Helene Grimaud at the RFH

Yesterday night I went to see HG again. A solo concert as five or six years ago, same auditorium. Then the earth moved. And the skies opened and a new life started. Yesterday, it was also a recital and a good one. But nothing moved much apart from Helene's swift hands on the keyboard. I found that Mozart was not for her at all. She gave him
a military ardour and brilliance way too OTT for the nuanced Amadeus, here travestied as a thunderous god. Then during the deconstructed second bit ( Berg ?) I fell asleep. Oh dear. Was very tired. Then more rushing of hands on keyboard, and it was over. The 'encore' was the best. An hungarian dance with colour, rythm and flavour. All three missing rather from the previous two pieces. It was odd that Helene, so intense, lyrical and melodic chose to play bits that felt rather dull and dry. And why Mozart ? But why no Bach
at all when she recorded a whole beautiful CD of his music ? On the whole a lovely evening but nowhere near as tremendous as the one, a few years back, when her walking on stage changed my life.

Let me in, the film.

'Let me in' is a film that leaves a deep impression on you. Long after you have seen it, you will still carry its haunting effect. This might be the one time in film history, when the remake is way better than the initial film, because 'Let the right one in' was good but left one totally cold and indifferent. It was quaint, arty, very 'small film' and very likeable in its unpretentiousness. But with 'Let me in' now we are talking total cinema. Everything is better : the acting of the two superb young actors ( especially Chloe Moretz, utterly charismatic ) the direction, the music, everything. Right from the great opening scene, you are gripped by a masterly hand that you know wont let you go till the very end and after. The result is even more incredible given that most of us know the 'story' and that the surprise effect could have been therefore spoiled. Yet the movie managed supremely to top it all effortlessly. You gap, you stare, you wince at it all, as if for the very first time because really, it is the First time you see such a great, powerful story being told. This version also is not only powerful but subtle and very moving. It breaks the boundary of the one story, and become an all meaningful allergory. The fascination for Evil. The beauty and seduction of the Devil. The flame that humanity will always carry for evil-doing in spite of being destroyed in the process. There had been a very long time since a film made such a deep impression on me. And from talking to everyone around, we all agree : Superb.

Iceland

Josephine got lost on own island so we'll leave her there and carry on just like that. Just me talking. Recently I have been to Iceland and experienced the best trip ever. This is The Place. The feel of the nearby North Pole is incredible. The mountains loom large and mysterious. The whole land is a Mystery. I long to go back, deeper into the wild and lose myself into total space and emptiness. The landscape is like a perfect meditation. From the minute you land, it's like landing on the moon. Iceland is another planet. Then you drive into the landscape and the deep, spooky quiet get to you. You go into that odd, peaceful, silent state that here would be called 'meditation' but there just happens naturally to your mind.
I think I fell in love with the North Pole. Cold ,silent, ultimate, perfect. And long to be back.