#Equality

Huge cultural transformations happen in front of our eyes. For example we are bombarded with slogans about equality which gets more and more comlexe. I saw this short movie on the facebook wall of one of my friends. It asks questions about political incorectness which goes mad.  I find it quiete controversial but also really thought provoking. I love one sentatance Penelope says: questions are offensive. Pretty disturbing.

Frank Sinatra sings in Polish

I was pretty astonished to discover that Frank Sinatra was also singing in Polish. Perhaps some of you know it already. In the heartwarming classic, The Miracle of the Bells from 1948, in which Sinatra plays one of the leading roles, we can hear a Polish song of Kazimierz Lubomirski adapted to English. In one of the versions of Sinatra's reconrdings, there's one in which in the refrain are sung the original lyrics. Check out the Ever Homeward ;) (Polish lyrics from 2:00)

I thought I would never ever say that some cover of "My heart will go on" can blow me away. Surprise, surprise, love that touches one time can truly astonish..

I bumped into these guys while surfuing on the Internet a few days ago. They do absolutely amazing job, as they cover famous, often overused songs. I love dancing in couple to Jackie Wilson's rhytmes, so this version just make me wear my dancing shoes ;)

Journey to the future

A young couple getting married let make-up artists to transform them into elder people. Very interesting idea of getting to know each other better before marriage ;) The bride-to-be got very emotional about seeing her fiancé as a 90-year-old. Well, I imagine the feeling :) I find first two life-like make-ups not so convincing, but the last one it's just amazing!

Tree change dolls

A few months ago I found on my friend's Facebook wall an article about an amazing Tasmanian woman upcycling old dolls. Sonia Singh, a young mum who used to love playing with dolls, decided to give a new life to thrown away toys. She's looking for forgotten dolls in tip shops and then she's repairing then in down-to-earth style. What I find absolutely amazing about it, is that she's bringing them back their innocence and natural beauty.

Nowadays children are harrassed by the images that surround them. Girls look up to hypersexsualised icons from cartoons and teen movies which I find extremely harmful for them and just sad. Such people like Sonia Singh make me breathe a sigh of relief. And honestly, I love these dolls! They are so beutiful and lovely.

Yes ma'am!

I'm catching up with Oscar movies, so far I like best American Sniper. I was really interested by the story, so I watched a few interviews and read a few articles to find out sth more about the Navy who got two Silver Stars in Iraq. Here, there's one: 10 questions for TIME Magazine. Everything that Chris says, fits to my image of him created by the movie. The image of the man living two separate lifes, the man who strugle to not let people forget about soldiers who fight out there, who doesn't regret any of the kills. I must truly say that Bradley did a great job. His 'Yes ma'am!' sounds just like Chris's.

Did they all live happily ever after?

I will never grow out of Disney :p I've just watched another about-Disney video. A few geeks wondered what the Disney princesses would have looked if they had really existed, as they are all inspired by history. They ask this painful question: did they all live happily ever after? to which the answer is if course: nope. Still, I love fairy tales. (And i didn't realise that Belle could be named Marie-Antoinette!)

All anyone can think about is war.. All I can think about is you..

Wow, wow, wow! :D I've just found a song that was deleted from Pocahontas Disney movie! It's titled "The Middle of the River" and I think it was supposed to appear in the film right before the scene of famous "circles on the water". Check this out! It's lovely!

And there's a whole playlist of these! :) ;) :) Cinderella below:

A little chaos..

The French garden or the English one? Well, as for me, the answer is banal. The English of course! An idealized presentation of nature. Chaos under control. Although I prefer nature in its unbridled form (just think of the mountains!), English gardens satisfy my hunger of beauty in everyday life quite well. And I'm writting about it because there's a new movie coming "A little chaos" about a determined female lanscape-gardener. Bushes clash with fancy French hedges. Sounds interesting!

Drizzle is rain being quintessentially British.. Katherina Vrana about stereotypes!

Check this out! I've discovered another great woman - Katherina Vrana, a Greek comedian living in London. She does stand-up and she's just hilarious xD in that video clip she's talking about stereotypes. Quite revealing I must say ;)

The end of the journey..

