Lost In Translation

Sao Paulo in Transit

I'v chosen Hotel Pegamon as my base of operations for my two stopovers while in Brazil, mostly because of its central location. I will be going to Joao Pessoa, the furthernmost eastern part of the Americas, for the 2014 BRAZL-TESOL Conference.

One of the many lunch bars throughout the city.

Parque do Ibirapuera.

Lunch at a local spot.

Beans, steak cutlet, rice, and fries.

Sirloin steak, fries, and vegetables with a Brahma beer at Athens Restaurant and Cafe.

Antonio Gaudi

Hiroshi Teshigahara is one of my favorite Japanese New Wave directors (The Woman in the Dunes is one of the greatest Japanese films of all-time in my opinion) and when I learned that the made a documentary about one of my favorite artists/architects of all-time, Antonio Gaudi (1985), I knew I'd have to see it. It is an extraordinary looks at some of the greatest modern architecture in the world and reminded me of my visit to Barcelona in the early 2000s, where I got to see many of these works up close in person. The soundtrack was composed by frequent Teshigahara collaborator Toru Takemitsu. I was surprised to learn that Japanese artists found similarities between Guadi's works and Jomon era (14,000-300 BC) pottery. And Guadi to this day after his rediscovery among Japanese in the 60s is still revered. The Criterion extras make this DVD release extra impressive: video interview with architect Arata Isozaki. footage from director Hiroshi Teshigahara's first trip to Spain, sculptures by Sofu- Vita, a short film by Teshigahara on the sculpture of his father, a program on Gaudi by director Ken Russell, a booklet featuring an essay by art historian Dore Ashton, and Visions of Space: "God's Architect", a 1-hour BBC special hosted by the late great Robert Hughes. A must for any Gaudi or architecture enthusiast.

Elite Squad

The latest Brazilian film seen was Elite Squad (2007) directed by Jose Padilha and controversial winner of the 2008 Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Is a violent story of the elite police squad of Rio de Janeiro that is trained paramilitary style to combat the machine gun wielding gangs of Rio. This story takes place in 1997 anticipating the Pope's visit, which means making the city safe from clashes with drug gangs. A captain within the BOPE (the elite squad) is looking to retire but must find a replacement there are two honest cops who are friends that might fit the bill and their stories are intertwined with that of the new father and short time Captain of a BOPE squad. Their methods are not exactly legal, however they do believe in law and order and want to eradicate the drugs that are destroying the lives of countless Brazilians. The films clearly owes something to the break through hit of City of God, some critics found the violence repugnant. However, I found the film to be highly engaging and entertaining if not somewhat fantastical-something not unlike a Tarantino film.

Greene On Capri

Recently I spent 20 days in Italy and one of the many places I visited was the visually stunning island of Capri. This coupled with my interest and admiration for the intrepid novelist Graham Greene made me an ideal reader for Shirley Hazzard's memoir about Greene's time on the island, Greene On Capri (2000). It seems that Hazzard and her husband the writer Francis Steegmuller, were friends of Greene and often met with him during his extended stays on the island. Hazzard mixes in lines from his books, references to other books on Greene, some history of the island in general with personal reminisces of the man. It's not a comprehensive biography and has some superfluous information, but overall it gives a specific and nuanced look at a complex, difficult but talented man.

Kokoro (Film)

Director Kon Ichikawa is well known for his literary adaptations for the screen and in 1955 he did an adaptation of one Japan's most loved classics, Natsume Soskei's Kokoro. It is yet another artfully filmed period piece about the sociological and psychic changes people experienced with the transition from the Meiji era to the Taisho era as embodied by Nobuchi (Masayuki Mori), an idle married man with a secret past. The story is told through flashbacks and mainly from a letter written by Nobuchi for his young friend and disciple, Hioki (Shoji Yasui). I am beginning to see why Paul Schrader was eager to meet the famous director while filming Mishima: A History: A Life in Four Chapters in Japan. Each subsequent Ichikawa film reveals a visual artistry and storytelling style that is distinctive, yet defies easy labeling. There are many more films to peruse as he lived a long and productive life as a filmmaker.

Okubo Ramen 2

Miso ramen.

Juliet Of The Spirits

I read a review of the DVD of Fellini's Juliet Of The Spirits (1965) in which the reviewer said this film is both a positive and negative example of the term "Feliniesque." There are some wonderfully filmed set pieces, but at times it seems a bit too whimsical. Perhaps, it can be seen as a reflection of the times and the interest in the Orient and spiritualism.

Kokoro

I recently read Natsume Soseki's comic novel, Botchan, in preparation for a trip to Matusyama in Shikoku and really enjoyed it. So I thought I should also give, Kokoro (1914) a read since it is one of the common texts (with Botchan) that all Japanese read in school. I have to say I was a bit disappointed with this novel since it didn't have the charming comic tone of the former, which seemed like a distant relation to Twain's Huckleberry Finn. It was much more serious and earnest and probably represented what Soseki was like in reality. That being said it is probably indicative of the great transformation that was taking place between the end of the Meiji era and the beginning of the Taisho era in psychological terms. I am interested to see what Kon Ichikawa has done with this material in his film adaptation of this classic Japanese novel.

Neighboring Sounds

Kleber Mendoca Filho's eerie Neighboring Sounds (2012) is the latest seen in preparation for my visit to Brazil. I think it gives a good idea of what life is like for the middle class in a large Brazilian city with ominous feeling of security or insecurity, class, and the threat of violence in everyday life. However, at the end of the film there is a twist and it becomes a different film entirely. It reminds me a lot of  Michael Handke's Cache in the building sense of dread and anticipation for violence or action throughout the film. A fascinating look at life in modern Brazil.

Namprik

Namprik in Nakano is my go-to Thai lunch spot with a salad, drink, and fried noodle buffet to go along with the main dishes. My usual favorite is the basil chicken.