Berlinale Film Festival hits the city
Note: I've added some pics from the Concert Hall where we had our orchestra concert below! Thanks to Jan for taking the pictures from the balconies.
The semester is officially over, and next semester starts up on April 3rd. We in the oboe studio, however, are continuing with lessons and classes till this coming week at least. We're doing group Mozart (the piece asked for at every orchestra audition) classes at the moment. But I have more free time to practice now which is nice.
I'm in the process of booking a flight home for March 15-31. If I make it, it will be nice to be home, if for a short time. Speaking of home, I got not one, but two e-mails this week from my friends Laura and Jenny who just got engaged (not to each other) and will be getting married this summer. Congratulations!
Last Saturday I made it to a film at the "Berlinale Film Festival" which has been going on for the past 1 1/2 weeks. Although I'd seen it advertised and everywhere before, this is the first year I took a closer look and realized how intricate and interesting it is. In addition to the actual Film Festival in which new international movies (non-Hollywood, but some American) are judged and awarded with the Golden Bear Award, for about 2 weeks an enormous amount of movies are shown in several different movie theaters around the city - from old movies like "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day/Rock Hudson, to the new films being judged.
For true movie buffs this is paradise. There are films from all around the world, even, in my opinion, atypical "movie producing countries" like Morocco, at all hours of the day. There were also tons of tourists visiting for the festival, including English speakers on every corner. And some famous American actors were also here for it including those from "A Prairie Home Companion."
So last weekend when a Portuguese guy from the oboe studio and I happened upon the Berlinale festival we decided to get tickets for one of the movies being shown. By the time we decided what we wanted to see it had already started and they don't let stragglers in. So we decided to get a cocktail and wait for the next movie, 2 hours later. It was a French (with English subtitles)black and white movie from the 60s called "La Vérité" with the famous French actress Brigette Bardot.
Although I fell asleep for about a 1/2 hr. during the 130 min. long flick, I woke up all rested up for the last 45 min. of the movie (for me this is progress since I usually don't wake back up to see the end). The movie was really good and it was fun to see something different. Afterwards we joined the hoards of non-traditional movie-goers for a drink in the theater bar. Yes, even the movie theaters have bars here, and serve alcohol. In fact, you can get a tall wheat beer in a glass and take it into the movie with you, which I have no desire to do, but it is possible.
In other news, as someone who comes from a country where there is no formal "you," I found something in the news here interesting. First as background: in German the two "you" forms are "Sie": formal, and "du": informal. I think most other languages have a formal you as well, even if it's not used that often. In German it is still always used and is often taken as extreme offense if not used when appropriate. The unwritten rule (which is sometimes flexible) is that you usually use the formal "Sie" with people in a formal setting (work, grocery store, etc.) if they look 18 or older. When meeting adults, everyone uses "Sie," even adults with adults. You are then allowed to use "du" when the older one gives you permission. In informal settings like school or church you use "du," however when in doubt and the person is considerably older, it's usually best to start with "Sie."
A couple weeks ago a famous German singer Dieter Bohlen (also on the judging panel for Germany's version of American Idol, "Germany's Search for a Superstar") was caught red-handed using the informal "du" with a city official. Oops! Apparently there is a law requiring the use of "Sie" with any city officials, including ordinance bureau officials, the police, etc. Bohlen was even brought to court because of the mishap but let go with a slap on his wrist. The reason for the laxness? He apparently uses "du" to everyone and is known for it. I guess it supports the theory famous people get away with everything!
The semester is officially over, and next semester starts up on April 3rd. We in the oboe studio, however, are continuing with lessons and classes till this coming week at least. We're doing group Mozart (the piece asked for at every orchestra audition) classes at the moment. But I have more free time to practice now which is nice.
I'm in the process of booking a flight home for March 15-31. If I make it, it will be nice to be home, if for a short time. Speaking of home, I got not one, but two e-mails this week from my friends Laura and Jenny who just got engaged (not to each other) and will be getting married this summer. Congratulations!
Last Saturday I made it to a film at the "Berlinale Film Festival" which has been going on for the past 1 1/2 weeks. Although I'd seen it advertised and everywhere before, this is the first year I took a closer look and realized how intricate and interesting it is. In addition to the actual Film Festival in which new international movies (non-Hollywood, but some American) are judged and awarded with the Golden Bear Award, for about 2 weeks an enormous amount of movies are shown in several different movie theaters around the city - from old movies like "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day/Rock Hudson, to the new films being judged.
For true movie buffs this is paradise. There are films from all around the world, even, in my opinion, atypical "movie producing countries" like Morocco, at all hours of the day. There were also tons of tourists visiting for the festival, including English speakers on every corner. And some famous American actors were also here for it including those from "A Prairie Home Companion."
So last weekend when a Portuguese guy from the oboe studio and I happened upon the Berlinale festival we decided to get tickets for one of the movies being shown. By the time we decided what we wanted to see it had already started and they don't let stragglers in. So we decided to get a cocktail and wait for the next movie, 2 hours later. It was a French (with English subtitles)black and white movie from the 60s called "La Vérité" with the famous French actress Brigette Bardot.
Although I fell asleep for about a 1/2 hr. during the 130 min. long flick, I woke up all rested up for the last 45 min. of the movie (for me this is progress since I usually don't wake back up to see the end). The movie was really good and it was fun to see something different. Afterwards we joined the hoards of non-traditional movie-goers for a drink in the theater bar. Yes, even the movie theaters have bars here, and serve alcohol. In fact, you can get a tall wheat beer in a glass and take it into the movie with you, which I have no desire to do, but it is possible.
In other news, as someone who comes from a country where there is no formal "you," I found something in the news here interesting. First as background: in German the two "you" forms are "Sie": formal, and "du": informal. I think most other languages have a formal you as well, even if it's not used that often. In German it is still always used and is often taken as extreme offense if not used when appropriate. The unwritten rule (which is sometimes flexible) is that you usually use the formal "Sie" with people in a formal setting (work, grocery store, etc.) if they look 18 or older. When meeting adults, everyone uses "Sie," even adults with adults. You are then allowed to use "du" when the older one gives you permission. In informal settings like school or church you use "du," however when in doubt and the person is considerably older, it's usually best to start with "Sie."
A couple weeks ago a famous German singer Dieter Bohlen (also on the judging panel for Germany's version of American Idol, "Germany's Search for a Superstar") was caught red-handed using the informal "du" with a city official. Oops! Apparently there is a law requiring the use of "Sie" with any city officials, including ordinance bureau officials, the police, etc. Bohlen was even brought to court because of the mishap but let go with a slap on his wrist. The reason for the laxness? He apparently uses "du" to everyone and is known for it. I guess it supports the theory famous people get away with everything!
posted by Heidi at 4:31 PM
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