The Burmese Harp - A 1956 Movie Directed by Kon Ichikawa - run time 1 Hour 56 minutes

 Available on YouTube and The Criterion Channel with English Subtitles 

Kon Ichikawa was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. His work displays a vast range in genre and style, from the anti-war films The Burmese Harp and Fires on the Plain, to the documentary Tokyo Olympiad, which won two BAFTA Film Awards, and the 19th-century revenge drama An Actor's Revenge. 

The Burmese Harp (ビルマの竪琴, Biruma no Tategoto) is a 1956 Japanese drama film directed by Kon Ichikawa. Based on a  novel of the same name written by Michio Takeyama, it tells the story of Japanese soldiers who fought in the Burma Campaign during World War II. A member of the group goes missing after the war, and the soldiers hope to uncover whether their friend survived, and if he is the same person as a Buddhist monk they see playing a harp. The film was among the first to show the losses of the war from a Japanese soldier's perspective.

The film is divided into two parts. The first part depicts the Japanese soldiers fighting in the Burmese jungle. They are exhausted and demoralized, but they find solace in music and singing. The second part follows Private Mizushima (Shôji Yasui), the harp player, after he has disguised himself as a Buddhist monk. He travels through the countryside, playing his harp and spreading a message of peace.

The Burmese Harp is a powerful and moving film that explores the themes of war, peace, 

The Burmese Harp is a powerful and moving film that explores the themes of war, peace, and redemption. It is also a beautiful and lyrical film, with stunning cinematography and haunting music by Akira Ifukube.

The film was a critical and commercial success in Japan, and it won numerous awards, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. It has also been praised by critics and filmmakers around the world, and it is considered to be one of the greatest Japanese films ever made.

In addition to its artistic merits, The Burmese Harp is also significant for its historical importance. It was one of the first Japanese films to confront the realities of World War II head-on. The film's message of peace and reconciliation was particularly relevant in Japan in the mid-1950s, as the country was still recovering from the war

I found the scenes depicting life in Burma with the beautiful temples as background very moving.  

I hope to watch the director 's Fires on the Plain soon.

The Devil’s Backbone- A 2001 Movie Directed by Guillermo del Toro

 Available on YouTube


"What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and time again? An instance of pain, perhaps. Something dead which still seems to be alive. An emotion suspended in time. Like a blurred photograph. Like an insect trapped in amber." From The Devil 's Backbone


Earlier this month I watched my first film directed by Guillermo del Toro, the amazing Pan's Labyrinth. I was delighted to find on YouTube another one of his films, also set in Spain in the closing days
of the Spanish Civil War, The Devil’s Backbone.



The Devil's Backbone (2001) is a gothic horror film directed by Guillermo del Toro. Set in Spain during the final days of the Spanish Civil War, the film follows Carlos, a young boy who is sent to an orphanage for Republican orphans. Soon after his arrival, Carlos begins to see the ghost of another boy named Santi, who died under mysterious circumstances.


As Carlos investigates Santi's death, he uncovers a number of dark secrets about the orphanage and its staff. He learns that the caretaker, Jacinto, is a brutal man who has been abusing the orphans. He also discovers that the headmistress, Carmen, is hiding a cache of gold that belongs to the Republican government.


As the war draws closer, the orphanage becomes increasingly dangerous. Jacinto becomes more and more unhinged, and the orphans are forced to rely on each other to survive. Carlos also learns that Santi's ghost is not just a figment of his imagination, but a real presence that is trying to communicate with him.


Devil's Backbone is a beautifully made film with a haunting atmosphere. Del Toro's direction is superb, and the performances from the cast are excellent. The film is both a thrilling ghost story and a moving meditation on loss, innocence, and the power of friendship.


The film has been praised for its atmosphere, its characters, and its themes. It was i hopnominated for numerous awards, including three Academy Awards. It is considered to be one of del Toro's best films, and it is a must-see for fans of horror and gothic cinema.


In addition to its horror elements, The Devil's Backbone is also a powerful allegory for the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath. The orphanage can be seen as a microcosm of the country at war, with its violence, corruption, and loss of innocence. The film also explores the idea of ghosts as symbols of the past that refuse to be forgotten 

I hope to soon watch his Academy Award winning The Shape of Water.

The Rules of Magic - (Practical Magic Series Book Two) by Alice Hoffman- 2017 - 406 Pages

 Alice Hoffman works I have so far read:

The Marriage of Opposites- 2015

"Everything My Mother Taught Me" - 2016

"The Book Store Sisters" -2022

The Foretelling - 2006

"Conjure" - 2014

Aquamarine- 2001

The Ice Queen - 2006

Property Of -1977

Skylight- 2007

The Invisible Hour 2023

Rules of Magic- 2017

It is my hope to read all of her works available as Kindles

As a personal observation relating to my life situation, today's work and several of Hoffmann's others, deal with the ways people try to cope with the loss of a deeply loved one, a loss they never saw coming.  Perhaps when you have had few intimate contacts with whom you bonded in your life, as do the principal characters in Practical Magic, it makes it all the worse.  This is what happened in my life when my beloved wife passed away, far before her time.  Like those in Practical Magic I did not just loss my future plans but my past as well.

