It’s 4:30 am. I’ve been insomniac for about three months now. Actually, it is exactly three months as of tonight. I can only guess why though it apparently has something to do with changing seasons, climate and time zones. And having no fixed timetable. No system, as they say. But hey, three months and no proper sleep?

Have been reading a lot lately, both the real books and the Internet. History of Czechoslovakia seems to be my late night passion. The more I know the more interesting it gets. Different points of view make me realise there is no simple truth, it’s multi-layered, it always has been and it’s only getting more complicated as people get more inputs to make decisions.

I do enjoy reading old books and hanging out in second-hand bookshops. Found one, properly stocked, bargain-priced, complete with an enthusiastic owner. Plus, it’s not too far from my base to be.

My base to be; an important point. I am finally about to move in sometime next week. Hopefully. Everybody’s invited to housewarming, of course.

It’s been a bit tiring, being insomniac, homeless and unemployed for such a time. Though I’m exaggerating and it may as well turn out to be holidays rather than a real unemployment. And my homelessness ain’t real either. Thankfully.

So I’m only left to beat insomnia and everything will be fine again. Perhaps I could give it a go.

Good night.

A month ago, I mentioned that here and there I snatch a moment to watch a movie. Perhaps there wasn’t here and there in February as I only watched three new flicks. At least, I have more space to tell you about them.

1. Citizen Havel (2008) (Czech Republic)
I believe that some of our readers are not European and they don’t know much about a tiny little country that was once a larger part of Czechoslovakia and nowadays is colloquially and slightly incorrectly being referred to as Czech. What they may know is that capitol city is called Prague and I live there. What they may not know is that the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first of Czech Republic was Václav Havel, a former opponent of the communist régime (the right expression is dissident), intellectual and playwright. He happened to be a statesman, yet he’s never become a politician per se.

This bold statement of mine is confirmed by the movie about himself. Havel let filmmakers shadow him for over thirteen years agreeing to ignore their presence. He didn’t interfere and he asked his colleagues and friends to do the same, explaining that the footage will be used years after he would had left the office. A camera follows him at the talks with politicians, at home with his first and later a second wife, at moments of joy and sorrow. What we get to see is a very personal picture of Havel, at times uncertain and doubtful, Havel reflecting and — above all — a very funny and human one.

I can’t recall a documentary that could pack mainstream theatres, make audience shed a tear and laugh hysterically — and then leave people appreciating both the movie and the real-life protagonist without any propaganda. My respect goes to Mr Havel and both filmmakers, late Pavel Koutecký and Miroslav Janek who completed the film.

2. Once (2006) (Ireland)
A simple, yet unconventional story plus a few bucks for a movie (say €130,000) can still fill up the box office. At least in Europe and indie scenes around the world. Take one guy, a busker, one girl, an immigrant, a week they spend together making music, talking and converging. Make them love each other but not make love. Cut off the happy ending that is too cliché and voilà! That’s how the successful movies are made, with or without a budget.

Sounds painless, doesn’t it? You’d need great actors, though. Perfect screenplay, too. And a great camera work and a professional sound set-up on top of it. Or not?

Anybody’s hoping for a dull but accurate comment? This film proves that independent cinema has nothing to worry about as long as there are people with passion, ideas, the ones who carry out their dreams with determination. Basically, I’m talking about the misfits and all the others. Sometimes that’s even good enough to snatch a shiny little statue from a pretentious bunch of the Kodak theatre. Go figure.

3. Atonement (2007) (UK & France)
Upper class estate, England, mid-thirties. When a thirteen year old Briony sees her older sister Cecilia with a housekeeper’s son Robbie, she misjudges the anxiety and anticipation between the two for something far more terrifying and less exciting. More so, when she reads Robbie’s beautifully crafted letter expressing his unconditional love for Cecilia’s, hmmm, parts. And catches them in flagrante in a library just few hours later. So when their cousin is raped in the dark later that night, Briony is pretty sure about who she saw and who’s the thug.

Such foreplay opens a sharp romantic drama, something that female audience can appreciate. It’s subtle, smart (unless you read the novel you cannot exactly sense the ending), looks vintage and makes them pray both Robbie & Cee could stay alive, get together, and live happily ever after.

I will not spoil it for you. If you haven’t seen the best British film of the year, please do. Get yourself a fine bottle of wine and a great company to help and you won’t be disappointed. Art can heal and redeem. It may not be the universal truth, nevertheless it certainly applies to this movie.