A silent film, made by my fellow Frenchmen about the end of silent film and the introduction of "talkies." It basically illustrates how quickly technology can change our lives, shepherd in new eras, and leave some of us behind in the process. Very entertaining, doesn't feel like a "silent movie", i.e. you won't get bored.
2) This article in the FT about forgiving the mortgage debt of those that are currently under water.
Listen to the FT. They are smarter than you.
3) Just Kids
This autobiographical book by Patti Smith about her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe is set against the backdrop of New York City in the late 60s/early 70s. Back then it was somewhat affordable to be an artist in the city. It seems that wherever Patti turns she's bumping into someone either famous or on the verge of fame; Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix etc. The nice thing about Smith is that she stayed pretty sober throughout a period when those around her were constantly high on drugs and alcohol. This results in a seemingly "true" account of that time.
Mapplethorpe was not my cup of tea artistically, but he was definitely "an artist" in the true sense. I admire Patti Smith for the life she had. It's the life a lot of us would have tried to have had we not feared losing everything. Oh well.
4) Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story
I knew nothing about Lee Atwater, the political operative who ran George Bush Senior's campaign against Dukakis, but this documentary taught me a whole lot about the dirty game of politics.
5) Alvin Ailey at City Center
I'm late to this party, but I saw the Alvin Ailey dance company for the first time on Christmas eve. I was extremely familiar with all those amazing photographs of black dancers jumping and I knew enough about Ailey to know what to expect. But even still, I was quite amazed by the dances. Exhilarating is a good word to describe it. Elation, even. Basically, it's just about impossible not to like Ailey.
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