"The Pied Piper" by Jiri Barta (1985)

Krysar is an adult stop-motion animation film, loosely based on the German folk tale the Pipe Piper of Hamelin. A real art-house piece of animation that has a mix of Renaissance and Medieval elements. 
There are many original elements about this film. The first one is the story, which deviates from the original, or better said digs into its original meaning, to offer a social allegory. Barta's Hamelin is a greedy, glutton and lusty male-dominated society - a kind of Sodom and Gomorrah. The piper is the punisher and redemptor, and the catalyst necessary for human renewal. The children are only seen at the end.

The second element of originality is its language... which is onomatopoeic: sounds, grunts, mumblings and gibbering, perfectly understandable by anybody in the world. I found it hilarious!

The third element of originality is the visual style of the movie, traditional and innovative at the same time, very odd and very artistic. Hamelin's backgrounds, architecture and interiors are made of dark carved wood, similar to the ones you find in some Renaissance cathedral choir chairs. The overall design is German expressionist in its design, which is noticeable in the diagonal and curved collapsing lines, unbalanced proportions and oniric elements, and the general darkness and oppressiveness of the space and atmosphere. On the contrary, the luminous colourful paintings used for the landscape are bucolic and very artistic, the sort of images you find in Medieval Gothic Books of Hours. They are human spaces, associated to the most human characters in the story, and a complete counterpoint to the rest. I found in the movie very Bergman's, with the sort of vibe, feeling, and themes one can find in movies like The Seventh Seal or the Virgin Spring.

The third element of originality is the design of the characters. Most of the Hamelin dwellers are wood puppets, with mobile parts and fabric clothing; they have angular-faces and are thin and tall. The Piper is also a wood puppet, but it looks very different - a mixture of walking skeleton, a Goth band member, and an apocalyptic angel. The only two good characters and pure souls in the city -the lady living in the city outskirts and the fisherman- are very refined sweet and delicate wooden puppets. The rest of the characters are the rats, real ones (more like big mice!), which are as big the human characters, naughty monsters as greedy as the humans, which move rapidly and awkwardly.

The music is terrific - a mix of dark classic pieces and rock sounds with the ethereal sound of the flute as only breaker.

The ending is great, and has nothing to do with the traditional story. It couldn't be otherwise, as the movie is an allegorical reflection of Society's sins. The title in Czech means rat trapper, which refers to the rats in Hamelin and also to its dwellers, which are a pest as much as the rats are, and the piper also traps.

I found annoying that some general scenes -landscapes shots, movement of groups- were repeated over and over.

The film is not for small kids because there are too many adult explicit elements in it: lust, rape, killing of animals, stealing, death, and the general nastiness of the dwellers of the city.

Krysar is an amazing movie, but also a bit freaky and grotesque! Dare to watch it.

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North Perth Plaza (North Perth WA)

391, Fitzgerald St
North Perth Western Australia 6006

The North Perth Plaza has almost everything you might need to do you weekly shopping and help you relax in between errands.

The place is medium sized, small enough to move around easily and get things done fast, but big enough to find almost everything you need during your visit. Indoors, there is a decently-sized Coles, a chemist, an Italian continental deli, a corner cafe, a newsagent, two hair salons (a men's, and a unisex's), a beauty salon, a nail salon, a traditional Chinese massage shop, an office supplies shop, and a travel agent. Outdoors there is a bakery, a bottle shop, an Italian pizzeria, a posh deli cafe, a barber, and and dry-cleaning service.

Most businesses  are very small in size, but there is a sort of community spirit around, and people are very serviceable and extremely friendly except for some exceptions.

The North Perth Plaza is not the sort of shopping mall you go to have a shopping spree or to pamper yourself with something posh, or a foodies joint. This is a place you go to keep you house running and to have some body-fix emergencies done at decent prices.

The place would need a make-over, but, being realistic, if it had it done, it would lose its charm, and  prices would go up. Let it be as it is - a family-style, budget-friendly, all-ages favourite, men-friendly shopping mall.

The toilets are very small, but are usually kept clean. I would certainly refurbish this area before touching anything else.

There mall has two parking areas: a large one facing the bottle-shop, and a tiny one facing the chemist. Isn't that handy?

The North Perth Plaza is in a killer location and has everything you need.. even if you don't find it here. If you don't find something there, you will find it across the car-park or across the street. If you don't like the food around, you can cross the street again or go to the Angove St cafe strip, which is at a 5 minutes walk.

