Wow! For the Woman in Gold

This movie is a winner - and Helen Mirren, as always, fabulous! I mentioned I saw an interview on U-tube with a most mature young Mirren and an embarrassingly sexist Michael Parkinson. She showed him up for what he was, and herself to be decidedly confident and very intellingent at a young age. Her long marriage to an American producer has shown her desire for stability which has doubtless stood her in good stead in a now long and illustrious career. She has always been the 'thinking man's crumpet', but wanting to get away from this and choosing challenging roles, like the one with the great director Peter Greenaway in his masterpiece, 'The cook, the thief his wife and lover'.

'The Woman in Gold' is a not a film of that calibre, but who can compete with Greenaway's rampant imagination? This is, after all, a true story and one which deserves to be told, about the Nazis robbing Europe and the Jews of priceless works of art while in their relentless drive to exterminate them. It is a tear-jerker, and at one stage I was quite undone, but for all the right reasons. All Jewish people, I think, would appreciate the excellent representation of what was their awful and tragic plight, and admire the showing of love and respect they have for family and for their rich culture. The movie really deserves to get a gong. The Austrians, on the other hand, might not be so happy with the recognition of their historical connection with the Nazis and the resultant atrocities. No gong there!

A golden movie...

Kiwis abusing their treasures.....this is at the fabulous, but it appears badly maintained, Te Papa. Somehow I am not too surprised.

This great landscape and famous hotelare at Mt Tongariro, only a few hours drive from Wellington!

And here is more excellent sports journalismwith Mark Reason showing the way yet again. Although the second article about the new American golf champ's inspiration gleaned from living happily with his autistic sister, is more than worth the read. 

I believe the presence of a person with a disability in any family can be a a valuable opportunity for the  family to learn so much, as, by coping with the inevitable difficulties, they create a better world not just for their own family, but also show an example for others to learn from, as does Jordan Spieth, the new Masters Golf Champion at the precocious age of 21.

Jordan's win at the Masters

At a very busy Memphis, sunny but chilly.