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What I Had Missed

Posted by on December 7, 2011 No comments

During my recent Paris trip, I had the pleasure of taking in 3 films. For some reason, they were all about social issues haunting humanity.

The first film was a Hollywood production of Contagion. An epidemic, the most dangerous ever, has killed millions world wide. The source of the illness was China – funny, a few decades ago, it would have been Russia ;) A remedy was developed…. Of course, by an American scientist – this time it was a woman ☺ It was fine, not the best film I have seen.

The second, Polisse, is a MUST SEE! A highly controversial French film that was directed by a young woman who was herself a victim of a sex crime as a young child. She presents a team of police officers who deal with children. With an amazing cast, the film covers all kinds of issues. It is hard, raw and true. Pedophilia, insect, sexual favours at school through peer pressure, pornography, immigrants, poverty, suicide, physiological stress, inter-police frictions, love, anger, reconstructed families, religion, gender issues, sexuality, … it was powerful; cult film.

The third film was by non other, Robert Guedikian. The narration of Les Neiges de Kilimanjaro was splendid. It takes place in Marseille near the beautiful Mediterranean sea. However, the distress of economic crisis, human kindness, crime and punishment and family values were showcased in this beautiful, beautiful film. I can honestly say this is one of Guedikian’s best film.

I had missed going to the movies and being blown away by the big screen and its moving images. Armenia needs to consider screening good films, not just mass distributions of cheap romantic-comedies and such. I am counting on the new generation of Armenian filmmakers to save us from this whirlpool. Not sure if I should hold my breath though.

What about schools?

Posted by on October 20, 2011 5 comments

Yesterday I went to the parents meeting for Amassia. Their school is just so great. The teacher explained what they have been up to since the beginning of the year. The Waldorf school works on epochs (era). This time, the epoch was the Natural Habitat. Amassia has been obsessing on mushrooms and wild plants. she has been asking me to youtube some of the most bizarre animals. She has been collecting small pebbles and rocks for show and tell… I love how involved they get in their material. One of the students had told the teacher that he never thought about grass or wild flowers and would usually stomp, crush them. Now, he said, I have respect for them… that was so funny and perfect.

Their Armenian teacher had surprised us with publication of all the children’s creative writing, short stories. It was a book. A real book. Amassia’s picture had made the cover!

So, if anyone asks me “are you happy with your child’s schooling in Armenia” my answer so far and has been since we have moved here “VERY MUCH!”