The far end cleared

 

Now cleared, the very far end of the garden was where I used to have three compost heaps, see below,  one for each year before the oldest was spread on the borders in spring and a new one started. 

That was why I planted the laurels to block the view from down the garden.

Now that moving the compost has become too hard, it was time to clear all the forget-me-nots and to level the last of the remaining compost over the whole area. This was how it looked in March before the forget-me-nots came into flower. 

Last week the forget-me-nots have been cleared and in piles ready for taking to the tip. Alison helped with that last week.

Then on Monday, in a gap when it was not raining, I spread all the remaining compost to level the whole area. There is just the one heap left from last year that I will decide what to do with sometime.  I just need to keep the weeds down this summer. There are also the remains of three tree stumps from the Aylesbury Prune that died a few years ago. They are gradually disintegrating.

Movies at Home: So Long, My Son, Amores Perros and I'm Your Man

 

So Long , My Son from 2019 is an epic movie from China, nearly three hours long. A riveting drama spanning over thirty years. Written and directed by Wang Xiaoshuai it plays forwards and backwards to tremendous effect. Although where we are in time does get a bit of getting used to. It focuses on the Chinese one child policy that was gone in 2015. I will not go into all those complicated Chinese names for the actors, but they portray the families with distinction. What was even more impressive was the cinematography, some of the long range exterior shots were outstanding. The long, three hour run time is a little padded out as the camera dawdles as it moves between rooms and for some household chores. 

Not for the faint hearted, amores perros (a rough translation is bad love, although perros is also dogs) is a 2000 award winning film from Mexico.  Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, (21 Grams and Babel are excellent movies) it follows three separate stories that become interwoven towards the end. First is Octavio (Gael Garcia Bernal) who cannot stand how his brother treats his wife, whom he secretly adores. He has a fighting dog, Cofi. Secondly, Valeria is a stunning supermodel (Goya Toledo) involved in a bad accident. Last of all is Chivo, seemingly a down and out, but he does have his own place. Ex-army and dangerous. Emilio Echevarria is superb.

I'm Your Man (or in this case, your robot) is a lovely French film from 2021. In the lead role is Maren Eggert who I had never seen before. Of  course I knew Dan Stevens from Downton Abbey. Also Sandra Huller from The Zone of Interest and Anatomy of a Fall. But it was Eggert who was worth watching, and no wonder winning best actress at the Berlin Film Festival in 2023. Stevens hardly has to act in his role as a robot, but it is Eggert who steals the show. She was just brilliant.

Cormorant at Weston Turville Reservoir

 

When I visited Weston Turville Reservoir last week, I saw a Cormorant splashing it's wings in the water. Exactly like the video on YouTube called "Cormorant washing in Long Water".  It then flew onto a buoy to dry, just like it was suggested on the internet. 

Unfortunately the camera on my phone is pretty awful, especially using close up. But here it is. I was the only person there and spent ages just watching the antics.

Inside Cinema - Shorts - 21 to 30

 

The next ten in my notes on "Inside Cinema - Shorts" starts with Episode 21 Bumbling Detectives narrated by Justin Chang. He tells us these films are "taking the edge off something serious" and hoping the viewer will work out whodunit before those bumbling detectives. Such as Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in Hot Fuzz. Unlike those films full of slapstick and pratfalls. Such as Michael Caine as Sherlock homes in Without a Clue, Elliot Gould as Philip Marlow and Daniel Craig in Knives Out: "I suspect foul play".

Nikki Bedi whips through lots and lots of Indian films in Episode 22's Taboo Breaking Bollywood. Of which I had never heard of one. Or the directors or the actors. This must be because these particular movies have no singing and dancing but are more along the lines of social realism. 

Episode 23 is Star Wardrobes introduced by Gavia Baker. The tile is a terrible pun. It is all about the costumes, production design, the look of the Star Wars films. George Lucas wanted them all to be distinctive, futuristic, even fascist and militaristic. All except our heroes looking more naturalistic with muted colours and soft fabrics. Then the elaborate wardrobes of  Padme Amidala played by Natalie Portman. Then the costume of the main baddie Darth Vader, all black.

Hannah Woodland is the narrator for Episode 24 Cats Entertainment. Again, we rush through films such as 1959's Bell, Book and Candle with Kim Novak and James Stewart, then Donald Pleasance as Blofeld and his cat in From Russia with Love in 1963. On to the horror films like 1977's The Uncanny and animated pictures such as Coraline from 2009. Then the last twenty hardly register from 1934's The Back Cat to 2018's Can You Ever Forgive Me. Were they just going for the record?

Another mad rush through some dark Christmas movies is Pamela Hutchinson's Episode 25 Unmerry Christmas. I was glad they included It's a Wonderful Life that is such a miserable film to put on each year. And I hardly count Miracle on 34th Street as unmerry even if Kris Kringle gets arrested. But some are really funny like 1984's Gremlins and Home Alone in 1990. Some films are predictably included but some not. Emma Thomson's horrible moment in Love Actually is always upsetting. 

