Blue Jasmine

So I said back in August that I thought I’d be a Woody Allen fan, but now I know for sure I am. Blue Jasmine – what an incredible piece of cinema.

It was a coin-toss between this and Diana last night at the movies but, as more and more bad reviews come out for the latter, I feel we made the right choice.

Cate Blanchett plays the title character, Jasmine Francis, a “New York, Park Avenue” gal, who gave up a chance at a career to have a life with the man of her dreams (and of many others’…), Hal (Alec Baldwin). Hal has everything; houses, watches, cars, money – that is, money he’s stolen from other people. When he’s arrested, Jasmine’s world collapses and she is forced to move in with her not so high-flying adopted sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) in San Fransisco.

Blue Jasmine is a little about love and a lot about life, how you live it, and how you cope when it’s taken away from you. Similarities to Tennessee William’s A Street Car Named Desire have been pointed out by some of the world’s best critics in the world – including my mum ;)

I hear Cate Blancett is up for an Oscar for this role but, to be honest, they might as well save everyone the trouble of getting dressed up and just give her all the awards now. I thought she was great before, but wow. She is exceptional, constantly treading the fine line between chic and psycho. Elizabeth, Galadriel, and now Jasmine Francis. She really can do anything.

As with every movie she’s been in, Sally Hawkins was just so loveable, and the two “sisters” has such a great on-screen connection. I’m sure the role of adopted siblings isn’t that easy to portray, but they do it perfectly.

In fact, everyone was hit with the Woody Allen perfect-casting wand, even the smaller parts. Despite the plot revolving around him, Alec Baldwin only exists in the movie’s flashbacks, but when he’s on, he’s – well, Alec Baldwin! - sophisticated and sly as always, and a little sleazy too.

Woody Allen has this wonderful way of making every character stereotypical and familiar but unique and fascinating all at the same time. You laugh and cry with them, and they stay with you long after the credits have finished rolling. Actually, I’m still thinking about them all this afternoon…

If you see one movie in the next few weeks, make it Blue Jasmine.

Future Cinema presents Dirty Dancing

More cinema and more dressing up – last weekend I certainly had the time of my life. I’d never felt that way before. I swear, it’s the truth! ;)

I first heard about Future Cinema and their amazing event a year ago when my best friend went to a screening of Grease. Hearing what an incredible time she had, I made her promise to take me to the next one. So, on Saturday, we brushed up our merengues, practised our pachangas and prepared ourselves for all things Dirty Dancing!

When booking your ticket to a Future Cinema event you never know exactly what you’re signing up for, as most of the details are kept secret or not revealed until the last minute, including the event location. Through the Facebook event page, guests were fed tantalizing hints and tips to get us in the mood; dance tutorials, lyrics to songs, even a list of entertaining rules and instructions to accompany your stay at Kellerman’s holiday camp.

It is also compulsory for all guests to dress up, and we had a great time planning our Baby and Johnny outfits. Piecing them together from items found on the high street and in our wardrobes, I went for the “Baby on the footbridge” look, with two tops from H&M, white pumps from Primark (£4) and my cropped denim shorts. I also spent the night before sleeping in flexi rollers, which worked a treat! My other female friends dressed in the classic cropped jeans and tied white shirt, and the boys looked perfectly of the time (my boyfriend in particular, who in his black shirt, leather jacket and greased back hair attracted many comments throughout the day including “Hey Johnny”, “Nice to see you again, Mr Swayze” and, from one of the Kellerman’s reps, “Excuse me but, sir, please, pop your collar!”).

When we arrived at Hackney Downs (the now not-so-secret location) I was so pleased we had all made an effort; for once, the people who hadn’t were the ones who stood out! On stepping through the gates you do feel rather transported. There’s “Orientation” on the left, a life-drawing class on the right, and dance tutorials EVERYWHERE! The reps were all very enthusiastic in their “Kellerman’s” t-shirts, greeting you with an American twang. Raring to go, you then enter the main event.

A large grassed area is split in two by a long aisle, with food trucks and drinks tents lining either side. There were lobster rolls, burgers, mac ‘n’ cheese, scallops and schnitzels, all being sold out the side of caravans, falafel marquees, burger huts, and of course watermelons, popcorn and candy floss were all on sale too. At the front of the seating area was a stage where the official Johnny, Baby, Penny and more made appearances, talking to the crowd and teaching them to cha-cha. We had such fun dancing, singing, and watching the variety of costumes that went past. At one point Mr Kellerman himself shouted out “Get your balls up in the air!”, and everyone started throwing their beach balls to the skies. Suddenly, from behind either side of the stage, two huge balls (they must have been 10 foot in diameter) were bounced around the crowd! Great fun, although we came very close to being squashed.

The audience were now full of good food and buzzing with anticipation, and the start of the movie was timed perfectly with the setting sun. There were roars of applause as the cast list came up on the screen, but that was nothing compared to the first appearance of Patrick Swayze, shades and all. What a beautiful and talented man he was; so sad that he was taken too soon.

Watching Dirty Dancing with hundreds of other people was absolutely incredible. There were waves of wolf-whistles and cheering when they kissed, boos and heckling whenever Robbie came on screen (if you don’t know why, you haven’t watched it recently enough) and with every amazing song in its soundtrack, floodlights came on and our we were given our cue to stand up and boogie.

