Original Version of "Metropolis" Rediscovered in Buenos Aires

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About a year ago the news of the sensational rediscovery of the original version of Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" went around the globe. The find of this uncut version in the archives of the film museum Museo del Cine in Buenos Aires is so important because it contains key scenes that were considered to be lost forever after the movie was radically cut because of a disappointing premiere. These 30 minutes long scenes could give a completely new view on the dramaturgical plot. Metropolis is a historic masterpiece of early cinematography and the most important silent movie in German history. The original cut of the dystopia had its premiere in Berlin on January 10, 1927. Metropolis is probably the most famous science fiction movie ever and has influenced and inspired writers, movie producers and directors down to the present day. The 16-millimeter negatives are currently under restoration and will be most likely shown at next year's Berlinale in Germany.

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Only Cycling is faster

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Who's got time to grow old in traffic?
The average speed for a journey by car in downtown Buenos Aires is damn sluggish. The moment the picture was taken we were driving 24 kilometers per hour, almost our maximum speed that morning. I wonder why our cities were made so car friendly in the last 50 years and yet don't work as needed. You may know that problem from your city as well. This avenue, the Nueve de Julio, is supposed to be the biggest street in the world but most of the time the street is congested. Oddly enough, streets were obviously built to suit more and more cars, but they were not built for transport efficiency and travel comfort.

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Unique El Ateneo Bookstore

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What's so unique about the El Ateneo bookstore in Avenida Santa Fe in Buenos Aires? It is so distinctive because of the interior of the building the store resides in. The magnificent building was conceived as a theater in the first place. Back in 1919, the Grand Splendid Theater was inaugurated and had been a place of activity for only a few years. In 1929 the theater was converted into a cinema which existed for more than 80 years. In the late 1990s the building once more was converted into the exceptional bookstore you see in the picture.

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The Gold of South America

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This grocery store sells 1kg cans of Dulce de Leche for about U$S6.5. Dulce de Leche is the true gold of South America, gold that is hoarded on your love handles to be exact. The sweet spread consists mainly of three basic components, sugar, milk and fat. It looks and tastes like a crème caramel dessert and can be spread e.g. on bread or toast. Actually, there is hardly a thing Argentinean wouldn't add some Dulce to. They have dulce de leche-flavored ice cream, cookies and cakes and even soda and other beverages.

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Street Vendor Selling Chocolate Bars in Buenos Aires

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If you take a walk through Buenos Aires you will notice many street vendors selling any kind of goods in the streets of the city. This woman was offering chocolate bars to passer-bys. While she is probably selling ice cream and popsicles in summer, chocolate, of course, is much more in demand in winter. Her business is tough at all seasons and I watched numerous people decline. Still, she had a good site between Microcentro, the business district, and Puerto Madero. There at least she can count on some solvent clientele.

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Large Assortment of Nostalgic Phones with a Past

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If I happened to be a movie production designer or a set decorator and I had to recreate an illusion of Buenos Aires back in its glory days, I knew where to go first. I would start my search for particular items for the set in San Telmo, which is full of these vintage collectible and antique stores. I really like to browse these stores because you'll find so many things that were already outdated several decades before I was born. It's just fun to see these gorgeous items. Sometimes I wonder what people will think about our state-of-the-art tech and gadgets such as the iPhone, the XBox or Netbooks in about a hundred years from now. Psychic abilities, anyone?

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Empty Words, Empty Phrases, Empty Promises

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Some of you might have thought yesterday's post were already my contribution to the July's theme day "empty", it was not. An empty beach would have been so obvious, easy, though, but not creative.
My interpretation of "empty" is an old campaign poster for Cristina Kirchner calling for a march toward Plaza de Mayo. "For an Argentina for all" The slogan sounds really great and worthwhile but it is nothing more than a shallow, empty promise. Politicians in general, tend to come out with a lot of empty speeches with even more empty words. They promise you everything until they get (re)elected, and the very next day they don't give a hoot about you. I really wonder who buys these hollow phrases anymore. In Cristina's case, the legislative elections last Sunday have put an end to her style of politics.
Don't get me wrong, I'm neither for nor against the Kirchners. I don't give a s**t about politics, politicians are obsolete and all I just said are empty phrases...

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