On Francesca R.B.'s Wall

FRANCESCA, -Don’t worry about writing me, you just write whenever you feel like it, no pressure. Focus on your flesh and blood-friends first, and your family, and your studies, and your hobbies, and then, when all that’s taken care of, write me if you want to, I do enjoy hearing from you. Speaking of your family- your mother and father, they’re still together? Anachronistic almost. Do you have any sisters or brothers? I have two step sisters, one younger than me, Jannie, one older than me, Christel- they also live in Copenhagen. I don’t see them very often. -I’m leaving the city tomorrow, I’m off to the country, off to a small, primitive house on Møn ( Danish island). I’ll be cut off from all the modern unnecessities that we’ve become so dependent on: No TV and no internet while I’m there- I’ll just bring books for reading and notebooks for writing. I could bring my laptop and some DVDs, but I fear I would just watch films instead of writing. I’ll also leave my razor at home. I’m going to let my beard grow, starting tomorrow- I’ll shave again on the first morning after my return. I’ll be gone for three weeks, interrupted only by a Vampire Weekend- (They are playing at Vega on the 13th.) But after that, it’s back to Møn and writing. I haven’t decided what books to bring yet. I think I’ll take my Virginia Wolf’s Writer’s Diary for inspiration and maybe some of my Johannes V. Jensens (his grasp of the Danish language is unparalleled in Danish literature.) I’ll also have to take some easy reads, maybe some Agatha Christies. -What books are you reading at the moment? Are you an avid reader? -My favorite Buster Keaton film? It’s difficult to say, I like them all but for different reasons. -The General, because I’ve had some of my most memorable cinema-viewing experiences with that film- it’s the most amazing film to see with an audience, the fact that it was made 80 years ago, and still can make a room full of people erupt with spontaneous clapping, laughter and cheering, never seizes to amaze me… So every time it plays in Cinemateket I try and catch it. -Hard Luck is a small gem- it’s somewhat rough around the edges, but it’s extremely precise in its comedy- it’s only 22 minutes long, but because there’s essentially no plot to speak of, Keaton can concentrate on filling the film with some great set-pieces, the failed suicide attempts-bit is amazing, and so is the big finale where Buster defeats a gang of villains. -But if I would have to pick just one, I would have to say Our Hospitality. -Too bad you couldn’t watch Den 11.time - I was aware it was a long shot. There are many things online that I’m unable to watch on account of regional restrictions and so on… But…It was worth a try. -A Venezuelian Car Chase! Insane story, insane world. I’m glad you and your family escaped unscathed. -Are you prepared for the possibility of being disappointed in Desplechin, now that you are gearing up to seek out the rest of his films? It’s always exciting discovering new filmmakers. And it’s always, too, a little daunting delving further into a director’s oeuvre- you always pray you won’t be disappointed in his/her other films- So…I hope he doesn’t let you down. --Let me know what you think about You, The Living- I think you’ll find it to be brilliant and totally unique (particularly when you haven’t seen Songs From The Second Floor). when is it premiering? /U L R I C H.