The Islanders: Christopher Priest

Christopher Priest has always been a favourite. This is his most recent - and possibly final - work.
Not really a novel, more a related collection of short-stories tied together with the theme of an imaginary groups of islands and presented as a gazetteer. The narrative is fairly fractured as a result but there are some terrific gems; and some of the threads introduced at various times come and go, never being wholly resolved. Some of the inventiveness create ideas or scenes or bizarre imaginary works of art of such power they almost become memories or real events. Exceptional!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

My Architect

I think one of the BBC channels broadcast this a while back.
Basically a documentary on the architect Louis Kahn by his "son". Kahn was certainly an oddball in his personal life and attempting to explore it at this distance is both admirable and fascinating; for his son (the film's creator) and us (the audience) there is no resolution, no comprehension - ending up asking more questions than it answers. But that's OK, we get enough insight into Kahn to appreciate the man even if we cannot really figure him out.
And curiously that lack of resolution is mirrored exactly when dealing with his architectural achievements. Not successful in the way many of his contemporaries where but leaving a legacy of creations which are spectacular and wonderful. Expecting to comprehend his creativity is as illusive as divining his personal motivations. The best we can do is gaze in wonderment at the contributions he has made to our world either its fabric or the people he has touched.
If architecture is a passion for you then this film is a gem; watch it.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Coffee and Cigarettes

A collection of shorts cobbled together to make a full-size film. None of the pieces related to one another - other than the "coffee and cigarettes" of the title. Don't take it too seriously otherwise you will miss what wit there is. Very verbal enhanced by some careful editing. Most of the situations work quite well.
Don't worry if you miss it, the world won't stop.
♥ ♥ ♥

Black Book

Second time around and it is still damned good.

A war movie about the Dutch resistance. At least I think that is what it is about: could also be about betrayal or survival or deceit even. And of course it is that complexity and multi-layered story that make it so watchable.
 
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Audition

This is outrageously spectacular! Though it is full-on  Japanese horror

Starts out with a seemingly modern tale of a mature, single-man in search of romance. And gradually, slowly it descends into the dark depths of perverted subconscious you can imagine. And then it sinks a little bit deeper in to what must be the Japanese subconscious. Gorey in the extreme.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Dogtooth

This is unreal as distinct from surreal. I didn't care for it at all.
 
 ♥

In the Mood for Love

This is spectacular.

A gentle story told with beautiful sensitivity  and such a profound sadness.
 
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Primer

I think I need to watch this again or maybe I just was not concentrating.

It felt that it was good but I'm not entirely sure why nor barely what it is about. Of course, when you start messing with time that's the sort of thing that happens in your head; cleverly these guys made it happen on the screen.
 
♥ ♥ ♥

The American Friend

Terrific film with a seriously edgy Dennis Hopper.
The normality of Bruno Ganz and his domestic life in Hamburg deteriorates rapidly descending into the surreal. Some spectacular scenes; terrific performances all round!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Naked Lunch

The book is hard to read and the film isn't much easier.
Even normality seems surreal; perhaps that is where Burroughs was at.
♥ ♥

Lake Tahoe

Really liked this one. 

I find it hard to really believe that I live on the same planet, in the same time that this film records.
 
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