Saturday, 28 November 2009

Cambodian Room (part of IDFA's "Paradoc 4")

A magnum photographer seeking the place "without morality, so all is pure reality", or something like that.

It showed some interesting moments, and definitely increased the idea (I wouldn't say "understanding") behind his pictures, but in a way this was about the photographer, not about Phnom Penh (basically my main reason for watching)

It wasn't bad, it wasn't staggering good.

Enemies of the People

Gripping account of a man who seeks the faceless killers of the Khmer Rouge, and tries to understand them, asks them to tell their story.

He manages to get all the way up to Brother Number Two, Nuong Seng, which is simply amazing. Three years it took him to earn the old man's trust.

Beautiful images of the Cambodia I remember so well. Horrifying stories. Honesty. Facing the past. Gave the chills.

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

Mando Diao - "Gloria"

Catchy as hell!

Reminds me of the remix of Frankie Valli's "Beggin'" song, remixed into popularity again.

Those blue-eyed Swedes, who'd have thought...

Mick Harvey - [Serge Gainsbourg tunes]

Crooning, with style. There's a rancid edge. Marc Almond-ish

Monsters of Folk - "Monsters of Folk" (2009)

Nice album, though not every song is as catchy as the air-borne "Man Named Truth"

Old-fashioned tunes, friendly.

The high-pitched voice does get on your nerves though, after a while.