This weekend

Homemade

I found this stamp for cookies at Big Blue the other day. Oh, the joy. I've been looking for one of these things for ages. I haven't had a chance to use it yet. That will be changing this weekend though. Why? Because I'm on holiday for a week as soon as I hand in my assignment today. Hallelujah.

Hysterical

I haven't done a song of the day in a while, so here's Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's video for their song, Hysterical. It's really a trippy video. They will be playing in Joburg on 14 April. Sponsors are most welcome. Don't be shy.

Hysterical from CYHSY on Vimeo.

Double Adapter mixtape

The Double Adapter dudes released a new mixtape today. Take a listen here and then you can download it for free. Free music makes my day. Speaking of Double Adapter, did you see their performance at the MK Awards last Friday? I love how they have incorporated instruments into their live set now.

OppiKoppi 2012: Sweet Thing

Yes! OppiKoppi 2012's theme was announced today. Taken from a Van Morrisson song that was covered by The Waterboys, this year's theme is Sweet Thing. 

The Oppikoppi people commissioned fine artist, Gavin Rain, to come up with an image that would be used as source material. They then got the folks from janaandkoos.com to work their graphic design magic and voilà, this wonderful poster was born. 

Tickets are R700 on the OppiKoppi Facebook page (or R750 on Ticketbreak.co.za) but Standard Bank youth portal has said  that they will subsidise every ticket bought from them (www.standardbank.co.za/studentachiever) to the value of R150. In other words,  you only pay R600.

Keep an eye out as I update you on all the Oppi news that you'll need to know. 

Yay! Now I'm excited!

Hello/Goodbye

So many posts lined up, so little time. I'll be back, I promise. In the meantime, here's one of my favourite pics that I snapped this weekend. Ah, what a weekend it was. Hope it was a cracker for you too.

These make me happy

 Christi made these babies from scratch. The best part is that they are mine, all mine. What a talented little creature. So proud. 

Out In Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

 This Friday sees the start of the annual Out in Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, a ten day event which celebrates the Gay and Lesbian community. It begins in Johannesburg with the thrice Oscar nominated Albert Nobbs and in Cape Town with British film 9 Dead Gay Guys.

The festival programme also includes films from around the world: My Last Round (Argentina and Chile), Kiss Me (Sweden), Romeos (Germany), Christopher and His Kind (UK), A Marine Story (USA) and North Sea Texas (USA).

Local talent will be represented by Mthokozisi Lembethe’s The Secret which will be screened along with two South African shorts, Anders and Paving Forward. International guests will also be present at the screenings. Among these will be Dreya Weber, who will present US military film A Marine Story. The Swedish film Kiss Me will be introduced by Josefine Tengblad. Both films have garnered several international film awards. 

The second and third legs of the festival will commence on  Friday 27 July to Sunday 5 August and Friday 19 to Sunday 28 October (Opening nights – 17th JHB and 18th CT) respectively.

A full schedule of the films:

Nu Metro Cinema Jozi Hyde Park Nu Metro Cinema Cape Town V&A Fri 23 March Fri 23 March 7.30 9 Dead Gay Guys 7 Kiss Me 7.30 Albert Nobbs 9 North Sea Texas + Guest Sat 24 Sat 24 6 Kiss Me + Guests + Book Signing 6.30 The Secret + Anders + Paving Forward 8.45 North Sea Texas + Guest 8.45 9 Dead Gay Guys Sun 25 Sun 25 6 A Marine Story + Guest 7 Romeos 8.45 My Last Round 9 Christopher & His Kind Tue 27 Tue 27 7.30 Albert Nobbs 7 The Secret + Anders + Paving Forward 7.30 Christopher & His Kind 8.30 My Last Round Wed 28 Wed 28 7 The Secret + Anders + Paving Forward + Guests 6.30 Kiss Me + Guests 9.15 9 Dead Gay Guys 9 Romeos Thu 29 Thu 29 7 Romeos 6.30 A Marine Story + Guest 9 My Last Round 9 North Sea Texas Fri 30 Fri 30 7 Kiss Me 6.45 Albert Nobbs + Gala Event 9 Christopher & His Kind 7 9 Dead Gay Guys Sat 31 Sat 31 6 A Marine Story 6.15 A Marine Story + Guest 8 Romeos 9 Christopher & His Kind Sun 1 April Sun 1 April 6 The Secret + Anders + Paving Forward + Guests 6 My Last Round 8.15 North Sea Texas 6.15 Albert Nobbs

