The perfect life haiku

She wanted a life
as perfect as what you see
in advertising.

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2020)

Note
One of the common experiences with advertising is that you don't necessarily get what was advertised when you buy the product. Advertising has that special knack of making things look better than true. And an old wisdom says that if something looks too good to be true it most likely isn't true. Like the kind of life generally portrayed by advertising. It's better to think of it as staged and paid bliss, I'd say, subtracting at least 75 percent as a reality penalty.

Love for Sale 2

Della Dartyan in a still picture from Love for Sale 2

Love for Sale 2 is a 2019 Indonesian film directed by Andibachtiar Yusuf starring Della Dartyan (shown in photo), Adipati Dolken and Ratna Riantiarno.

Probably the one and only Indonesian movie I've ever seen. Considering that I don't speak the language and had to go by the (sometimes atrocious) English subtitles, I probably missed out on a lot. 

Being more of a character study, the film moves slowly and therefore takes patience. Even though there is budding romance between Ican (Dolken) and Arini (Dartyan), the hired girl Ican has introduced to his family because he is tired of his mother's wedding plans for him, this film is more focused on portraying a number of family members and other characters in a realistic manner.

Would I recommend watching this film? Yes. However, those who expect a racy love story due to the title will definitely be disappointed.

The monosyllabic haiku

Oh! So, no if but 
and or what not like that true
no, no, it ain’t bro.

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2020)

Note
The year and my blogs have gotten off to a slow start – took me until February to even think of posting something. And now it’s this mono-syllable thing that doesn’t say much, does it? Yes, I think it could be safely said that it is somewhat reticent in the meaning department.

The freezing December night haiku

It’s just me and the
moon now, a noncommittal
cold stare from above.

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2019)

Note
Once in a while it hits us all – the urge to involve the moon in poetry. This is the outcome of my latest moon wax attack. Thank God it’s from above. From below would definitely be spooky. Should have worn mittens and a warm hat on that imaginary December night walk.

The looking at an old picture haiku

Was she playing a
harmonica or was that 
a fake wide moustache?

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2019)

Note
You know those old photos – sharp, black and white and very small. So, I am unable to tell without a magnifying glass. I remember the hike we took in the mountains of Crete way back when but have no recollection of that harmonica or moustache instant. She’s standing on rocks under an olive tree with her hand held close to her mouth. As you would to hold a moustache in place or point to it or to hold and play a harmonica. Will we ever know?

The Zoya Factor

Sonam Kapoor in The Zoya Factor

Never thought I'd watch another cricket movie after Lagaan (2001) but then stumbled across The Zoya Factor on Netflix last night. It's funny, has an original love story and features excellent comical acting by the star, versatile Sonam Kapoor. No need to be a sports buff to enjoy this (de)light(ful) comedy!

A know-it-all

Even his “I don’t know anything about this” sounded like “I don’t know much more anything about this than you ever will.”

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2019)

My favorite famous books

For Whom the Mockingbird Kills
A Tale of Two Dickens

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 1992)

Note

I suppose these books still need to be written. Being lazy, I haven’t gotten started. But they’ve been lingering in the back of my mind since 1992. Going forward, I’m already thinking of the movies they would make. Quentin Tarantino could direct the former. And Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx could star as the two dickens.

The stopped on Via Laurentina haiku

All five fingers of
right hand on her face, middle
pushing up nose tip

– Leonard Blumfeld (© 2019)

Note
The truth and nothing but. Observed the driver of a car in the right lane while stuck in traffic this morning.

Bard of Blood

Sobhita Dhulipala and Emraan Hashmi in a scene from Bard of Blood

Bard of Blood is an Indian spy thriller TV series that premiered on Netflix in September 2019. The story roughly revolves around three Indian agents sent to Balochistan (Pakistan) to liberate four Indian agents who are being held captive by the Taliban. The story, based on the eponymous novel by Bilal Siddiqi, is not without holes, just like its hero, agent Adonis (played by Emraan Hashmi), is not without flaws - even though he's made out to be some sort of super duper spy ("only he can take on this mission") at the beginning. Enough said - the series is definitely suspenseful and worth watching, particularly because of the contemporary political context and the setting in Balochistan, an area of Pakistan that is full of natural beauty - and beautifully shot in some scenes - and usually does not get much media coverage.