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“STORM”- German Film Opening November 13th in L.A.

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The  film STORM, by the awarding-winning German writer/director Hans-Christian Schmid, whose last film Requiem won the German Film Critics Award for Best Film will be opening on November 13th in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Irvine.

STORM tells the powerful story of a determined female prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, who is trying to prosecute war crimes committed during the Yugoslavian War, but must confront hidden enemies and threats on the path to finding justice.  STORM
 
STORM, which includes the up-and-coming German actor Alexander Fehling, as well as Kerry Fox, Anamaria Marinca, and Stephen Dillane, has been an incredible critical success and was this year’s winner of the Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas, the Reader Jury of the “Berliner Morgenpost” at the Berlin International Film Festival, the Bernhard Wicki Film Award for Best Film at the Munich Film Festival, and the Amnesty International Film Prize.
 
STORM will be opening in Los Angeles on Friday, November 13th at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 in West Hollywood, Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 in Pasadena, and at the Regal Westpark 8 in Irvine.

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“Festival of Freedom” – 20 Jahre Berliner Mauerfall – “Fest der Freiheit”

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It’s been 20 years that the Berlin Wall came down and the city of Berlin has planned great festivities to commemorate this historical event.

On November 9, 2009, Berlin will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with a spectacular “Festival of Freedom”.  One thousand foam domino tiles over 8 feet tall, that Foam Dominos symbolizing Fall of Berlin Wall have been placed along the former route of the wall in the city  center, will fall at the Brandenburger Tor as a symbol for the falling of the wall.

The Festival of Freedom will begin with an open-air concert at Pariser Platz by the Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Daniel Barenboim. After the concert, the fall of the Berlin Wall will be symbolised by knocking over the dominos, that have been designed by the Berlin youths. This event will be broadcast live in ZDF from 19.25 until 20.15. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend this extraordinary event.

Many other events are planned through the end of the year. Check the calendar at the website dedicated to the Mauerfall 09 

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Take in a movie or two – AFI Filmfest

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AFI Filmfest has started and will be on until November 7th. ‘The AFI Film Festival annually serves as one of Los Angeles’ major movie gatherings and is a launch pad for some Oscar hopefuls.’ (Reuters). Don’t miss today’s movie by German director, Michael Haneke,  ‘The White Ribbon’ (Das Weisse Band) at 7pm in the Chinese theater in LA. Michael Haneke is the winner of this year’s Palm d’Or at Cannes and Germany’s entry for the foreign language Oscar! Read his interview here.

The AFI Film Festival runs through November 5 in Hollywood at the famous Grauman’s Chinese theater and adjacent Mann Chinese 6 cineplex, and has two final days, November 6-7, in Santa Monica that take place in conjunction with the American Film Market. The festival is organized by the American Film Institute, a nonprofit group dedicated to cinematic education.

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Dia de Los Muertos Event at San Juan Capistrano Library

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dia de los muertosThe library at San Juan Capistrano celebrates its fifth ‘Day of the Dead’ event, tomorrow Sunday, October 25th.  This event will feature arts and crafts for the children, great music and dance on the outside stage and indigenous food for a dining experience. Inside the library’s gallery will be various artwork  inspired by Dias de los Muertos on display, as well as several altars, which are a major tradition for that special day.

An installation from George Newman’s “Casa de Calaveras – House of Skeletons”, featured at the Bower’s Museum in Santa Ana and the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach will be part of this year’s art exhibit as well as Mr. Newman’s life-sized muerto showcase, “Fiesta Mexicana.”

The ‘Mariachia Capistrano’ will be featured on the courtyard stage at 12:30 & 2pm, San Juan’s own Ballet Folklorico will dance at about 2:30 pm , and the Aztec dance troupe ‘Huehueteotl’ will make the glamorous end at 3:30 pm.

The whole event promises to be a fantastic experience that shouldn’t be missed. Entrance is FREE! For more information call 949-493-1752 or visit www.ocpl.org!

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More Art Happenings In and Around L.A.

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This weekend seems to be full of opportunities to dive into all kinds of art experiences in and around Los Angeles.

The Miracle Mile Artwalk will be held on Wilshire Blvd on Saturday, October 17th, from 4pm to 10pm. Visit more than 40 participating galleries and attend free Artists Talks. Entrance to LACMA, CAFAM & MAK Center will be FREE on that day.

Santa Monica Art Studios will host its 5th Anniversary Open Studios. Indulge in contemporary art with more than 30 painters, printmakers, photographers, sculptors and mixed media artists having their studios open for the event. October 17, 6-9PM & October 19th, 1-5PM

In the mood for buying some  great original art at reasonable prices? There are two auctions going on this weekend:

The Museum of Latin American Art , MOLAA, in Long Beach will host its Auction 09 on October 17, 2009 This is a significant auction of modern and contemporary Latin American art . More than 120 museum quality works of art will be featured including paintings, sculptures, works on paper and prints by renowned and emerging artists from Mexico, Central and South America and the Spanish speaking Caribbean.

Santa Monica Auctions will have the Fall Live Public Fine Art Auction at the  Bergamot Station Art Center on Sunday, October 18th at 1PM, featuring Original Advertising, Urban & Illustration work in addition to Modern & Contemporary Photography, Paintings, Sculptures, Drawings, Mulitples and Prints.                     Location: Building I (Writer’s Boot Camp) @ Bergamot Station Arts Center.

