CenÂtral Spain – The Goths, Romans, and Moors left their mark on the region. Don QuiÂjote fought against the windÂmills here, and El GreÂco, Velasquez and FranÂcisÂco de Goya made their homes in this hisÂtorÂiÂcalÂly and culÂturÂalÂly rich region. Now, a tourist, armed with a Nikon D90, brings that hisÂtoÂry to life with two quick minÂutes of time lapse film…
via Holykaw
A few years ago, the geniusÂes over at Four SeaÂsons ProÂducÂtions began shootÂing evocaÂtive short films set to clasÂsic poetÂry. 21 finÂished pieces, a long list of fesÂtiÂval prizes and a full DVD latÂer, many of their best “poem videos” are now availÂable to watch for free on their YouTube chanÂnel.
These short pieces capÂture the mood, rhythms and meanÂing of a wide range of poetÂic voicÂes and styles in imagÂiÂnaÂtive ways. Our favorite is the above interÂpreÂtaÂtion of Langston HughÂes’ “The Weary Blues,” but there are sevÂerÂal othÂer excepÂtionÂal shorts, includÂing “Only Breath” by the great 13th cenÂtuÂry sufi poet Jalal ad-Din Rumi and “100 Love SonÂnets IX” by Pablo NeruÂda. Note: The NeruÂda poems are read in the origÂiÂnal SpanÂish.
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
The clip above feaÂtures Peter Finch’s exploÂsive “mad as hell” speech from SidÂney Lumet’s NetÂwork (1976). It is as relÂeÂvant today as it was 35 years ago, if not more so — just like its direcÂtor.
In this this recent interÂview, Mr. Lumet, who also brought us such clasÂsics as 12 Angry Men, SerÂpiÂco, The VerÂdict, and Dog Day AfterÂnoon, speaks about his legaÂcy, his career, and the city that was the setÂting for so many of his great films. He died yesÂterÂday of lymÂphoma at his home in ManÂhatÂtan.
via NYT
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
“Foli” is the word used for rhythm by the Malinke tribe in West Africa. But Foli is not only found in Malinke music, but in all parts of their daiÂly lives. DirectÂed by Thomas RoeÂbers, this short film porÂtrays the peoÂple of Baro, a small town in eastÂern-cenÂtral Guinea, and gives you a glimpse inside their culÂture of rhythm. As the Malinke man says, “Tous les choses, c’est du rythme.” (“EveryÂthing is rhythm.”) What makes this film even more beauÂtiÂful is the fact that it was editÂed so as to reflect Malinke rhythms.
By proÂfesÂsion, Matthias RaschÂer teachÂes EngÂlish and HisÂtoÂry at a High School in northÂern Bavaria, GerÂmany. In his free time he scours the web for good links and posts the best finds on TwitÂter.
Princes of New York punk, kings of CBGÂB’s (take virÂtuÂal tour here), and the only AmerÂiÂcans, then or now, who could pull off skinÂny jeans with impuniÂty, The Ramones were masÂters of the short and sweet. Here’s a recordÂing of a live 1978 set at the PalÂlaÂdiÂum in New York City: 26 songs, 54 minÂutes, all set to clips from old sci-fi movies.
via NPR
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
There was a good deal of time-travÂel in the ABC hit series Lost, one of the more ambiÂtious and popÂuÂlar shows of the past decade. But neiÂther Jack, Sawyer, HurÂley, nor any of our othÂer beloved 21st cenÂtuÂry castÂaways ever went back to the year 1969. If they had, and if they’d had access to a TV, they might have found themÂselves watchÂing a show about — themÂselves.
Well, sort of. The New PeoÂple ran on FriÂday nights on ABC from SepÂtemÂber 1969 through JanÂuÂary 1970 (It lastÂed only 17 episodes). We’ll take a shot at sumÂmaÂrizÂing the genÂerÂal premise, which might ring a couÂple of bells:
A plane crashÂes on a remote island in the PacifÂic, leavÂing its motÂley group of surÂvivors strandÂed and fightÂing about what to do next.… As they explore their new home, they find an entire town, fulÂly stocked with proÂviÂsions and weapons, but creepÂiÂly empÂty. Soon the surÂvivors disÂcovÂer that this island was once set up .…to be an AtomÂic EnerÂgy ComÂmisÂsion testÂing site!
