave some information before visit to the Vaclav Havel Library.  

1. Logistic.

The Library is situated on Ostrovni street in Nové Město quarter, which is quite near to the Most Legií and subway station Národní třída. But I recommend to visit the Library after visiting the Charles Bridge, Prague Castle or some other nice attraction.

2. The Library.

When you reach the destination, you will see a little house with Knihovna Vaclava Havla billboard. You should press the call and the door will be opened by a very pleasant woman - Karolína Stránská (an ex protocol aide to Vaclav Havel, employee of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affair, Defence).

Compared to enormous JFK Library, Vaclav Havel Library have a rather small exposition, including an interactive guide to the important years and places in Vaclav Havel's life, picture gallery, little copy of Vaclav Havel's childhood house and some personal belongings (for example, a typewriter).

But the most interesting part of the visit was a half-hour discussion with Carolina (I wanted to take a picture with her, but did not have a chance) and some German man. We discussed different themes and it was a rather open, deep and intelligent discussion, and also I got a chance to find out a few facts about the late President. Because of that, the visit inspired me to discover something more about Havel, so I went to the bookstore and bought Vaclav Havel's Prague and Open Letters, and on Friday I bought Letters to Olga and To the Castle and Back.

And after reading Michael Žantovský biography, I am planning to translate it (I once translated The Age of Augustus by Werner Eck, but I need to give my brain a hard challenge) and I would like to visit the Library again, to hear or participate in some discussions.

Kanał (1957)

But we will be hailed by the future generations

On the 1^st of September, 1939 the Nazi Germany attacked Poland. Despite the heroic resistance, Poland was overrun. The occupation of Poland meant five years of pain and suffering for the Poles. By the end of 1944, the Nazis were beaten on all fronts and at the same time the Warsaw Uprising took place.

In 1957, Andrzej Wajda got a chance to picture the Warsaw Uprising and he took his chance. The film starts on the last days of the Uprising – the 25^th of September, 1944. Lieutenant Zadra leads a unit of the Home Army, who are trying to escape Warsaw through the sewers.

There are lots of stereotypes about the Poles – that they are slow, that they are don’t love anyone, that they cannot unite, that they are only good as a source of cheap labor. In 1938, Poland annexes Zaolzie and was branded the European Jackal.

In the next year, Poland paid the price, but the war showed the heroic side of the Poles. Andrzej Wajda started the film on purpose at the end of Uprising, when the Home Army was almost wiped out and the remaining soldiers are trying to escape Warsaw.

Andrzej Wajda gives unique traits to all characters, among them there are romantics, cynics, clever, silly, honest and liars, but all of them have one aim – to show their bravery to the world and enemy. The sewers give the only chance to escape.

Andrzej Wajda portrays the sewers as a metaphor for the death, which will soon come to almost all soldiers in the Uprising. The sewers are a labyrinth, equipped by lots of traps and false exits. But, despite that, the group is trying to escape.

Even in the Hell – labyrinth, the people have not lost the ability to love and be loved. Even war-hardened people could lose the will to live because of the unrequited love or will try to carry a heavily-injured lover to the exit.

The Warsaw Uprising is portrayed as disorganized, unnecessary and politically motivated. But for the soldiers, the Uprising was a chance to show the bravery of the Poles and even the Nazis admitted it. Andrzej Wajda made his film about the soldiers, who won by their bravery the place in the History.

Despite the critics opinion the late films of Andrzej Wajda were not so good (I cannot express my opinion, because I haven’t seen them), but only this film is enough to remember the late Director. And you should not forget, that Andrzej Wajda helped a lot young and talented filmmakers, including my favorite Andrzej Zulawski.

During the Second World War, there were not so heroic nations and there were unexpectedly brave nations. Among the last, there are also the Poles and the Greeks. Let’s forget politics and remember the bravery of the Poles.

I recommend to watch it along with Pokolenie and Popiól i diament.

Psy (1992)

Za chleb i wolność, i nową Polskę Janek Wiśniewski padł

About two months ago, I have written a joint review on «Man of Marble» and «Man of Iron» and richteur gave some valuable insights in his commentaries. After that, I have decided to read his blog and I was impressed by his review of Psy. Because of that, I have decided to watch this example of the Polish cinema of the 1990s.

Former officers of the SB (Polish secret police), including Franciszek Maurer (Franz), are trying to become police officers in the post-socialistic Poland. They are destroying incriminating evidence, they are reevaluated by the Special Comission. Some, including Franz, are lucky and they join the Criminal Police; some are not so lucky and they join the criminals.

