the queen and the people's princess

We all remember the mass hysteria that surrounded the following of Diana's death, don't we? I'm sure everyone feels silly now for being sad or for shedding a tear at the time, but we were all dragged into it. I know I was. I blame the Media. I really do.

Back then everyone hated the Queen and the Royals for not publicly showing compassion and sadness in the loss of the future king's mother. Why would the Queen have to do public mourning the woman who mostly damaged the Monarchy?

Diana liked the public attention, she was a huge star, therefore she was unfit to be queen. The Queen on the other hand has always been very reserved.

The movie The Queen is based in true events (how true we'll never know) and shows how the Royal Family and the newly elected Tony Blair reacted to Diana's death. It's brilliantly performed by everyone but especially by Dame Helen Mirren.

The movie makes very compelling viewing as it shows everyone's flaws and doesn't allow ever to pigeonhole anyone as the good or the bad one.

Funk Carioca - tá tudo dominado

Funk carioca is awesome!

Compilation Slum Dunk presents Funk Carioca mixed by Tetine is an excellent introduction. There you can find such brilliant tracks as 'injeção' by Deise Tigrona, 'cerol na mão' by Bonde do Tigrão, or 'bochecha ardendo' by Os K-rrascos & Vanessinha do Picatchu.

Also have a look at the documentary directed by Roberto Maxwell, called Tá Tudo Dominado

Luis in Southeast Asia

Mr. Luis Correia is in Thailand.

He has a blog - http://knownwhitemale.blogspot.com. C'mon go and have a look!

Princesas

Princesas - Princesses premiered in London at the Spanish Film Festival last Friday 15th. This is the most recent film from director Fernando León de Aranoa, who also directed Mondays in the Sun in 2002.

It features the magnificent Candela Peña (All About My Mother, Torremolinos 73, Take My Eyes) and newcomer Micaela Neváraz. Their performances got them the Goya award early this year. The third Goya went to Manu Chao, for his brilliant song "me llaman calle".

The friendship that grows between Caye and Zulema, the two prostitutes and their own personal different struggles is what makes the movie interesting. It never falls onto a Pretty Woman situation but it does allow them both to have dreams and have fun despite their shitty working condition.

Here's the international trailer for the movie.

Little Miss Sunshine

How sweet is this movie? Well, you can always expect a good comedy coming from Sundance film festival, and at the same time you can always think "oh here comes another Sundance inteligent arty and witty comedy" which is not always a good thing.

Little Miss Sunshine is very funny. Great disfunctional family with lots of emotions bursting to come out. In the end, nothing prepares you for Olive's performance at the Little Miss Sunshine contest. Very very cool movie.

Let's have a look at the trailer:

Atlantic Waves 2006

The 2006 edition of the Atlantic Waves festival will happen in November. Uninteresting as usual.

At least there is Mariza and Sara Tavares for those who don't like screaching noises and experimental mental masturbation.

Here's this year's programme:


02 November ¬ Madredeus :: Barbican Hall
14 November ¬ Kang Tae Hwan, Carlos Bica, Miyeon, Park Je Chun :: The Spitz
15 November ¬ Maria João, Mário Laginha + Ned Rothenberg, Kang Tae Hwan, Carlos Zíngaro, Carlos Santos :: Purcell Room
16 November ¬ Arditti Quartet with Pedro Carneiro :: Union Chapel
17 November ¬ Sara Tavares :: Purcell Room
18 November ¬ Tcheka / Modeste :: Purcell Room
22 November ¬ Mariza with special guests Carlos do Carmo, Jaques Morelenbaum and Tito Paris :: Royal Albert Hall
24 November ¬ Arnold Dreyblatt, David Maranha, Margarida Garcia, Mark Sanders, Hannah Marshall + Jacob Kirkegaard, David Maranha + Philip Jeck, Margarida Garcia :: Purcell Room
25 November ¬ Thomas Köner, Asmus Tietchens, Max Eastley, Victor Gama + Z'EV, Robert Rutman, David Maranha + Thomas Köner, Victor Gama :: St Giles Cripplegate
26 November ¬ Oren Ambarchi, Margarida Garcia + Akira Rabelais, Paulo Raposo + Joh Duncan, Alfredo Costa Monteiro :: St Giles Cripplegate
30 November ¬ Sainkho Mamthylak, Tanya Tagaq, Janita Salomé + Dokaka, Shlomo, Maria João, Américo Rodrigues :: Union Chapel

Sara Tavares

Sara Tavares is playing London's Royal Festival Hall on November 17th as part of the Atlantic Waves festival.

Here's the video for 'Balancê' from her latest album released in the UK last March.

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Retro popquiz

Last week we won the quiz with 20 out of 20. This week, we got the first fourteen questions right and then it all went downhill. Anyway, we shall return next week for more LTDJs action.