After a long, busy summer of translating films, I have a few Italian movie suggestions for the upcoming season:
First and foremost is "Baarìa", an amazing cinematic experience.
"Good Morning, Aman" with Valerio Mastandrea was refreshingly good.
"Dieci Inverni" was wonderful. Very basic love story but a million times better than the average young Italian film.
"Mirna", a documentary that was simple and beautiful and simply beautiful.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Birthdays and bubbly
Despite the fact that I've been in Italy for over a decade (gasp!) there are still some things that surprise me... like birthday routines. Last week my presence was required in the office for a few days. After lunch, the cleaning lady busted out a gigantic birthday cake... for HERSELF. No, I don't mean she brought the cake only for herself, I mean she brought her own birthday cake to work. I found it so odd that the birthday girl would provide the cake as opposed to the office providing it for her. But then I recalled a friend doing the same thing: inviting people out to dinner for her birthday and footing the bill herself (I was the only one who tried to object, I was obviously outnumbered). So very strange to me...
As for the bubbly, while we were all eating this very delicious cake for the cleaning lady's birthday, she also busted out four bottles of prosecco and started pouring a glass for everyone. I politely declined and was met with stares and that question: "Sei astemia*?"
"No I'm not, but drinking a glass of prosecco at lunchtime while Giuseppe Tornatore is next door ready to review my translation with me does not seem like the brightest of ideas, thank you very much!"
This got me thinking about how normal it is for Italians to comment on one's drinking or lack of. I have several AA friends so I find it somewhat rude to ask someone why they opt not to drink. Once at dinner here in Rome with an American AA friend, the waiter kept trying to pour him a glass of wine and I kept saying no, the waiter rudely insisted numerous times so I finally said "No, lui e' astemio (No, he doesn't drink)" and the waiter commented "Non ha la faccia di uno che e' astemio (He doesn't look like someone who doesn't drink)". I could not believe a waiter, let alone ANY person, would have the gall to make a comment like that. I was so taken aback, I couldn't even respond. Total lack of sensitivity in this country toward people who chose not to drink for whatever reason.
*astemio/astemia- sober, abstemious, someone who doesn't drink alcohol
As for the bubbly, while we were all eating this very delicious cake for the cleaning lady's birthday, she also busted out four bottles of prosecco and started pouring a glass for everyone. I politely declined and was met with stares and that question: "Sei astemia*?"
"No I'm not, but drinking a glass of prosecco at lunchtime while Giuseppe Tornatore is next door ready to review my translation with me does not seem like the brightest of ideas, thank you very much!"
This got me thinking about how normal it is for Italians to comment on one's drinking or lack of. I have several AA friends so I find it somewhat rude to ask someone why they opt not to drink. Once at dinner here in Rome with an American AA friend, the waiter kept trying to pour him a glass of wine and I kept saying no, the waiter rudely insisted numerous times so I finally said "No, lui e' astemio (No, he doesn't drink)" and the waiter commented "Non ha la faccia di uno che e' astemio (He doesn't look like someone who doesn't drink)". I could not believe a waiter, let alone ANY person, would have the gall to make a comment like that. I was so taken aback, I couldn't even respond. Total lack of sensitivity in this country toward people who chose not to drink for whatever reason.
*astemio/astemia- sober, abstemious, someone who doesn't drink alcohol
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Guessing game
Okay, this is a question for all of you who don't live in Rome or aren't familiar with Roman public "transportation" (can you sense the scorn?). If you were to see a yellow wooden circle attached to a bus stop pole, what would you think it meant?
Answer: it means the bus/tram that usually stops there will not be stopping there but only before a certain hour and after a certain hour (naturally there was no signage referring to these mystery hours either). Try explaining that to all the tourists- Italian and non- who stood in the baking sun waiting for AGES for the 8 tram to pass only to discover that the 8 tram had become a bus and was stopping at the side of the road instead of the middle platform.
Way to be user-friendly, Rome!
Answer: it means the bus/tram that usually stops there will not be stopping there but only before a certain hour and after a certain hour (naturally there was no signage referring to these mystery hours either). Try explaining that to all the tourists- Italian and non- who stood in the baking sun waiting for AGES for the 8 tram to pass only to discover that the 8 tram had become a bus and was stopping at the side of the road instead of the middle platform.
Way to be user-friendly, Rome!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Summer tirade
I'm back with a quick summer tirade, I know you missed my bitching & moaning so I'll get right to the point:
1) Just because movies are shown outdoors does NOT mean it's okay to talk all through the movie... no matter how bad it is!
2) Everyone and their mother was whining all year about being broke, not having money to go out to eat or even see a movie yet as soon as August rolls around they suddenly have money to go on vacation for several weeks... Maybe they all won the lottery? Lucky them...
3) Why does it seem like there are more junkies, crazies, and homeless people in the city now that the summer exodus has begun? The only people in line this afternoon at the grocery store were me, another foreigner, and 4 junkies (most of which were buying boxes of wine). Mind you, I still love August in Rome!
4) And last we have an old favorite. WHY WHY WHY don't Italians use better (or any) deodorant? It really is torture to be on public transportation with them during the summer. Maybe they should hand out sticks of deodorant instead of bottles of water at the metro stops?
Okay, back to work now. I have lots of good Italian film suggestions to post sooooon!
1) Just because movies are shown outdoors does NOT mean it's okay to talk all through the movie... no matter how bad it is!
2) Everyone and their mother was whining all year about being broke, not having money to go out to eat or even see a movie yet as soon as August rolls around they suddenly have money to go on vacation for several weeks... Maybe they all won the lottery? Lucky them...
