sunrise in november

"The master of us all"

In this way Christian Dior refers to Cristobal Balenciaga, expressing his deep admiration for "the couturier of couturiers" work.
Last days I've read a lot about his life and activity. I found out interesting things that I would like to share with you as a relaxing september story.
Born in Guetaria, a small fishing village from Basque Country Balenciaga showed from early childhood his interest for design and fashion. His talent was observed by Marquise of Casa Torres who sends him to be professionally tailored in Madrid.

Comes back and in his early 20s opens his first boutique in San Sebastian followed by two branches in Madrid and Barcelona. He had success. Spanish royal family and the aristocracy became his day by day clients.
Unfortunately in 1936 because of the Spanish Civil War C. Balenciaga is forced to leave Spain and to go in France.
In 1937, at 42 years Cristobal inaugurates Balenciaga House on Avenue George V, Paris. His recognition and success came almost immediately. Despite 2nd World War his clients came from Europe, risking their own safety to see and buy his unique creations.
This period was a good one. Balenciaga creates his first perfume, called “Le Dix” and shows to the world his “square coat”. Still wasn’t his period of glory. This came at the beginning of 1950 and lasts until mid 1960s.
In 1951 Balenciaga totally transformed women silhouette by broadening the shoulders and removing the waist.
In 1955 he creates the tunic dress that later becomes chemise dress followed by balloon skirt, sack dress, spherical balloon jacket or baby doll dress.
The year 1959 culminates with his Empire Line through Balenciaga offers high-waisted dressed and jackets cut like kimonos. In this 10 years period he had as clients the best dressed women of the world as Queen Fabiola of Belgium or Jackie Kennedy.
The story ends in 1968 when Balenciaga closes the House and retires. 4 years later he dies.
Nowadays, Balenciaga House is under French PPR (Pierot-Printemps-Redoute) Group. Its run by Nicolas Ghesquiere, french designer, considered by Times magazine in the top “100 most influential people from the world” in 2006.
Anyway, Balenciaga brand is famous these days for “Lariat” – motorcycle inspired handbags which are proffered by most of American starlets.
p.s. Still, I’m sure Balenciaga spirit will never die. He will remain one of the few ‘fashion artists’ who were able to design, cut and sew an outfit with his own hands.

Legends of the Fall

I' coming back to you dear friend to tell you about one of my favourite movies. I've seen it again recently and let me the salty taste of a good story. I'm sure you have watch it also.

Legends of the Fall (1995) made me change my oppinion about Brad Pitt. I loved his "Tristan" role and the fact he showed that's more than a pretty face of the american cinematografy. He successfully created a complex character: powerful but in the same time sensitive and vulnerable.

One Stab: Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends.

I can't resist

Update
Sometimes takes time to see and understand what is much more important. Many times a picture says more that 1000 words. I can imagine when I watch this pic the Passage between Unirii 1 and Unirii 2. When I'm there I have the same feeling. I can hear no voices but the rhythm of our steps.

and I have to post a picture (found at my friend Alessandro) that is representative for working in the multinational environment. It's made by surrealist Arthur Tress, american photographer born on 24th of November 1940. It's famous for his interest in exposing the human body.

It is called "Office workers return home" and I think is deeply relevant and inspiring.

fascination

Am o noua pasiune. Sariturile. Cat de sus pot sari. Cum ma pot motiva sa-mi depasesc limita. Cineva imi spunea odata ca nu e bine sa incerci sa le depasesti. Cu toate astea intotdeauna am incercat si o sa incerc in continuare. Este fascinat sa vezi pana unde...

& now:

I have a new passion. Jumps. How high can I jump? How can I be motivated to jump higher?Someone told me once that is better not to overtake your limits. But I allways tryed to and I allways will. It's exciting and fascinating to se how far...

Michael Jackson honored at Sensation 2009

Amsterdam, the wicked wonderland

How can smells be coloured?
In Amsterdam they are! Each corner has his own flavour. Of course marijuana smell is everywhere but you get used with it, you have to. I didn't enjoy it onestly. From time to time I was trying to catch familiar smells and I couldn't! Was really strange and insecure, but also provocative and challenging.
Each street from Red District has it's own blossom! They're different but mixed together are a bunch of "coloured tulips". It's wicked, the wicked wonderland! I felt the first sensation when I've smelled the channels brize. Surronds you and don't let go.

To be continued!

six days left or how to...?

A Totally Different Experience for The Eye

Asta e sloganul - motto propus de Ogilvy pentru cea de-a patra editie a Fest'Asia singurul festival de film asiatic din Europa Centrală şi de Est, desfăşurat în perioada 19-28 iunie 2009 la Cinema Scala, în Bucureşti. Eh, cum de ce?
Va aduceti aminte de faimosa trilogie horror The Eye a fraţilor Oxide şi Danny Pang produsă în Hong Kong şi Tailanda? Ei bine toate cele trei filme vor fi proiectate si vor reprezenta clar atractia acestei manifestari cinematografice.

Datorita faptului ca le-am vazut (si nu cred ca Silvie ar fi prea incantata daca am merge sa le vizionam:D) mi-am indreptat atentia asupra a doua filme mai 'soft' ce mi s-au parut a fi interesante din zona thailandeza si chineza a festivalului. Mai exact:

CHOCOLATE

Tailanda/Thailand, 2008, 110′Regia/Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Scenariul/Screenplay: Napalee, Matthew Chookiat Sakveerakul

Imaginea/Director of Photography: Decha Seemanta

Montajul/Editors: Rashane Limtrakul, Prapob Suraskulwat

Muzica/Music: Giant Ape

Producător/Producers: Prachya Pinkaew, Panna Rittikari, Sukanya Vongsthapat

Producţie/Production: Baa-Ram-Ewe

Cu/Cast: Jija Yanin Vismistananda, Yanin Mitananda, Hiroshi Abe, Pongpat Wachirabunjong, Ammara Siriphong , Taphon Phopwandee

si
TRIANGLE

Hong Kong, 2007, 100′Regia/Directors: Ringo Lam, Johnnie To, Hark Tsui Scenariul/Screenplay: Sharon Chung, Kenny Kan, Nai-Hoi Yau
Imaginea/Director of Photography: Siu-keung Cheng

Montajul/Editing: David M. Richardson

Muzica/Music: Guy Zerafa

Producători/Producers: John Chong, Kok Leung Kuk, Ringo Lam, Dennis Law

Producţie/Production: Milkyway Image, Media Asia Films, Polybona Film

Cu/Cast: Louis Koo, Simon Yam, Hong Lei Sun, Ka Tung Lam, Kelly Lin

Update Triangle

Clar daca am fi avut subtitrarea in romana existenta pe tot parcursul filmului as fi avut o parere mult mai buna despre acesta. Dar inevitabil "defectiunile tehnice" si-au pus amprenta asupra comentariului meu de acum. Macar bine ca desupra subtitrarii in ro (cateodata existenta!) filmul chinezesc avea subtitles si in franceza (ramase de la Cannes!!!). Si totusi, e destul de greu sa te chinuiesti sa citesti o subtitrare intr-o limba pe care n-am mai exersat-o din liceu. Anyway this is Romania & anythin's possible!

LA MARI DE CHAMBAO Y JARABE DE PALO - Dejame vivir