Studio Social & Films: Beyond Utopia & Lore

Well, across town I schlepped to Hackney on Saturday evening. In the rain. Buses proved uncooperative, and I spent ages waiting - Martin was coming across town and predicted he'd be there around 7.30. I should have made it earlier, but, well..

We were convening at Pirate Studios. My first mission was to buy wine - I wasn't familiar with the area, and a quick search revealed no off-licences nearby. There were supermarkets though, and it wasn't that late.. there was one five minutes' walk away, and off I went, bought some supplies, and stuffed them into my trusty rucksack. As I headed back to the studio, Martin messaged to say he'd just arrived, and I told him to hang on, I was nearly there. And a few minutes later, there I was. Damned heavy, my shopping.. anyway, Ivan had given us the codes for all the doors. And when we arrived at the particular studio, he was in there with a bandmate. Martin was to remark that this was much more salubrious than back in the day, and the studios he was used to..

Happily, while I'd supplied myself with wine, Ivan had brought a picnic (typically). Which saved poor old Martin, who - unlike me - hadn't had a chance to eat. And we played a variety of music - on YouTube. Coming around, eventually - inevitably - to watching a whole U2 concert. Ah well now, I was hardly going to complain.. Ivan's bandmate was the first to bow out. And Ivan himself crashed - maybe 3am.. Martin and I left soon after - me taking most of the goodies - and the buses proved less problematic. Got home and fell asleep in my clothes - I did manage to get my shoes off. Not so bad, maybe 5am.. Not a hope of blogging though!

Wanted film for yesterday, but had to finish the film list.. barely got it done in time to go to an actual film! Top of the list was a documentary - Beyond Utopia is the story of North Korean defectors, and as they stress, there are no reconstructions in this. It's absolutely fascinating, and somewhat horrifying.. most of the film covers the story of a family of five, fleeing the country. There's an underground railroad, you see, and a pastor to arrange things and advise. With the southern border so heavily patrolled, the only way out is across the Yalu River, bordering China - they then have to travel through Vietnam and Laos, en route to Thailand. Because, you see, until they get to Thailand, they're in Communist territory, and in danger of being repatriated..

The title refers to the fact that they're taught, from an early age, that North Korea is a Utopia. But the film includes actual footage of captured defectors being tortured, and it's not a pretty sight. One of the most fascinating parts of the film is when the defecting family is brought to safe houses - and catch their first view of a television, of toilet paper.. it's the first time they've seen running water.. snacks are bought for the kids, who've never seen popcorn before! But they must also endure hardship - they have to cross a mountain range to get out of Vietnam. In the dark. In the humidity. I couldn't have managed it, and can only marvel at the 80-year-old woman who manages.

We also see interviews with a young woman who defected years ago, and has given a TED talk about it - and there's a woman who left her young son behind when she defected, again years ago. Her husband never let her try to get their son out as well, but when he turned 17, he wanted to go.. we see her desperate attempts, from a distance, her only means of communication phone calls with brokers, which have to be kept short, for fear of detection..

Also including a potted history of North Korea, this is a fascinating film. Highly recommended..

I went to Nando's beforehand - faster than GBK (and I was a bit tight for time), and anyway, I wasn't keen on going to GBK after my last experience. And it was lovely - except they had no wine available by the glass! Durnit - well, I had a bottomless Sprite Zero, which was very refreshing. Interestingly, a couple of Japanese girls came to the table beside me, and had great trouble understanding the lady serving them, who was trying to ask whether they had any allergies. Handily, she had an app on her phone that she could speak into and have her speech translated into any language she chose. It was still a bit tricky, because she had a thick Indian accent. But hey.. the same night, I had to squeeze past a huge group of what seemed to be French schoolkids - well done that restaurant, for fitting them all down the back somewhere! (inconspicuously).

Anyway, again, no time to blog, as I had to be up this morning for yet another job interview. Well, by the law of averages, one has to stick, right?!

Now, today and tomorrow, I'm also determined to get horrific.. but Meetup just isn't playing ball! So I'm doing my own thing - with the Unrestricted View Film Festival in the Hen and Chickens (cheaper tickets on CT). Tonight, I headed to Lore.. Started the blog before I left, but of course, didn't have time to finish it.

I'd seen plenty of eateries nearby, including two Italians, across from each other - so said I'd try one of those, perhaps. And so it was that I came to eat in La Pasta - which was quite a find. Service was quick and friendly - partly, I guess, because they weren't overly busy. There was a rolling total of diners, always two or three tables occupied - in fact, by the time I was heading home, around 9.30, it was closed already. Well, it is Monday. I can't really recommend the garlic bread - it was tasty enough, but the bread was thick and chewy, and I couldn't get it all eaten. The chicken with mushroom was lovely though - served with fries and veg. I had a decent fudge cake - because I had time, because I was served so fast. And a carafe of wine - which cost less than an average large glass in the West End. And that was the more expensive wine.. oh yes, I'll keep an eye on this place!

And so to the pub theatre, where I gave my name, got my membership card (again), waited - and was first in when the house opened, upstairs. As usual, they do well with the Hallowe'en decor:

We had a short intro, and an introduction to two of the filmmakers. And oh, I expected so much more from this.. Honestly, it was a severe disappointment. A group of campers go on a spooky trip, and are sat around the campfire one night with a spooky guide, who requires each to tell a ghost story. I love the format. Unhappily, not only are not all the stories great - although most have some redeeming qualities, but really, I couldn't get behind the haunted house one, which made no sense - but the overall film structure has no resolution! The ending is nowhere, resolves nothing.. waste of time, frankly, and it baffles me how they can have been so complimentary about it. Lordy, I hope the rest of the festival is better..

Tomorrow, London Social Detours have organised a trip to a talk about James I (who was obsessed with witchcraft), followed by lunch in the Crypt Cafe of St. Martin's in the Field. Almost the only Meetup of the week. 

That evening, I'm headed to Skinjacker, also in the Unrestricted View Festival. Set on Skye, the scenery promises to be spectacular, at least.

On Wednesday, film again - and what looked best was The Killer, a thriller with Michael Fassbender in the title role, also starring Tilda Swinton as his handler. How can you lose.. showing in the Curzon Aldgate. And yay, for both of these Curzon bookings, the website was now working, so I got to use my free credits!

On Thursday, also film - and, you know, it being the Day of the Dead in some traditions, I fancied something scary - even if only vaguely - again. Took me a while to scroll down my list to find anything that was still on, and would qualify - I finally hit on Cat Person. This is based on a short story in The New Yorker (although they apparently changed the ending), and is a cautionary tale about a couple that meet online. He says he's a "cat person" - but she is to find out that he's not at all as he portrays himself.. Showing in the Odeon Covent Garden.

On Friday, still gainfully unemployed, I'm back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpy Old Londoners, for another new one of his - he's off to Kultured Kensington..

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again. And next Monday, back with CT, for a Winter Blues concert at Union Chapel.