Category Archives: Cinema

Your name in Lithuanian

Each time I receive a message from my bank in Lithuania, I am reminded of the insistence of that language to Lithuanianize foreign names, although I don’t quite understand what’s wrong with my first name, which already ends in a … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, Language, Lithuania | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Film review: “Balkanski špijun” (“Balkan Spy”)

I was only looking for a spy film from Yugoslavia to practice some Serbo-Croatian, and I found a true gem! Balkanski špijun (Balkan Spy) was released in 1984 and is a comedy about an elderly gentleman who is asked to come … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, Politics | Tagged , | 9 Comments

“The Dark Valley”, a Western from Austria

Yes, Austria. Not Australia. That cute country with castles and Kaiserschmarrn, waltz and Waltz, Mozart and marzipan? But Austria has winters, too. Tough winters, like in Wyoming. And mountains like in Montana. Valleys like in Yosemite. And reclusive communities deep … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Cinema, Germany, Italy, Language | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Easily confused (65) stable and smart

In fiction: In reality: Heck, even the part about the investigation makes sense in both contexts.

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Film Review: “The Pirates of Somalia”

The story of a young graduate who wants to become a hot-shot journalist, receives the advice “you wanna make it as some big-swinging dick journalist, you gotta go somewhere fucking crazy” and goes to Somalia to learn and write about … Continue reading

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I found the tree from “Robin Hood”

During my walk along Hadrian’s Wall, I discovered the tree that was used in the filming of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman. Remember this scene? I am not sure, though, why Robin Hood is … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, Photography, Travel, UK | Tagged , | 9 Comments

A Western from Bolivia

  Sam Shepard’s death is a sad but fitting occasion to watch some of his films (again): Homo Faber, Black Hawk Down, Don’t Come Knocking and many more. And not to forget Blackthorn, a Western movie set in Bolivia. Sam Shepard played Butch Cassidy, … Continue reading

Posted in Bolivia, Cinema, Travel | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Sam Shepard, 1943-2017

Posted in Cinema, USA | Tagged , | 4 Comments

James Bond: Pierce Brosnan vs Daniel Craig

The argument about who is the best James Bond is rather moot because no actor could work forever. Also, times have changed since 1962 (when Dr No was released) and it’s unfair to blame Roger Moore now for his clothing … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

D-Day Movie Recommendations

Always on 6 June, I have a feeling of gratitude to the more than 160,000 Allied troops that landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944 (D-Day) and marked the beginning of the second phase of the liberation of Europe (after … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, History, Military, World War II | Tagged , | 14 Comments