This is the end, my beautiful friend

A new year is approaching increasingly rapidly, so I figured I'd post one last post this year. We could call it "2008: An Epilogue". Or we could call it nothing.

Either way, I find it fascinating that we celebrate the end of a year or the beginning of another, whichever you fancy (I guess this is one of those half-full/half-empty debates), because what have we actually done or achieved? Not died for a year. It's the same with birthdays. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of celebrating things, no matter how mundane or weird they might be, I just find the reasons for our celebrations fascinating. Maybe its got something to do with the whole 'fresh-start' aspect of an oncoming new year, people seem to have a tendency to distance themselves from their (bad) pasts with imaginary boundaries. I include myself in that category.


But so, what did 2008 bring with it? An economic crisis of huge proportions, an inspiring election, continued wars that we felt bad about but did nothing to stop, the best Batman movie so far (this was a huge deal to me), Spain winning the European Championship in football (equally awesome). And on a more personal note - going to IDFA in Amsterdam, and subsequently becoming inspired; working on my own movie that I love; making a bunch of amazing new friends; getting a job I absolutely love, and keeping it; buying a green and gorgeous typewriter named RITA.

So all in all, it's been a pretty good year. It's had its ups and its downs, definitely, but that's life and life is great. It doesn't matter if you've been sad or had a bad year, at least you've been alive and living. This is worth remembering (I have to remind myself as well from time to time).

And what should we expect of 2009? I know I feel fantastic about going to the new year, I feel inspired in many ways - to make my movie and 'Baby Steps' the project I think I've mentioned and which you'll hear more of in the future. I'm gonna start taking Dutch and Spanish lessons. So it seems like this could be a good year for me, nothing wrong with being optimistic. And what about more globally? I hope Obama can bring a change to the most powerful nation on earth, I hope the world will wake up to the deterioration of our environment, I hope people might change their consuming habits, I hope some of the wars on this planet might be brought to a peaceful end, I hope people will smile more, I hope people will hug one another more, I hope...

Carpe Diem!

And I said let grief,
be a fallen leaf.

Yuletide

It's been a while, my apologies. Nevertheless, here I am - now let's make the best of it. The christmas holidays are upon us and no matter how you feel about them, you'll most probably get some time off from whatever it is you do normally. So, to keep those quiet moments when you don't feel like staying too quiet occupied I've made a list of good albums to listen to and good movies to watch, some old classics, some fresh exciting new findings, but all fantastic. So without further ado, I give you my absolutely non-definitive list of great music and spectacular films.

Albums
..Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago // The perfect relaxing, meditative, fireplace album. You'll be hard-pressed to find a more complete album for relaxing emotional "me"-time.
..Astrid Swan - Spartan Picnic // A new find for me, fantastic Tori Amos meets PJ Harvey esque creative swash-buckling music.
..The Decemberists - Picaresque // A new-found love for an old acquaintance. Fantastically unique sound.
..The Welcome Wagon - Welcome to the Wagon // Sufjan Stevens produced (!) light, feel-good album. Disregarding the religious fervor of the album, fantastic for friendly relaxing among friendly friends. If you're a fan of Sufjan Stevens you'll love this, his mark on the album is very apparent.
..Girl Talk - Feed the Animals // Very different music from the rest of the list. Canadian "mash-up" artist. Great for parties and dancing. You can download the album for free (if you so choose) from his myspace site: http://www.myspace.com/girltalk

Films
..A Complete History of my Sexual Failures // Great, hilarious, gripping and emotional documentary about the directors quest to find out why all his girlfriends have dumped him. He's very sympathetic and amazingly open and did i mention hilarious? Easy to watch even if you're not a big fan of documentaries.
..Burn After Reading // One word: Brad Pitt.
..Our Daily Bread // Powerful, minimalistic, gruesome documentary about mass food production. A movie everyone should see.
..Zack and Miri make a Porno // If fun is what you want, fun is what you'll get. Kevin Smith and Seth Rogen, need I say more? (another great stoner movie: Pineapple Express)
..In Bruges // A MUST SEE FOR EVERYONE!! Absolutely fantastic movie. A weird, yet very wonderful, mix of genres. Hilarious, dramatic, tense, emotional and with a spot of action, this film has everything. You'll positively love it! I guarantee.


There. That should keep you occupied during the lonely hours of the dark wintery nights. I hope you'll like what you hear and see, I know I love everything on that list.

Go home to your families, turn off your mobile phones, don't turn on the computer and just take it easy over christmas. Enjoy it. Soak it in. And relax.

Merry christmas, hyvää joulua, god jul, joyeux noël, feliz navidad!
And a happy new year! I'll see you in 2009!

Hugsies,
Anton

Ps. Santa Clause is from Lappland (northern Finland). NOT the North Pole, despite what some yanks might tell you.