For more information visit the festival’s website at www.oia.co.za

Anele was here

As a journalism nerd, it is only right that I am part of Tuks Journalism Society. Tonight we had our first speaker of the year, Highveld's soon-to-be drive show host, Anele Mdoda. The epitome of a strong and independent women, she has an incredibly warm and infectious personality. Anele also offered golden nuggets of advice for us aspiring journalists. I walked out of there feeling unbelievably motivated. The lovely frock she is wearing is a Loin Cloth and Ashes creation. The fashion slut in me had to mention that. 

Tea Tuesday

 

Mnusic

Today Desmond & the Tutus released a little promo video for their upcoming album, Mnusic. They said it was going to be weird but I wasn't quite prepared for it. Was I disturbed after watching the video? Well, yes. I think the Desmond dudes are cooked. But did I have a good laugh? Of course. I would go so far as to say it's a freakishly genius video. Take a look- it will definitely make your Monday.

Cover girl: Alexa Chung

Elle's 16th birthday issue went on sale today with the lovely Alexa Chung on the cover. It's pretty and all, but someone throw this girl a burger. Please?

Loskop

This weekend I went to Loskop Dam for the Perdeby camp. Thank goodness it wasn't the type of camp where you eat powdered eggs, climb monkey bars and wade through mud. I despise those and am quite happy to leave them in my vault of high school memories. This camp was quite different. It involved a little bit of training and an abundance of alcohol and free time. I took this picture when we went for sun downers at the dam wall. I live in such a beautiful country, yes?

Bravo, bravo

On Tuesday evening, I went to see Bravo at the State Theatre. It's a showcase of highlights of Opera Africa's most memorable productions over the last 18 years. The first half included a one-act opera called Ziyankomo and the Forbidden Fruit by composer Phelelani Mnomiya. The second half was s collection of opera favourites like Faust, Carmen, La Bohème, Princess Magogo and La Traviata.

Although not everyone's cup of tea, I think there's something so magical about opera. It's so passionate, so alive. The singers that really stuck out for me were Fikile Mvinjelwa, Kelebogile Boikanyo and Given Nkosi. They were spectacular. Bravo will run till tomorrow in Pretoria but if you are keen to see it, it will be running at the Joburg Theatre on 23, 25,29 and 31 March. Tickets are really reasonably priced. I highly recommend getting your ass to one of these shows pronto.

I snapped these pictures on my phone before the plays started. Pretoria's CBD has some of the most beautiful buildings.  They remind me a tad of walking the streets of Rome in the evening. 

The Film Fundi's review of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

South African Release Date: 2 March 2012
Cast: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn, Max von Sydow, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Jeffrey Wright, Zoe Caldwell
Director: Stephen Daldry
Screenwriter: Eric Roth, based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer

Oscar Nominations: Two (Best picture; best actor in a supporting role: Max Von Sydow)

From the director who bought us Billy Elliot (2000) and The Reader (2008) comes one of the most underrated films of the year. Steven Daldry, a director who has worked predominantly in the theatre proves a transition from stage to screen to be effortless and engaging. Daldry’s interpretation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s 2005 novel of the same name has, however, obtained a collection of rather mixed reviews.

