Sunday 31 August 2014

'Let the right one in' my well needed theatre evening!

'Let the right one in' at London Apollo theatre
'Let the right one in' at London Apollo theatre
Do you remember what a penpal is? Have you ever had one? I started emailing with the Hungarian girl from the German office and by now as she found a job and has moved to the UK...finally we met in real life!

Of course there was a natural fear in me...what if we don't click...it is so much easier in emails than in real life...but in the end everything was really good! She is the same in real life just like in emails; nice, polite, friendly, funny and witty, intelligent and very easy to talk to and open up!

We found that we both loved Swedish movies, not only talking about the big Stieg Larsson blockbuster. I mentioned the film Let the right one in, based on the novel by John Ajvide Lindquist, which reminded me, that the film has been stage adapted and is played in the Westend at Apollo Theatre (Royal Court)

So yesterday evening I decided to go and watch it!
Let the right one in Swedish Movie
Let the right one in Swedish Movie X
I have seen the original Swedish movie version some years ago in the telly and although I started it as a movie that I can fall asleep to, I did not...It really fascinated me...the delicate details of social conformity, being an outsider, love and an odd friendship then later a little more between two persona who were excluded from the society for different reasons.

Oskar a 10-11 year old boy who lives with his mother in block of flats in the outskirt of a Swedish town near the woods. His fellow students bully him in all sorts of ways they can, showing their power above him.
Eli is his new neighbour who lives with a man, whom we can first believe that is her father.
In the meantime the number of citizens of the town is shrinking as someone, or something slits their throat collecting all the blood.

Eli and Oskar become friends after lending a Rubik's cube and sharing Morse-codes on their wall, even tough Eli first said outright thet they cannot be friends. Their friendship becomes even more in their own little world, until Eli tells Oskar the real self of her. She reveals she lives on blood although she constantly states she is not a vampire! She is not a girl she is 'Nothing'.

From the conversations and increasing jealousy from the 'dad' of Eli, we realise he is not her 'dad'. But he is not a vampire either. Many times it is said that he is ageing while Eli is not.

Oskar who visits sometimes his dad in the countryside gets rejected by him as well after a drunken night with him. He is now not only rejected by his peers in school but even his father does not want him around.

In the meantime Hakan, Eli's guardian, wanted to kill one of the boys in the changing room in the school, but he is caught by police. Before they captured him, he poured 100% bleach on his face to disfigure it making it difficult to identify or to lead to Eli. Before he dies in hospital he offers his blood to the hungry Eli.

Eli has been followed by Lacke who found out the murders are connected to Eli. When he enters the apartment his suspicion seems proven by the shut blinds and the sleeping Eli in the bathtub. Oskar who wanted to check out Eli and hiding in the flat, pulls out his knife to prevent Eli. Eli is also awaken and kills Lacke. After the incident Eli know she cannot stay any longer in the area.

Oskar the next day is alone at the swimming pool, when the bullying boys appear again with one of them's older and trouble brother. Oskar is threatened, his eyes will be stabbed in the middle if he does not hold his breath for 3 minutes under water. While Jimmy the older brother keeps him underwater, Eli storms in the building and kills all three boys, saving Oskar.

Next, Oskar is on the train with Eli in a box leaving to the middle of nowhere far far away from this town! They both say 'kiss' to each other with Morse signs.

---- The End ----

I still remember it was a great movie!  Leaving some questions behind...They are kids, at least Oskar...his parents will search for him. Will Oskar also become a loving guardian just like Hakan? What is Eli? He is not a girl, but does not seem like to be a boy, she is not a vampire, then what happened to her before?

It is also noticeable that this vampire related movie came out even before all the Twilight saga or True blood or any other modern vampire movies!


The theatre play's scenes are a bit different compared to the movie. The story is still intense.
However for me it was a bit strange listening to it all in Scottish accent. there is nothing wrong with it, it was just a little weird.
Actors were brilliant! The music fitted very well to all and every scene! Scenes were dynamic! But compared to the film, I did not enjoy how Eli was speaking....the voice that came out with a restriction was not understood by me. It was too unnatural for me ear.
Although the story has deep sociological meaning and gives you a rather dark feeling, on the contrary the director for the stage adaptation made it quite funny and the audience was smiling and giggling at many scenes...in my opinion this was a hindrance to fully feel the play.

