Film: No Other Land

Tonight, I was to be back at Watkin's Occult Bookshop, first time in ages - this was for a talk from the author of a new book - on Book Curses! Eating afterwards at Bella Italia Cranbourn Street again. But I subsequently decided to check out the film list - and top of the list was No Other Land, a documentary formed from a young Palestinian boy filming every eviction from his village by Israeli forces. Teamed up with a sympathetic Israeli journalist to do it. Sounded more interesting to me. Closest showing to me was in the BFI - and with it mostly sold out, I said I'd better book. Also booked to eat in The Archduke beforehand.

I stayed in the office nearly until closing time, and was the last out - well, all of this was on late! and it was a great chance to clock up some hours, what with having a timesheet to fill out. I chose to walk - I should have been able to make it in under half an hour, which left me in plenty of time for my booking. However, Google Maps hadn't figured on my heavy backpack - or me stopping so many times for a peek (my first of the year) at the Christmas lights. I started down Shaftesbury Avenue:

before cutting through Covent Garden:

down Strand, which seems to have some new ones:

and crossing the river, I could see the Southbank Centre seems to be getting in the spirit:

Mind you, some lights are on year-round:

And so I was a little late arriving at the restaurant - not that it mattered. Of course, I was led upstairs, dragging my bag and all - the lady singing as she played the piano was good, if quite loud, and the upstairs - while cosy - was so dark, I could hardly see what I was eating. It's funny how sometimes they send me a survey to fill out, and one of the questions always asks whether I consider it a romantic spot - perhaps that's the reason for the low lighting? I dunno about romance, though - never mind whispering sweet nothings, you'd have to yell over that din!

Seeing the same waiter approaching that had served me the last two times, I decided I could do without soup - both times, I asked her what it was, both times she said mushroom and I said I'd have it, and both times she had to come back and tell me no, it was something else: which I didn't like. But I had my usual wine and my usual bourgignon - and it was delicious, and so comforting. Sensibly, the lady clearing my table brought me the dessert menu without having to be asked, and was back in five minutes to take my order! And so it was that I had time for an ice cream sundae, and left well satisfied.

Made the film with five minutes to spare, and took my aisle seat near the front. It was kind of a good thing I had the aisle, because I got an awful coughing fit at one point during the film - so bad I thought I'd have to leave. Mercifully, it calmed down after a few minutes, and a few dirty looks from the people sitting in front of me. I'm sorry to disturb you, really I am, but you do know that the person who's coughing can't help it, right..?

Well, the film is set in Masafer Yatta, in the West Bank - and I'm sure I'd heard of it before. It has been occupied by Israel since its invasion in 1967, although this film picks up in 1999.. and carries though to right before the October 7 attacks. And throughout, we see bulldozers demolishing houses, a school, chicken sheds.. it seems like death by slow cuts. You see, Israel decided to build a military training zone there - and so had to clear the (Palestinian) villages. Declared they were illegally built on a military site, you see - although they had been there long before Israel was. Funnily enough, the soldiers had no problems with the Israeli settlers..

Anyway, every time the houses were demolished, they were rebuilt - under cover of darkness. The Israelis came and demolished them again. In one scene, the soldiers decide to confiscate a man's building tools to prevent him doing it again - when he tries to stop them, he's shot. Fatally. Ah but hey, if you thought the soldiers were bad, wait until the settlers move in.. at least the soldiers try to justify their actions! Neither group is ever prosecuted, of course.

Shocking, horrifying, sad. We see signs banning Palestinian cars from certain roads - now, since when were signs prohibiting entry to certain people considered a good idea?! Ultimately, tension develops between the filmmakers, one of whom can leave whenever he wants, do whatever he wants - the other is stuck. As he says, he went to law school, but why? The jobs are all in Israel, and all in construction - college was a waste of time.

I don't know that I learned anything new from this film - but it's the sort of thing we should never forget. A timely reminder that just because you don't hear about a wrong every day doesn't mean it's gone away..

Next, a couple more days with Meetup. Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for The Glorious French Revolution at the New Diorama Theatre! Eating beforehand at the nearby Greene Man, which is a Greene King pub, so good food should be had. Most of the group is actually eating at Ravishankar - but with it being vegetarian, I'm not keen.

On Saturday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies, yay! This walk is Baker Street and its Quirky Surrounds.

As is becoming something of a habit, afterwards I'm joining Movie Roadhouse London (MRL) for a film! This time, it's Gladiator II, at Picturehouse Central, with Paul Mescal replacing Russell Crowe as the gladiator who shows Rome the error of its ways, and a return by Connie Nielsen.. seems I mistook who was whom, and her son is actually the aforementioned Paul Mescal, by Russell Crowe! So yes, he IS his son.. Denzel Washington also shows up as a slave that wants to overthrow Rome. Directed by the very bankable Ridley Scott.

On Sunday, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club (CCC)! This time, it's Queen of Between, with Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, and it's at the British Museum again - which means I'd better leave a huge chunk of time for queueing!

On Monday, I'm headed to Reykjavik, in Hampstead Theatre.. which, ironically, UITCS went to a while back..

Tuesday is looking like film again. So, what I've come up with is Soundtrack to a Coup d' État, a fascinating-looking documentary about events in the UN in 1960, with the entry of a host of newly independent African nations, shifting the balance of power. We get Khrushchev banging his fist, we get Eisenhower - and we get a political assassination. Lots of shenangigans - and all to a rocking jazz soundtrack. Showing in the ICA.

On Wednesday, another social with The Hideout and their sister group, MRL, at the BFI Riverfront Bar - this one is fetchingly called Frost Descent. Eating beforehand at The Archduke, as usual.

Next Thursday, the CCC has an event in The Cube, Bristol - which has the advantage of having streaming tickets, one of which I've bought. I'll probably be in the office that day, and for once yes, heading home afterwards! The event is The Three Snake Leaves - and ironically, is happening in King's Place in January, which I'd have preferred - I always prefer to go to things in person, and especially storytelling. But never mind..

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. And on the 25th, unless something else crops up, I'm thinking of just heading around the Southbank Winter Market..