The last verse of the famous poem Ballada o Janku Wiśniewskim (by Krzysztof Dowgiałło) includes such verse: « Za chleb i wolność, i nową Polskę Janek Wiśniewski padł».In 1989, Poland was new, the Poles got the freedom (or at least the illusion of freedom), but the bread became scarce. In the same time, the Polish directors got the chance to shoot film on the forbidden themes.

The Director portrayed the birth of new Poland and he had chosen the most despicable characters – ex-SB officers. The former elite are thrown into the Criminal Police, where they are treated as third-class people. Despite that, the history teaches us that most of the times soldiers are punished, but they masters are spared. The masters are spared because they are able to destroy documents or cut a deal with new masters.

The Director depicts ex-SB officers as ordinary people. Among them there are good and bad, brave and weak. Most of them, along with the Poles, are trying to make ends meet, but the former government taught them the only thing – to kill. The new Poland declares that they don’t need the professional killers, but the other side is ready to employ their talents.

«Psy» shows the general disappointment in the new ruling class. The film shows the beginning of corruption, the morphing of politicians and criminals. When Franz begins to harass seriously criminals, he is quickly dismissed from the police because of his past.

The new Poland is not suited for «Man of Marble» or «Man of Iron», the new Poland suited for unscrupulous murderers and thieves. And in 1989, Ballada o Janku Wiśniewskim is sang by the drunken ex-SB officers, because nobody cares about the fallen heroes.

The Polish cinema have again pleasantly surprised me. Władysław Pasikowski took the form of the American action film and included a very fresh and clever drama. The Russians would also understand this film.

I highly recommend it, it is better than  most of the so-called «Russian noir» of the 1990s.

Aftermath (2017)

I would like for someone to say that they're sorry for killing my family

A long time ago, I have read in an encyclopedia the following passage: «No, not every file is better than death». As I grew older, I have encountered in cinema and literature the numerous examples of this phrase. This film also prover the truthfulness of this phrase.

Roman Melnik is an ordinary man, who lost his wife and child in a plane crash. The tragedy happened while air traffic controller Jake Bonanos was on duty. The air traffic controller confessed his guilt and it still haunts him. Despite that, Roman is not satisfied by formal complaints…

A lot of people like to talk about quick and painless death. If you judge by this standards, the plane crash is not so bad. Nevertheless, the quick death does not tone down the grief of relatives and other close people.

The stereotypical killer is not a monster. In reality, the most murderers are merely ordinary people. The ordinary people are mostly presented in negligent cases. Jake Bonanos is just one of those normal and ordinary men.

The modern society got so used to death and violence, so almost every death, with a few exceptions, is ignored by the society. Even such «untypical» death as a plane crash brings out only formal apology in a form of cash payment and VIP flyer status.

Most of the people have encountered the extreme psychic pressure. The heroes encountered even worse fate – spiritual death. Roman and Jake are just merely the bodies, who lost all will to live. They are trying to regain the will to live and continue to live, but will they succeed?

Cinema and literature created an illusion that revenge is a mean to regain spiritual well-being. One of the actors, who got his part in popularization of this stereotype, is Arnold Schwarzenegger. But reality is far apart from fiction – revenge will not bring back the loved ones and, in most cases, will not regain you spiritual well-being. In «Aftermath», Arnold Schwarzenegger is not a superhero, he is an ordinary man, who is sentenced to a life sentence in his internal psychological prison.

«Aftermath» is a film about ordinary people, who are trying to live on. The film does not show the heroes or bravado, but everyone could meet or become Roman or Jake.

Watch this film, maybe it will produce a genuine emotional response.

The Entertainer (1960)

Why should I care?

An interesting episode was depicted in the second part of Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain. In the mid-1950s, a young playwright John Osborne wrote «Look Back in Anger». The play was very successful, but Lawrence Olivier was not too impressed. Afterwards, Arthur Miller visited London and asked Olivier to accompany him to the theater.

After the play, Arthur Miller and Lawrence Olivier went backstage to meet a young playwright. There, astonished Miller saw how Olivier begged Osborne to write something for him. The Great Baron Lawrence Olivier begging some boy! Nonsense! Nevertheless, «The Entertainer» stepped out on the London stage and the shortly thereafter, the film was made.

Great Britain finished the Second World War as a formal winner, but lost its imperial power. Before the 8^th of May, 1945 there was the British Empire, but after that there was only Great Britain. For a while, the British ruling class tried to behave like Empire, but the Suez Crisis destroyed all illusions.

«The Entertainer» starts in the first days of the Suez Crisis, The author shows a grey and tired Britain, whose habitants has lost the faith in a future of their country. The more successful are dreaming of immigration, the less successful are trying to speculate on the remains of the Imperial Glory. The film is set in some crisis-struck coastal British town.