Let the right one in theatre play Eli and Oskar
Let the right one in theatre play. X
Let the right one in theatre play Eli and Oskar
Let the right one in theatre play X
Let the right one in theatre play Eli on the tree
Let the right one in theatre play X
Let the right one in theatre play Eli after sucking blood
Let the right one in theatre play X
I bought the book and will read it, because I really want to know now, what the original story line is and maybe there will be some other hints to find answer to my questions.

X denotes the source for the images. Click on it under each image.

Saturday 30 August 2014

Selfridges Shopwindow: The Masters jul/aug 2014

The always fascinating windows of Selfridges are brought to you again.

This time, they collected the masters of fashion and design. These big, very famous and extremely successful people are referred as 'The Master of...' whatever they pioneered in or created it first, paving the way to other designers and artists!
Here we have Oscar de la Renta whose designs embody elegance and opulence just as the 1920s inspired Roberto Cavalli window who is the Master of Glamour. Among them we will find iconic British designer Paul Smith as Master of Inspiration.
Master of Defiance: Yohji Yamamoto's window literally suggest rebellion with the aggressive, masculine and strong textures, chaotic neon colours! Just like a movie scene from an 80s-90s movie where the Earth has been taken over by a regime or aliens...with some humans being against it! This women, in the middle of the window, next to the black car must be the leader of the defiants.

A standing camera in each window or a camera floating in space behind the glass of Jean Paul Gaultier Master of Expression suggest these are all movie images, which is the connection between these amazing shopwindows.

So let's enter the world of Masters!

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug The masters
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug The Masters
 Diana Vreeland Master of Style
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Diana Vreeland
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Diana Vreeland Master of Style
 Barnaba Fornasetti - Master of Imagination
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Barnaba Fornasetti - Master of Imagination
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Barnaba Fornasetti - Master of Imagination

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Barnaba Fornasetti - Master of Imagination
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Barnaba Fornasetti - Master of Imagination
Tom Dixon - Master of the Industrial
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Tom Dixon - Master of the Industrial
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Tom Dixon - Master of the Industrial
 Maison Michel - Master of Playfulness
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Maison Michel - Master of Playfulness
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Maison Michel - Master of Playfulness

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Maison Michel - Master of Playfulness
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Maison Michel - Master of Playfulness
 Marc Jacobs - Master of Mood
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Marc Jacobs - Master of Mood
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Marc Jacobs - Master of Mood

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Marc Jacobs - Master of Mood
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Marc Jacobs - Master of Mood
 Stella McCartney - Master of Modernity
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Stella McCartney - Master of Modernity
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Stella McCartney - Master of Modernity
 Yohji Yamamoto - Master of Defiance
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Yohji Yamamoto - Master of Defiance
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Yohji Yamamoto - Master of Defiance

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Yohji Yamamoto - Master of Defiance
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Yohji Yamamoto - Master of Defiance
 Oscar de la Renta - Master of Elegance
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Oscar de la Renta - Master of Elegance
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Oscar de la Renta - Master of Elegance

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Oscar de la Renta - Master of Elegance
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Oscar de la Renta - Master of Elegance
Jean Paul Gaultier - Master of Expression
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jean Paul Gaultier - Master of Expression
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jean Paul Gaultier - Master of Expression

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jean Paul Gaultier - Master of Expression
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jean Paul Gaultier - Master of Expression

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jean Paul Gaultier - Master of Expression
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jean Paul Gaultier - Master of Expression
 Azzedine Alaia - Master of Architecture
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Azzedine Alaia - Master of Architecture
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Azzedine Alaia - Master of Architecture
 Paul Smith - Master of Inspiration
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Paul Smith - Master of Inspiration
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Paul Smith - Master of Inspiration

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Paul Smith - Master of Inspiration
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Paul Smith - Master of Inspiration

