Much credit is due to the British Museum for their excellent exhibition about Moctezuma.
The curators have closely focussed on Moctezuma himself, his reign, related documents and images. At the same time they have avoided spending too much time on the Spanish conquistidors – the emphasis is firmly on the Mexica culture.
As a result one can see a number of well preserved high quality objects which are very well presented. For example the Mexica calendar is clearly explained, as are the images that made up Moctezuma’s ‘name’.
For more on the Spanish conquest read the astonishing Bernal Diaz.
The White Ribbon directed by Michael Haneke is not your ordinary film.
It is in black and white which adds to its other worldly atmosphere and nothing is clear in a film heavy with ambiguity, strained relations and unclear motivations.
The film is set in a small conformist German county town before the First World War. The sense of morality and need to conform is strong so it is all the odder when unexplained accidents start happening which tear the social fabric apart.
If you like films without easy answers but great photography and acting this could be for you.
Well done Angelique Kidjo for hosting this tribute to Miriam Makeba at the Barbican on Saturday.
It was a fitting tribute to Mama Africa by some of the biggest starts of African music: Vieux Farka Toure, Baaba Maal, Asa, Vusi Mahlasela, Sayon Bamba, Dobet Gnahore & the South African chorus – Makeba’s backing group.
The quality of the singing and music was outstanding, Kidjo confirmed that she is a great singer (and dancer). As importantly she and others paid tribute to Makeba for her stand against racism and as an inspiration for so many African women.
A great and moving event.
The Blind Boys of Alabama really sang up a storm at the Barbican last night.
If you have not heard of them before they really are blind, come from Alabama but are not boys. Can they sing soul gospel, oh yes, as their five Grammys show.
Show stopping songs included Amazing Grace, Spirit in the sky, Keep the Devil down in the hole. Its worth adding Billy Bowers voice has impact of a thunder strike, when the big man gets up to sing watch out!
Allen Toussaint the legendary New Orleans singer/songwriter was the perfect first half compliment.
The Beatles to Bowie: the 60s exposed – at the National Portrait Gallery – is well worth seeing if you have more than a passing interest in music.
It is a large exhibition which runs through the whole decade covering both the groups you know and those that have long been forgotten. There is a great mixture of newspapers, publicity photos, fanzines and of course stacks of iconic images. You can see a country change in front of your very eyes.
There is also a small section on the photographers themselves plus some clips of music playing in the background.
A joy.
An Education is a very entertaining film based on the experiences of Lynn Barber with a screenplay by Nick Hornby.
All the acting is of a high standard particularly Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard. They are supported by a very funny script and the intriguing premise of a teenage girl who starts dating a much older charismatic man. As a result the teenager learns about live and love in an unusual way.
The film is an interesting reflection on middle class ambitions and snobbery in the early sixties which see Oxford and Paris are the acmes of achievement and travel.
The Fantastic Mr Fox by Wes Anderson is a old fashioned animation based on the story by Roald Dahl. Though personally I liked it I am not sure who it aimed at? Readers of Roald Dahl, fans of Wes Anderson and his usual troop of actors, including George Clooney, adults or children?
The story concerns the restless Mr Fox – George Clooney (Oceans’ Eleven anyone) who has to do one last job rustling food from the nasty farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean which then causes big trouble for all his animal acquaintances.
Nice old-fashioned animation, wacky story, good characters – certainly different.