«The Entertainer» shows not-so-good adventures of Archie Rice – a fifty-year old music hall artist, who has been avoiding the income tax man for twenty years. Son of a music hall legend, Archie presents a primitive show, which quickly loses its popularity. One day he got the chance – he seduced a young girl, whose wealthy parents are ready to bankroll his new show…

As I have written before, the author portrayed Britain in decline. That is why, the decay of music hall is one of the main themes. Music hall was one of the characteristics of the Edwardian Era – the peak of British glory and power. In the mid-1950s, music hall, along with Britain, was in decline.

Whatever you tell about Margaret Thatcher reforms, her reelection in 1983 was guaranteed by victory in the Falklands War, which gave back the imperial pride to the British. The Suez Crisis also began on a high note. Archie Rice Show is again popular, his father got an invitation for comeback, son of Archie – sergeant in the British Army, - will be soon home.

Despite all of the bravado, in 2017 we know the final of the Suez Crisis. In the first time for many centuries, Britain was subdued by another Empire. The fall would affect every hero of the film. The post-Suez Britain became a satellite of the US. The new values dominated everything, including music hall.

Truly, why should I care, it I lost already.

Watch this films, maybe it will make you think.

Primary (1960)

Everyone is voting for Jack

During the 1950s, the President of the United States was General Dwight Eisenhower. The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified in 1951. This amendment has set out a term limit for election and overall time of service to the office of President of the United States (eight years, whether consecutive or not).

In 1960, the Republican presumptive presidential nominee was quickly established – Vice President Richard Nixon. On the other hand, the Democrats didn’t have a strong candidate. The Democratic primaries got such candidates as Minnesota senator Hubert Humphrey, ex-Illinois governor Adlai Stephenson, Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson and young Massachusetts senator John Kennedy.

This film depicts the 1960 Wisconsin primary election between John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey. In 2016, we remember John Kennedy as a young and charismatic President, but we don’t take into the account the prejudices of the 1950s America. We cannot understand how America could doubt the candidacy of John Kennedy. But in 1960, John Kennedy was a candidate with lots of flaws. John Kennedy was Irish and Catholic and those groups were ostracized by WASPs as second class citizens and by protestant clergies as not so loyal to the Constitution as to the papal decrees.

All of the pundits thought that the 1960 Wisconsin primary election is closed behind Hubert Humphrey. Wisconsin shared the same border with Minnesota, Hubert Humphrey was a reputed force in the Senate and a lot of local figures have endorsed the Minnesotan. Hubert Humphrey was also the civil rights champion and active proponent of farming subsidies.

In comparison to Hubert Humphrey, John Kennedy got a reputation as a playboy and rich kid, whose daddy has bought him a place in the Congress. Also John Kennedy has missed a lot of the legislative sessions and was not too active in the bill drafting business. Along with above mentioned Catholicism, John Kennedy was criticized for inactivity during the censure hearing of Joseph McCarthy.

As always, the experts forgot something important. This time they forgot that during the campaign, the political views are not so important. Kentucky’s senator Mitch McConnell said that «issues, unfortunately, usually are kind of peripheral to winning a campaign». The same senator said to the students what built a political party. He’d written on the blackboard three words: «Money, money, money»[1].

According with the McConnell words, the form takes precedence over the substance (most of the times). Hubert Humphrey comes to a farming community, visits the high school and talks about the farm subsidies legislation (which he had cosponsored). John Kennedy visits the grand ballroom of some fancy hotel and after the fanfares talks about some bill (probably nonexistent), which deals with the export of wheat to the socialistic countries.

The film also illustrates the birth of TV as a crucial tool for the campaigning. The fourth book of Robert Caro’s anthology on LBJ has a special chapter on JFK called «The Rich Man’s Son». This chapter also points out the tactics of JFK. Very early, John Kennedy understood that the Senate is not the best starting ground for the presidential campaign. This assumption was based on a fact, that every Aey or Nay for any bill would make new political opponents.

Instead of legislating, John Kennedy starts building his media image. The 1950s America is charmed by young senator, everybody talks about his beautiful wife, John Kennedy becomes a popular guest on famous TV shows. The electorate of Wisconsin also charmed by the TV image of John Kennedy; Hubert Humphrey’s real struggle on their behalf leave them cold.

The 1960 Wisconsin primary election as the 2016 general election campaign shows a clash between different styles of political campaign. Of course, compared with Trump, JFK was a progressive visionary. Nevertheless, a time bomb, which allowed Trump’s victory was armed in 1960.

If you miss the civilized political campaigning process, then watch this film. After watching, I recommend you to read «The Years of Lyndon Johnson» (Robert A. Caro).

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[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/11/mitch-mcconnell-profile_n_3550173.html