2012-12-09

Брат (Brother) [Russia / 1997]

Sergey Bodrov Jr. (1971–2002) plays the role of a young man named Danila Bagrov with a predisposition for lawlessness but nonetheless possessing a degree of morality somewhat superior to most of the people he comes in contact with. He sets out to find his brother in Leningrad, a man which according to his mother is "her only hope" but in truth is a local gangster and killer. Apparently, their father was a thief who eventually died in prison. Not the kind of movie that will stir many laughs or philosophical discussions but it will make you addicted to the atmosphere (aided by a wonderful soundtrack by Nautilus Pompilius) if you have an interest for this kind of cinema. The director is Aleksey Balabanov.

You can see the full movie below (with English subtitles) brought to you by TheMakiNau through Youtube.


Movie




Music


As a bonus for my readers I have posted bellow a song from the soundtrack by Nautilus Pompilius. Zver (Beast):


Lyrics:

я смотpю в темноту я вижу огни
это где-то в степи полыхает пожаp
я вижу огни вижу пламя костpов
это значит где-то здесь скpывается звеpь

я гнался за ним столько лет столько зим
я нашел его здесь в этой степи
слышу вой под собой вижу слезы в глазах
это значит что звеpь почувствовал стpах

я смотpю в темноту я вижу огни
это значит что звеpь почувствовал стpах

он я знаю не спит слишком сильная боль
все гоpит все кипит пылает огонь
я даже знаю как болит у звеpя в гpуди
он pевет он хpипит мне знаком этот кpик

я кpужу в темноте там где слышиться смех
это значит что тепеpь звеpю конец
я не буду ждать утpа чтоб не видеть как он
пpобудившись ото снастанет дpугим

я не буду ждать утpа чтоб не тpатить больше сил
смотpи на звезду - она тепеpь твоя
искpы тают в ночи звезды светят в пути
я лечу и мне гpустно в этой степи

он уже кpепко спит слишком сладкая боль
не гоpит не гоpит утихает огонь
когда утpо взойдет он с последней звездой
поднимется в путь полетит вслед за мной

когда утpо взошло успокоилась ночь
не гpозила ничем лишь отпpавилась пpочь
он еще кpепко спал когда слабая дpожь
мелькнула в гpуди с неба вылился дождь
I look into the darkness, I see lights.
It is a fire blazing somewhere in the steppe.
I see lights, I see flames of bonfires.
This means that here hides a beast.

I chased him for so many years.
I have found him here, in this steppe.
I hear him howl, I see tears in his eyes.
This means that the beast feels fear.

I look into the darkness, I see lights,
This means that somewhere here hides the beast.

I know he is not sleeping, the pain is too strong,
Everything is burning and boiling inside, the fire is burning.
I even know how it hurts in the beast's chest,
He roars, he croaks, I know this cry.

I'm circling in the darkness, where laughter is heard,
This means that it's all over for the beast now.
I will not wait for the morning, not to see how he,
Waking from sleep, becomes different.

I will not wait for the morning, not to waste energy,
Look at the star - it is now yours.
Sparks are melting into the night, the stars are shining on the way,
I'm flying, and I feel sad in this steppe.

He is fast asleep already - the pain is too sweet,
The fire is not burning anymore, it is dying down.
When the morning comes, with the last star
He will rise to go, will fly following me.

When the morning came, the night calmed down,
It did not threaten with anything, just went away.
He was still fast asleep, when a slight shiver
Flashed across his chest, the sky poured rain.

Translation: kovideo.net








2012-12-07

Mahmoud Farshchian (visual) and Farid Farjad (audio)

Mahmoud (left) and Farid (right)
Iranians have proven time and time again that they are one of the leading cultures which shape the world not through weapons but through beauty, not through destruction but through creation, not through theft but through creativity. If not for the "brain drain", the Iranian nation would of been a source of light and reason in the Middle East, at least. In our "globalizing" times, countries of the world must find a way to foster progress and spiritual development and encourage those individuals blessed with various talents to work for their own countries and by doing so, to push and pull all of humankind from all directions towards a common good. Towards a united world enriched with diversity, not a conquered world struggling with stereotypes.    

Mahmoud Farshchian (محمود فرشچیان) was born on January 24th, 1930 in Isfahan and is considered a master of Persian painting and miniatures. In 2001 a museum dedicated to the artist was inaugurated in Tehran. An excellent site is Farshchian World.

Farid Farjad (فرید فرجاد) was born in 1938 in Tehran. He is a well known Iranian violin player who, with great mastery, combines Persian Folk Music with Classical Western Music.

Both Farid and Mahmoud decided to emigrate to America, their art is nonetheless Iranian at its core and global in importance.


Gallery

1973 - Maze
1976 - Contrasts in Creation
1982 - Hafez
1984 - Creature of Dreams
1989 - Growth

1988 - Peace on Earth
1993 - Khayyam

1993 - Self Haven
2000 - Golden Tears
2002 - Nocturnal Worship