Author: telboy2
The Flag
Momentum is gaining on the discussion of the new flag in New Zealand.With the release of the final four for consideration discussion seems to have increased. On the whole the reception has been negative.
A grand committee I assume of the ‘great and good’ have lead a process that has considered all the proposals, set a long-list and then a short list of four. The final selection is driven by an unsurprising compromise of incorporating the common themes that seem to gain traction, aside of whether these components work in combination.
The task set I think is an impossible one. The flag is to represent the important features of what makes New Zealand ……New Zealand. I do not think other countries set such high expectations for its flag. Such desires need a painting or such like! Of course John Key is driving his preference-something fern like. Not particularly mind stretching and he has reasonably been accused of just branding or corporatising the intent. How to make dollars, as if that is the way nations think of themselves. The problem with the fern and the colour black, another strong theme, for example is that they are already used widely by business and sports teams-the All Blacks of course. Hence the preference of Key, the currently great Ritchie McCaw and many Joe-Blokes (“ordinary Kiwis”).
The current four options to go into the planned run off against the current flag. I think there is a reasonable level of desire for change but the options have been received negatively.
A new one currently hitting big on ‘social media’ is below:
At least this design shows some imagination is design and offers meaningful interpretation rather than ‘the world knows us by the fern and the colour black”.
We will see but I do nor expect a change with these offerings. Key has been accused of using this process to define his heritage. One can see his fingers all over it. His usual suspects are lining up behind the offerings but I wonder if there will be some national tactical response.
Film festival revisited
So yesterday was the end of the Wellington setting of the NZIFF.
In the last 2 weeks we have squeezed a few more films. Last night was a viewing of 45 Years that seems to have been a hit with all the critics:
“It’s a film of small moments and tiny gestures that leaves a very, very big impression”
plus Shaz, but not me. It left me cold; too slow and with no particular expression the important issues. I obviously missed the point.
‘When Marnie was there‘ is the film that Isaac requested. I enjoyed this animated film as did he. It was a little unusual in that as a Japanese film it had a lot of European influence in the characterisation.
During the week we saw ’71 a drama set in Ulster while Shaz and Isaac saw ‘Saint Laurent‘ which was huge disappointment. Reading the reviews after the event was a bit late which were in keeping with their experience.
Les Misérables
This has become a great musical piece for us to watch. From the first time we saw it performed as a school production at St.Pats, through to the film released in 2013 to now the version at Wellington East Girl’s College.
This time of course Isaac performed.
As I am parent of the year I saw the production twice. The last night was yesterday. A great performance with young people who can sing so well.
Now we await whether Isac makes it to centre stage the next time St. Pats put on their show.
Wellington • New Zealand International Film Festival
Screening dates: 24 Jul — 12 Aug 2015
Source: Wellington • New Zealand International Film Festival
A belated post on the NZIFF which is currently in full flow. Last weekend was a fil marathon for us; one on Friday, two on Saturday, one on Sunday and even a film on Monday evening.
We started with Far from Men set in Algeria in 1954 at the beginnings of the independence fight. It is based on an Albert Camus book (that I have read in part!). It as a beautiful story of relationships and being an outsider in society with the actions of the colonialists and Arabs as the backdrop. The filming is beautiful. A good start.
In brief Wrinkles is a cartoon depiction of the vagaries of aging with the loss of health and self-control with increasing dementia. Good, thoughtful but inevitably black.
Amy is a well-known story and a documentary that has made some waves. Essentially a sad story, with the ending well known, of a talented but vulnerable woman, who makes mistakes but is offered no protection by those on whom she depends. Not a good advert for fathers or humanity in general maybe.
The Enemy Within as famously said by the ‘Iron Lady” (was she one?) is the miners viewpoint of the 1984 strike. It is important to be told or reminded of the circumstances of the strike, the power of the state and its allies and to see the way events unfolded and as I saw it, the errors of strategy on the part of the miners.
Pheonix tickled the satisfaction less than the others. Seems to be highly rated and enjoyed but lacks credibility in the storyline. Survivor from an extermination camp in WW2 has plastic surgery and is unrecognisable by her husband when she comes back to their home city. A beautiful films as it recounts the new world and their new relationship but in my mind the implausibility always nags.
And today offers Banksy. A little bit different.
Black humour
Greece has defaulted on its debt to the IMF. What next?
Wedding Anniversary
To celebrate we enjoyed an afternoon drinking tea and eating French patisserie.
A different and enjoyable experience, a lovely varied choice of teas and then the variety of savoury and sweet food.
To use the cliché- A Greek Tragedy
I listened to a podcast the other day that discussed the British (David Cameron’s) desire to renegotiate membership of the EU. The analogy used was going over to a neighbour to ask for a cup of sugar when their house was burning down. I think the Guardian cartoon give the same message as the Greek debt and Eurozone crisis continues.
Samoan Speech
Isaac has studied Samoan over the last 2 years of so and has done very well. So much so that he was the year 11 rep for a speech competition. He had to prepare the speech, talk for 5 minutes without notes. He is the first non-Samoan to participate. The other performers were better than him but he got a special mention, did very well anyway and was mentioned on Samoan radio. A star.
There is no Q in Samoan apparently which may explain the spelling error!
Greek financial crisis
Despite the plethora of reporting it can be difficult to understand how this situation cannot be resolved.
At a simple level the Greek debt is huge and can never reasonably be repaid so forcing or expecting the country to do so, with inevitable worsening of the economy, seems futile. There is no solidarity with the Greek government within the EU and the financial masters expect their view to prevail despite its lack of evidence of effect and predicted consequences.
In the end it cannot end well I think.