Gisa W Slonim – Google

You are asking me to give my opinion about a play written by the greatest exponenet of the English language? That is funny. The play is not of course and is a MUST for anyone who loves Shakespeare, who loves theater and who wants more than a "whodunit" to pass the time...anything by Shakespeare, be it play or sonnet is sublime and should be read time and time again. There is no greater playwright or poet than this astonishing and amazingly talented man whose words have followed us so far in time away from the era in which he lived. Not to be missed.

Another great Scandi noir. Nobody does it better than them and Wisting is no exception. A serial killer has been at work for years without being caught but, finally, a relentless FBI team makes its appearance in a small Norwegian town and enlists the help of the local police who have their own way of doing things, even when it comes to mass murder. Together they follow the clues and... but I shall not spoil it for the viewers.

This very rich novel is much more than the story of a Russian journalist's view of the world before and during the second world war, it is a lesson in politics as two ruthless leaders, Hitler and Stalin, carve out Europe between them. In reading the book I suddenly had an insight into that war which went way beyond what we all thought we knew from our history books, or from having lived through it. It went to the real issues, to the collusion between Hitler and Stalin, to betrayals and the final revenge. All of this, accompanied by a Russian newspaperman who has his own agenda and his own loyalties as well as a wonderfully rich cast of characters, including an unflappable Borzoi. This is not the usual thriller a la James Bond, this is way beyond the usual. Highly recommended for those who appreciate more than action, sadistic murders and sex scenes for contortionists but who do appreciate fine writing and even finer intelligence.

8 1/2 is the greatest film ever made. It is a masterpiece of cinematography, of so many images and ideas that make up the incredible journey of a creator enmeshed in his latest creation and in his life. I saw it when it was first released and have re-viewed it several times since then, as I have also viewed again and again the other great films by this, the most stunningly innovative of all directors: Amarcord, La Dolce Vita, Roma stand out head and shoulders above attempts by others to create a special world in which the viewer can escape the mundane aspects of his own life and find meaning to help him overcome his own limitations. Always in Fellini there is hope, always there is joy, life to be lived, and a reason to be alive ... he gives us a ray of sunshine in the dark (like the peacock who appears suddenly in the middle of a snowstorm in "Amarcord" to turn the world of icy desolation into a world of magic and grace), the child at the ending of La Dolce Vita, the entire cast lined up and dancing the dance of life in 8 1/2 ... could anything be more affirmative?