The last Hobbit movie was released last week in Poland. I haven't seen it yet.. and well.. actually I don't really want to. I can't help this nostalgy you know.. It's not a great movie, but I'm a Tolkien fan and it means to me a lot. And there's Billy Boyd.. He sang in Denethor's chamber about paths to tread and now he sings "But now comes the day / To bid you farewell".. It's just a song, and a bit tearful, but I must admit, it moves me..

But as for all the three end-credit songs "I see fire" stays my favourite ;p

Return to the Temple

A few days ago my friend shared with me her discovery. She showed me a short video clip of Zola Dubnikova who's an international dance artist, traveller and performer. Her dance is insired by danse orientale, fire and sword dance, Persian styles, Odissi classical temple dance of India and many others. Zola strongly belives in the power of dance to heal and "uplift the human spirit beyond walls of any kind". She works with women healing from sexual trauma for example. There's a sample of it: Zola's Return to the Temple to bring voice to women who do not have the freedom to express themselves.. I find it very intriguing..

Charlotte

I love reading biographies and autobiographies. Recently I read an absolutely remarkable book - « Charlotte » by David Foenkinos about Charlotte Salomon, a German-Jewish artist. I discovered an incredible woman whose tragic story differs a lot from the others telling about the people living during the Second World War. Her life was marked by death even before the war broke out. Suicides of the women in her family had a great impact on her life just like her obsessive love to Alfred Wolfsohn which is clearly visible in her paintings. When she gave a suitcase full of her works to her trusted friend dr Moridis she said "It's all my life"..

A few weeks ago a jury including students of Romance studies from Polish universities awarded the book of Foenkinos with the Goncourt List: the Polish Choice.

Ten minutes ago I met you..

While studing I often listen to music. Once I was listening to Julie Andrews, after finishing a video blessed YoutTube suggested me a few more inter alia an old black-and-white version of "Ten minutes ago". I played it and to my astonishement I heard a song from my childhood.

My beloved grandma recorded for me a VHS tape which I used to watch as child at least twice a week. It was a musical "Cinderella" by Rodgers and Hammerstein with Stuart Damon and Lesley Ann Warren starring. The musical was written for television. It was originally broadcast live on CBS on March 31, 1957 as a vehicle for Julie Andrews, who played the title role. My tape-version was remade in 1965 and is only a one adaptation among so many! In 2013, the musical was performed for the first time on Broadway. I wish I could see it one day! 

My favorite song is definiately the Stepsister's Lament in which Cinderella's stepsisters ask why the Prince had not chosen any of them to be his love. I find these two character hilarious. I'm getting older but I still love "Cinderella" so much!

Stuart Damon and Lesley Ann Warren, 1965

"Stepsister's Lament", 1957

The Green Mile

A few days ago when I came back home in the evening I found my family on the coach watching "The Green Mile". I remember my annoyance: "What? Again?" Well, actually this movie is on TV quite often recently. and my family just loves it so I can tell, I know it by heart.

I saw it for the first time at the age of 13 in junior high school during my English lesson. Our teacher, a native speaker, used to watch movies with us during every single class. It was fantastic (no grammar!). Thanks to him I consider watching  movies as a great way of learning spoken language. Anyway I was really moved by "The Green Mile" and even now, after eight years, I still find it very disturbing. I think the character of John Coffey (like the drink, only not spelled the same..) is absolutely incredible. His sensitivity and vulnerability is biting. Each time I'm watching the movie I can't escape the sorrow - how fragile the good can be...

What's eating Leonardo DiCaprio?

And again, no Oscar for my favourite actor.. Four times a nominee. That is low! I would nominate Leonardo DiCaprio for his performances in Blood Diamond, The Departed, Revolutionary Road, Inception, Shutter Island. Well, I love every DiCaprio performance. Some people say I'm subjective and that I call every movie that Leo in starring in a masterpiece. But I think it's true! He's such a gifted actor. Honestly I get thrills watching his crying scenes. Especially the Oscar one..

