PragueBuzz!

Should I or shouldn’t I? I objected watching this movie because my damaged-from-childhood-by-grandma-ghost-story brain could not tolerate horror scenes where some murderess bludgeons helpless girls to death, sliced them up to draw out blood. “How about Kungfu Panda?” I offered the alternative. Ignoring my plea, my boyfriend blabbed on, “It’s the most expensive Czech film ever, costing 300 millions Czech crowns.” “So it’s not another Hollywood box-office wannabe?” I asked. “No. The event happened in Slovakia when it belonged to Hungary.” We spent another fifteen minute to debate our Saturday evening’s fate: laughing-off-the-chair, noodle-maker-aspire, Jackie-Chan cartoon or scared-off-the-seat, sophisticate, historical Hungarian/Slovak epic. I opted for the latter.

Elizabeth or Erzsebet (in Hungarian) Bathory, a Hungarian countess from a powerful noble family in the 16th century, makes the Geniuses for murdering 600 virgins to bath in their blood, believing that it would made her eternally young. Her arranged marriage at 11 to a Ferenc Nadasdy, another noble breed, multiplies the wealth and status of her name. Throughout the first part of the film, Elizabeth is seen innocently harmless with no shred of evil in words, manner or intention. She wonders in her wedding night how she and her husband can make a baby boy to further their family line. To that, her husband replies, “My uncle taught me all.” Far from the image of a murderess, Elizabeth is a mother of two young daughters; a benevolent ruler who heals many peasant girls with her herbs and a lonely wife whose husband being away from home most of the time, commanding the Hungarian troops to fight off the Turks. One of his gift to his young wife is a talent Italian painter, Merisi captured by the Turks on his way to Vienna and then later by Ferenc’ army. Merisi later reveals to be Caravaggio, a famous Italian painter at the time. Elizabeth and Merisi carries on their master-slave and artist-model relationship for a while until pained by her husband indiscreet behavior with her maids, she commits adultery with the young painter. Ferenc returns and gets madly jealous by rumors about her alleged affair; he offers Merisi a cup of poison-spiked wine which Elizabeth unknowingly take and drank herself.

This incident leads to the second part of the movie, “Darvulia”, named after a healer who nurses Elizabeth back to life with secret portions and herbs. Darvulia claims to know the cure to the countess’ pale complexion. The blood, her own, Elizabeth dabs on her face seems to signal the beginning of an evil mystery with her bathing in red, blood-like water and her stabbing a maid to death. At the same time,bodies of murdered peasant girls found along with Bathory family seal. A humorous, good-hearted, mismatched duo is sent to a village by the Cardinal to investigate the accusation rumored about Elizabeth. Elizabeth plunges more into madness and paranoia as she jails her once trusted confidante Darvulia after Darvulia admits that Elizabeth killed her hair dresser.

Elizabeth, now a widow, faces challenges from Thurzio (title of the third part), her husband trusted ally who demands a share of her family property which Ferenc allegedly promised him while they fought together. Again and again she shrugs him off and publically humiliates him. Despite his love and lust for the Elizabeth, Thurzio plots revenge with the the most unexpected people.

140 minute is too long for any movie to remain interesting to the audience. Additionally, the film’s plot is not well-connected; some events happens too quickly without any explanation making it difficult to follow the story. But I find “Bathory” worth every crowns. Directed by Slovak’s best, Juraj Jakubisko, who favors a strong visual quality (*), the film impresses me with vivid colorful costumes and design and the simple yet breath-taking rural depiction of Slovakia. And of course, kudos to Anna Friel’s performance of the murderous scountess.

(*) Juraj started his prestigious career as a painter and a photography teacher.

Most of you probably want to shop at stores where you can choose, play and feel your guitar. Also, it’s easier to return the guitar to the shop for repair. Three weeks ago, I started hunting for my first guitar and indeed had a hard time locate shops and online stores. Maybe you did and will too. But worry no more, I have compiled a list of stores and sites.

