Woman in Gold

Having got to the stage where I have seen a fair amount of movies I start to put them into categories in my mind of ones that are like each other.

For example The Theory of Everything, A Beautiful Mind and The Imitation Game I would all group together. The Woman in Gold belongs with The Monuments Men. Similar plot lines and themes.

It's also a bit of a weepy one, but maybe that's just me. It is a genuinely moving film though. I like films that are based on true events and people. Fantasy movies are great for distracting you and gilding your imagination but the ones based on real stories I think are more exciting. You get to see the world through someone else's perspective and come away with a new take on the world and humanity.

The whole film was about this painting. Now known as the "Woman in Gold" by Gustav Klimt. 

It's a painting of a woman called Adele Bloch-Bauer, the aunt of the main character in the film Maria Altmann. Adele's husband had commissioned Klimt to take her likeness. Afterward it hung in the home which they all shared Maria's parents and her sister and Adele and her husband. 

Adele died before the war and occupation of Austria began. When it came to the occupation Maria was now married to an opera singer Fritz and Adele's husband had left Austria with her sister Louisa to Cologne.

Maria's uncle advised her father to take the rest of them and leave Austria soon but they didn't and soon were put under house arrest in their home. Travelling was denied for the jews and they had to remain in the city.

They did eventually manage to escape though, under the pretence of getting medicine from the pharmacy for her father Maria and Fritz escaped their escort and calling in a favour from a family friend got a lift to the airport where they too made it Colonge. She had had to leave her parents behind though, her father was sick and I think her mother would not want to leave him anyway.

It was a tense getaway scene to the airport. The panic of thinking Fritz got left behind as they were separated for a bit and then the gunshots fired as they were diving into the car made you think he got shot but they managed to get out safely. Tension again as the ticket man at the airport questions them for their lack of luggage before finally letting them on, then again when some police pull up to the delayed flight but luckily (perhaps not the best word, it certainly wasn't lucky for the others) were not there to find Maria and Fritz. They arrive in Cologne and then eventually make it to America and to California.

Flash forward to Los Angeles 1998 and Maria's sister Louisa has died. Looking through her possessions she finds correspondences between her sister and the family lawyer in Vienna. The Austrian government was changing the laws concerning restitution of property taken during world war II and how they were looking at old cases again. Maria wants to know if this means she has a case to have the Klimt painting that belonged to her family restored to her (four others beyond the Woman in Gold) which were taken by the Nazis.

Enter Ryan Reynolds starring as the lawyer on the scene, Randol Schoenberg (grandson of the composer Schoenberg). He builds a case up for her, initially as he later admits after finding out how much the Woman in Gold was worth more than one hundred million dollars. But as they journey to Vienna and he revisits his roots as well as hers it becomes more a case of justice and rectification of the past.

The case went all the way up to the Supreme Court and then a further arbitration in Vienna and the results thankfully were that the paintings should be restored to Maria. Poor Belvedere academy.

I did get that it's the height of Austrian art and it's the Mona Lisa of Austria and they didn't want it to be removed from the motherland. However it was never made to be a public piece of art. It was commissioned privately and belonged to that family. 

Rather nicely though Maria did sell it to the Neue Galerie in New York with the proviso that it be on display in perpetuo which I think is rather nice.

I think this is one of the most human moments in the film. The heartache and confusion at wanting so badly to have what was lost but not the pain that comes with it. Maria's wish that she could enjoy being in Austria but only being able to remember the ill that happened there and the continual reminder that this was where she had left her parents before escaping to America without them.

This film is about justice and the blessings of enduring.

It's also pretty good on demonstrating how differently we all see things. The painting for the Austrian Belvedere, I imagine, was a great piece of their heritage and culture and indeed the Mona Lisa of Austria but I also have no doubt that its monetary value played a huge part in their wanting it to stay with them.

For the lawyer Schoenberg it began as a painting worth millions, a case that would set up his career but became a reminder of his ancestry and his history and the sentimental value objects can hold.

The painting to Maria was a like a family photograph, we all see a woman, literally nameless "Woman in Gold" but when she looked at it she saw her aunt. A woman she had grown up with and loved and shared memories with.

Interesting fact: when the art gallery installed the painting they named it "Woman in Gold" because they didn't want the Jewish associations that came with the name Adele Bloch-Bauer.

When we were waiting for the movie to start Louisa was telling me a bit about Klimt (she studied him at GCSE art and her main piece was based on his Woman in Gold). Anyway she told me her favourite piece was called "The Kiss". I thought she meant the picture I have on my phone case, the one I saw in Italy as that's called "Il Bacio" the kiss. But no she meant the one by Klimt not Hayez.

She found a picture and showed me and they are pretty similar. Ignoring the glaringly obvious difference in art styles they both feature a kissing couple in the same pose and stance. A little digging found out that Klimt probably based his upon Hayez's earlier work and even other examples by different artists. 

Quite cool that our favourite paintings are linked and one inspired the other. To add more, the sisters in this movie were called Maria and Louisa. Quite a funny afternoon.