"For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Yet, the children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the memorable aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy." From the publisher 

Some of the characters are deeply into the reading life, they are viewed as strange by most, red hair is a frequent factor. The sex scenes are powerful. The placement of the novel is marvelous. I greatly enjoyed the extended visit to Paris.

Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The Book of Magic, Magic Lessons, The World That We Knew, Practical Magic, The Rules of Magic (a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick), the Oprahs Book Club Selection Here on Earth, The Red Garden, The Dovekeepers, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, The Marriage of Opposites, and Faithful. She lives near Boston.

"

A Matter of Life and Death- A 1946 film written and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

A Matter of Life and Death is a 1946 British romantic fantasy drama film directed and written by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. The film stars David Niven, Kim Hunter, Roger Livesey, Raymond Massey, and Marius Goring.

Available On YouTube 

The film tells the story of Peter Carter (Niven), a Royal Air Force pilot who is shot down over the English Channel during World War II. Carter is rescued by a British aircraft carrier, but he is then transported to a mysterious afterlife where he is put on trial by a celestial court for his life. The court is presided over by the Angel of Death (Massey), who argues that Carter should be allowed to live because he has unfinished business on Earth. However, the Angel of Destiny (Goring) argues that Carter should die because he has no right to interfere with the natural order of things.

The film is a complex and thought-provoking exploration of the themes of life, death, and free will. It is also a visually stunning film, with some of the most innovative special effects ever seen at the time.

A Matter of Life and Death was a critical and commercial success upon its release, and it has since been recognized as one of the greatest British films ever made. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The film has been praised for its originality, its complex characters, and its beautiful visuals. It is a truly unique and unforgettable film experience

Coming out right at the end of World War Two some see it as a commentary on the British Empire in the coming days. I was very impacted by the brilliantly done trial scene.

Mel Ulm

Pan's Labyrinth is a 2006 Spanish-Mexican dark fantasy horror film written, directed, and co-produced by Guillermo del Toro.

 

Pan's Labyrinth is a 2006 Spanish-Mexican dark fantasy horror film written, directed, and co-produced by Guillermo del Toro. The film stars Ivana Baquero, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Doug Jones, and Ariadna Gil.

The story takes place in Spain in the summer of 1944, during the early Francoist period, five years after the Spanish Civil War. The narrative intertwines this real world with a mythical world centered on an overgrown, abandoned labyrinth and a mysterious faun creature, with whom the main character, Ofelia, interacts.

Ofelia is a young girl who has been sent to live with her new stepfather, Captain Vidal, a sadistic army officer. Vidal is stationed in a remote area of Spain, where he is tasked with hunting down and killing rebels. Ofelia is fascinated by fairy tales, and she soon discovers a labyrinth in the woods near her new home.

In the labyrinth, Ofelia meets a faun creature who tells her that she is a princess and must complete three tasks in order to return to her true home. The tasks are dangerous and challenging, but Ofelia is determined to succeed.

Meanwhile, Ofelia's mother, Carmen, is pregnant and struggling to cope with Vidal's brutality. Carmen has a secret relationship with one of Vidal's soldiers, and she is planning to escape with Ofelia.

As the film progresses, the two worlds of Ofelia's reality and fantasy become increasingly intertwined. Ofelia must use her courage and determination to survive in both worlds and to find her own way.

Pan's Labyrinth is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film that explores themes of childhood, loss, and resistance. It is a complex and challenging film that has been praised for its originality, its artistry, and its powerful message.

The film was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards, including three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form. It is considered to be one of the greatest fantasy films ever made and one of the best films of the 21st century.

Why is Pan's Labyrinth so popular?

There are many reasons why Pan's Labyrinth is so popular. The film is visually stunning, with its dark and atmospheric cinematography and its intricate and imaginative creature design. The film is also emotionally resonant, with its complex characters and its exploration of difficult themes such as childhood, loss, and resistance.

In addition, Pan's Labyrinth is a truly unique film. It combines elements of fantasy, horror, and drama in a way that has never been done before. The film is also very well-made, with its intelligent script, its strong performances, and its masterful direction.

Overall, Pan's Labyrinth is a masterpiece of cinema. It is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.

I found the ending of stunning beauty.  

It is available on Billbill.com

The Reading Life Review - September 2023 -Year End Reading Goals

 

  

Row One 

1. Adam Hochschild- USA- prolific history- Author of King Leopold's Ghost and American Midnight - 2nd appearance on The Reading Life 

2. Jane Austin - UK- first appearance- I hope to read her other novels fairly soon.

3. Elizabeth B. White- USA- 1st Appearance- coauthor The Counterfeit Countess Elizabeth “Barry” White recently retired from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, where she served as historian and as Research Director for the USHMM’s Center for the Prevention of Genocide. Prior to working for the USHMM, Barry spent a career at the US Department of Justice working on investigations and prosecutions of Nazi criminals and other human rights violators. She served as deputy director and chief historian of the Office of Special Investigations and as deputy chief and chief historian of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. She lives in Falls Church, Virginia.

