Films and Feasts

In recent weeks I have had the opportunity to see a few good films on the silver screen; specifically The Grand Budapest Hotel with caseopaya at the slightly dilapidated Palace Balwyn. The film is beautiful, charming, funny, and in a nostalgic way, a little sad as well, as a glimpse to an idealised another time. Two other recent films have been through ACMI Cinematheque, dedicated to screening oft-forgotten classics. In this instance, attending with recumbenteer, watched the Soviet-era classic, Solaris, deeply immersive and psychedelic science fiction. The other viewing were from a Luis Bunel feature, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, and The Exterminating Angel. Both dealt with the trivial and hypocritical aspects of the upper classes in an absurd manner. The latter was particularly amusing when various technical problems recreated the psychology of the film in the audience itself.

Feasted on Tuesday evening at Quanjade Peking Duck Restaurant for the annual dinner of the Australia-China Friendship Society, which Anthony L., is president of the Victorian branch. A relatively small gathering, attendees included an expected collection of politicians and diplomatic staff. Guest speaker was former Victorian Premier John Brumby, who spoke extremely well on the sheer scale and importance of Chinese development and was able to impress with his sheer knowledge of facts and figures at hand. Took the opportunity to have a brief chat with him; it had been quite a while since we've conversed and thanked him for his role in setting up VPAC.

Another episode of cheesequest with ser_pounce, hathhalla, and caseopaya saw the consumption of one of the oddities of the skit - czechoslovakian sheep's milk cheese. Specifically I went for a Slovakian orthodox Easter feast with savoury and sweet hrudka with paska, along with a main of bryndzove halusky and chicken paprikash.