The North Perth Plaza is one of those old-fashioned places that has a charm you don't find in better equipped more modern malls, and better prices as well.

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"My Blueberry Nights" by Wong Kar Wai (2008)

My Blueberry Nights is the first film shot in English by Wong Kar Wai. 

Elizabeth, a girl with a broken heart, leaves New York to start a journey of emotional healing around the States; she will work in several night cafes and bars and meet different characters, with whom she will get involved. The story is told through the postcards and letters that Elizabeth sends to her special friend Jeremy, the owner of her favourite café. Most of the movie happens during night time.

My Blueberry Nights is, in a way, an homage to the characters, themes and the ambience of the black and white classic movies of the 1950s... but shot in glorious colours. The movie is an ode to the life of the American urban nights and of its characters. 

This is a very artistic and stylish film, in which the settings, the characters, the colours, the textures, the music, and the wardrobe have been taken care of to the minimal detail.

The acting is good in general. I found Rachel Weisz, David Strathairn and Natalie Portman excellent in their respective roles. Jude Law is correct as cafe owner Jeremy, in a role that does is not dramatically demanding. On the contrary, I found the presence of Norah Jones as Elizabeth a big mistake; she is a great musician and singer, but she doesn't have any dramatic talent.

One of the main flaws of the movie is the underdevelopment of Elizabeth's character. She is supposed to be the main character in the movie, but she ends being only a link between the different stories. Elizabeth's miseries and emotional struggle are barely hinted, and it is difficult to empathise with her or understand her actions.

The film has poor reviews in general, but I loved it in spite of its flaws because of its stylish atmosphere, its emotional depiction of the American underground and night life, the wonderful music, and some of the performances.

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Is Donburi (Northbridge, Perth WA)

Shop 10, 189 William St
Northbridge Western Australia 6003
(08) 9328 2621
Hours:
    Mon, Wed-Sun 11:30 am - 4 pm
    Mon, Wed-Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm


  
Is Donburi is small funky Japanese restaurant that happens to be a fast food outlet too. In the very heart of the city, always busy and with a constant flow of patrons for both take-away and dinning in, Is Donburi is a place where to have a good Japanese meal at very good prices and in decent quantities.They don't offer sophisticated Japanese, but a good selection of entrees, rolls, salads, soups and bento trays and bowls. Sushi, Sashimi, Donburi, Bento, Udon. You name it, they have it. Despite not being the latest big thing, they do extremely well everything - rolling the rolls, presentation, and tastiness of the dishes. Better than others that have the name and charge you double for similar things.

My favourite entrees are the gyoza, the prawn parcels and the octopus balls (takayaki), which are delicious and make a light meal on their own. You can try them all, with others, in the tempura tray.

My favourite roll is the grilled salmon's. It does look beautiful, and it is extremely flavoursome. It has a great mix of flavours, colours and textures: pink and green on top (grilled salmon and herbs) and pieces of avocado, mango and beetroot inside; it is served in a lovely long boat-like tray - destination my belly!

The deluxe bento are really great, filling, varied, and very well priced, and I have liked everything I have tried. They have enough food for a man with a big stomach.


I love the freshness and mix of colours and ingredients of their take-away rolls, which are really filling, crispy, fresh and beautiful to look at, and the best take-away rolls  I've tried in the city!

Service is friendly and decently paced indoors, and very fast for take-away. I go there regularly, and the norm is fast friendly service. The staff are very accommodating regarding anything. The space is limited, but, at least at lunch time, people go, eat and leave fast, so I have never found problems finding a table for one or two people at peak hours. The staff clean the place fast and serve you almost immediately.

They attract people from all ages, mostly youngsters and young professionals, although you can also find families, tradies and old grandpas depending on the time of the day you visit.

 

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
- I don't like that the cheaper bento are served in a bowl. The quantity and quality of the food is the same, but all the ingredients are squeezed together, all the flavours and sauces mixed before entering my mouth, and that rests flavour and makes eating less enjoyable. Moreover, it is very difficult to eat everything without creating a bit of mess on the table.
- They could easily improve the quality of their Miso Soup, which is a bit watery and lacking in flavour. I would rather pay 1$ and have a good one than nothing and have a bad one. Perhaps it is just me.
- They don't have a website or a Facebook account.

