Edinburrowing

[imomus]

Some of the things I've been to, or plan to go to, this week in Edinburgh.

A dramatization of the life of Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz.

A clever, preppy American comedian called Demetri Martin (he looks like Marxy).

No fewer than three Ian Hamilton Finlay shows, and Little Sparta, his Pentlands grove.

"The Grey Automobile", a silent Mexican gangster film with fake subtitles, live piano accompaniment and live translation into Japanese, Donald Duck-speak, and barking.

A Korean "Midsummer Night's Dream From The East". Followed the Korean actors down Chambers Street and decided they were the best-dressed people in Edinburgh this year.

The Jerwood Applied Arts Prize show at the Museum of Scotland, and art shows at Collective Gallery, Stills and Embassy Gallery.

The People's Story, a socialist museum about Edinburgh. Did you know that in 1789 only 33 people in Edinburgh had the vote?

"The Sun", a Russian film about the last days of the Emperor Hirohito.

New York drag cabaret act Kiki and Herb.

"Ren-Sa", a mysterious piece by Darren Johnston in which the audience is taken in a blank-windowed van to a secret location and shown a video, dance and performance based on Japanese horror cycle "The Ring".

An exhibition of Cartier-Bresson photos. (Snuck in through the exit without paying.)

Mike Mills' new film "Thumbsucker".

Edinburgh Zoo.

The Botanical Gardens.

The art school.

The excellent new Scottish Poetry Library.

A very good new Japanese restaurant called Bonsai.

The Forest cafe and TotalKunst, its attached gallery.

Edinburgh Ikea (to meet my dad, who doesn't like driving into town).

Comments

El Automovil Gris

[madape.livejournal.com]

Interestingly enough, we brought one of the first performances of the Grey Automobile about 2 years ago to our campus cinema at NC State University when I was leading the student films committee. It's amazing to see they are still traveling around the world doing performances. It was a truely unique and highly entertaining show. I particularly loved the part where they break into an Operatic-like song during one of the gangster fight sequences.

When they performed the show in Raleigh they collaborated with a local artist to do some of the English narration. I imagine now they have a traveling individual to do these parts?

Are "The Sun" or "Thumbsucker" recommendable?

Re: El Automovil Gris

[imomus.livejournal.com]

"The Sun" is a really excellent movie, see yesterday's entry for details.

I'll see "Thumbsucker" on Sunday evening, so I'll tell you more then.