Ashley Clark starts episode 26 Millennials on Film with, possibly predictably, Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring from 2013. Then on to 2012's Spring Breakers, both with all these awful youngish people. There were some films I did not want to be reminded of but better were The Social Network from 2010, Greta Gerwig's Ladybird from 2017 and 2016's Personal Shopper, all of which were excellent.  For some reason we are shown lots of documentaries such as Minding the Gap from 2018 before the narrator extolled the virtues of Natalie Portman in 2018's Vox Lux. One to look out for: " a millennium clarion call" and someone "thriving against the odds". 

Above is dear Paddington holding on in Episode 27 Locomotion Pictures. Jake Cunningham whips through lots of clips of trains on film. Most very familiar. But not 2016's Japanese movie Train to Busan. I did see the riotous  Snowpiercer from 2013, Bong Joon-ho's  post apocolyptic thriller that I wouldn't mind seeing again. Lots of westerns with trains including One Upon a Time in the West. Ending with some animated films and Paddington. 

Tim Robey introduces Episode 28 Perfect Storms. There is, of course, lots and lots of rain. So, of course, singing in it. Tim says "does cinema ever do light drizzle?". Not for Gene Kelly. Then not only rain but hurricanes and blizzards. We are shown a clip from Forces of Nature from 1999. "It has the worst weather day for a wedding in entire film history". Goodbyes in the rain include 1993's Remains of the Day and Bridges of Maddison County from 1995.So in films "it never rains but it pours". Just ask Andy MacDowell and Hugh Grant in Four Weddings and a Funeral. Thirty years ago this month.

Christina Newland again, this time looking at make-up in Episode 29 Cosmetic Cinema. Above is Melanie Laurant applying war paint in Quentin Tarrantino's Inglorious Basterds. Reviewed on this blog on 3rd September 2009 and my post "Revenge of the Giant Face" on 4th May 2011. As Christina says "make up in movies is far from cosmetic". Flaming Youth from 1923 is a very early version but that was before it dashed through so many films. I was more interested later on with make up as a templte for sadness or disaster. Such as 2017's I, Tonya, Edward Scissorhands in 1990 and Dangerous Liasons in 1988. 

Episode 30 is Who Killed the Erotic Thriller presented by Catherine Bray. We are shown all those Michael Douglas movies from the early nineties "Lots and lots of Michael Douglas" but also many Hollywood A-listers. But who killed it off and where are they today? Apparently it was Showgirls that bombed in 1995. It seems to be left to TV series such as Game of Thrones to take up the banner.

Sight and Sound Weekly Film Bulletin

This week we have Rose Glass's top ten films in the "Greatest Films of all Time" poll. I hope to her latest movie Love Lies Bleeding next week and I have Saint Maud on record to fast forward through the scary bits. All good choices except I had not heard of John Waters' Female Trouble.

"The Watch List" for next week includes The Fall Guy as well as the one above.

"From the Archive" we go back to 1989 and a link to Lindsay Anderson's full interview looking back on his career. He tells us "In Britain, cinemas are depressing places to visit". Maybe then, but thirty five years later they are much better. 

In "Our critics review the latest releases", we have Challengers "Luca Guadagnino's frenetic three hander", but the better sounding The Idea of You is only on Amazon Prime.

Backstage with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on Sky Arts

 

We are invited to the London Philharmonic Orchestra's rehearsals for Mahler's Second Symphony "The Resurrection". Over four parts, conductor Edward Gardner talks us through the whole process with interviews with some of the musicians.

Part One: The Strings

He tells us what it will be like for the rehearsals with such a large orchestra that will be supplemented by other musicians. He talks about Mahler and particularly his second symphony. All very technical but amazing.

Alice Ivy-Pemberton is co-leader of the London Philharmonic. She talks about her background, how she practices and her role in the orchestra. As does bass player Hugh Kluger. Then a married couple, Martin Wray (viola, apparently he got too tall for violin)) and Minn Majoe (first violin). Ronald Long is from South Carolina and is a freelance musician supplementing the violins. Facebook has them all talking on "Meet the Strings Backstage with the London Philharmonic.

Part Two; Woodwind and Percussion

Rehearsals have now moved to The Royal Festival Hall where the concert will take place. It's hard to squeeze in all the instruments with those extra musicians. The rehearsal tries out single instruments, then pairs with the brass then behind the scenes before the full orchestra starts to play.

This time we hear from Juliette Bauser, principal flute, Jonathon Davies, principal bassoon, and Simon Carrington, principal timpani. He shows us the the amazing kettle drums. I liked it when they showed us them practicing at home. It was interesting how the woodwind section worked with percussion. 

