Film: Bye Bye Tiberias

Tonight, film again - best rated was Bye Bye Tiberias, a documentary about a Palestinian woman who went to live in France, where she became an actor. Curzon Bloomsbury again. And I arrived just in time - for once, I didn't get chocolate at the cinema, having pigged out on it during the afternoon, and feeling I'd had enough. Unlike Friday, this screening wasn't too full, and I could pretty much have my pick.

Some interesting trailers beforehand - one for a documentary about a Gazan filmmaker trapped outside the country once it sealed its borders, one for a documentary about a Russian newspaper that had to fold, because of its stance against Putin's war with the Ukraine. What a world we live in.

This film makes a nice change - it's relaxed, peaceful, stylish. The filmmaker is the daughter of the woman who emigrated, and as she says, she is the woman in the family who was born furthest from Palestine. She has come back with her mother - and there are reminiscences, there are reunions with her mother's many siblings. Her aunt fled to Syria, and since then, the others haven't been able to go and visit her - the only one who could was the woman who emigrated to France, and could travel on a French passport. For those who have passed on, we see home movies - and for those who lived even further back, there are photographs.

There's plenty of family history - and being a French film, lots of introspection. But it doesn't seem excessive. And although we are told how the grandfather of the woman who emigrated went mad with grief after his home, and all his possessions, were destroyed, along with his town, in the Israeli incursion of 1948, it's matter-of-fact. There's sadness, but no rancour - and the whole film has a backdrop of lovely, Middle Eastern guitar music. This is a personal study, not a political one - and it's a really pleasant watch. Recommended.

Afterwards to GBK, for a very moreish burger, then some shopping, and home. A good evening, all told.

Tomorrow, back with London Literary Walks (LLW) for a walk entitled Fleet Street Newspapers. We're meeting at The Blackfriar pub, where I can eat, conveniently.

The plan for Thursday is film again! Utterly delighted that this is still showing, and I can make it - I'll go to see Kinds of Kindness, the latest offering from the esoteric mind of Yorgos Lanthimos, who again has reunited Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe, with Jesse Plemons and Hong Chau, in what promises to be a wonderfully odd offering. Showing in the BFI this time (twice that evening), but not selling out, so I haven't booked. 

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, and the highest rated film is something called Thelma. This is about a 93-year-old lady who's scammed, thinking she's giving money to her grandson. Ah, how many times have we come across that?! Anyway, she takes an unusual step - she makes a break for it from her care home, and seeks revenge - and to get her money back. I see Malcolm McDowell has a part - I don't recognise anyone else on the cast list. Anyway, seems like a fun revenge fantasy.. and with a mother who's a year off this lady in age, I can relate to any of the age-related stuff! Only showing in Ennis.

The next two days, back with CT for the Bitesize Festival at Riverside Studios - they have a few offerings, but on the 22nd, I'm going to see Dangled.

And on the 23rd, Namastae Bae - a satirical guru. After booking, I realised that London Baroque Music Lovers has an event that day - they're going to Prom 7, at the Royal Albert Hall. Durnit, forgot about that when I was booking for that day! but I was booking a lot, and it was late at night, so I was tired. Never mind, that's quite a late event anyway. Shame though, I hardly ever meet this group these days - their events aren't very frequent.

On the 24th, back with LLW for a walk about Newton and Legal London. We're meeting in The Devereux, but they don't do proper meals - I'm eating in The George, up the road, beforehand. At least, after last night, I have some idea of the complicated street mapping!

The next two days, back with Over 40 Living the Life. On the 25th, it's Afrique en Cirque at the Queen Elizabeth Hall - always love a circus!

On the 26th, it's Slave Play - at the Noel Coward, it got a terrific review. Stars Kit Harington - who apparently gets his kit off! (pun intended). Eating in the nearby Bella Italia.

The 27th was the next date possible for my ex-coworkers' reunion, what with everybody travelling hither and yon, and suffering from jetlag.. I was thinking of going back to Brown's. But then Ivan requested the following day, because he's rehearsing that day - and the others were fine with it. So I'll probably just head to the cinema on the 27th.

For the 28th, I've decided to go closer to Victoria - handy for James, whose train comes in there, and handier for the others, who are coming from far-flung opposite ends of town.. so I've booked The Albert.