Stores

* Muziker.cz: You can buy online or at the store too. They have hundreds of guitars for sale together with other instruments and gears. In deed, I bought my SX acoustic guitar there. The guys who work there are very helpful too. Take tram number 5 and get off at “U horou”, 3 stops after Vlatava. Turn left at the street and you will see Meca Club, the store is located in building 5/827. There is no sign, just a name on the building door, so you might miss it.
* Kytary.cz: This is another store where you can buy either online or at the store. They have stores at Nusle and in Chodov Centrum.
* www.harfa.com : Have a small collection of used guitars. I almost bought used guitar there before opted for a new one.
* Liskapiana.cz

Online

* www.aukro.cz : This is similar to Ebay; however, you don’t have to link your bank, credit card because you can pay upon delivery or in person in which you and the seller meet up. But remember, Aukro takes 14 days to verify your account and address, so if you consider this route, please register before hand. You can try to contact the seller and agree on the price without going through the bidding process.
* www.muzikant.cz
* vyhledavani.hyperinzerce.cz : Sold directly by the seller (Czech only).
* www.eorchestr.cz
* www.a-znastroje.cz
* www.music-city.cz
* www.hudebni-dum.cz
* hudba.inzertal.cz (2nd hand)
* www.bachmusik.com : Out of Prague. It’s a guitar maker and distributor. But I think you can get a guitar from them too.
* www.super-bazar.cz : Not a guitar shop, but you can find a few used guitars.
* www.humlmusic.cz
* www.vecerekinstrwuments.com

Bazaar

It’s not easy to find a cheap (money-wise) guitar. I notice that guitars are more expensive sold from Bazaar sites. Additionally, pawn shops are other options.

If you want a guitar lesson, you can try cool American Rob at 420 775 566389

The film festival featuring 138 documentaries from 40 countries all around the world will take place from Mar 5 to March 13th.

Tickets can be purchased at all festival cinemas for CZK 70. A Viewer’s Pass costs 350 crowns and offers unlimited admission to Lucerna, Svetozor (big theater0, Atlas (big theater) and Mestska Knihovna (Municipal Library). You can pick up the pass at the cafe in Lucerna theater from March 5th. The Czech version of the festival program catalogue will be available free of charge.

I was deeply disappointed by the result of Eurovision final when Tereza Kerndlova was crowned the winner. So this is how Czech wants to be represented abroad: a country which can’t find anything better than a pretty face who doesn’t know how to sing.

Though Kerndlova’s “Have Some Fun” and her images are Eurovision materials: English song, catchy tunes, cheesy lyrics, and pretty costumes, they won’t save this young singer from the embarrassment of performing live in an important European event, under the scrutiny of a broad international audience. Her voice is utterly horrible, if not the worst from all participants. She was off-key in many occasions and failed to sync with the music. Of course, she “can” sing in her music videos with all the aid from technology, sound filter and so on, but this is a live performance, period.

How pathetic! Has last year’s bottom finish taught these Czechs anything? Unless Tereza attends more singing lessons or conceals her weak, off-key voice, I don’t see how she can go very far in the final competition in Belgrade. Kabat, Czech’ previous representative, is both right and wrong when commenting that the ability to sing doesn’t matter so much as long one knows how to uniquely present oneself. Singing well does not guarantee a satisfying position; however, I have never seen any singer or group with a half-ass voice make it to the top ten.

Gipsy.cz and Cechomor

It is yet another disappointing year for this unique and talented group of young Roma artists. They write their own songs with unmistakable beats, and their performances are funny and original. If they can change one thing, it is their casual jeans and t-shirts.

Cechomor is a well-known Czech semi-folk band which crafts beautiful and soulful songs. Their entry “Józef, mój kochany” is blended with Polish folk; some of the words are spoken in the Silesia region, comprising of Czech and Poland. Unfortunately, Eurovision in the Czech Republic is quite young, thus the audience and those who care to vote are teenagers and young people who don’t identify withCechomor’s music. Additionally, Cechomor’s style is a bit high-class for Eurovision , certainly they will not get to the top five. Their song reminded me of Ireland’s last year performance which ranked near the bottom.

Having watched and listened to Gipsy.cz and Cechomor and some other groups, I can’t not help but “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Stupid audience.” They have all these great performers, and they had to choose this girl. Normally I vote for the singer/band whose country I have some affiliation with, but this year,Tereza won’t get any SMS from me or from other voters either.

Tereza’s Have some Fun

Gipsy.cz’ Benga Beating


Cechomor’s Józef, mój kochany