Row Two

1. Joanne Sliva- USA - coauthor- The Counterfeit Countess-historian of the Holocaust and Polish Jewish history. works as Historian, and Administrator of the Saul Kagan Fellowship for Advanced Shoah Studies and of the University Partnership Program in Holocaust Studies at the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference). The Claims Conference is the only NGO that negotiates with the German government for compensation for Jewish Holocaust survivors.

2. Dina Damon- Historian - USA - historian- Dina Danon is an assistant professor of Judaic studies at Binghamton University. While her teaching interests span the full range of Jewish history, she focuses on the Sephardi and Mizrahi communities of the Mediterranean world. Currently, she is researching the nature, function, and historical significance of the marriage marketplace in the Sephardi world during the late Ottoman Empire

3. Harriet Beecher Stowe- USA- 1st Appearance- Author Uncle Tom's Cabin

4. Norman Longmate- UK- author Hitler’s Rockets- 1st Appearance prolific World War Two Historian

Of the seven authors featured in September four are living, all but one, Adam Hochschild, had their initial feature in September

Home Countries of Authors

1. USA- Four

2, UK- Three

September Blog Stats 

Our posts have been viewed 7,320,491 times

There are currently 4,320 posts on line.

Home Countries of Visitors 

1. Singapore- thanks so much to the readers of this great country 

2. USA 

3. India 

4. The Philippines 

5. UK

6. Bulgaria- a new high

7. France 

8. Germany 

9. Canada - 

10. Isreal

The  most read posts for September were all on short stories  by Asian writers excepting one by Joseph Conrad.

Our Plans for the rest of 2023

I hope to read three more Novels by Jane Austen, more Yiddish short stories, works on Jewish history, and a few newly published novels and collections by some wonderful writers. I will continue my attempt to read all the novels of Alice Hoffman 

I am seeking ways to use A I to enhance the value of our blog to visitors 

I offer my great thanks to Max u for his kind provision of Amazon gift cards

My outlook on life has been radically altered  since the passing of my beloved wife January 19, 2022

I hope to do a second month end post on the movies I posted upon in September 

America Midnight- The Great War-A Violent Peace and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis by Adam Hochschild - 2022- 422 Pages

 Almost ten years ago I read Adam Hochschild's King Leopold's Ghost, about the horrible exploitation of the people of The Congo to advance the wealth of King Leopold of Belgium.

"If you are interested in Colonialism, the history of Africa, or have any romantic notions about European royalty, you need to read King  Leopold's Ghost. Queen Victoria was a cousin of Leopold

This is a great book, both for how it is written and for the forgotten story it tells.  There is also a 2005 end note in which the author talks about  reaction to the book." From my post of November 11, 2012.

As soon as I got notice that his latest book, American Midnight- The Great War- A Violent Peace and America’s Forgotten Crisis was on sale as a Kindle for $2.95 I hit "buy now".

"National Bestseller • One of the year's most acclaimed works of nonfiction

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: New York Times, Washington Post, New Yorker, Chicago Tribune, Kirkus, New York Post, Fast Company

From legendary historian Adam Hochschild, a "masterly" (New York Times) reassessment of the overlooked but startlingly resonant period between World War I and the Roaring Twenties, when the foundations of American democracy were threatened by war, pandemic, and violence fueled by battles over race, immigration, and the rights of labor

The nation was on the brink. Mobs burned Black churches to the ground. Courts threw thousands of people into prison for opinions they voiced—in one notable case, only in private. Self-appointed vigilantes executed tens of thousands of citizens’ arrests. Some seventy-five newspapers and magazines were banned from the mail and forced to close. When the government stepped in, it was often to fan the flames." From the publisher 

It seems to many, including me, that America is now in a period of crisis threatening its tradition of democracy.  There is also a deep fear and paranoia toward immigrants. Anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise as is race based hatred.  Absurd Conspiracy theories abound, supported by leading politicians. Over half white Americans support a former president who plays on their fears, who threatened revenge on all who oppose him.  

In the period of the book newspapers now known as in opposition to the policies of trump and his acolytes such as The New York Times and the Washington Post supported the xenophobic policies of Wodrow Wilson. (Now there is a TV network devoted to spreading fears and racism)

They endorsed the imprisonment of all socialists and Union organisers, especially the much feared "Russian Jews" .

Hochschild goes into a lot of detail about president Wodrow Wilson, his role in WW One, the Versiles Treaty and his failed attempt to get the United States to join the League of  Nations.

This book is a warning.  Too many Americans want a return to these times.

Mel Ulm