Encounters at the end of the world

..overhead the albatross..

All the lines of the map converge at two places. This congregation of lines, geography and magnetic fields brings to one place the full time travelers , part time workers and Professional dreamers, as someone mentions . Drivers, computer scientists, fork lift operators, biologists, welders, climatologists, divers and construction workers. Everyone is poetic, passionate, well traveled, well read and a has a streak of madness, and thats the way things should be :)

..and everything is green and submarine..

There is no North of North pole, I had written somewhere eons ago. And I hear something like this here. Do I fit into this category? :) Imagery of formidable and painfully-beautiful Gorakshep flit through my mind.

I am in awe of the stories of people documented here, as they go about near death experiences (near life experiences?) nonchalantly. These are the folks who live by Carpe Diem. There is a streak of controlled recklessness, with a burning desire to experience what life has to offer. Respect, for having the balls to listen to yourself!! A delicate dialogue with someone who revisits a painful moment in his life, moved me. Fight or flight.

The sounds that seals make, sound like Pink Floyd or something, says a biologist studying them. One of the coolest moments :) And they do, check it out :) The Echoes are around you, if you know what I mean :P:P

..and deep beneath the rolling waves, of labyrinths and coral caves..

Scientists shred away on a tin shed amidst the frozen nothingness, a scientist demonstrates how to get into a travel bag (travel with yourself?!). If you listen to all these people speak, you begin to dream, too.

There are some really stunning and other-worldly images here. This, combined with the grand background score transports you to a place where time stands still. This is a philosophical documentary which will make you ponder on many things. It will remind you about the beauty, fragility, magnificence and the grandeur of the world we live in, and how much there is to explore.

Thanks, GK!

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*

Happy People

Image courtesy filmschoolrejects.com

This is a documentary on the lives of people in Bakhtia, an area in Siberia. With a population of 300, and accessible only through helicopter and boat, its inhabitants are mostly trappers. Directed by Werner Herzog who also provides the voice over, we are taken through all seasons in this isolated, rugged, and merciless place. These are the people who have lived here for generations, and have learnt how to endure and survive in this almost inhospitable place. This is true Man Vs Wild. What is a telephone? What is the internet?

Gennady Solovyev  is the main character who we follow through most of the documentary. Gennady takes us through how he survives in this wilderness using the most basic of necessities and tools (most of which he builds from scratch). We go through one full year, observing Gennady go about his work .He chooses a tree, examines its fibers, deems it fit for building a ski and then chops it down. Using basic carpentry tools and techniques passed on for generations, he creates a pair of skis for his travels. Factory made ones will not last this place, he declares. We also understand how the Koolyomka works(a deadfall trap).

Building the Koolyomka

The age- old bond between dog and man is explored well here. "You are no hunter without your dog", says Gennady. And it rings very true. It is beautiful to observe these loyal beings work with man, as they have, for generations and generations. The images of Gennady's loyal dog making its way across the frozen nothingness, as Gennady makes his way home, will make a lasting impact.

Image courtesy fandor.com

It is also amazing to observe the hardened, man against the elements Gennady reminisce about a sad incident involving one of his dogs and a bear. Side topic: Do you know why dogs turn around in circles before lying down? Read this. More on dogs.

Gennady also becomes philosophical and bestows his wisdom of the ages to us, sometimes borne out of solitude and contemplation. Stripping out the nonsense, he declares that here, it is about who outsmarts whom.

There are moments of family time, and the celebration of Christmas, too. The stark reality of depression and alcoholism, which is a reality in these places is also presented, although briefly here.

Warner weaves this documentary around solitude, industry, resilience, fortitude, and the delicate balance between man and nature. Although I felt that the romance of happiness may not be adequately conveyed/ portrayed here, this is a good watch. The least we can do is to appreciate the ways of these people, and remind ourselves 'how much' is 'too much', and how our mindless ways are crippling the planet, like nothing else in the history of its existence.

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*


With Love, from Russia.

A coffee in Berlin

Image courtesy rottentomatoes.com

 
I watched this movie in a phase of Non-English movie viewings which I am in, and I am glad I did so. Being conditioned to predictability and patterns, this is a good break to appreciate viewpoints from around the world.

This movie is in black and white, and it follows a phase of a person in Berlin. There are vignettes of folks you encounter, each with his own quirks. Nikko is a dropout from Law school, and we go around Berlin encountering people.

We are taken through Nikko's interactions with normal people - the pesky neighbour (who lets you into his fragile life over an impromptu drink), the government servant at the driving license centre who asks seemingly unconnected questions, the struggling actor, the classmate from eons ago , the seemingly aggressive film maker, memories of childhood from an ageing man in a bar ( this sequence is quite brilliant, too).

Image courtesy variety.com

Nikko's relationship with his father is explored, too, somewhat briefly. Things move, without dwelling at one point or person for too long. There is no 'plot' as such, things are just the way they are, as in real life.

There is a delicate scene in which Nikko bonds with a friend's granny - I feel that this is one of the most well - crafted sequences here. Many subtle points are explored. I won't spoil it more for you.

One thing loosely ties all the encounters and people in the movie (more so, its Protagonist). There are failed attempts at a seemingly simple thing - getting a good cup of coffee. The coffee machine is broken, the lady who serves coffee is just too painful to tackle,or you're simply out of coffee.

 This is Nikko's journey. An exploration in melancholy..... and the perfect coffee. Or rather, the circumstances surrounding it. What I liked is, the general glumness throughout the movie ends with one simple moment where things work, and when hope is restored, by means of scoring a nice cup of coffee.

Image courtesy filmchair.com

There is a sequence towards the end, stills of seemingly random places - an empty road with signal lights, graffiti, buildings, train tracks,  (There is a shot which is shown in the beginning and towards the end of the movie. I remember thinking how well it is composed - figure it out :)) Reminded me how how the movie 'wraps around itself', like it does in Pan's labyrinth

I kind of feel that this is like the perfect movie, without having the depth of words to express why. This movie is definitely something which grows on you, like old friends and old wine :) Let me know what you think about it.

*I do not own any of these images. All pictures courtesy their respective owners*