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Fernando Botero at the Bowers Museum

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Hooked on Botero

My first introduction to Fernando Botero was in Tuscany many, many years ago. Traveling Tuscany with my Italian friends in my twenties we stopped at a medieval castle in the middle of the soft Tuscan hills. There nestled within this magical medieval scenery were Botero’s impressive sculptures and sensual paintings of his voluminous figures he is so famously known for.  This first impression of Botero never left me and I still have a vivid memory of this day.Fernando Botero

Many years later, in fact about six years ago, my husband, son and I were visiting Venice and while touring the canals on one of the ‘Taxi” boats, I was realizing these enormous parts of some big sculpture on a passing boat.  Taken by surprise I was trying to get a closer look at them and realized with joy and excitement that these had to be part of a Botero sculpture. Shortly after we found out that Venice in fact was getting ready for a huge show of Botero sculptures throughout the city. This show with Venice as a fantastic backdrop left unforgetable memories.

Fernando Botero

How thrilled was I to find out that the Bowers Museum is presenting a major retrospective of this Latin American artist right now. The show opened on September 12 and will run through December 06, 2009. Many of the 100 paintings , sculptures and drawings on view have never been seen in public. It’s a great exhibit, well put together and giving an overview from Botero’s very early works to his recent ones. I will defenitely go and visit again.  

Tickets are $12 for adults. Free Entrance is offered on every first Sunday of the month!

Latin American Art Lovers can enjoy another exhibit at the Bowers as well: “Latitude” shows works by Frieda Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Roberto Matta, Jesus Soto, Rufino Tamayo and many more. 

BOWERS MUSEUM
2002 N.MAIN STREET
SANTA ANA, CA 92706

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OKTOBERFEST in Muenchen – “OZAPFT is’ “

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Auf geht’s zur Wiesn!

Als waschechte,  gebuertige Muenchnerin darf ich es natuerlich nicht verpassen unser Muenchner Oktoberfest  zu erwaehnen. War es doch fuer viele Jahre meines Lebens Familientradition zumindest einmal waehrend des Oktoberfestes bei der Ochsenbraterei vorbeizuschauen und eine lecker Portion Ochsenfleisch mit Kartoffelsalat zu verspeisen! Eine Mass Bier (damals fuer die Eltern 🙂 )bzw. Radler und die traditionelle Brezn durften dabei natuerlich auch nicht fehlen. Tja, dieser Tage kann ich nur in meinen Erinnerungen schwelgen und die Wiesn von Kalifornien aus auf dem Internet verfolgen…

Wer wissen will was da so ab geht und was es an Neuheiten gibt,  kann sich auf der eignen Oktoberfest-Website aufs Genaueste informieren. Oktoberfest Souveniere gibt’s bei www.wiesn.com und wer sein Muenchnerisch/Bayerisch etwas auffrischen will, dem sei das Wiesn dictionary ans Herz gelegt!

Wer’s noch schaffen will bei der Wiesn live dabei zu sein, sollte sich schicken. Die Wiesn ist nur noch bis zum 4. Oktober offen und der Eintritt ist frei! ….Unerhoert fuer uns Wahl-Kalifornier; denn hier in Kalifornien zahlt man naemlich einen Eintritt fuer die Orange County Fair oder Los Angeles County Fair, die uebrigens ebenfalls am 4. Oktober die Tore schliesst. 

Wer hier in Kalifornien etwas in Oktoberfest Stimmung kommen moechte, kann einmal unter dem California Oktoberfest Event Calendar nachschauen, wann und wo ein Event in naechster Naehe stattfindet.

Also, noch viel Spass beim Feiern.  Prost!

Huntington Beach Street Fair and Movies at the Pier

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You missed the Orange County Fair this year?  Then check out the Surf City Nights Street Fair in Huntington Beach and you will not be disappointed. Thisweekly event doesn’t have the rides we know from the OC Fair but enchants with its European Flair.   

Along Main Street, which is closed for this funky street fair event, musicians impress from classical guitar to jazz and new age piano music. Different dancegroups give their best at one corner with hip-hop whilst on the other side breakdance is making the audience stop and watch along. Different food stands invite to skip making dinner at home and just eat out for the night.

There is definitely something for everyone in the family. We loved the barbecued corn ( at a stand in the middle of the Main Street strip)and the tri-tip steaks (at the very end of the fair). There were also Argentine empanadas, Mexcian tacos and all American hamburger and hot dog stands, and not to forget the major fair-food: funnel cakes!

While deciding what to have for dinner, we were walking past various produce stands selling the most delicious fruits, vegetables, nuts and home-bakedbakeries and honey. We couldn’t ignore the stand with several kinds of hummus and needed to buy not one but three different kinds! Very delicious! But the best part of it all: Everywhere you can try before you buy. You can almost satisfy your appetite as you stroll and ‘taste along’.

Once everyone is happy and the initial hunger has been appeased, don’t forget to visit the many merchants and sidewalk retailers . If you are looking for some special handmade soap, candles, jewelry or art, or would like a Tibetan mediation bell – you’ll find it right here. You are looking for a deal on Billabong shorts and shirts. This is the right place to go.

In August the city of Huntington Beach has yet added another fun factor: Movies at the Pier. The movies are held in conjunction with the SoCal Film Festival in Huntington Beach  www.socalfilmfest.com  So bring your food and just relax at the end of the day and enjoy a movie with the backdrop of a beautiful California sunset.

The Surf City Nights Street Fair is being held every Tuesday evening from 5 to 9 pm in downtown Huntington Beach on Main Street between Orange and Pacific Coast Hwy. Admission and entertainment is free. Free downtown parking (200 Main Street city garage). Go to http://www.hbdowntown.comto  find out more.

Movies at the Pier Schedule:

August 13th    Kung-Fu Panda
August 20th    The Wizard of OZ
August 27th     Finding Nemo

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