BONUS
+ Green tea and miso soup are complimentary with any main meal.
+ They do doggy bags!
+ They close on Tuesdays not on Mondays, when most restaurants close in Northbridge.
+ They are open in the evenings.
+ Paywave available.
+ Different queues for take-away and dining in. 

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"Manderlay" by Lars Von Trier (2005)

Manderlay is the second instalment of Lars Von Trier's thought-provoking trilogy "USA - Land of Opportunities". The story starts exactly where Dogville ended. Grace, her father, and their bunch of paid gangsters stop to eat at Manderlay (Alabama), a plantation where slavery persists 70 years after its Abolition. Idealistic Grace decides to stay, free the black people, and start a communal free plantation. 

The story is narrated in eight chapters: 1/ In which we happen upon Manderlay and meet the people there. 2/ The freed enterprise of Manderlay. 3/ The Old Lady's Garden. 4/ In which Grace means business. 5/ Shoulder to Shoulder. 6/ Hard times at Manderlay. 7/ Harvest. 8/ In which Grace settles with Manderlay and the film ends.

The setting, like in Dogville, is an almost empty theatre set with minimalist elements of architecture, furniture and floor white drawings to mark Manderlay's different spaces and buildings. The camera wanders around the set very close to the actors, as if the viewer was filming them with his/her own video-camera; there are bird's view shots, too, in which the characters look like little pawns on a chess board. The Spartan setting helps the viewer to focus on the story and its message, not on superfluous things.

Trier is always merciless depicting Society and Human Nature, with both their flaws and virtues. Despite his bad name, he is a a true artist, and it is one of an artist' obligations -or it should be- to reflect on the issues that affect the world we live in.

Four main questions are explored and implicitdly posed in Manderlay's script: 
1/ Is Democracy the best political system to have a free society? 
2/ Can Democracy be preached by supporting the use of guns? 
3/ What is the best solution to the race issue in America (and elsewhere)? 
4/ Was Abolition, the way it happened, the best way to free the Afro-American population in the USA and give them equal rights? 

Grace teaches the Afro-American slaves the rudiments of Democracy, but she does so while she's escorted and supported by a bunch of armed gangsters; therefore, from a position of power and white-race superiority - the same she believes she's fighting against. Moreover, nobody has elected her, so she shouldn't be preaching anything. If this wasn't enough, Grace tries, despite being white and not a slave, to teach the Afro-Americans how to be black and free without even asking them what they want and what their opinion is. Grace became a sort of slave in Dogville, but she did not learn her lesson there. The shock that she gets at the end of the movie masterly reflects how a just system can turn into oppressive when it is imposed on people who don't benefit from it and have no voice in its establishment.

The little moral of the story is not presented at the end, but right at the beginning, when Grace's father reminds Grace of an episode of her childhood. He tells her that she had a beautiful bird in a cage, that she freed it thinking that it was the best thing for the animal, but the bird, not being wild could not survive the winter outside; she found the bird frozen dead on her window next day. Grace, in fact, treats Manderlay's slaves with affection and love, but also with the same paternalistic ego-centered view of the world she treated her bird.

All the cast members are terrific in their respective roles. Bryce Dallas Howard is good as Grace Margaret Mulligan; Howard's sweet looks help her to convey Grace's naivety, but I found her acting a bit bland at times. I would have liked seeing Nicole Kidman back in the role, as she looks fragile and naive but has more maturity, a fact that would have given an extra push to the character; having said that, I don't think that frigid Nicky would have been convincing in the hot explicit sex scene in the movie. Also very convincing in their respective roles are Isaach De Bankolé as the proud and feisty Timothy, Danny Glover as wise Elder Wilhelm, and Mona Hammond as lovely but week Old Wilma.

The music is great. I loved the fact that the movie ended playing "Young Americans" by David Bowie as the lyrics are relevant to the story, as well as the photo-slide that accompanies it, which showcases the de-facto apartheid and lack of freedom of the Afro-American population in the USA until well-entered the 1970s, not when the Abolition was issued in the USA.

The main flaw of Manderlay is that the fact that the story can be easily twisted if interpreted literally; simple minds could say that the movie supports slavery or that blames the Afro-Americans for not freeing themselves earlier, which is completely the opposite of what Trier intends. Moreover, the movie is not engaging enough at the beginning, and a bit of more editing would have been advisable. Finally, the colours and quality of the film used are very poor, which might put off some viewers; Trier was much more careful in Dogville, and the film looked nicer on the screen.

