The Wonders of Cinema

I have just seen the most amazing film of my life! So filled with the joys of cinema I was practically running to this internet centre to get everything down before I went to bed.

I was also lucky enough to get talking to this great young woman from New York, Martha. She works for an internet entertainment site and is in Toronto to review 25 of the films for the site. I really liked her..she was funny, observant and intelligent. We liked many of the same films and talked for ages about travelling. Martha was on her own too so we grabbed a seat together in the theatre they had transformed into a cinema for the gala night.

The film was called 'The Lives of Others'. It is a German film directed by Florian Henkel Von Donnersmarck. The director and one of the lead actors gave a short talk at the beginning of the film. He talked about the joys of seeing a low budget film and being given enough funding for it to evolve and travel the world with its message.

The film is a blistering indictment of the former East Germany's Cold War regime. The life of a playwright and his actress girlfriend are under the watchful eyes of GDR. His room is wired and every conversation recorded. However, one GDR member plunges into the emotion and humanity of the lives these two people lead and records half truths to rescue them from punishment.

It was humourous to the point of discomfort and emotional to the point where the lump in my throat just kept enlarging as each minute passed. Exceptionally acted and sheer beauty!

After the film, there was silence, tears and endless applause..when the director and his lead stepped back on stage they had a 5 minute standing ovation. I have never seen such love for a film, those involved or the creators... I urge you to see this film... I shall go on eating, sleeping and drinking this film for at least a few days..

I love those films that find a way into your life and linger on into the moments of the everyday and inane.

And now, BED!