My film festival has started. Yesterday I went to pick up my glasses and then headed to Te Papa for Born into Brothels.
First things first. With my glasses on I can read signs very far away. Everything is clear again, as if my formally excellent sight has been restored. I guess everyone reading this who already has glasses will be going 'duh, obviously!' but I'm explaining for the people who dn't have glasses and don't know the amazing change.
Born into Brothels is about the children born in the red light district of Calcutta. The documentary maker gave them cameras and taught them how to use them. The kids were all adorable and exactly like kids anywhere. They were making fun of each other and laughing and everything. It was a real tear jerker as you can probably imagine but I wouldn't take back seeing it for anything. It was beautiful and moving. The images the kids created were just gorgeous, too. Unicef used them to make a calendar...I wonder if I can get a hold of it?
I came out of that feeling rather shattered. I had a bit of a walk around Te Papa as it closed. Just the animal area, looking as close as I dared at the big fish models and the skeletons.
Then Lee met me, approved of my glasses and we saw Kitchen Stories. This is about a Swedish institute in the 60s that monitors people's movements in the kitchen to make the ideal layout. They travel to Norway to study single men. The story focusses in on one observer with a host that doesn't want to be observed.
What follows is a kind of brilliant odd couple comedy and utterly endearing. It was sweet and funny and wonderful. Recommended to everyone.
Posted by jenni at July 17, 2004 10:13 AM