No Lost fan can live withÂout a conÂspirÂaÂcy theÂoÂry, but we’re pretÂty sure there was nothÂing fishy in the comÂmonÂalÂiÂties, and in the end, are we not all chilÂdren of GilliÂgan? FurÂtherÂmore, there’s a good deal more to the plot, which includes racial conÂflict, adoÂlesÂcent angst (the surÂvivors are all colÂlege stuÂdents), and a healthy dose of Lord of the Flies-style chaos. Full episodes are not online, but at TVobÂscuÂriÂties you can find a wealth of relatÂed conÂtent, clips, links to reviews, and even the theme song, with lyrics.
Also, be sure to check out the episode guide, which realÂly does intrigue. NumÂber 12, for examÂple:
The Pied Piper of Pot. StepÂpenÂwolf thinks his felÂlow islanders are too uptight, so he grows potent marÂiÂjuaÂna that threatÂens to send the stuÂdents into a harÂrowÂing, one-way trip.
The New PeoÂple was proÂduced by Aaron Spelling, who went on to bring us CharÂlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Hart to Hart, and BevÂerÂly Hills 90210, among many, many othÂers. But we’re not sure if he ever did come up with anothÂer charÂacÂter as comÂpelling as StepÂpenÂwolf.
(Thanks to Bryan Thomas)
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
Dear Daniel B.,
Thank you for bringÂing the 2000 MichaĂ«l Dudok De Wit short, Father and DaughÂter, to our attenÂtion. We always appreÂciÂate readÂer sugÂgesÂtions.
We must take issue, howÂevÂer, with your warnÂing: “Be advised, it will indeed break your heart.” At Open CulÂture we approach the arts with a disÂcernÂing, engaged and unsenÂtiÂmenÂtal eye — our heart does not break, it blogs.
It will thereÂfore take much more than an 8‑minute carÂtoon, no matÂter how artÂfulÂly renÂdered, underÂstatÂed, critÂiÂcalÂly laudÂed, or Dutch, to move us. Please keep this in mind for the future.
All best,
Open CulÂture.
P.S. OK, fine you win. This post was typed from the floor, drownÂing in the pudÂdle we’d been reduced to by the 6 minute mark. And yes, bawlÂing like babies.
P.P.S. Per your sugÂgesÂtion, we’ve added it to our colÂlecÂtion, 4,000+ Free Movies Online: Great ClasÂsics, Indies, Noir, WestÂerns, DocÂuÂmenÂtaries & More. Thanks again.
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
D.A. PenÂnebakÂer’s clasÂsic 1967 docÂuÂmenÂtary Don’t Look Back will be re-released on Blu-Ray on April 24. As a feaÂtured extra, it will include this terÂrifÂic remÂiÂnisÂcence between PenÂnebakÂer and music journalist/cultural critÂic Greil MarÂcus, who wrote two of our favorite Dylan books: The Old, Weird AmerÂiÂca: Bob Dylan’s BaseÂment Tapes and Like a Rolling Stone: Bob Dylan at the CrossÂroads.
Our othÂer favorite is of course litÂerÂary critÂic ChristoÂpher Ricks’ nutÂty and wonÂderÂful Dylan’s Vision of Sin. Ricks and MarÂcus approach the artist through very difÂferÂent prisms — for a fun chance to comÂpare and conÂtrast, check out their recent joint lecÂture at the HeyÂman School for the HumanÂiÂties. (The video clocks in at over an hour and forty minÂutes, too long for some, not nearÂly long enough for the Dylan-obsessed.)
via FlaÂvorÂwire
SheerÂly Avni is a San FranÂcisÂco-based arts and culÂture writer. Her work has appeared in Salon, LA WeekÂly, MothÂer Jones, and many othÂer pubÂliÂcaÂtions. You can folÂlow her on twitÂter at @sheerly.
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