Jun Takahashi - Master of Subversion
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jun Takahashi - Master of Subversion
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jun Takahashi - Master of Subversion

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jun Takahashi - Master of Subversion
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jun Takahashi - Master of Subversion

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jun Takahashi - Master of Subversion
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Jun Takahashi - Master of Subversion
 Roberto Cavalli - Master of Glamour
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Roberto Cavalli - Master of Glamour
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Roberto Cavalli - Master of Glamour

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Roberto Cavalli - Master of Glamour
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Roberto Cavalli - Master of Glamour
 Thom Browne - Master of Showmanship
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Thom Browne - Master of Showmanship
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Thom Browne - Master of Showmanship

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Thom Browne - Master of Showmanship
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Thom Browne - Master of Showmanship

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Thom Browne - Master of Showmanship
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Thom Browne - Master of Showmanship
 Dries van Noten - Master of the Eclectic
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Dries van Noten - Master of the Eclectic
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Dries van Noten - Master of the Eclectic

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Dries van Noten - Master of the Eclectic
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Dries van Noten - Master of the Eclectic

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Dries van Noten - Master of the Eclectic
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Dries van Noten - Master of the Eclectic

The Louboutin Factory in Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug 
The Louboutin Factory in Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug
The Louboutin Factory in Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug 

The Louboutin Factory in Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug
The Louboutin Factory in Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug 

The Louboutin Factory in Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug
The Louboutin Factory in Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug 

The Louboutin Factory in Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Shoes on conveyor belt
The Louboutin Factory in Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug 
Magnum icecream celebrates its 25th birthday in Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug 
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Magnum 25th
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Magnum 25th

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Magnum 25th
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Magnum 25th

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Magnum 25th
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Magnum 25th

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Magnum 25th
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Magnum 25th

Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Magnum 25th
Selfridges Shop Window 2014 jul-aug Magnum 25th

Friday 29 August 2014

Notting Hill Carnival 2014: Weekend of coincidences

I was waiting for this weekend to come. It was the last bank holiday weekend this year. But this time I was not waiting for it because of the Notting Hill Carnival, I knew I was going to paint the flat...well one wall in the main room and the small hall.

So I bought all the necessary things, like paints, plastering material, brushes, rollers, sandpaper and a trowel...and later....in the afternoon because I overestimated my height...I had to go back to buy a ladder too.

So after I was all set, I started plastering, then painting, and as we know some time is needed before we should put the 2nd coat on the wall.

It needed 4 hours, so best was to go out and even travel to Notting Hill to get the feeling of the Carnival this year again :)
Though some friends of mine find it terrifying, once I reached it, I already enjoyed this fun with all the happy people, dancers, colours, smells and jerk chicken.

2 years ago when Udo was here we have not been able to find each other on neither of the days because there was no network at all in the area.
And this year totally by chance when I was walking among the thousands of people! Someone shouted my name and there appeared a friend with other friends! :)

Then later walking a bit further I met another friend in the crowd! What coincidences!

Finally when I decided to watch some of the trucks and dancers again totally randomly I chose a step where I could stand to be over the normal human height :) me being able to see everything very well :)
There were some other people standing/sitting there, then once they asked me to take some photos of them, we started to talk!

Yes, I am quite well-known that I talk a lot :) with nice people! :) So we started to chat and what a coincidence with all my love and past with medicine, it turned out that Laura was a medical student from Yorkshire. So we had a lot in common to talk about through the Notting Hill Carnival, sometimes barely hearing each other due to the loud music from the trucks! She and her family were really lovely people and easy to talk to! We even exchanged numbers and I hope we will stay in touch!

In the end I also finished painting the room and the hall :)

Notting Hill Carnival 2014 crowd
Notting Hill Carnival 2014 crowd
Notting Hill Carnival 2014 dancers
Notting Hill Carnival 2014 dancers from miista.com
Notting Hill Carnival 2014 crowd
Notting Hill Carnival 2014 crowd from Telegraph.co.uk
Notting Hill Carnival 2014 dancers
Notting Hill Carnival 2014 dancers from officiallylondon.com

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