Film: Dying & Classical Concert

Well, having led a very sociable weekend, I now have a few days on my own! Yesterday, decided on film - and what came up at the top of the list was Dying (!). A German comedy drama about elderly parents and their stressed, middle-aged children, it looked good - showing at the Garden Cinema. An early start, so I had to skive off early..

Did make it in time, for once here - not in time to eat beforehand, so I figured I'd eat afterwards: which meant I was a bit nervous when I heard it was three hours long! But then, it did start at 5.. at the bar beforehand, I'd forgotten they only do one white wine by the glass - she suggested their "wine of the month", and gave me a taster, so I agreed. Still not great, to be honest - their wines here are ok, but not amazing.

I mistook my row - the row lettering is a bit weird - and therefore ended up sitting near a nice, older gentleman with whom I got chatting, and who informed me that he'd only discovered the existence of the place half an hour before - until then, he'd planned to see the film elsewhere - it is showing widely.

There were only four of us at the screening - well, it was a bit early if you were coming from work; showings later in the week are at later times. I do hope it attracts a larger crowd in time though - it's a helluva lot better than you might expect. It's such a random collection of events that it seems certain it's based on real life - you couldn't make it up. And indeed, I think the director said as much.

Anyway, it starts with the elderly parents - they're in a bit of a state, he's got serious dementia and she's having increasing trouble looking after herself. It has the ring of realism - I recognised some of the problems from my own late mother. Anyway - that's what I kind of expected of the film, and a lot of it is quite funny - but that's actually only the beginning! After that, we concentrate on the kids - whose lives couldn't be more complicated.

Tom is the son, conductor of a youth orchestra in Berlin, currently collaborating on a piece written by his friend Michel, who seems to be bipolar. We discover that Michel is going out with a cellist in the orchestra. It also turns out that Tom's ex, Liv, is pregnant - but not by him - she can't stand the child's father, Moritz, so Tom offered to stand in locus parenti for the upcoming birth.. his current girlfriend seems quite understanding about it.

And just wait till you meet Tom's sister Ellen. She's a dental assistant in Hamburg - and completely off the rails, drinks like a fish, barely holds it together in the office. Her mother describes her as unhappy.. watching her on screen is like watching a car crash in slow motion.

You realise that Ellen is profoundly unhappy. Tom is unhappy because he wants a child of his own - Liv aborted their child when they were together, they thought they were too young. Michel is dramatically unhappy with the way his orchestral piece is going, and keeps saying they should postpone the premiere. Put them all together and watch what happens - it's absolutely chaotic, absolutely unpredictable. And some of it is absolutely beautiful. Highly recommended - take a chance, I did and don't regret it; you don't notice the long runtime. Beware though, some heavy emotions are dealt with.

Afterwards, as usual for here, to Nando's Holborn, which was quite busy with what looked like a graduating class - all young, in suits. It's one of the better branches, and I was very well fed - although it was funny when the guy came with the second wine I decided to order, and nearly took it away again when he saw the wine glass on the table, saying, "Oh you already got it!"

All day today, of course, was taken up with finishing the last post. Tonight, I was back with TAC for a classical concert at the 1901 Arts Club. This time, I figured I could squeeze in to eat beforehand, and thought I'd try The White Hart, just down the road.

They don't take bookings just for one, though, so I had to go on spec - and it was completely full. So, checking what else was around.. what should I discover but another Nando's! Ah well, what the hey, they're quick, cheap and cheerful.. and I had no trouble getting in there, and happy to say, was just as well fed as yesterday! Unfortunately though, I seem to have arrived just as they were washing all the knives - it took me a while to get one..

Very striking toilets, I have to say:

I headed off ever so slightly late for the club - TAC do like you to get there half an hour beforehand, and I didn't quite make that. Having said that, the venues hardly ever make a fuss..

Do you know, I haven't been here in nearly nine years.. Had my name checked off the list, and the guy directed me to the bar - upstairs. So I had a drink, and perched on a stool - all the comfier seats were taken. I checked though, and there was no problem taking drinks in. Glad I'd already used the loo - they were another flight upstairs from the bar, here!

When it came time for the concert, we made our way down and crammed in - as the guy in the seat beside me remarked, we were a bit cramped! Yes, and it was stuffy too..

The programme was one of short, English songs, sung by David Tayloe, with Dylan Perez accompanying on piano.

Now, the last time I attended a concert like this was in Aix, and I left at the interval. Why I preferred this one so much, I don't know - perhaps simply that I was in a better mood, perhaps that it was in English, so easier for me to understand. Perhaps I preferred the singer, whom i found more expressive! I did enjoy it though. So it's a real shame that I nearly nodded off a couple of times.. and I'm sure the guy beside me noticed.. in my defence, it was very stuffy, and I was tired. I am really looking forward to a decent night's sleep - I've been up the walls lately. Certainly, I didn't take up the venue manager's invitation to us all to join the musicians in the bar afterwards.. nothing sounded more attractive than getting this blog put to bed at last, and then doing the same for myself. And I tell you, I was glad of some fresh air afterwards..

For tomorrow, finally got a ticket for Till the Stars Come Down, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket - used a voucher, and got a cheap ticket on Seatplan - not to mention a valuable review of the seat. Glad to see the vouchers are now instantly available, too!

On Thursday, thinking of film again - and that would be Under the Flags, the Sun, a documentary about the Paraguayan dictatorship. Showing, of course, in the Curzon Bloomsbury, home of documentaries in London.

And on Friday - well, I just couldn't resist going to Bring Her Back with The Hideout. From the makers of the notable recent horror, Talk to Me, this is a must-see, focusing more on those who are left to grieve, apparently. Venue and time not even confirmed yet, although it'll doubtless be around Leicester Square, and the rumour is the Vue West End, but I've signed up, because I know I want to go with them. Even though the London Horror Film Group actually went to the same film on Sunday, I'd rather wait.. :-) And anyway, if I'd gone with them, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet London Museums A-Z.. Unfortunately, The Hideout's organiser has some other stuff going on right now, so we're still waiting on a decision about this event..