Italian Film Festival - Manual of Love

'Manual of Love' (Manuale D'Amore) is such a wonderful film. I really REALLY enjoyed watching it. Uplifting, enjoyable, funny, thoughtful ... it's many things.










You see ... it's a movie with 4 stories in it.

The title describes a self-help book about the various phases of love.

In this movie, the 4 stories represent the 4 major parts of love: -
* falling in love
* crisis
* infidelity
* parting

The story is cleverly crafted and weaved together seamlessly as it goes through the lives of the people in each story before joining to the next story.

It's also enjoyed commercial success in Italy and that's not hard to imagine. Even picked up the best supporting actor and best supporting actress awards in the David di Donatello Awards (the Italian equivalent of Oscars).

In short: I love it! :)

Beethoven Symphony no. 9 - Ode to Joy

Went to listen to Beethoven's symphony No. 1 & 9 on Saturday night at the Sydney Opera House. Symphony No. 9 is the famous one with the choir singing 'Ode to Joy'.

For those who's not sure what I meant, it's featured in 'Die Hard'. ;)

I had 2 extra tickets originally meant for my parents who cancelled the flight down to Sydney. So I gave it to Mike and his college friend, Tho. Both don't really know about Beethoven's symphony No. 9.

I was looking forward to it as it has a full choir belting out 'Ode to Joy'. And I wasn't disappointed. I had shivers down my spine when I closed my eyes to focus on the music. It's such an amazing piece live with a full choir of over 60 people.

Mike & Tho appreciated it and felt the energy from that Symphony No. 9. It was a good study break for them as they are preparing for their 1st year exams at Moore Theological College.

Roger's Birthday @ Hyde Park

Today was a lovely day. Went to ...



... Hyde Park with Karin for Roger's birthday which happens to be where the Sydney Food & Wine Fair is.



This is where you get your coupons to redeem your food & drinks. Each coupon cost $2. Mains are 4 coupons. Desserts are 3 coupons. Wine & Cocktails are 2 coupons. Water/Soft Drink/Coffee are 1 coupon.

Each main or dessert comes in a paper bucket. Smaller than entree size in a typical restaurant meal. You can work it out that it won't be a cheap feed.

Some stalls are doing roaring business like Bather's Pavillion with their dessert - torte with summer berries & fresh cream. When I was buying it, the queue for that was around 20 people in front of me. By the time we bought it, it nearly doubled. That's because it looked so good.

I bought 2 because 1 was meant for the birthday boy. Karin & I were stopped so many times by people asking where we bought that dessert.

The mains that we had include:
* Claude's Restaurant's veal with tuna mayonnaise on lovely toasted crunchy bread 'chips',
* Buon Ricordo's sausage on stick called a 'fagot' (I kid you not ... I had to check it out)
* Bondi Social's yummy seared scallops on shell with lovely asian vinaigrette & daikon strips
* Alio's prawn & zucchini saffron risotto

Toby's estate had a stand and we bought coffee from them. $2 each ... the only bargain I reckon.



I'm with Roger, the birthday boy. Sitting on his shoulder is his nephew, Toby.



Toby knows where's the good stuff. Yup ... in the blue cooler bag. Went straight to the champers and bypassed the Tooheys light beer. :P



Ah ... the end of a working day. Having a cigarette and making a seat out of full garbage bags.

It was a good day out ... great atmosphere ... made better by celebrating a friend's birthday. :)

Sydney Good Food Month 2005

I've missed out on Sydney's Good Food Month this year. Previously when I was working in the city, I'd be able to check out some of the events in the city and even sample some restaurants at the price of $25 then. I heard that it's now $35 for the 'Let's do Lunch' series. Inflation I suppose ... 40% increase in 3 years? :)

Today there's a Sydney Food & Wine Fair in the Hyde Park. Top restaurants will have their stalls and some have massive queues to get their food.

Previously I've attended it and had lots of fun with the food, wine and music. The thing I remembered is that you come out spending the type of money like you'd do in restaurants ... and you do it without seating down and air-conditioned comfort. But I like it cos it's a beautiful environment and especially when you do it amongst friends. Though a cheap sushi roll from the city wouldn't be a bad idea afterwards to fill you up ... not unless you've spent quite a bit at the Fair. :)

Today's a little different as a previous manager of mine decides to have his little birthday bash in Hyde Park. Suits him perfectly with him being a foodie. Interesting for me too as I haven't spoken to him for a year. Looks like things have changed and he's set up his own company.

It's nearly that time!

The image speaks for itself.

Counting down the days when that warm weather will make such a scene utterly irresistible. :)

Sydney Italian Film Festival 2005

Italian Film Festival 2005

Just watched "Sacred Heart" tonight at Palace Norton St Cinema. I love going to the Italian & French Film Festivals. The French Film Festival is typically in April while the Italian Film Festival is in October.

This year I think I can only manage to watch 3 Italian films. The first one I saw on Monday night is "Come Into The Light". An excellent movie about a true story of a priest assasinated for voicing against the local mafia in a small poor town of Brancaccio in Palermo. An excellent movie.

Tonight's "Sacred Heart" is a character of a a woman whose business success have led to 2 friends' death. Her life was changed by that and the people she met at that time.

Looking forward to catching the next movie "Manual of Love" next Monday as it's the opening film for the festival and said to be a hit in Italy with an all-star cast and a good humuorous story.