The week of February 10 was a pivotal time in American and world affairs. We have yet to measure the end results and it will take time, but the momentum for change is here. The aftermath of the tragic Tucson shooting initiated a national … [Read more...]
Visitors from Russia~the Changers
Ella and Sergey are from Rostov-on-Don and have been visiting me over the holidays, as they did last year. It is a pleasure to have them and they love Corona del Mar, California. I can agree with them on that Rostov is not the northern Russian … [Read more...]
Ninotchka~Greta Garbo 1939~IV
Ninotchka was a long-awaited, classic romantic comedy, with a clever and witty script and the magnificent presence of actress Greta Garbo in her first official American comedy (in her next-to-last film). The charming film about clashing ideologies … [Read more...]
Ninotchka~Greta Garbo 1939~III
Greta Garbo was a beautiful and talented actress. She played the strict Bolshevik with an expressionless and cold face. Then, when she succumbed to the love of a man and the pleasures of Capitalism, she was her gorgeous and seductive self. … [Read more...]
The Russian Christmas
Russians have Christmas, too, but on January 7. Thirteen days after Western Christmas, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its Christmas, in accordance with the old Julian calendar. It's a day of both solemn ritual and joyous celebration After … [Read more...]
Tolstoy Lives and Dies~Again
With 2010 being the centenary of Leo Tolstoy’s death, there have been many events in his honor. The greatest was the award winning film “The Last Station” with Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer. And now a new book is out. “Leo Tolstoy: Escape … [Read more...]
Ninotchka~Greta Garbo 1939~II
The prologue for the classic 1939 Greta Garbo film reads, “This picture takes place in Paris in those wonderful days when a siren was a brunette and not an alarm - and if a Frenchman turned out the light it was not on account of an air raid!” As … [Read more...]