Manderlay is a a very good film, not always engaging, not for the faint-hearted, but a valid reflection about the the flaws of the human spirit, and a wonderful metaphor about the problems that plague our contemporary Western world. I loved the ending.

I hope Trier finds the motivation, inspiration, time and money to finish this amazing trilogy.

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"Brazil" by Terry Gilliam (1985

Brazil tells the story of Sam Lowry, a public officer who is dissatisfied with his personal and professional life. He has recurrent dreams about a woman with whom he finds happiness. When Sam meets Jill Layton, he realises she is the woman in his dreams. Sam is wrongly accused of sabotaging the government, and he will have to hide, escape and fight for his life, prove his innocence, win his girl over, before reaching his dreamed dreamland - Brazil.

Brazil is a very irreverent and humorous movie that  deals with serious themes and philosophical queries. Brazil is an analysis and critique of some of the sins and obsessions of our society (still valid more than 30 years later): incompetent and self-absorbed bureaucracy, the obsession with youth and plastic surgery, government censorship, terrorism, social and media manipulation, order and chaos dynamics, the place of the individual in Society, and the validity of day-dreaming to create you real world amongst many others. The moral of the story lies beneath, clearly visible, but masked as a surreal dreamy science-fiction satire. There are many elements that reminded me of Orwell's "1984", but Brazil is funnier and focuses more in the power of the individual again the System than in the powerlessness of the individual in front of an oppressive System.

The movie has an unique and original visual style, especially brilliant if we take into account that the especial effects are all mechanical and not digital, and that some of them were really difficult to create when the movie was filmed. All the day-dreaming and dreams segments are brilliantly shot, as well as the impacting images related to the interrogation at the end of the movie, which were shot inside an abandoned thermonuclear plant.

Brazil's atmosphere is also excellent with a predominance of grey and beige hues and a fashion style that mixes elements from the 1950s and the 1980s to create an undated near future. This mix of contemporary and retro was extremely original and innovative at the time, and it is so still nowadays. In fact, the retro-future style has fed the aesthetics of contemporary movies considered visually innovative, like Jean-Pierre Jeunet's City of Lost children, Delicatessen, and Micmacs, and Proyas' Dark City amongst others.

The performances of most leading and supporting actors are great. Jonathan Pryce's physique and acting talent are a perfect combination to create the character of Sam, a very normal man who is also very vulnerable, naughty, adventurous and dreamy.  Katherine Helmond is brilliant and very funny as Sam's eccentric mother Ida. Robert de Niro is fun in his small cameo as subversive independent heating technician, as well as Bob Hoskins as the legal heating technician, Ian Holm as the incompetent Mr. Kurtzmann, and Michel Palin as the butcher at the Information Central Office. I did not like the performance of Kim Greist as Jill Layton; she looks great on camera but her acting was a bit unsubstantial.

The Original Sound Track is mostly the song Brazil (an adaptation of a Brazilian song of the 1930s) played over and over but with different arrangements and tempos that go from playful to melodramatic. The music works perfectly, and it constantly reminds the viewer that Brazil is a real place, a better place where to live the dream life one wants, a perfect destination in your mind to escape the greyness of our daily discontent and the oppressive world that ignores and enslaves the individual.

The European poster of the movie is just an awesome piece of art, and it conveys what the core of the story is perfectly.

Brazil is an unforgettable classic - original, thought-provoking and extremely entertaining. Still, a bit too long for me.

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Five Bar (Mount Lawley, Perth WA)

560 Beaufort Street
Mount Lawley, WA 6050
04 6753 4267

Website
Facebook
 Hours:
    Mon-Sat 12:00 - 0:00
    Sun 12:00 - 22:00

  
Five Bar is one of my fav spots in the whole city because of its great location, relaxed but trendy vibe, and, most importantly, because their offer of set and seasonal food, desserts, huge variety of draught and bottle beers and ciders, great selection of wines and other spirits.

THE PLACE

The place is a bit old-pub style, but has different areas with different ambiances and vibe, from the old grandpa's club (sorry, my opinion) to the funky mural at the bottom end corner, and the trendy high tables with stools and leather armchairs in the middle section. My favourite area is the bottom end corner, where the couches and the mural are, which is perfect for groups. Five is a a very chilled out, cool, spacious and comfortable pub and bar, perfect for lunch, mid afternoon, evening or late night. 

