Mountains near Machu Picchu, Peru

Mountains near Machu Picchu, Peru
Originally uploaded by inger hogstrom.

Three great films about making films

I just watched Les Blank's amazing Burden of Dreams, the documentary about Werner Herzog's ill-fated dream to capture the story of Fitzcarraldo, the story of a man who attempts to move a steamship over a jungle mountain in order to make a fortune in rubber to build an opera house in Iquitos that would bring Caruso there to perform. They had some issues. Bad weather, stumbling in the middle of a border dispute, rumors that they wanted to render the native people down for use as plane fuel, you know, the usual. The best part of the film is the over the top, quietly delivered rant by Herzog, describing the jungle as a miserable, murderous, fornicating place. "Even the birds don't sing, they cry out in misery." Who doesn't love a German? I mean, really.

Fitting the theme, I can also highly recommend Hearts of Darkness, the story of Coppola's difficult journey making Apocalypse Now. More jungle, more insanity, more method acting than most directors could handle.

And of course, Lost in La Mancha, the story of genius director Terry Gilliam's seemingly impossible attempt to film the story of Don Quixote. Like that was going to be easy. They don't call it quixotic for nuthin'.

Cream filled eclairs, Portobello Market, London

Cream filled eclairs, Portobello Market, London
Originally uploaded by inger hogstrom.

I was describing this image to a friend of mine today. I like how this picture makes me want to eat the whole pile and go on a diet at the same time. I think that's something to be proud of.