3) Why does it seem like there are more junkies, crazies, and homeless people in the city now that the summer exodus has begun? The only people in line this afternoon at the grocery store were me, another foreigner, and 4 junkies (most of which were buying boxes of wine). Mind you, I still love August in Rome!
4) And last we have an old favorite. WHY WHY WHY don't Italians use better (or any) deodorant? It really is torture to be on public transportation with them during the summer. Maybe they should hand out sticks of deodorant instead of bottles of water at the metro stops?
Okay, back to work now. I have lots of good Italian film suggestions to post sooooon!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Call to arms
I don't go to many manifestazioni but today's protest against the government's budget cuts for the entertainment sector is very important for people who work in the industry (and not only us).
Come one, come ALL!
Monday July 20th, starting at 5:00 PM at Piazza Montecitorio
Lunedì 20 Luglio, dalle ore 17.00, a Piazza Montecitorio
Per contrastare l'imbarazzante provvedimento del governo di tagliare il FUS e per porre l'attenzione sui problemi dei lavoratori dello spettacolo, insieme ai rappresentanti della maggior parte delle associazioni di settore, è stato deciso di indire una manifestazione per Lunedi 20 Luglio alle ore 17.00 davanti a Piazza Montecitorio.
Vi preghiamo, non solo di aderire alla manifestazione, ma di inoltrare e sollecitare
la presenza di quante più persone potete coinvolgere tra amici e colleghi.
Come one, come ALL!
Monday July 20th, starting at 5:00 PM at Piazza Montecitorio
Lunedì 20 Luglio, dalle ore 17.00, a Piazza Montecitorio
Per contrastare l'imbarazzante provvedimento del governo di tagliare il FUS e per porre l'attenzione sui problemi dei lavoratori dello spettacolo, insieme ai rappresentanti della maggior parte delle associazioni di settore, è stato deciso di indire una manifestazione per Lunedi 20 Luglio alle ore 17.00 davanti a Piazza Montecitorio.
Vi preghiamo, non solo di aderire alla manifestazione, ma di inoltrare e sollecitare
la presenza di quante più persone potete coinvolgere tra amici e colleghi.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Mall tour
As always, I'll be spending my summer in Rome because it's high season for people in my line of work. And since I work freelance, I never really know if or when I'll have a day off.
This week I unexpectedly found myself with two non-consecutive days off, of course I didn't know they'd be days off till about 10:30 in the morning. So what did I do? I went to the mall (shut up, don't judge me!).
Yeah, I know it seems like a grotesque thing to do in a city that has so much to offer but I was feeling lazy, it was hot as hell, and I was curious to see if the sales were any better out of the center. If you're jonesing for some mall action, or if you just want to walk around in a place with serious AC, keep reading.
First up: Porta di Roma
As far as malls go, this one is good. Nice selection of stores (let's hear it for H&M), a variety of food (I heart WOK), and easy to reach. From Piazza Venezia take the 84 bus till the end of the line, then the 38 bus for a few stops (you'll be able to see the mall and pretty much everyone on the bus will be getting off there). There's also an Ikea and Decathlon attached to the mall.
Next: Parco Leonardo (warning: website is wicked annoying and not updated, some stores have closed down)
Wasn't crazy about this mall. Not many decent stores, bad mall food, but still rather easy to reach and cheap (1.30€ one way). Take the trenino from Stazione Trastevere in the direction of Fiumicino Airport, get off at Parco Leonardo- and bam, you're there!
Lastly: Euroma 2
To be honest, I haven't actually been to this one yet BUT it's next on my mall tour! My sources tell me it's nice and apparently it's Italy's largest mall. Also easy to reach. Take the B metro in the direction of Laurentina and get off at the EUR Palasport stop, from there take the mall shuttle bus.
Enjoy!
This week I unexpectedly found myself with two non-consecutive days off, of course I didn't know they'd be days off till about 10:30 in the morning. So what did I do? I went to the mall (shut up, don't judge me!).
Yeah, I know it seems like a grotesque thing to do in a city that has so much to offer but I was feeling lazy, it was hot as hell, and I was curious to see if the sales were any better out of the center. If you're jonesing for some mall action, or if you just want to walk around in a place with serious AC, keep reading.
First up: Porta di Roma
As far as malls go, this one is good. Nice selection of stores (let's hear it for H&M), a variety of food (I heart WOK), and easy to reach. From Piazza Venezia take the 84 bus till the end of the line, then the 38 bus for a few stops (you'll be able to see the mall and pretty much everyone on the bus will be getting off there). There's also an Ikea and Decathlon attached to the mall.
Next: Parco Leonardo (warning: website is wicked annoying and not updated, some stores have closed down)
Wasn't crazy about this mall. Not many decent stores, bad mall food, but still rather easy to reach and cheap (1.30€ one way). Take the trenino from Stazione Trastevere in the direction of Fiumicino Airport, get off at Parco Leonardo- and bam, you're there!
Lastly: Euroma 2
To be honest, I haven't actually been to this one yet BUT it's next on my mall tour! My sources tell me it's nice and apparently it's Italy's largest mall. Also easy to reach. Take the B metro in the direction of Laurentina and get off at the EUR Palasport stop, from there take the mall shuttle bus.
Enjoy!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Pet peeve
Is it just me or do any of you find it odd/annoying that the expiration date for a big container of yogurt is printed ONLY on the aluminum sheet that covers the top? Once you peel the sheet off and throw it away, you have NO idea when the yogurt expires. Can't they just print the expiration date on the container itself?
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