I love the fact that they have a bookshelf with books, several newspapers and table games for the use of the patrons. 

The toilets are very clean and well illuminated, which is a bonus these days in any bar or restaurant.

There were a mix group of patrons from all ages, genders, and dress-style, solo, coupled and groups, families with baby included. The place seems to be gay-friendly at least when I have visited.

FOOD AND DRINKS

Their food is very good regarding taste and presentation. Generally speaking, it is tapas-style. Some of the small plates are really filling, like the empanadas, but others are more like an entrée, like the goat meatballs, their vegetarian croquettes, the chicken rilette or the salad of the day. If you have an stomach or are a man you need at least two dishes, plus a drink. They have a selection of boards, cheese and cold meats, daily specials with different sorts of hot meals and desserts, and weekly and nightly specials. I love their specials, as they use seasonal produce, and they always have a man-sized meal, just in case you are man or super-hungry.

It might sound surprising to you, but Five Bar really succeeds at something unexpected - they have seasonal desserts that are delicious, creative, good-looking and well priced. They usually have two or tree fixed desserts, but they are really well prepared and plated, and not especially pricey. 

The Orange Pudding was wonderful. Not too sweet, very light and fluffy, with a great mix of textures and flavours, and it was so beautifully plated! 

Their pannacotta in strawberry sauce was a hit with me too and one of the best desserts of the year; yummy, light, and beautifully arranged on the plat - a gorgeous mix of red, white and green, a mix of liquid, semi-solid and solid textures, and feast for your five senses.  

The grilled fresh peaches in butter, rosemary and ice-cream were great. A simple dessert that is both healthy, light, tasty and filling. The peaches were a bit hard, and I would have them on the grill two more minutes. Still, I had another yum slap aha glorious moment.

 The chocolate brownie was very nice in flavour, with the mix of chocolate, berries and cream wowing me; however, the cream used is butter thick and not especially flavoursome, and I would rather have fresh cream or whipped cream, while the biscotto was stale and that is always a big no-no.

They have a great selection of cheeses, and specials for Monday night, weekends and so on with specific dishes and food on offer.  

Five Bar has a very good selection of Australian and international (Spain, France, Argentina) wines, ciders (France, UK) and beers. They have tap and bottled beers and ciders, too. Everything I have drank there has been great.

COFFEE 

Five Bar coffee is not bad in taste, but changes in creaminess and preparation depending on the barista at hand. I have had all the possible variations, from the hurriedly prepared to to the very well prepared and anything in between. 

PRICING

Five Bar is a bit pricey if you go for small plates and drinks, and you have a stomach. Do you? However, if you order one of their specials you will have a very good meal too appease your hunger and at very good prices. For example, on Mondays you pay 25 bucks for a super dish of Beef Wellington and a glass of wine house, and on Tuesday 22 bucks for a pork belly dish and a glass of cider. That is a bargain for Perth standards. I find their desserts very well priced due to their freshness and quality.

Recently, they did what all Perth coffeeholics were dreaming of in a city that has ridiculous prices for coffee - to decrease, yes decrease!, the price of their coffee to $2.50 for an espresso, $3 for a flat white/cappuccino and $3.50 for a latte, with no extra charge for soya milk. How good is that?

The pricing for alcoholic drinks is standard - meaning expensive.

THE SERVICE
The staff are very friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, and eager to help. Perfect to talk to if you want to drink something but you are not sure what brand or what sort of thing you want. For example you want a cider that is not sweet but not strong, or you want a silky wine, or whatever. They will advice properly and do so with a smile. 

The food takes a bit to come out. During my first visit, the place was extremely quiet, with not many customers to attend to when I ordered. On another occasion my dessert took about 20 minutes to come out because my order was misplaced; although I was given sincere apologies and a drink on the house, still, the place was not even full and it is a dessert that takes minutes to prepare.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

+ A few extra tables for couples or solo eaters would be a natural addition to the place. Eating on a trunk used as a table is charming if you are just having tapas or finger food, but not good if you need to use your cutlery, a low table is never ideal or comfy, and a killer for your lower back. There is plenty of room to accommodate a few more small tables, so do it! 

+ Why is their Facebook page not public or non-existent?

+  A few more recent magazines would not heart anybody. 

+  Lines of communication should be open between kitchen and waiters, so there is more coordination and customers get when they order, or get their order, or do not have to wait too long to get their order.  

TIP

Free Wi-Fi!

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