FAWLTY TOWERS

I've watched only two episodes of FAWLTY TOWERS. I love that kind of British comedy! Though the story of FAWLTY TOWERS is gorgeous, I would like to watch all 12 episodes (from season 1 through to season 2) as soon as possible, while I don't want to finish watching all the episodes that make me happy with laughter. Do you understand that? I'll take enduring satisfaction by observing them carefully episode by episode.

When I talked to my British friend about FAWLTY TOWERS, she told me excitedly about John Cleese and what that comedy means for British people. She seemed to also love it like me. She told me that FAWLTY TOWERS's transcript was polished and John Cleese was a very clever and respectable comedian in Britain. While hearing her opinion, I feel her attachment to that situation comedy. She also told me that Manuel, a Spanish servant, had been very popular in FAWLTY TOWERS and British people loved him. I understood what she meant because I thought that the funny episodes were due to the performance of Manuel after watching two episodes. He can't speak English very well and he always misunderstands what the manager says. Thanks to him, it's easy for me to understand British English. There are a lot of linguistic tricks from the beginning to the end of the episode. That's why my British friend said that FAWLTY TOWERS was clever comedy.

From now, I'm going to enjoy other episodes episode by episode every day!

Notes on a Scandal

Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett performed enthusiastically in the film "Notes on a Scandal". I watched this film last weekend. The two actresses were brilliant!The story looks so real that I was very scared after watching it. I like such story.

By the way, Judi Dench got an Oscar nomination for an actress in a leading role for this film last year. At the Oscars the winner was Helen Mirren for "The Queen". That's a pity! Helen Mirren and Judi Dench are both titled Dame.

Though I've watched a lot of hilarious Italian films these days, I think such a British film is a breath of fresh air. Barbara Covett (Judi Dench) is a very selfish older woman who loves her cat and likes to do things for others. She was a dangerous woman. Actually, as people have their own way of thinking, we cannot understand everything about other people's thinking and the story is possible.

I think that a horrible story like that is possible in Japan. If a woman like Barbara Covett approached me, what could I do? I consider what I'm supposed to do. As I'm thinking that, I'm so scared. On the other hand, I will take care of myself not to be like Barbara in the future.

I recommend the film "Notes on a Scandal " to you. You will also feel scared.

Italian Films

Recently, I gave myself up entirely to Italian films. I will introduce my favorite Italian films.

At first, I recommend "The Best of Youth" to you. It plays for about six hours! Though that's too long, it is worth a lot of time. In spite of its long running time, I thought it was a pleasure to watch the film from the bottom of my heart.

The story is about an Italian family during the 1960s through to 2003. It's comprised of two parts. Part I is a little slow-paced while Part II is fast-paced. After watching the film, I feel as if I have understood some part of modern Italian history. Their positive approach to their life left the most profound impression on me.

Secondly, I introduce "I'm Not Scared" to you. I have never seen such a film. As the plot development brought endless surprises to me, I enjoyed watching it by the end, full of nervous excitement. The story is unique. I like this kind of story.

Finally, I want to let you know about "The Legend of 1900". It's a very beautiful story, but I regret that it's just fiction. I consider it possible to be such a man in the early 1900s. My favourite scene is a conversation between two men; the leading character in "1900" and his colleague "Max" at the end of the story. I think there is some Italian humour in it. I can understand that and so it became the striking scene for me.

Ricky Gervais

Do you know him? I like him! In Japan, he's not as popular as in Europe. What's a sad fact!

Ricky Gervais is an English comedian (I think he's a genius for comedy). The Office and the series Extras... I love his work! My first time watching him was a few years ago. I've watched him in a TV series; "The Office". That shocked me because of its humour. I've never experienced such laughter since I was born. He attracts me and I have become a big fan since then. The Office is my most favorite situation comedy (Its humour is a little bit different from "Monty Python's Flying Circus").

Thanks to Japanese subtitles, I can understand its humour. However that's not enough. It means, though that I can certainly enjoy it with Japanese subtitles, but I want to understand it more and more directly in British English. That's why I think it has a lot of double entendres that I haven't found yet in the episodes. It's impossible for translators to express these double meanings in subtitles, limited to the number of characters per line. For understanding all this humour including The Office, I have to learn British English and British culture. It's interspersed with a great number of unconscious gags.

The reason why I love The Office is that its story is not only funny but also moving. It's complicated to explain... As you are the one that has already watched it, you understand what I want to say). I want to visit Wernham Hogg paper merchants in Slough to take a shufti at David Brent!!