George Benlian on movies, books and few other things

Rick Gekoski: "Think Bill Bryson, only on books" (Tatler)

The London-based, American-born rare-book dealer, writer and broadcaster Rick Gekoski is coming back next week to Sydney as a guest of the annual writers festival and as the chairman of judges for the Man Booker Prize.

Gekoski is a tremendous raconteur. I am currently reading "Tolkien's Gown & other stories of great authors and rare books" - a book of literary anecdotes in twenty chapters each one covering twenty great works of modern literature as both texts and objects. As a prominent rare-book dealer, Gekoski has a lot to tell about his bibliophilia adventures with first editions of the works including a short-lived law suit from the reclusive american writer J.D. Salinger.

His stories are fascinating and diverse, and involve memorable encounters with, among others, Graham Greene, William Golding, Salman Rushdie, Julian Barnes and Harold Pinter. For anyone who loves books, Tolkien's Gown offers a wealth of amusement and instruction and a desire to get hooked to the strange sentiment of satisfaction that is book collecting.

Of men and Gods - What a profound cinema experience

 

 
At the recent French Film Festival, i discovered a puremasterpiece called "Of Gods and Men" directed by Xavier Beauvois.

This is a compelling and highly emotional movie of an infamous incident in Algeria in the mid-90s of a small monastery of Trappist monks elected to stay on duty, providing health care to the village where they lived, despite the rising danger all around them.

These monks — some brave, some less so — relied on the community they belong and welcomed into to protect them, even as the Algerian government was demanding that they leave. Writer-director Xavier Beauvois concentrates on their routine, working the garden, fetching firewood, providing medical help, praying and chantsing  Their world is contrasted with the sometimes noisy one outside their walls. And some of that noise is violence, which the village elders fear is headed their way.

The monks range in age from 40 into their 70s are played by wonderful character french actors some of them we may never have heard their name before. My favourite is Michael Lonsdale in the role of the exceptional Pere Luc full of optimism and wit.

 As they live, so they prepare to die. They go about their lives as usual, but with an added intensity, knowing that every day, every moment, might be their last. Every noise, every knock at the door may be the end for them. They go about their lives with tremendous dignity.

This is a rare masterpiece of immense power that has touched millions of viewers religious or not.

"Of Gods and Men" will be released in Australia on 26 May. The DVD was released last month by Artificial-eye.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xG3F-GUbnw