Tag Archives: movies

What to do with a History Degree?

Ever since I have been studying history, people who think that every means needs to have an end have been asking: “What do you want to do with that?” My honest answer: I want to know more and to understand … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, History, USA | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Film Review “Capital in the 21st Century”

I am usually an advocate of reading the book before the movie – or indeed of only reading the book and not spoiling it. But I haven’t yet been in the mood to delve into Thomas Piketty’s 570-page book analyzing … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, Economics, History | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Film Review: “Cast Away”

As I am currently stranded on a far-away island myself, people have been making references to “Cast Away”, Chuck Noland and Wilson. The references seemed to increase as my Robinsonade persisted and my beard grew. Finally, I felt like I … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, Travel | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Film review: “Parasite”

Usually, I am a few decades late with my film reviews, but this time, I manage to recommend a movie that is still playing in cinemas: Parasite. A cleverly constructed thriller, fast-paced, humorous, but also a social critique. Too much … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, Economics | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

“Wild”, not a hiking movie

It’s winter and I am in a big city, so I felt like watching a movie about the outdoors and about hiking in anticipation of the coming summer. Wild, the story of Cheryl Strayed’s hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, Music, USA | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

At the Cigar Shop – 50 Years later

I had gone to Huéscar for market day, thinking I might as well look for my favorite Spanish newspaper, El Pais. It would find it at the tobacco shop, I was told. As I entered the store, just around the … Continue reading

Posted in Andalusia, Cinema, Music, Photography, Spain, Travel, Video Blog | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Film Review: “Darkest Hour”

Great, a film about Churchill and about World War II! A movie for which even this student of history can leave the desk for a few hours without a guilty conscience. And off to the cinema I was. There, the first … Continue reading

Posted in Cinema, History, UK, World War II | Tagged , , | 23 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

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

Posted in Cinema | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

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 , | 5 Comments