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The Radio 3 Boards > Arts Other Than Music > Cinema > Solzhenitsyn-The Homecoming
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Author Topic: Solzhenitsyn-The Homecoming  (Read 407 times)
Don Basilio
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Posts: 2682


Era solo un mio sospetto
« Reply #15 on: 22:22:33, 25-08-2008 »
I tend to read very serious novels in the same way Trollope wrote - set myself a minimum to cover each day.  I read Bleak House in a week, but took three weeks over Jane Austen's Emma, which seemed OK.

I have reached the stage when I probably re-read as much as I read for the first time.  O dear there have been at least two new translations of Proust since I last read him...
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To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance
trained-pianist
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Posts: 5455
« Reply #16 on: 22:35:33, 25-08-2008 »
I used to do it this way too, Don Basilio. I would decide on the number of pages and I was happy if I read more. In my case reading in English my goal was 50 pages and I was pleased if I read 60, 70 or even 80.
But I really read it well, not just on a diagnal. That is Russian student's expression. This is what one had to do to pass exams. We had many exams.

Exams were mostly oral, one to one with a lecturer or professor. One would draw a ticket and then sit down and prepare.
I was good on exams, did not panic too much, usually got good marks. But it was grueling. One had to know everything. You never knew what the teacher is going to ask.

One had to know the subject like in the whole picture, like over all. And then one had to know details.
They are changing their system now. There is a lot of talk about it on TV.
I am not sure it is going to be for the better, but who knows.

I think Reiner knows more about it.
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Stanley Stewart
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Well...it was 1935
« Reply #17 on: 22:39:55, 25-08-2008 »
Thank you so much, t.p.       I've been looking forward to your comments as I've viewed this fine documentary several times since its transmission last week.  

Yes, it was made in 1995 but I think it is premature to reach any conclusion, even now, as we enter yet another stand off with the West, as the spirit of glasnost fades into the background.   The startling experience in seeing the documentary was trying to gain a feeling of empathy in such a vast landscape, as Solzhenitsyn travelled from Vladivostock to Moscow; and to sense a bemused and downtrodden population wanting to honour his presence as others blamed his writing for breaking the structure of the status quo.   A mistaken ideology was held in esteem and this may still be the case.   Your comments made sense and perhaps an international input of goodwill and imagination, free from border intimidation and surrounding nuclear bases, may kindle the developing stalling process of the past few years.   I  remain optimistic; the alternative really is frightening.

A bit off-thread but I also spent a bit of time seeking an ideal DVD partner to complete a balanced programme.   Solzhenitsyn is a gigantic icon so I rummaged in my off-air videos seeking a title which would look at a human dilemma from a more ordinary perspective and alighted on a double bill of "Un Coeur en Hiver" (1992) - The Heart in Winter - with Francois Truffaut's "Shoot the Pianist".    The latter is too lightweight for the DVD but Claude Sautet's "Un Coeur en Hiver" really fills the bill.   It is a complex love triangle story which uses a recording of the Ravel Piano Trios/sonatas and the changing relationship between the violinist (Emmanuelle Beart), a violin-maker and his business partner.    A choice double bill.

Thanks, again, t.p.
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trained-pianist
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« Reply #18 on: 22:54:34, 25-08-2008 »
Stanley Stewart,
It is very interesting comment you made in your last post.

My friends told me that things are getting better in Russia. It is very important to have a good government in place that will make good laws and created good condition for economic growth and prosperity.

My friends think that Putin headed first such government. Gorbachev was too Soviet if I may say so. He was brought on communist ediology. He tried to make some changes to the system, but the system could not take it.

As a result there was an economic desaster. He created private cooperatives, but there was no supplies for them because everything was going to the State interprises. Special people were created that would go to central plan agency and bribe their way into the supply.
Or the wife of a director of the factory would set a cooperative in the same industry. Then most money would be drained to this often fictitious factory.

Yeltsyn was dranken bafoon, if I may say so. He had his pluses but he was unstable.
Beside he had two daughters who took bribes from companies, I am told.

The whole thing was unbelievable disaster. During Gorbachev's time people had piles of money and nothing to buy.
In Yeltsyn time they did not pay salaries and one was supposed to survive by holding several jobs in hope that at least one will  pay a little. People had to grow vebetables on their small plots and even keep some animals.
There was also so much corruption.


People say that Putin is strong leader and there is some order for the first time.
He deserves support now (at least he should not be provoked).

You have to understand that I am not a specialist in this area and know very little. I am just writing what people say. I have very little interest in politic.
« Last Edit: 23:06:00, 25-08-2008 by trained-pianist » Logged
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