butterflies for Hungarian indie film
Another trailer with English subtitles can found here.Last Friday, my closest friend in Munich invited us to view her brother’s very successful work for screenplay and director called, The Investigator or in Hungarian, A Nyomozó.
We met for coffee (more like, ice cream and cola) before we headed to the cinema. As we sat under large umbrellas overlooking the fountain at Stachus, she admitted to me that she felt really nervous. I still feel bad that I didn’t catch on to the butterflies she felt. My mind was wound up over my study material and frustrations over US politics.
We met the boys later at the theater “City” on Sonnenstraße. The theater at 3 in the afternoon was hardly packed. Alex asked Eva, “What’s the film about?” Without saying too much, it is about Mord or murder. I asked: Why is the film included in the Fantasy Film Festival? Is there a unicorn in the film? Her response was no, but there is a crab. ah. crab. And with that the lights went down and the curtains opened.
I won’t give anything else away. But everything from cinematography, to the acting, the humor, and most of all, the story exceed my expectations. The film really reached the level of enjoyment I get from reading a book, which is hardly achievable with hollywood films. I’m not a big fan of modern films that show how people die (for that reason, I loath No County for Old Men), but this time was truly an exception. I left the theater filled with butterflies, having had the chance to be fully entertained by a brilliant murder mystery. I couldn’t thank my friend enough and tell her how proud I was of her brother.
It was shown only once at select theaters throughout Germany during the Fantasy Filmfest. If it comes out in your local independent, classic and international cinema it is a definite must see. Better yet, demand to see it.
Here is the plot summary:
“Forensic pathologist Tibor Malkáv is shy, grumpy, precise – and somehow charming. His mother has cancer, but its treatment is far too expensive for Malkáv’s means. Until he meets the Cyclops, a shady hoodlum, who promises to pay for the surgery if Malkáv kills an unknown person. Malkáv takes the job. Soon it turns out to be the greatest mistake of his life.” Hungarian Film Week
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Unrigging the US Election
To my peeps in the US. Let’s not let this year’s election come down to hanging chads. It’s time to check if you are ready to vote.
Need to find out how to register to vote? Not sure if you’re already registered? It’s easy. All your questions, complaints, excuses will be alleviated here at:
I checked this site out, entered my info and this is what I got back:
Voting Abentee
Florida does not have a single official absentee form or does not provide it to the public. Call 850-245-6200 or visit Florida’s election information website for more information.
Can I Vote Early In Person?
Early Vote is available from October 20 through November 2.
Mail Absentee Form In By
October 29.
Mail Your Ballot By
November 4.
I’ll be voting absentee. Although, I’m starting to develop a superstition that I botch all elections when I vote absentee. I might register as an expat. In which case, here is the place to go: http://www.fvap.gov/
Here in Munich, everyone’s talking or got an opinion about the War to the White House presidential election. Many Europeans I’ve talked to believe the McCain/Palin SOS Camp will win. This rains on my parade, big time. But perhaps you, Mr. I-ain’t-no-US-Citizen, just need to rethink your position. You too can have your say and cast a vote at the Vote For President website.
57 days to go! Now back to my previous level of optimism.
summer break moments
Munich is experiencing true summer weather. It is fantastic to be in a comfy skirt without goosebumps. But we didn’t sleep very well and now I’m grumpy. This is what happens the night a vacation ends. We should have also opened all the windows in our flat but we forgot. Now a wind fest is blowing through our apartment today, something I could have used last night to move the air a bit.
I’m happy to report that I am granted two more years in Germany! Alex gave his commitment to ’sponsoring’ me through good times and bad. And I promised to be a good student and Hausladyfriend. Not bad for 30 Euros and 15 minutes of our time.
Last Tuesday we hiked a mountain called Wank, which has a gorgeous view of the Zugspitze. It is accessible by public transportation but takes about 2 hours with the BOB plus (two?) buses to get there from Munich. We ended up renting a car for 26 Euros for the day with interrent.com, saving us about 2 hours in travel time. This was a great choice for us. Although the price of the car was cheaper than the cost of public transit, we payed about 25 Euros for fuel. Hopefully we’ll sucker some friends to come along next time.
We headed to Letmathe by train Wednesday to renew my visa and drink schnapps to Oma Karola’s 88th Birthday. I carefully packed with us a homemade, sinfully dark chocolate cake to celebrate the occasion. It was my best so far. Whew.
Normally, it’s rainy and cold in Letmathe when I’m there. But this time for the most part it was warm and the clouds weren’t enough to make the sun go away. We had a family reunion of sorts in the garden and enjoyed swinging are arms around to make bubbles and playing with the garden sprinkler with Alex’s nephew.
I’m also very happy that the hiking and the two times I’ve played Ultimate Frisbee so far haven’t caused any noticeable stress in my knee. I’m still being cautious, taking breaks when I notice my muscles are fatigued, but really and truly impressed that the ACL surgery was a great decision and I’m back, more or less, to my old active self again. And yesterday, I didn’t receive a single bug bite in the Englischer Garten. Hooray.
a shandy toast to Olive
photo from Olive Riley’s siteThis is not about my hometown, Munich, or expat life. I’m posting about a beautiful soul out of Australia. I’ll get back on track soon. It is rare that you get a perspective from, let alone read a blog written by, a woman born in October of 1899. Sadly, I only happened upon her words posthumously. Olive Riley past away last Saturday at the age of 108.
One of my mantras: Never let yourself die of boredom. I found these words in her post and I was hooked. I celebrate the fact that Olive continued to live and share her life until the very end. I’m so wowed. Her first post, recounting her visit with her great grandson and his two kids, is a riot. I found myself smiling and getting a bit choked up all the way through. So many people just give up on living once they get their invitation to AARP and get obsessed with reading the obituaries and the aches and pains that come with old age.
My contact with my grandparents has decreased over the years since my teens and conversations with them have been a growing struggle, at least for me. I have had so many questions but often times while growing up, I asked ones which struck the taboo chord. I learned to stop asking to avoid the pain I brought out. So there is this void. I’m saddened that I’ll miss the good stories locked in their memories. Like Olive talking about the time she decided to get false teeth at the age of 30! Maybe it wouldn’t fill the void but I’m thinking, “Wouldn’t it be cool if my grandparents started a blog?”
