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19 September

I've really left out a lot of the things that Ross and I have been doing. So, it's time to play catch up again.

We went off to the Bluecoat Gallery to catch an exhibition that Ross had heard of. It was one of those which was more interesting to read about than spend time with. Mariele Neudecker gave us some video works and some installations. The main video was called Land of the Dead and was shot from a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. And that was it really. It was just what you'd see from a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings. Think one Thing comprised several fish tanks housing well crafted models of mountains. The tanks were filled with water. A super-saturated layer of dissolved salt provided a misty, cloudy effect which was quite clever. And that was it for the tanks really. I have no idea why this was thought of as being worth display.

There's been several films and DVDs. About Schmidt gave Jack Nicholson the chance to reprise his crusty rôle. It's been much acclaimed and it's a wry and adult look at the world. But it's not as good as they all make out. It's about pain and loss and increasing age and the ability to let go and smile. And for that it is a blessing in this youth orientated world.

Moonlight Mile, on the other hand, received little mention when it arrived and is a little gem. Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon give well judged performances and Jake Gyllenhaal (who caught the eye in Donnie Darko) confirms that he can act as well as look pretty. This is also about pain and bereavement but manages a much more delicate touch and a much more bittersweet take on life. Some of the cinematography is outstanding.

Importance of Being Earnest was enjoyable with all its stars - Rupert Everett, Colin Firth and Judi Dench - having a ball. I found the camera work terribly busy but, overall, I was entertained.

The Hours was another decent and much acclaimed film. The women were fabulous as you'd expect from Merryl Streep, Julianne Moore (who was amazing in Magnolia) and Nicole Kidman sporting film's most famous prosthetic nose. There was an emotional punch when two of the three stories linked up and the whole was very well achieved. But I don't think that I shall return to the film in the same way that I have returned to Moonlight Mile.

And all of these multi-million dollar films pale into insignificance by the side of a little French film called Être et Avoir which has absolutely no names stars in it at all. It's a documentary about a single class primary school in rural France. The camera spends six months with the teacher and his class of 5-12 year olds from the snows January to the heat of summer and the inevitable parting of the long holidays which will take some of the students on to the secondary school.

It is quite the most heart-warming cinema I have seen in an age. The apparent unobtrusive nature of the camera belies the craft with which the film was put together. By simply placing the camera and watching, we move away from the frenzied montage of current cinematography into something more considered and contemplative. And the people are real - the kids and the teacher. They are not all sweetness and light. It's well worth four stars.

Elsewhere we went into town to John Lewis and bought a new bedstead and Ross has organised for the sweep to come and see to our chimneys.