Classic cinema is to be treasured from whatever source. There have been some fine French language films over the years and none more so than Jean de Florette from 1986. It was adapted from the novel by Marcel Pagnol, which was published in 1966. The movie was a critical and commercial success for director Claude Berri and won numerous awards. It was nominated for eight Cesar Awards, the highest film award in France, winning for Best Film. It also won Best Film at the Bafta awards in Britain. The film starred Yves Montand, Gerard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil. Montand and Depardieu especially, are well known from the English language movies they have both made. Elisabeth Depardieu, wife to Gerard at the time is also in the film.
The story is set in a small village in the Southern area of Provence, immediately following World War I. It tells the story of a struggle for water between farming neighbors that has dire consequences. Water is the fundamental need and it is prayed for and sought by water divining. The weather plays an important part in the film as livelihoods depend on the crops surviving. The village bakes in the sun, gets muddy from lashing rain and is covered in a blanket of snow.
Villagers are seen about their daily lives, playing boules and drinking too much wine. They are an insular community and don’t take kindly to outsiders. Jean de Florette is a grim morality tale with a lot of fine acting and atmospheric cinematography.
Souberin (Montand) and his nephew Ugolin (Auteuil) are desperate to take over neighboring land for its supply of water from a spring. They are thwarted when the hunchback Jean de Florette turns up with his family to claim the land that has been bequeathed to him. Souberin and Ugolin hatch a plot to drive their new neighbor away and block up the spring. Unaware of the water source beneath his feet, Jean de Florette struggles to water his crops from distant wells. The situation worsens for the family and Souberin and his accomplice watch on ruthlessly as they descend into poverty and worse.
The sequel to the novel, titled Manon Des Sources, was also successfully filmed by the same director and made at the same time as the original. The second film picks up the story and leads on a theme of long awaited revenge. This is one of those films that illustrates that it doesn’t have to be made in Hollywood to deserve attention and this example is a true classic.
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Cosmopolitan cities are always the most exciting and even better when mixed with sunshine. Annual Los Angeles events on the calendar reflect the laidback atmosphere of California and there is something for everyone.
The year begins with a Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival in South El Monte, incorporating arts and crafts, food stalls and carnival rides. The Kingdom Day Parade also takes place in January. This is organized by The Council on Racial Equality and is a tribute to the late, civil rights leader Martin Luther King. Los Angeles events continue in February with the Firecracker Run, a race that sets off from Chinatown and is in aid of a literacy program. The Healthcare Street Fair at Venice Boulevard is an opportunity for people to have free health tests. These include tests for blood pressure, diabetes and mammograms.
March is the month for marathon runners to indulge in their sport, starting at Disney Hall. Everyone is entertained by live bands along the route. The Palmdale Almond Blossom Festival is hosted at George Lane Park and there is food, live music, carnival rides and arts and craft stalls. April brings one of the most prestigious of the Los Angeles events, with the Independent Film Festival and its screenings and workshops. Food lovers support the Persian Food Festival in Tarzana.
Golf enthusiasts are in for a treat at the Sherman Oaks Celebrity Golf Classic. The event raises funds for local schools and involves a putting contest, awards dinner and silent auction. It’s the turn of jazz fans to have a good time in June, when the Playboy Jazz Festival takes place at the famous Hollywood Bowl, usually presented by comic actor Bill Cosby. The Antiques and Fine Art Fair in July is a more sedate affair. The exhibits are displayed at Redondo Beach and there are items from many centuries.
Surfers come from far and wide to the Surf Festival in August. This is when Los Angeles events get competitive as contestants enter surfing, volleyball and swimming competitions at South Bay beaches. The Labor Day Festival in September takes place at Compton and there is a street fair, carnival rides, games and crafts. German culture is celebrated during Oktoberfest beer festival in Torrance.
November brings the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra concert at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. A maritime theme occurs in one of December’s Los Angeles events, at the Tournament of Lights. The harbor at Marina del Rey is the venue for fireworks and a boat parade.
Some may call me silly, but there are some things that just aren’t right. You might call someone like me a music purist, though I’m not even really sure what that means. What I do know is that there are some things that are good in music, but you don’t replace them no matter how great the technology might be. If you hear a band with an electronic drum set, I just can’t get into it. The natural sound just isn’t there.
There is just something about the sound of a real drum kit that an electronic drum set just can’t produce. You might think you can’t tell the difference, and in some cases you can’t, but there are times when the difference is glaringly obvious, at least for me. I think I don’t like it because nothing is perfect, and as far as I am concerned, there should be nothing perfect about drums. The electronic drum set is just too exact and there isn’t room for the error that should be there.
I can understand why some people might want to use an electronic drum set. It helps to make sure things sound good all of the time, and it cuts down on some of the mistakes a drummer might make. The problem I have is that it seems to cut out some of the personality of that drummer. Each drummer, no matter how great they might be, has a few twitches that appear in their playing. As far as I am concerned, this is what makes them a good drummer. If they are put on an electronic drum set, they just lose a little something that they had going for them.
If you want to use one though, there is no reason why you can’t. Some styles of music work well with an electronic drum set. If that is the sound you want, then you should go for it. You can find them almost anywhere you buy music, and you can probably find one made by almost any company that makes drums. What you will pay for an electronic drum set will depend on who you buy from. Just remember that even though you may not have to buy drumheads for it, you will have more repair costs associated with owning and playing them. They are also easier to work with and move around, but remember that some people like me that just don’t like to see them.
