Oh That Buñuel, So Deliciously Perverse

As I sit here in twitterpating anticipation of Mike's arrival into Madrid tomorrow, and as my usual dose of neurosis and lack of witty and/or snarky remarks leaves me without any terribly interesting news or well-crafted stories to tell, today I write about film.

My Carlos Saura obsession has, oddly enough, led to something much more provocative and bizarre: Buñuel. Needless-to-say, my eyes nearly glued to the screen everytime I watch a film, I decided to take up the task of viewing his entire filmography (or, at least, what the Filmoteca has in their collection). Today's viewing: Ensayo de un crimen (1955). A masterpiece which has continued to sustain my latest craze. The obsession, at first, began with the eye:

(Yes, I did almost just throw up right now after posting this photo...eeeeggggghhhhh! And, no, my annoying "eye phobia" has not gone away...barf!) So, after revisiting Un chien andalou (1929) after a long period without seeing any devouring ants, armpit beards, or dead donkeys rotting in pianos at the movies, well, the obsession grew...and grew...and continues to grow.... I didn't think that much could top yesterday's viewing, Viridiana (1961), a film about virtue, violence, and the mathematical impossibilites of being both blonde bombshell and saintly nun. But, today's film was equally, if not more, compelling.

Ensayo de un crimen is a film filled with strange interceptions, murderous dreams, artistocratic drama, lots of trickling blood, and burning mannequins!!!!! That's right. Mannequins that burn in the flames of Archibaldo's uncontrolled desire!! Mmmuuuuaaaahhhhaahhaha!

I'll leave it here, since I don't want to bore you all. Just a sugesstion: the next time you go to rent a movie and can't think of that one title you've meaning to rent forever, but never write down and for some reason never seem to see at the video store anyway...well, try this one on for size, it just might knock your socks off...or your wooden leg (wink wink, JD)!!!

Mongo Reads Poetry (Finally)...

Today I am 29 years old. My birthday has always been strange for me--mixed feelings of complete and utter allegiance to my parents, who are amazing and beautiful people, a bizarre and secretive bond with my brother about our adoption, and a plaguing curiosity about who I look like. It's difficult to know that you look like someone (or that you should, in theory, look like someone) in the world who you've never met...and will probably never meet in your whole life. Twenty-nine years ago a woman of only nineteen years old gave birth to me. I don't care to know her name or where she lives, but I would like to see her face, to see what she looks like. And I don't know if she thinks about me, or remembers anything from that day, but I hope that wherever she is, she's doing quite fine...and knows deep down that I thank her.

And, with that sentiment in mind I, being Mongo, will now read poetry on my birthday.

This one is by Gerard Malanga, the famous photographer and poet who worked with Andy Warhol and who's stuff is now published by Black Sparrow Press (same press as Bukowski, for those who are fans, like me). His collection titled No Respect includes a variety of new and selected poems written between 1964 and 2000. I bought this collection on a whim, bored while at the bookstore one day back in Ann Arbor, late Fall. It has proved to be a true gem-- full of hidden treasures that I discover each time I pick it up. So, today I thank him as well.

A director is a man, therefore he has ideas; he is also an artist, therefore he has imagination. Whether they are good or bad, it seems to me that I have an abundance of stories to tell. And the things I see, the things that happen to me, continuously renew the supply. --Michelangelo Antonioni

Snow Emergency Street

All I know is this slow exhibition of greatness.
A description of what's been
Happening. The pain is not
Clearly defined. These are
The eyes of the young girl and that side of her
Character capable of being
Afraid. Across the street young man walks
Back with hands in pockets.
Children's voices at playground
In distance. The sound
Track of tire treads making sharp turns
In the distance.
Water sprinkler being turned off.
A roadway ribbed with white lines where no one is
Crossing. In its beginning was its end.
A woman, a city, an intellect.
The environment of that experience.
After the affirmations
Who will discover the rejections?

* * *

(Originally published in a collection titled Ten Years After, 1977)

Photography Exhibit: Chema Madoz

This past Friday, JD and I came across the Chema Madoz exhibit at the Telefonica Building on Gran Via. I was pretty excited since I had wanted to see the show when I heard about it initially but then later thought that I had totally missed it by being away in Florida. To my surprise Madoz's work will be exhibited through the end of May and, even better, it's free and open to the public. It's always nice to stumble unexpectedly into a lovely display of anything, especially photography...which these past few weeks has become an increasing obsession of mine. The more I realize how many photos are waiting to be taken all around me, the more I understand how much the ones I do take are (or, at least, can be) worth. Light + Time = Meaning. Strange, how the laws of physics can be so compelling. For those who don't know Chema Madoz's stuff and are interested, you can check it out here. He's got some killer photos--playful, eccentric, stunningly simple, and all around quite lovely.

Egyptian Gift

A few days ago I decided to walk to El parque del oeste ("West Park") to see what's happenin' on the west side. To my surprise, I stumbled upon this Egyptian temple (Templo de Debod), completely preserved, somewhat restored, and generously donated to Spain in 1968. This was quite a change from my recent airport experience, where I arrived at the new Barajas terminal only to discover that I had apparently stumbled into THE FUTURE! Stumbling into the past can be cool. I guess. As I relayed the episode to Mike he laughed and then made up this totally ridiculous encounter between the Egyptians and the Spaniards, which made me laugh too:

Egyptians: We have seen your land, and it is weird.

Spaniards: Gracias.

Egyptians: We have decided to give you one of our temples. We have too many. This will help make your country...less weird.

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Two days later, JD and I stumbled into a Bobsy Twins Mystery Adventure Action Novel (wait, that is a category of literature, right?) and set off to find the strange Turkish-looking mosque that haphazardly "disappears" depending on where you are in the city. But, I'm sure you guys have already read all about that. More adventure stories to come soon...