The Theory of Everything

It's that time already, the time for trekking back to university, which apart from my exams I am looking forward to. Having lived away for so long, Italy and then first semester at university, it's become the normal and I quite miss not doing everything on my own timetable. But I am grateful for my family looking after me when I was back.

Yesterday I was able to eat out with some friends, Hannah and Hannah, followed by the cinema which was lovely to have a chat and spend some time with them before we all disappear back off to our different spots in the UK.

There seems to be an influx of good movies being released and I had quite a lot on my list that I wanted to see. Now one of them is checked off.

We went to view: The Theory of Everything.



I can only describe it as enlightening and containing possibly the best actors I have ever seen. It's also thought-provoking, emotional and intensely inspirational in a non-cheesy way. I would recommend it and I am very much looking forward to its release on DVD so that I can purchase it and see it again.

Incidentally for those who weren't aware the movie is based on a novel by Jane Wilde, Stephen Hawking's ex-wife and her experiences with him. It is a lovely movie, very well made and considerate especially considering most of the people involved in it are still living.

I'm not intentionally planning to spoil it but no doubt bits will slip out as I write so if you want to see it untainted skip down from this section.

I think because of when I was born and not having a tendency to follow physics Stephen Hawking was only ever imprinted in my memory as the scientist in the wheelchair, a thought I am perhaps now a little ashamed of. He was much more than that.

What makes the film so moving is that it begins with Stephen before he is diagnosed with motor-neurone disease and so you see both sides. The brilliant mobile man and the even more brilliant immobile one. The transition is really, for want of a better word, emotional. I seem to have poor control over my tear ducts anyway but films and books seem to enhance this. I think that was point one that I cried. It makes you think of all the people who go through this kind of life-changing experiences everyday; deaths, diseases other disasters. And then how lucky you feel for not having that challenge to push yourself through.

I like science, but I like it even better when it's proved wrong, I think it's another testament to that there is something bigger than us who doesn't play by our rules and it is also a humbling and a rather nice thought that humans do get things wrong - often a good thing. After being diagnosed by the doctor, Stephen is told he has two years to live. Well he did and is still defying that. Take that science. As my dad said he probably is going to outlive his doctor (if he hasn't already, I haven't followed up on that). I know a few people who have been given ultimatums like that all of whom have and are defying them, why do we trust science so implicitly?

Watching him (the actor - who by the was brilliant, he was so convincing and pretty much looked like the real Doctor) deteriorate on screen was hard to watch. One scene especially, early on in his disease when he received his PhD and became a Doctor his wife held a dinner party with some old Cambridge friends. And it kind of slows down as you see him struggle to eat and drink while everyone else does it so gracefully and carefully and the frustration of not being able to climb the stairs easily to see his children. It makes you so thankful for what you have and you feel such a respect for his perseverance and strength of character.



 I think they did pretty good on finding close matches with the main actor and actress.

The film played out quite nicely showing all the adaptions they had to make, moving the bedroom downstairs etc. but also the joy and the determination they had as a family to get through it. I have a real respect for his then-wife as well who for a lot of it, did everything by herself.

A great theme of it is the conflict between God and Science. Jane who was a strong C of E and Stephen who put aside the thought of personal beliefs in order to not have it affect his scientific findings. However throughout the film you get the feel that he doesn't disbelieve in God. At one point whilst he is writing his book "A Brief History of Time" he writes with regards to his search for a theory to everything that " If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason - for then we would know the mind of God." How true.

I had a conflict towards the end where Jane decides to leave Stephen. I have no idea how accurate to the truth this is, but in the movie it is played as Jane choosing to leave Stephen for her church choir director Jonathan. I cried again. I felt really sorry for Stephen. But I also understood her choice. It must have been very difficult for her but at the same time she had made a commitment. It was one of the most personal and raw moments in the movie. Jane's line "I have loved you" set me off, and his reaction is truly upsetting.

My thoughts after the movie were finished were with one of Dr Hawking's closing lines "while there's life there's hope". So many things can go wrong but they shouldn't hold us back. Whilst we live we are in a way unlimited by what we want to do, there is a way to accomplish everything. When I said earlier it was inspirational in a non-cheesy way this was what I meant. Here a very real and human man with flaws proves that the laws we set ourselves (science, amongst others) do not stick, can be changed and we can surpass them and that applies to most anything.

It's overall a message of hope, perseverance and the wonder of what humans can achieve even with great limitations imposed upon them.

I can't wait to see it again.



After having arrived back in Leicester and unpacked I have come to the decision that next holiday my stuff can either fit or one suitcase or stay out because it was nightmare packing and unpacking. But it is nice to be back. Food shop tomorrow and then I'll be officially back.

Day 18: Andiamo

Last night I was woken at about 5.30am by the sound of an alarm probably a house alarm that was so loud and would not stop. It felt like forever but it was probably only five minutes but even sticking my head under the pillow didn't cancel it out.

As I result I overslept a little to compensate but even then I spent the day running on sugar.  