In true Dirty Dancing style, a few weeks before the event an email was sent out to guests, inviting them to a “secret” after party in the staff quarters. Hosted by Johnny and Penny, we were asked to bring a watermelon with us. Instead, we turned up with a hula-hoop and human-size inflatable banana - it’s a long story, but let’s just say it was an interesting cab journey... Arriving at the venue was slightly peculiar, as we couldn’t hear a peep of sound! We were ushered by the “staff” up a fire escape and through several doorways, each muttering as they went, “Jeez, lots of new faces, Paul not going to be happy” (Paul later turned out to be the DJ). Pushing open the final set of doors, we entered a room filled with smoke and red lighting and by midnight, when more people had arrived, it felt just like the film. We danced until the early hours, twisting, shouting, jumping, jiving and even the Mashed Potato. We made a pact there and then to make this a tradition, and I already can’t wait! Footloose? Pulp Fiction? What do you think?

La Bayadère, Royal Opera House

I have to point out that last week was an exceptional week! I could only keep up that level of exciting experiences in my dreams, but it was wonderful while it lasted!

On Saturday night, I was my grandfather’s hot date to the Royal Opera House. The world famous Bolshoi Ballet are celebrating 50 years since their first performance at the ROH, and from the 29^th July to 17^th August, they will be performing Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Jewels, The Flames Of Paris and the ballet we were there to see, La Bayadère (which translated means “temple-dancer”). First performed in 1877 by the Bolshoi, the ballet was choreographed by Marius Petipa with music by Ludwig Minkus. I thought I would retell the beautiful story, including some of the best bits from the performance I saw… 

Set in India, the ballet opens with Solor, a young and strapping warrior, hunting in the forest. Solor is in love with a young bayadère named Nikiya, and asks Magdaveya (the fakir) to organize a meeting between the two of them. At the temple, the High Brahmin, the priest and the fakirs are worshipping the sacred flame. The bayadères all come out to dance, and amongst them is the beautiful Nikiya. Though incredibly talented, there was no doubt, looking at the dancers from Row E (just dropping that in there ), that nearly all of them were Russian-born, but when Olga Smirnova (Nikiya) came out of the temple for the first time, she looked every bit an Indian princess. Her features, her movements, the way she held herself – everything was perfect (and she's only 21!). After her first dance it is clear that Solor isn’t the only one who has eyes for Nikiya; the High Brahmin is in love with her too. He declares his love to her, but she rejects him and, after witnessing from afar the couples’ secret meeting, he is enraged, and decides to hatch a plan with the Rajah.

The next morning, the Rajah announces to his daughter, Princess Gazmatti, his plan for her betrothal to none other than the warrior, Solor! She is over the moon, and very excited to meet him. Solor, on the other hand, is left in a state of confusion; he does find the princess very attractive, but he is aware of the vow he has made to Nikiya. The sets in this production were jaw-droppingly amazing. Although my brain was telling me that it was all a two-dimensional backdrop, my eyes wouldn’t believe it. When I went to the Colesium, I commented that, when the ballet started, I was aware of how large the auditorium was, but when La Bayadère started, it was the size of the stage that hit me.

The High Brahmin enters to palace and orders a private meeting with the Rajah. Although the court is dismissed, Gazmatti senses that this may be in connection to the wedding, so eavesdrops from afar. The High Brahmin shares his knowledge of Solor and Nikiya’s relationship, and the Rajah is also furious. But the High Brahmin’s plan backfires, as the Rajah orders for Nikiya’s death, and not Solor’s as he had planned. Having heard everything, Gazmatti sends for Nikiya. She breaks the news to her that she is betrothed to her love, and in a fit of rage, Nikiya threatens the Princess with a dagger, but is stopped by a slave girl. This is the end of Act I.

Act II, like in most classical ballets, is dedicated to a great festivity, this one held to mark the occasion of Solor and Gazmatti’s wedding. Many different groups of dancers take to the stage at a time; we had bayadères, water-carriers, young children, drummers, the lot, and each dance ended with a roar of applause from the audience. The last is done by Nikiya, who has been asked to perform at the celebration, but is unable to hide her grief. As she finishes, however, Magdaveya hands her a basket of flowers. She is overjoyed, as she believes they are from Solor, but suddenly, as she dances with them, a snake jumps out of the basket and bites her on the neck! It then becomes clear that the Princess has been victorious in seeking her revenge. As Nikiya struggles to stand, the High Brahmin offers her an antidote, but says that with this, she must also accept his love. Deciding that she would rather die than to be denied of Solor’s love, Nikiya falls to the ground, and dies.

In Act III, Solor runs into his chamber, distraught and in need of distraction. Magdaveya hands him an Opium pipe, and soon he is lulled into a deep sleep…

Transported to the top of the cliffs, Solor dreams he is in the Kingdom of Shades, and what follows is the dance that La Bayadère is most famous for. One by one in an endless procession, the bayadères dance down the cliff, all in beautiful white tutus against the backdrop of a midnight sky (on one particular strike of the cymbals, all the stars magically lit up). Solor sees his love Nikiya amongst them, and they dance for one last time before the ballet ends, the idea being that their souls are finally reunited in the afterlife.

Apparently there was originally a fourth act, where God destroys the temple and punishes Gazmatti and the Rajah, but I agree that leaving it to three acts is somewhat more romantic. I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to see a classic ballet, performed by the best dancers in one of the best venues in the world. What an unforgettable night.