I made it to “C.”
I was supposed to get together with J&C and Matt on Sunday to watch “Das Leben der Anderen” — one of the best recent German films, and one which has won a lot of awards. I saw it in Berlin last summer. Matt got the German DVD as a gift in November.
But Matt showed up at J&C’s place this afternoon … slight miscommunication … so I went over and we watched it.
The miscommunication was contributed to by a cordless phone with dead batteries … when J called, I was unable to answer. I charged it a bit and called back, but then it died again, so she called back and left a message. I got ready, charged a bit more, called back and just said, “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Out the door I walked.
The movie itself, the story of a Stasi (East German “secret police” one might say) agent and a famous writer (playwright) he is observing, is a formally beautiful work, with strong performances, subtle plotting, well-composed shots, and emotional impact. Too bad it won’t be much-watched in the US, I suspect.
C lent me six old graphic novels of his that he brought down from the attic — three being a series of German translations of a fantasy series by John Buscema, one of the “greats” of American comicbook art. The other was a 3-part German translation of a Belgian sci-fi-ish post-punk story … something more in the “French Tradition” (Moebius, or Enki Bilal, for example).
Sunday evening Masterpiece Theatre — by way of PBS — will show part one of Jane Eyre. I checked the book out in elementary school but never really read it. The same with Wuthering Heights, though I did skim that one in the 4th grade or so, but recall nothing from it. It, however, won’t be on PBS tomorrow.
This afternoon I turned the TV on for some odd reason and America’s Test Kitchen was on, showing a nifty episode about making pot stickers, followed by a segment on spicy Thai beef (to be served, mainly, with rice). I would be interested in making both dishes — a bit much for one person, but that’s basically my only option — since both seem easy enough, as well as tasty. I think the recipes can be found on their website.
Klaus called, suggesting that I apply for a lecturer position opening up in Giessen to do/teach English. It’s the same one S. Young had, I believe, and, perhaps K.R. I’d rather not think about it, not that I don’t want a job, it’s just that it’s the type of stress I don’t want, thinking about trying to get a job. The “advantage” of this position would be that with the proper backing, it would be easy enough to get. THe “problem” is that although I’d love to return to Germany, I’d rather move on to getting a “real” academic position in the U.S., not abroad, and if this one required a 2-3 year commitment (I’m not sure), I’d be hesitant. I just want to finish the diss and get on with my pathetic life.
Since I made it to “C” I am listening, first, to Cake (just a variety of songs — their cover of “I Will Survive” has a post-punk edge to it and no hint of disco; it was, evidently, featured in the film Secretary, which was quite enjoyable). Up next: Capercaille, Scottish folk stuff I probably got from Staci, since I can’t think of any other source for it.
