Grave of the fireflies

I just watched a Japanese anime movie which is called 'Grave of the fireflies' (Hotaru no haka). It's about a brother and sister in Japan who have lost their mum during a bomb attack. Their dad is in the navy, and seemed to be disappeared completely.
The brother (Seita) and sister (Satsuko) are being raised for a while by some family member but after a while she won't take care of them anymore. Seiko and Satsuko have to live on their own and are going to make a bombshelter their home. There isn't enough food and Satsuko is getting ill.....
It's a very very very tragic story about the love between a brother and sister in times of war, a story of survival. I think this anime is pretty good, and it fully deserves the 32nd position in the list (site: moviemeter) of best movies ever made. It is even compared by critics with Schindler's list. 'Grave of the fireflies is the most profoundly human animated film I've ever seen'. You will be impressed after watching it and probably will feel very sad. Tragic and beautiful, again a good combination!

Jade Soturi

On the 25th of March I have to go to the cinema in Groningen. Due to the fact of the exposition of the Finnish painter Akseli Gallen-Kallela in the Groninger museum there will be shown a movie about Finland (Suomi). I still have to see this exposition, but I heard only good things about it so I surely will!!


(famous work by Kallela)

The movie is called "Jade soturi " Jade Warrior! I wanted this movie to see so badly already but it was never shown here. Now I have one chance so I look forward to it very very much!

Hero

Just an amazing picture of Maggie Cheung preparing for battle. This till is from the movie 'Hero', directed by Zhang Yimou.

Speedskating

Yesterday was a brilliant day of the world championships speedskating on ice. Kramer broke the World record on the 10 km with an amazing time of 12.41.69 (old world record was: 12.49.88).
The most excting race was the 500 m. for women, Jenny Wolf eventually won in a word record. Though I supported Wang Beixing, who finished second, Wolf fully deserved the win! For her it's the first time she was the best in an important championship. Beixing Wang'season was already good by winning two gold medals in the Asian winter games. Well...I guess in 2008 she will win the 500 m.