And I really feel sorry about all this buzz on the Internet. Maybe I should make a video like Chris Crocker, shouting "Leave Leo alone!!"? If only that could help. All these memes are so cruel..

yeap, so cruel.. and hilariuos.

Everybody loves Disney songs

All my childhood I was watching Disney movies, so I think there's no surprise I'm addicted to their soundtracks. I know by heart almost every single song. And it's really great to realize that I'm not the only one. These guys are absolutely amazing! :D

How about.. going hitchhiking?

I went down with flu (end-of-term examinations routine) and now I'm lying in my bed pretending to study a little but it doesn't work actually. In about a month I'm enjoying my summer break and right now it is much more interesting for me to focus on my summer itineraries than on "morphosyntaxe". I want to make this summer vacation unforgettable. I've decided that I want a bit more adventure in my life. And that means I'm going away this summer with my friends :) That goes without saying as for I identify 'adventure' with travelling. I was thinking about visiting my friend Janka who lives in Masuria and encouraging her to spend some time with me under canvas. Actually she invited me to her place some time ago and as for she never goes back on  her word so maybe...
Or I will go hitchhiking somewhere? I've never done this before. It seems to be quite risky. But maybe it's time to make a go of something new? With a friend beside me it's not so terrifying. I must consider that ;)

To be like her

Once upon a time there lived a young girl in pristine woods of Virginia...
She was an Indian, like many others but her history became out of the ordinary. Matoaka, the daughter of mamanatowick Powhatan, the paramount chief of Tsenacomoco, today is known all over the world, although we prefer to use her childhood nickname - Pocahontas.

I found out who she was thanks to the Disney movie from 1995. In my personal opinion this is the best Disney production ever. Moving, with a though-provoking ending and beautiful soundtrack including such pieces like for example famous "Farewell"...

As a child I was climbing trees and hiding in bushes pretending to be Pocahontas. In her native languge Pocahontas meant 'playful one' and today I think this expression suited my childish character too. I was enchanted by her mysterious life in woods, so different from my own. When I grew up I started to think about her not only as an inspiring "Disney heroine". The more I have found out about her, the more I have looked up to her. She was saving people's lives, starting with a pale stranger, called captain John Smith. She had a great impact on the negotiations between the English and her tribe. Thanks to her Powhatan prisoners were released. She also managed to persuade her father to sent food to the starving settlers. She was such a courageous and strong woman. She went through many difficult experiences like being captured and held for ransom. For me, it's incredible how open-minded she was. Although she was thrown to the unknown she learned the English language, religion and customs.

We know quite a lot of facts about Pocahontas' life, but still there are many gaps in her history. Famous "love story" has inspired many writers and directors up to nowadays, but we can only assume whether she was truly in love with the English man. We often mention the name of John Smith, but probably it was John Rolfe who played the role of Romeo in Pocahontas' life. It is true that her father and ex-husband Kocoum were against the marriage with Rolfe, so they were struggling to get married. Still, we don't know nothing about her feelings. From settler's writings we know that John Rolfe did love Pocahontas, but what about her? There is a slight possibility that she chose to marry him and convert to Christianity to guarantee the peace..

These doubts make me feel even more respectful towards Pocahontas. We will never find out whether it is true, but it's quite likely that Pocahontas became a sign of peace by sacrificing her own happiness..

As for inspired movies.. Here's my favorite feature film interpretation of the legend, The New World: :)

Mobile Phone

Nowadays mobile phones offer so many gadgets that is hard to call them just phones. I'm an excellent example, I don't use my phone as it is supposed to be used - I'm constantly unavailable. This of course cause many, many argues between me and my friends. I absolutely understand them - it must be annoying. The problem is that I'm not emotionally attached to my mobile. I hate being available which is connected with keeping it mobile in a back-pocket, charging it and taking care about silent profiles..
As for me, a mobile phone is at first an alarm clock, MP3 player and a camera. I have about 3000 photos on my memory card. I like browsing them - it's like reading a diary. They keep my best memories safe.. like for example summer days in Wisełka ;)

The morning on the beach..

..and the sleeping bag full of sand.

Pink sneakers with ticks included

..hours of roaming around..

..and eating chocolate! ;)