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Just been to see “L’ivresse du pouvoir” by Chabrol. In the “talking film” category rather than action movie – but probably all the more satisfying for it (How could the Bourne Ultimatum get away with being little more than 2 extended – though good – chase scenes).

Is this the difference in the cultural expectations / differences between France and the US; US conspiracy theory is all about the action chase, where the outsider is the hero; France is around the judiciary taking on the corruption of the public sector? …

It’s also of course the difference between the Extraverted action-based movie; and the Introverted reflective film

It’s amazing how far around the world you can travel from a cinema seat in Nyons.

A couple of films for you to track down. Golden Door is about a group of Sicilians making the move to the US and going through the immigration procedures at Ellis Island, New York. Ellis Island really moved me when I was there 6 years ago … good to see the whole process shown in such a film.

And then it was to modern Scandinivia, and the comedy The Managing Director, by Lars von Thiers (also directed Dancer in the Dark with Bjork in it). I found it highly amusing, but got into quite an animated debate with Olivier – a film critic – who while appreciating the technical side of the film, felt that it was overly manipulative of the audience… I didn’t feel that at all.. Obviously I quite like games!

The weather has turned overnight from great sunshine, blue skies and early summer temperatures to cold, rain and snow across a lot of France.

So I took myself off to the cinema this afternoon to transport myself to Mongolia and China.

Mongolian Ping-Pong (director Ning Hao) is charming and funny. I’m always amazed at the creativity of film directors and writers – who would have thought of a film about a ping pong ball in the depths of the Mongolian steppes …

Quick cup of coffee and ready for the next trip to China. This was Little Red Flowers (director Zhang Yuan). It’s a chronicle of Qiang’s experience (at not yet aged 4)of being thrown into “boarding nursery school” 24/7 … Even in a strictly controlled Maoist institution, Qiang’s character – his highs and his lows – play themselves out in this beautiful film.

A great way pass a winter’s afternoon.

I’m in London at the moment, but decided to take advantage of a wet and windy afternoon (tornados in North London) to take myself off to the Ritzy cinema. This is a great art cinema in Brixton (just a short bus ride from me in Vauxhall), and usually has something “foreign” that’s worth seeing. So yesterday’s treat was Pan’s Labyrinth:

Director: Guillermo Toro Origin: Spain Year: 2006 Duration: 119m Starring: Ariadna Gil, Maribel Verdu, Doug Jones, Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez

A fairy tale for adults inspired by the paintings of Francisco Goya and rooted, like THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE, in the context of war, this is del Toro’s most accomplished work in his own opinion. In 1940s Spain, recently remarried Carmen (Gil) and daughter Ofelia (Baquero) move in with the cold and authoritarian new husband, Vidal (López), a captain in General Franco’s army. Finding her new life difficult, Ofelia seeks refuge in a labyrinth she discovers next to the house. A magical creature named Pan, the guardian of the labyrinth, reveals that Ofelia is the long-lost princess of a magical kingdom. To discover the truth, she will have to accomplish three dangerous tasks. Del Toro’s startling vision rests on a profoundly moving story with universal appeal.

It was slightly odd seeing it subtitled into English – I’m more used to seeing French subtitles! But well worth seeing.

One thing that I did notice was that in France, at the end of the film, most people sit through the music and the credits at the end – “respect” to the makers of the film. Here in London, people were putting on their coats and leaving as the first credits started to roll. And people were coming in for the next showing before the credits had finished.

Nyons is the small market town of about 7000 inhabitants about 8 kilometres from Le Colombier. We have a fantastic 2-screen art-house cinema that shows a great variety of films from across the world.

Had fun seeing the Queen – in English / subtitled in French. Well worth seeing. The evening before we had seen the Cannes prize-winning Chinese film “Luxury Car” by director Wang Chao – quite a contrast. And this Monday saw the Finnish film “Les lumieres des faubourgs” (not sure of the English title) by director Aki Karismaki. I’m glad I have the light and colours of Provence to wake up to every morning.