There are many different opinions as to what makes a film ‘excellent’ or ‘brilliant’. Arguably, one of the quintessential factors (although there are many) is a well-crafted script. Luckily, in director Daldry’s case Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close was in the trustworthy hands of Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth. Roth’s difficult task involved adapting the novel into cinematic material that could be both visually and aurally stimulating-  no mean feat for any scriptwriter who has to adapt a well-loved literary piece. Roth appears to be in his element as he brings to life a character that feel out of place in a seemingly ‘normal’ world and who has to navigate himself in his own way, shape and form to make sense of it all. Oskar Schell could be considered a third member of the trilogy of supposed ‘outcasts’ that Roth has helped bring to life on screen. The first of these two being Forrest Gump in Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump (1994) and Benjamin Button in David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). All three are unconventional and nontraditional, but somehow likeable as each of their journeys leave an indelible imprint on our minds.

Oskar Schell (Horn) is an inquisitive and intelligent boy. His borderline Aspergers means he sees the world in a different way to those around him. The film tells of his journey as he grapples with the death of his father who lost his life in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre. A year after the event, upon the discovery of a mysterious key held in a small envelope in a blue vase he finds in his father’s closet, he goes on a mission to search for a lock for the key. He hopes to find a final message from his father, or at least something to keep their connection alive. With his only clue being the word ‘Black’ written on the small paper envelope he visits all the residents with the surname ‘Black’ in the five boroughs of New York. Still distraught over the loss of her husband, Oskars’ mother, Linda (Bullock) is no help and Oskar thinks it best to hide his mission from her. He meets many people on his adventure, none of which can give him the answers he is looking for, yet this only increases his desire to keep looking. Along the way he encounters Abby Black (Davis) who has problems of her own but feels it necessary to help Oskar on his journey. He also comes across a man (known only as The Renter) who rents a room in Oskar’s grandmother’s (Caldwell) apartment. The Renter does not speak and only communicates with a note pad and tattooed ‘YES’ and ‘NO’ on each of his palms. Oskar feels a strange connection to the mysterious man, who after hearing his story wants to accompany him on his adventure. The two form an unlikely, kindred bond but a secret drives the two apart and eventually the Renter decides to leave town as his presence in Oskar’s life is hindering rather than helping him. What follows is an exciting yet unexpected resolution to Oskar’s passionate adventure.

It is difficult to believe this is Horn’s first film. His nuanced and emotionally engaging performance is remarkable. This is sure to be the start of a promising career, one that someone like Haley Joel Osment could have had, but fell short of. Sandra Bullock is at her best since Crash (2004). She brings a beautiful sensitivity to her role and her scenes with Horn are a definite highlight of the film. Max Von Sydow justifies his Oscar Nomination has great merit and Viola Davis once again proves why she is fast becoming one of the most respected actresses in the industry. The use of sound and music in the film enhances our experience of the story and helps us understand a little better what Oskar is going though, especially with his tambourine, which is always close by to calm him in any tense situation.

As mentioned, the film garnered largely mixed reviews, which mainly leaned towards negative responses. While some claim the plot and ‘9/11’ factor was contrived and manipulative, perhaps the act of taking a relevant event, like 9/11 and finding a personal story in a public tragedy is how the film intended to be most effective. Highly acclaimed American film critic Roger Ebert said that, “No movie has ever been able to provide a catharsis for the Holocaust, and I suspect none will ever be able to provide one for 9/11. Such subjects overwhelm art. The artist's usual tactic is to centre on individuals whose lives are a rebuke to the tragedy. They sidestep the actual event and focus on a parallel event that ends happily, giving us a sentimental reason to find consolation. That is small comfort to the dead.” With respect to Ebert’s argument, perhaps a catharsis from the national tragedy was not what Daldry or in fact even Foer intended. One would like to think that the British director is not that arrogant or ambitious. Understandably, the story plays a litter closer to home for Americans and more specifically, New Yorkers. The 9/11 theme was part of the story but certainly not the story as it was in, for example, Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center (2006) or Paul Greengrass’ United 93 (2006). After all, at the core of the story is the relationship between father and son and the hope to maintain that bond in both life and death.

While the subject matter is rather heavy and emotionally draining and at any moment  could have slipped into crass sentimentality, it is the stellar combination of acting, scriptwriting, editing and directing that have been fine tuned to an incredible balance that make this film work so well.   Consequently, the pay off climactic moment produces one of the most remarkable and honest endings I have seen in many years