“Little Ashes” is a film that attempts to provide answers for the ambiguous but tragic relationship between two prominent creatives, Federico García Lorca and Salvador Dalí. The result is short of glorified tributes, and merely concentrates on being a story about forbidden love. If anything, it’s nice to see Robert Pattinson take on a role that doesn’t look like he just accepted it for the money.
American fashion designer Tom Ford’s adaptation of the late Christopher Isherwood’s novel A Single Man is a directorial debut of class standing. The film is backed by an exceptional cast, a wardrobe that makes a statement in itself, and the successful approach as an art house film that makes every scene a feast for the eyes.
I have been fascinated with and studying the art behind portraiture. For someone who is a photography hobbyist, I have had very little practise with taking portraits outside of specific purposes like documenting events in snapshot form or for legal documents. Portraits capture not only the physical aspects, where its beauty is given and present, but also emotions, stories, secrets, and desires — hidden or obvious. I also share a handful of my favourites.
Like his previous novel, Yann Martel uses animals for allegory once again in his 2010 novel, Beatrice and Virgil. Instead of telling the story of the life of a boy practising three religions at once and how all three helped him when being stranded in the Pacific Ocean for almost a year, Martel explores a even more fragile topic: the Holocaust. Equipped with impressive ideas and approaches, the novel still hides a bit of a surprise. Whether it be a pleasant or unpleasant one is up for the reader to decide.
Four months and sixteen days after my grandfather passed away, his soulmate — my grandmother — joined him. I was given the honour of participating in a tribute that involved several people my grandmother knew. Being the youngest of the selected, I spoke on behalf of all the grandchildren. Just before my grandmother was laid to rest, I stood in front of a cathedral full of parishioners with handwritten scrawls that held together my tribute speech, and emotions that were probably much less composed. Herein is the transcribed version.