The latest film I have seen ..

Based on Colm Tóibin's novel with the same name the historical drama is very interesting because it portrays the anguish of immigrants being torn between the country they have left behind and the one they have started afresh at. 

Apart from homesickness it focuses on such issues like loneliness, strength of character, intelligence as one acclimates to life in a different surrounding and  love choices, amongst many others.

Saoirse Ronan's interpretation  of a 1952 young lady from a small village in Southeast Ireland is next to none and has therefore been highly acclaimed worlwide together with many of her film co-actors and actresses', but I feel that what mostly takes hold of viewers' attention is the fact that each scene is framed in an almost intimate way creating a rather special bond between  us as "outsiders" and those on the screen as the story unfolds.

"This charming film is admirably scripted, shot and acted." - Paul Guest

"Brooklyn butresses outstanding performances from Saoirse Ronan and Emory Cohen with a rich period drama that tugs at the heartstrings as deftly as it satisfies the mind." - Troy Putland

The latest book I have read ...

I have taken longer than I normally would just to absorb every little word and meaning behind apparently simple sentences Mia Couto has written in this book - Mulheres de Cinza (Women of ashes) said to be the first of group of three under the title of The Imperor's sand.

There's no doubt Mia Couto is a master of words, a constructor of new words and one of the Mozambican writers who mostly has disclosed the cultural richness of our former colony. 

The historic novel is set in the Southern Mozambican region which once was under the reign of Ngungunuyane, the last of the Gaza region leaders. The region is acknowledged as having been the second vastest empire in the African continent under the leadership of an African.

Ngungunuyane with his wives

Narrated by a young African girl from  the village of Nkokolani, where the  historic novel scenario is set, together with the assembly of letters written by a Portuguese Sargeant appointed as governor of same village it is a very interesting fictional recreation of real facts and characters, though in this first book Ngungunuyane isn't but an echo and an overheard fear.






"Life is like rope threading. One has to braid it until one doesn't distinguish its thread from one's fingers."


"Our roads have once had the shyness of rivers and the softness of women. They asked permission before being visible. Nowadays they take over the landscape and spread their huge legs ahead of time, like the leaders of the world."


"There are people who make out the sun into a mere patch of yellow and yet there are those who make out of a mere patch of yellow their sun." - on a Picasso's sentence.


"The most dangerous enemies are not the ones who have always hated you. Those you should fear the most are the ones who once were either close to you or had a fascination for you"

Saturday's "ritual" ...

Mia and I follow a particular "ritual" every Saturday, which includes a Japanese meal  at a local restaurant and then going to the movies at Corte Inglês. 

I don't know how long we have been doing this for but it has certainly led to quite a few enjoyable moments we don't feel like abdicating from, because it not only reinforces our mother - daughter connection but also leads to our  compulsory cultural  week "escape".

It is nevertheless at moments like these that I wish Faye was still among us for I feel she'd almost certainly join us ...

Solidarity regarding the forthcoming trip to Calheta ...

For all the obstacles I have had to face over the last years regarding the children of Calheta as well as the transportation of all the material and small presents I can't help but feel happy with the fact that people are still willing to contribute with extra money as well as refer the project to their friends. 

Some more children will have their school needs provided for and some more children will be handed out small presents bought with the extra money I have been handed out by a former student of mine and his fiancée (Miguel and Marta). 

Bringing joyful moments to children  and adolescents who haven't much can be an indirect way of feeling a sense of joy ourselves.

The forthcoming trip to Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde ...

Organising things for the forthcoming trip isn't easy in as much as buying presents for children, whose interests I am not exactly sure of can be a hard "job" together with satisfying the humble requests of those who have written to the "godparents" expressing some of their desires, though I should be used to the whole process by now. 

I have managed to pack  and buy the presents for fifteen children and three adults (I am indepted to) so far and got more "godparents" interested in helping two extra boys. I'll worry about the weight after, though it is always one of my major problems.

Partly packed suitcase with the presents for Mauricio, Edeson, Veinilson, Silvanio, Flavio, Lavinia, Leinira, Jessica Joceane, Cynthia,Veronica, Naiade, Carline, Nate, Marlene and Dona Celeste.

Some "godparents" trust me to buy the things for the children as in accordance with an agreed upon financial limit, so I  always take photos of what I have bought as a reference for both them and myself.

Presents for Eveline Natalina (left) and Veronica Conceição (right)

Presents for Herber

I know I'll be assailed by a mixture of excitement and nervousness until the eve of the outgoing flight but that's something I'll have to balance out for my sake and the sake of the children, who are counting on us.

(To be continued)

The latest film I have seen ...

I have recently seen  Journal d'une femme de chambre (Diary of a chambermaid) by Benoit Jacquot based on a book by Octave Mirbeau bearing  the same name. Because of not having seen any of the previous film versions dating back to 1946 and 1964 by Renoir and Buñuel,  I can't come out with any possible comparison among them.

What I mostly liked about this version was the degree of "intimacy" such a beautifully shot film created between the characters and the viewers. The theme brought back "memories" and questions from my childhood that remained unanswered over quite a period of time - Why were the maids who served at many of the Portuguese high society households often sellected on their physical attributes? Why were their bedroom quarters often located on the same floor of the "bachelors" of the house? just to name a few.   

I believe it is fair to say that many of the very good performances, namely Léa Seydoux, Clotilde Mollet et Vincent Lindon's added a special touch to this version.

"Cette nouvelle adaptation du célèbre livre de Mirbeau est sans aucune doute la plus fidèle au texte d'origine et la plus convaincante (...) Léa Seydoux éblouissante en femme de chambre rebelle, insolente et sensuelle (...) le personnage de Vincent Lindon, antisémite, mutique et misogyne, ajoute encore un peu plus de noirceur (...) un excellent film, plus actuelle qu'il n'y paraît, qui à certain momnet fait penser à une toile de Renoir et à d'autres moments à un livre de Zola." - A viewer

 

 

The African project ...

I am particularly touched by the fact that a number of  new people have decided to join me in wanting to provide some of the children from Calheta a few moments of happiness by sending them some gifts, clothes and story books together with some money for the school needs of those who attend school.

Not only have these people selected six children who have never had anything but also five whom some friends and I provided for last time and two whose "godparents" have stepped out.

Despite the fact that the initial teaching project which I haven't been able to carry out but for about four years was "abandoned" because of burocratic events I have grown fond of the village children and particularly the ones who were part of the project. Playing the role of a sort of "Santa"once a year doesn't diminish my feeling of wanting to give the village children some good moments to "hold onto" and eventually make them want to dream.

I shall be travelling with a French friend whom I shared the last Cape Verdian experience with and who has also fallen in love with the village. I don't know how we'll be able to carry the amount of wheight we already have but one thing I am sure of is that we won't regret having to carry part of it "on our backs" as we did last time for the sake of seing the children happy.

May we keep on having the stamina to do it for a long time because these Cape Verde experiences are emotionally fulfilling and worth fighting for.