Edward Gardner tells us about the start of the 3rd movement when a crash of percussion surprises the audience. Simon tells about his history then shows us him changing the heads of the drums where the previous heads had worn out. We see the mechanics of this amazing instrument. Juliette is from a musical family and that she started flute from the age of four. Then Jonathon tells us about making the reeds for his bassoon that is an "ongoing hellish process". 

Andrew Barclay always wanted to play an unusual instrument and is now principle percussion with the London Philharmonic. We see him with his enormous cymbals and that crucial time in the piece when they crash. He and Simon (principal percussion) have known each other since they were seventeen and they went to the Royal College of Music together. Andrew seems to be the joker. "Meet the percussion section" is on YouTube. 

Edward Gardner talks about Mahler, how he was a musician, conductor and composer. His music sheets are full of instructions such as horns playing offstage. This I found absolutely enthralling. At the end we are told the choir is still to be introduced.

Part 3 Brass

The Principal Tuba player is Lee Tsarmaklis. He was very young when his parents moved to England and he learnt how to play the tuba for fun before he even learned to speak English. He worked on building sites until he was persuaded to audition for the Royal Academy of Music. This he said was "life changing". He is big friend with principal  trombone played Mark Templeton and they have worked together for a long time. Then we see Paul Beniston is principal trumpet. Later we see his collection of vintage brass instruments including a cornet four years older than Mahler. 

A young lady is mounting the steps up to the Royal Academy of Music. This is Annemarie Federle, going to practice her French horn. She says there are very few women in the brass section of orchestras. She is very young at 21 as principal French horn. Still studying for her exams at the Royal Academy. She started the French horn at seven as apparently her lungs when young were very loud. She tells us about holding the instrument, the breathing involved etc. In 2022 she stepped in at very short notice as a soloist for the London Philharmonic and this led to an offer to join full time. 

We then see all them all playing with the full orchestra. At the very end, at last, here is the large choir at the back of the Royal Festival Hall joining the orchestra for final rehearsals.

Part 4 The Concert

The whole of Mahler's Second Symphony is here. Great to see all those members of the orchestra who have appeared in the previous episodes. The whole series has been brilliant.

Noah's Compass, The Characters of Love and Blaming

 

I was just about to give my review three stars when I remembered that highly emotional ending. Liam Pennywell is sixty something, made redundant from his teaching role at St Dyfrigs, downsizes to a small apartment and has no reason to find other employment. But on his first night there he is attacked, although he has no recollection of the event except he wakes up in hospital. He has lots of visitors from an extended family (two failed marriages) who appear on odd occasions through the story. Grown up children and their offspring. Also his older sister: "She collected and polished resentments as if it were some sort of hobby".

Settling down in his small apartment, his stitches are out, visitors gone, he is fixated by not being able to remember anything about the attack. He does, however, become distracted by Eunice who he meets at the doctor's surgery, and their relationship, of sorts, carries the book forwards. Interrupted as it is by daughter Kitty suddenly staying with him. Towards the end, Liam reflects on his life and we hear at last about his ex wives. His visit to one at the end is maybe the basis for some kind of resolution.

Then at the very end, the author even starts the poem "James, James, Morrison, Morrison, Weatherby George Dupree......". (He took great care of his mother though he was only three). An A.A. Milne poem that my father recited to us when we were very young. That is much more than seventy years ago.

Unfortunately, this is my last Susie Boyt book as I have read all her others. As her second novel, I didn't think it was up there with her best. The story follows Nell from childhood to her early twenties, combining her relationships with an absentee father and that with her much much older tutor at university. Nell is a strange creation. A difficult girl in some ways, but highly intelligent and resourceful. I guess the author is trying to compare these two men in her life, who are not really the best for her fragile mind. But at that impressionable age, these things can happen. The writing is as brilliant as ever, especially some of the dialogue. I will now have to wait until her next book is published.

I haven't read all of Elizabeth Taylor's novels but this is her last. She was dying when she finished the book so never saw it published. There is a kind of melancholy and occasional anger that permeates the writing. Amy and her husband Nick are on a Mediterranean cruise onboard a ship that also has cargo. The only other English speaking passenger is Martha who is a single American. Nick is recovering from treatment in hospital and seems to be struggling. They reach Istanbul for a stop-over. The next day when Martha boards the coach, Amy and Nick are missing. Only later does she find out that Nick has died.

So begins a strange kind of relationship between Amy and Martha. Back home Martha tries to support Amy despite the latter feeling this is the last sort of person she wants around. In Amy's fancy but old house we find Ernie Pounce, a general factotum who Nick had stay as a housekeeper and cook. He seems oblivious to Amy's loss and just talks about the problems with his teeth. "They are the last straw, she thought".

We then hear about Amy's family and the husband of her dead best friend. Gareth, is perhaps, the one straightforward character in the story. But it's Martha who tries to dominate her life. Two people you would do everything to avoid: Martha and Ernie Pounce. This is not the favourite of the Elizabeth Taylor shortish novels, but the writing is as sharp and wonderful as ever. There is humour too, but that underlying sadness cannot be avoided.