Cinema · Museums · Observations

At the centre of "The Weekdays and Holidays of Serafima Glukina" stands a lonely grown woman, Serafima, played by Alisa Freindlich, a museum employee, for those times somewhat not of this world

At the centre of "The Weekdays and Holidays of Serafima Glukina" stands a lonely grown woman, Serafima, played by Alisa Freindlich, a museum employee, for those times somewhat not of this world. Today she would be called a representative of the ideas of New Sincerity. A little clumsy,

Cinema · Observations

In our regular Cinema slot today: a Soviet drama of the perestroika period about the loneliness of cultivated people

In our regular Cinema slot today: a Soviet drama of the perestroika period about the loneliness of cultivated people. The Weekdays and Holidays of Serafima Glyukina (1988) is a little-known and far from outstanding film, but I am sure it will appeal to those who value subtle reflections on

Archive · Cinema · Paris · People

Actor Grigory Khmara and the Russian Hollywood of Paris in a film on the Kultura channel

In the 1920s the husband of the Danish-born actress Asta Nielsen, then enormously famous, in Russia at any rate, wrote to Alexandr Kamenka, producer at Paris's largest Russian film studio, Albatros, incidentally as… "My name is Grigory Mikhailovich Khmara... My wife is Asta Nielsen... I shall

NB! · Cinema · Observations · Humour

Lyudmila Prokofyevna Kalugina in the film "Office Romance" is, by the plot, only 36

Lyudmila Prokofyevna Kalugina in the film "Office Romance" is, by the plot, only 36. Alisa Freindlich was 43 at the time of filming. Do take care of yourselves, stress included, so that at 36 you are not played by a lady of 43

Cinema · People · Nature

The dog Togo and Leonard Seppala in the Great Race of Mercy of 1925 in Alaska

The dog Togo and his master Seppala, heroes of the Great Race of Mercy of 1925. In the coldest winter Alaska had known in twenty years, an epidemic of diphtheria broke out in the remote town of Nome, and the meagre stocks of serum there had passed their expiry date.

Cinema · Books · Education

Paul Verhoeven’s 1977 film “Soldier of Orange” about Leiden students in the Second World War

A film about young people whose lives are unceremoniously invaded by world history. Paul Verhoeven's "Soldier of Orange" (also known in Russian as "The Queen's Soldier"), 1977, is a classic of war cinema. Its heroes are four friends, all students at Leiden

NB! · Cinema · Observations

Mood for This Morning: 2001: A Space Odyssey

NB! · Archaeology · Art · Cinema · Madrid · Museums · Humour

And More on Amusing Coincidences

And more on amusing coincidences. Princess Leia and the stone Lady of Elche, 4th century BC, Archaeological Museum of Madrid

Aristocracy · Cinema · Books · Observations · Mores

The Tale of Babar the Elephant in the de Brunhoff Family and Lucien Vogel's Edition

I owe my first impression of consanguineous marriage among aristocrats to the tale of Babar the elephant, which I read in early childhood. If you remember the opening of the plot, once he has become a famous elephant, Babar goes off into the forest with his cousins Arthur and Celeste,

NB! · Archive · Cinema · Observations · Pop Culture

The 33-year-old Chaplin and Anna Pavlova

The 33-year-old Chaplin and Anna Pavlova. How handsome they are! And how well Charlie looks without make-up and moustache

Cinema · Moscow · Observations · Mores

Raizman’s 1984 film “Time of Desires” about the daily life of Muscovites in the late USSR

For those weary of the January marathon of old films, I recommend a 1984 picture about metropolitan life in the late USSR, "A Time of Desires" with Vera Alentova and Anatoly Papanov. Admirers of "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears" may find this melodrama of some

Cinema · Observations · Pop Culture

Hanging of the Decembrists to a Basta song in the finale of “Union of Salvation”

“When I am gone, I shall sing with the voices of my children and the voices of their children”: I could not believe my ears when this melody struck up in the final scene of “Union of Salvation”. On screen, the hanging of Pestel, Ryleyev, Muravyov-Apostol, Bestuzhev-Ryumin and