Import//Export

Following my recent interest into German film, I found another title that I'd like to share with you... Import Export directed by Ulrich Seidl (Granted it's actually an Austrian film, but it is filmed in the German and Ukrainian languages).

The film is an arthouse production that see's two unhappy characters cross between Austria and the Ukraine. Whilst they never meet, you feel a strong empathy for both of them throughout the film.

I have to say that the film is somewhat disturbing and even genuinely frightening in places, particularly where Seidl has filmed elderly patients in hospital at the end of their life. I found this upsetting and even distasteful as they could surely not have been able to give their consent to be filmed in such a way.

Having said this, the film was gripping and I found myself thinking about it for the next few days in much greater detail.

So my verdict is - watch it, but watch it in a good mood - otherwise you might find your mood taking a nose-dive.

Eastern Europe 2009

This year I travelled for a month from Kyiv in Ukraine all the way to Istanbul, Turkey by myself.

It was possibly the most amazing experience of my life, and was an enormous source of inspiration for me.

I wanted to share a few of my favourite photo's from the trip that highlight my journey...

Kyiv, Ukraine.
This is part of the entrance to the Soviet History Museum in Kyiv. Of all the places I visited, Kyiv was the most influenced by the power which blanketed the region from Moscow. I have to say that I love the architecture which was produced in this time (purely on a VISUAL and FUNCTIONAL level!!!) The sharp cutting lines and greyness of the concrete forming the star really imposed a sense of power on the viewer as you walked through the tunnel into the museum.

Odessa, Ukraine.

Eastern Europe is full of quirky things like this. The caravan had been turned into a ticket office for a circus which was in an abandoned park overlooking the port. There was a bizarre atmosphere here as there was nobody around even though there was plenty to do - right in the centre of the town!

Chisinau, Moldova.

Moldova is the second poorest country in Europe, has 2 break-away self-declared states within its borders that no other country on the planet officially recognises and has the deepest pot holes I have ever seen!

I took this photo in the capital, Chisinau. I love the contrast between the shiny, well kept car and the crumbling building. I think there is a real mood in this image that jumps out at you and tells a story.

More to follow soon.......