The Man in the High Castle

"One selfless act of love and hope. That's what I put my money on."

A brilliant adaptation of the famous novel by Philip K. Dick, which goes, at least in my opinion, far beyond the book itself, and in a good way. I think that the author himself would appreciate this reminder about the truth that even in the most perilous conditions it's crucial for us to stay the humans who draw their strength not in hatred but in Love. Merry Christmas, everyone!

P.S. Second season is even better than the first one. Looking forward for the third!

Berlin Station

Perhaps the best thing that has happened to a spy thriller since the first seasons of the Homeland and the Americans.

The series is good not only as a psychological game that keeps a viewer in suspense, and not only grâce à pleiad of excellent actors.

The central question of the series: how far can you go in an attempt to protect the state interests? And at what point does the pursuit of security become the source of this very danger?

This theme is consonant with the book I am currently reading: Save civil rights: freedom and safety by Gerhart Baum.

Baum is a German politician and lawyer. His tenure as a Federal Minister of the Interior coincided with the pick of activities of the infamous RAF, Rote Armee Fraktion. So he was obliged not in theory, but in practice to carry out the massive counter-terrorism campaign – and in the same time to guarde the constitutional rights of citizens, not to allow security measures to infringe civil freedom.

In the series, German workers of BfV (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution), as well as their American counterparts, very often violate the boundary between acceptable and unacceptable (to be fair, it is sometimes very blurred). And this leads to grave and unpredictable consequences.

So I recommend this series not only as entertainment, but also as a food for reflection.  It is especially relevant in our time, when the war on terror becomes more and more extensive.

Червоний

Потужний фільм. Дуже раджу. Радий, що є таке наше кіно. І за тематикою - і за якістю.

~~~

 A truly powerful Ukrainian movie based on real events.

An officer of UPA (Ukrainska Povstanska Armiia - Ukrainian Insurgent Army) was trapped in the living hell of Stalin's concentration camps but managed to survived with human dignity and will to freedom - and to organized an uprising of political prisoners.
 

Strongly recommended.

Timothy Snyder: Germany's Historical Responsibility For Ukraine

'If one want seriously take Germany's responsibility for the East, the word "Ukraine" should be in the first sentence.'

Many blessings to all good people! :)

Efter brylluppet (2006)

And this is first movie of the year. I love scandinavian cinema, it has its own grim charm. And I like a lot Mads Mikkelsen, I noticed this actor as Le Chiffre in Casino Royale, after this was absolutely brilliant performance in Hannibal (tv series) - and these are quite big shoes to fill after Anthony Hopkins! Recently I watched another Danish movie with him as a main character (Flammen & Citronen (2008) - about resistance group during WWII). And now - this one. The psycological drama about life, death, love, and consequences of our actions, even unpredictable ones.

Also I would like to mark playing of Sidse Babett Knudsen, I've already seen this actress in Borgen and Westworld.

It's neither an action nor a thriller, but if you like to think a little about your way of life and goals (especially in the time of NY resolutions) I would definitely recommend you this movie.

First book of this year

This book broke my heart - and healed it in the same time. I cannot recall previous time when I cried during reading the fiction, but this book did it to me. It's sad, charming, and fascinating. 

I'm so grateful to my sister for this gift and I'm so glad I've read this novel in the beginning of the year to remind myself about those important things which make our life truly meaningful.