I did another hour of English with Bea, this morning it was all on modal verbs 'must' and 'have' etc. more revision of what I've studied the past two years. After that, me and Fede went to Elga's house to tutor. Same structure as yesterday except today France finished his exercise book so I'm going to have to think of something else to do with him!

They also read through the books very fast. Both of them have finished two books in three days. I am going to have to get some more out of the library. 

Fede stated for dinner at Elga's they were having lentils which he likes. Me and Alessandra went back home. I started reading 1984 again but then Bea asked if I wanted to watch 'Bianca come il latte, rossa come il sangue' which is a film of an Italian novel of the same name. 

It's a sad film and I cried. You can only watch it in Italian but luckily they had English subtitles so I could understand what was going on. If you have seen the movie Charly I'd say it's kind of similar to that everything is fine and them boom a bombshell is dropped and yore a wreck for the rest of the movie. The title in English incidentally is 'White as milk, red as blood'. 

We stopped for lunch and the continued it afterwards. 

After lunch I went with Bea to pick up her friend Bianca and we went to a huge department store called 'Coin'. It has eight floors and sells everything. Although after a while I began to notice that it sells expensive everything. Even in a 40% off sale things were still hundreds of euros. We also went to a Milanese make up shop called Kiko. They also had a sale on as it is now July. They sell loads of different types of nail polish. I got one called 'cupcake' which is a solid colour with spots of other colour in it. 

After that we went back to Bianca's flat. They wanted to make over me. So I acquiesced. Probably not the smartest decision, it started out okay but the green eyeshadow was bright and garish and I don't really like eye shadow. Then came mascara, if I ever wear it it's very little because my lashes are so long it coats my face when I blink. I had lots of black lines on my face after that! Next time I will say no. 

We came back and had dinner - risotto. Someone in another flat was playing Lana Del Rey which was so good to hear! Four of her songs in a row! 

I am so tired after that early awakening this morning I am going for an early night. It's a constant struggle to make myself reopen my eyes after blinking. 

Ciao. 

Day 15: Bibliotecha

The sun was certainly shining on us today. It was not a promising start with the overcast greyness present this morning, but it soon brightened up.

After waking up and getting ready for the day I took myself and Federico to Elga's house where I spent two hours tutoring her two children. First I tutored Alessandro, we spent half the lesson doing some exercises in his English book, and then the other part of the lesson, we looked at practising pronouncing the words we identifed last week and then read some more of Snow White (Biancanieve). His pronunciation is getting better although he often pronounces the english letters with italian sounds. It gets confusing because Italian E is said Ay and Italian I is pronounced Ee. 

After Alessandro, I tutored Francesco. We did the same pattern. Exercises in his book and then practicing the words and then reading aloud. He has also improved in pronunciation.

When we finished, Alessandra came and all of us went to the park. Both Elga and Alessandra had planned to go to see a friend of theirs who might be moving to Saudi Arabia but she wasn't there. The boys (Alessandro, Francesco and Federico) played basketball. On an afternoon and evening the basketball court and football pitch all full of the older lads, but on a morning it's empty so they could have the run of it.

I had brought  Alessandra's Italian copy of Pride and Prejudice with me so I sat reading it whilst they chatted. It's lucky I have read it so much in English and know the first chapter pretty much by heart so I could translate the meaning of all the words. Alessandra also got me to read aloud to Elga and her to practice my pronunciation.

We had carbonara for lunch and after that Alessandra took Bea to her piano lesson. Interestingly in Italian the piano is the piano forte and the english piano forte is the piano fortissimo. While they were out Fede continued writing a story about motorcross, I then had to persuade him to do some guitar practice. Point of difference in Spanish toca is you play, in Italian it is you touch. So I accidently told Fede to touch his guitar for fifteen minutes instead of play it! He did however correct me and I will not be making that mistake again.

After guitar practice we played on the wii unlocked some new levels and then played scarabeo. By the time we finished scarabeo Alessandra came back. Bea had gone to see a friend who had just come back off holiday. Me Alessandra and Fede then went out to the library, we returned the DVDs from last week and took out some new ones: Puss in Boots, Kung Fu Panda, Mirror Mirror and Aladdin King of Thieves as well as some Naples comedy thing that Fede wanted to see. I also got out some English books, Jane Eyre, 1984 and Mirror Mirror.

We tried to watch Kung Fu Panda when we got back but the disc was so scratched it wouldn't play so we swapped to Puss in Boots instead. This time we watched it in Italian with English subtitles but the next movie we will watch will be English with Italian subtitles.

Thanks to everyone who is reading this it's gratifying to know my life is somewhat interesting! I have had sniggers directed to me about my poor spelling and grammar despite the fact I have just completed two a levels in English Literature and English Language. My apologies! However let me explain why:

1. I am writing from an Italian computer where the keys are in different places
2. Also spell check is in Italian and every word is underlined and I do not have the time or patience to check them
3. The punctuation keys are deceptive. It says it's an apostrophe but it's actually a an: à the apostrophe is actually located on the dash key.

So please please please read it with a little lenience for my poor brain clouded with Italian that I don't understand!

Buonanotte!