A Thousand Times Goodnight, & Ane Brun's Music

A Norwegian-made, English-language film set in Ireland, Kenya and Afghanistan, and starring French luminary Juliette Binoche, would seem to wear its internationalism on its sleeve. Yet globe-trotting, at least to war zones, forms the central conflict in “A Thousand Times Goodnight,” Erik Poppe’s gripping tale of a dedicated photojournalist torn between passionate involvement with her work and commitment to her worried family. Deftly sidestepping both melodrama and family-values messaging, Poppe imbues the film with enormous emotional resonance, brilliantly grounded by his leading lady. The absence of subtitles and the presence of Binoche should open global arthouse doors for this Montreal fest grand prizewinner.

Variety.com, a review extract

I have a collection of books and dvds by war photographers and journalists.  I began reading their stories, perhaps, because if I had known of this work I think I would have been drawn to it. 

Possibly motivated by the same things that appear to motivate those who actually go out there ... the idea that if the truth were known, some things might change, other things couldn't happen. 

But I didn't find out in time and so I read and watch their stories unfold when I can.

I enjoyed the movie, 'A Thousand Times Goodnight, intensely.

You get a small glimpse of the film in the music video below.  There's not too many spoilers, as the movie is used out of sequence but Ane Brun wrote the song for the movie ...  I find it exquisite.

And there's an interview over here, with Juliette Binoche.

December Snow, Antwerp

We were enjoying a mild winter we thought.  Frosts hadn't really arrived ... until suddenly.  Then we had snow.

It awakened the Grinch in me and yes, I complained, mightily.  I'm just not good at northern hemisphere Christmases.  And so I've remained quiet here while working my way through it all.

A photograph taken from the window behind me when I'm at my desk.

Thankful ...

To travel is to see the world, and to meet its inhabitants, to find acceptance there in their hospitality, and to find in complete strangers, a family we didn’t know we had.

David duChemin, Photographer & wise man too.

I was compelled to lift these words from the story David told over at Maptia.  I'm listening to Zaz sing  Historia De Un Amor en vivo as I write this. 

I'm loving the internet for allowing me to know of David's writing and photograpy, for allowing me to listen to Zaz and her magical music ... but most especially for allowing me to watch Christmas unfold back home in New Zealand, 12 hours ahead of us here in Belgium, via friends and family I won't be seeing this year.

On Facebook I wrote, 7am on 25 December in New Zealand, 7pm on 24 December here in Belgium. Summer back home, winter here ... sometimes the split in my reality is clear.

The foto, taken by Jurjana Pavlinovic-Timmermans, after our Christmas Eve catch-up in the city.  Thanks for the conversations, and for the laughter, Jurjana  :-)

Thankful ...

To travel is to see the world, and to meet its inhabitants, to find acceptance there in their hospitality, and to find in complete strangers, a family we didn’t know we had.

David duChemin, Photographer & wise man too.

I was compelled to lift these words from the story David told over at Maptia.  I'm listening to Zaz sing  Historia De Un Amor en vivo as I write this. 

I'm loving the internet for allowing me to know of David's writing and photograpy, for allowing me to listen to Zaz and her magical music ... but most especially for allowing me to watch Christmas unfold back home in New Zealand, 12 hours ahead of us here in Belgium, via friends and family I won't be seeing this year.

On Facebook I wrote, 7am on 25 December in New Zealand, 7pm on 24 December here in Belgium. Summer back home, winter here ... sometimes the split in my reality is clear.

The foto, taken by Jurjana Pavlinovic-Timmermans, after our Christmas Eve catch-up in the city.  Thanks for the conversations, and for the laughter, Jurjana  :-)