The film corner: Leticia San Juan - "Love Actually"

When I came across Love Actually, I thought it wouldn’t be worth watching, as it is not the kind of films I usually go to and, after looking at the title, I supposed I wouldn’t like it. Finally, I decided to watch it and I don’t regret it. It was fantastic!

The film tells eight great love stories while it follows the lives of different couples in dealing with their love affairs in loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London.

The newly elected Prime Minister (played by Hugh Grant) falls in love with a woman who is a member of his Cabinet. A writer (Collin Firth) goes to the south of France to get over an unhappy relationship and he falls in love again. A happily married woman (Emma Thompson) suspects that her husband is dating another woman. A just married woman (Keira Knightley) is confused by the new attitude of her husband’s best friend, who has been distant around her up to that moment. An afflicted recent widower tries to help his teenage stepson, who wants to arouse the interest in the most sought-after girl in his school. A businesswoman makes her first move on a colleague she has been in love with for a long time. Finally, an ageing rock star makes a rather weird comeback by recording a Christmas hit. 

Love makes their lives difficult as their affairs get mixed up on Christmas Day, with funny, romantic, yet often bittersweet results for all of them, who have been lucky (or unlucky) enough to fall in love.

All the stories are told with a good sense of humour and it is very easy to switch from laughter to tears. In my opinion, the funniest story is the one of the old rock star and it was because of his really great personality that I watched the film till the end. 

Not only did I enjoy it a lot, but also its fantastic soundtrack. There are plenty of memorable songs so I can’t say which one I liked the most. Perhaps "Here with Me" or "Christmas is All Around".

I do recommend "Love Actually", especially now we are near Christmas. It’s great fun, so you will surely laugh a lot and enjoy its wonderful soundtrack as well.

Thanks Leticia, it's great to see you "back in action" after a pretty long while!

Chani: The power of music

First and foremost, throughout history music has played a sublime role in the world. It is certainly one of the things which everyone can feel. It does not matter what culture people are from or what language they speak because not only does music arouse human emotions and imagination but it also makes our bodies move. All in all, music is considered as the most uplifting experience to trigger an expression of humanity. And above all people do love music, don't they?

Furthermore, it is a well-known fact that music plays a vitally important role between learning and therapy. As for the former, no one is sure why it works, but it is believed that, from the combination of a melody and its rhythm to the poetry of its words, music develops some automatic knowledge that affects learning deeply. As regards musical therapy, it can improve heart and breathing rates, not to mention the benefits of controlling deep anxiety and pain in patients.

  

As far as I am concerned, music is incredibly important to me. I strongly believe that, even in the roughest moment in my life, there is always a song that suits my mood. It is something that is always there as an outlet for emotions. Besides, music picks me up when I become intensely depressed. 

Moreover, if I feel lonely music gives me comfort, what is more, it relaxes me at the end of an awful, tiring long day.

  

Fortunately, there is a myriad of music styles such as classical, pop, folk, rock, heavy and so on. Consequently, no one has a reasonable excuse for not finding the kind of music which really suits their feelings.

   

To put it briefly, I firmly believe that music is absolutely necessary for the human race. In fact, I cannot imagine the world without it, can you? Music is so powerful that a single song can connect people from all over the world.

Most interesting, Chani. What you just wrote reminds me of this video below that I saw recently called "The Scientific Power of Music", which I'm sure you'll enjoy as much as I did.

The Film Corner: Cuchi - A kiss is just a kiss ...

Today, 26 November 2012, is the 70th anniversary of “Casablanca”, the extraordinary romantic drama whose indisputable stars, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, and exceptional music became a milestone in cinema history.

Who hasn’t listened to “As Time Goes By”? I remember this legendary film, full of moving, dramatic scenes in Morocco, where Casablanca is set during the World War II. 

I earnestly recommend you to watch this classical masterpiece because it is full of beauty and you instantly recognize its memorable quotes such as “Play it, Sam. Play As Time Goes By" and “We'll always have Paris”.

Here is a small sample of Casablanca - arguably its most famous scenes.

Thanks a lot Cuchi for reminding us of the "happy" anniversary. You know, I've just listened to a short  yet really interesting 14-minute special about Casablanca on BBC radio Leicester and, since I've recorded the show on Audacity, I can now embed it on this entry. Hope the BBC doesn't sue me, it's only for academic purposes!

The film corner: Sara Sáez - Before Sunset

After 6 months, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) meet again in Paris. They had first met on a train, and, after a passionate night, they lost contact. Still in Paris, they have a long conversation while walking through different places around the city. Both of them have mixed feelings about their relationship, even though they both have partners. The woman is frustrated about love and her past relationships. Celine strongly believes that she doesn’t need a man who feeds her, but a man who loves her.

Personally, I'm a big fan of romantic films. I consider this movie as one of the best I've ever watched. After watching it, I wonder why we keep looking for the real, true love, because, as the film shows, love is painful.

I strongly recommend this movie, specially if you are really into romantic films.

Diana: Saint Cecilia's day

What can I say about music? I have lived such mesmerizing moments with it that I would be delighted to share this feeling with everyone.

Sometimes people are put off by classical music, which makes me feel both discouraged and disappointed; I´m utterly convinced that most of the times this rejection is brought about by the lack of musical culture in our society. Take the case of Holland or Germany, where practically everybody plays an instrument or sings in a choir ... 

The truth of the matter is that music, undoubtedly, helps us to be happier, either by playing an instrument or listening to it.  Inevitably, music grabs you and you become part of it, wrapped in a world of sensations and pleasure. 

I attach a video of Vivaldi´s popular composition “The four seasons”, starring Anne-Sophie Mutter, one of my favorite violinists. I´m a big fan of this piece and, roughly every two years, I prepare it with four pupils and I organize a concert where each pupil plays a season. 

Long live Music!! Long live Saint Cecilia!!