Amsterdam Weekly: Vol 4 Issue 7, 15-21 February 2007

Volume 4, Issue 7

FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY

WEEKOF 15 FEBRUARY TO 21 FEBRUARY 2007

BO IS O SU KS E

Inside: Music, Film, Art and Events

DA SHIT ON SEWAGE PAGE 8

BEERMAT ART BOOKED UP PAGE 5

24/7, 366 PAGE 8

AN EYE FOR AN IJ PAGE 6

ARE WE POLITICIAN-KILLING MARRIED GAY XENOPHOBES? PAGE 4 AMERICAN BOOK CENTER CENTERED PAGE 5 ALSO: SUPER SONIC BIKES PAGE 13

/ THE CITY MAPPED PAGE 18 / SHEPHERD MADE GOOD PAGE 22

15-21 February 2007

Amsterdam Weekly

CITY SECOND BY PETER CLEUTJENS Contents: On the cover Pretty picture Amsterwater books.

Illustration by Sanstitre.

Features Foreign correspondents.. . 4 American Book Center . . . 4 Art from Bars . . . . . . . . . . . 5 IJ books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 366 Amsterdays . . . . . . . . . 8 Sewage City. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Going out Short List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Soundbikes . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Gay & Lesbian . . . . . . . . . . 15 Stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Lekker Bezig . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Mapping the city . . . . . . . . 18 Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 The Good Shepherd. . . . . 22 Film Times. . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Plus The Glutton . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Eefje Wentelteefje . . . . . . 27

Amsterdam Weekly is a free cultural paper distributed every Wednesday in Amsterdam. Paid subscriptions are available on request. For details, write to info@amsterdamweekly.nl. Contents of Amsterdam Weekly are copyright 2007 Amsterdam Weekly BV. All rights reserved.

Winner of 3 European Newspaper Awards Amsterdam Weekly BV De Ruyterkade 106, 1011 AB Amsterdam Tel: 020 522 5200 Fax: 020 620 1666 www.amsterdamweekly.nl General info: info@amsterdamweekly.nl Agenda listings: agenda@amsterdamweekly.nl Advertising: sales@amsterdamweekly.nl PUBLISHER Todd Savage EDITOR Steve Korver ASSISTANT EDITOR Kim Renfrew AGENDA EDITOR Steven McCarron FILM EDITOR Julie Phillips PROOFREADER Karina Hof EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sarah Gehrke ART DIRECTOR Bas Morsch PRODUCTION MANAGER Vela Arbutina PRODUCTION DESIGNERS Mattijs Arts, Rogier Charles SALES ASSOCIATES Haitske van Asten, Alexander Gan, Simone Klomp, Simon Poole, Carolina Salazar OPERATIONS MANAGER Monique Gruter OPERATIONS ASSISTANT Desislava Pentcheva DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Patrick van der Klugt DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING INTERN Heini Suokari FINANCIAL ADVISER Kurt Schmidt, Veresis Consulting PRINTER Het Volk Printing ISSN 1872-3268 THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS Natascha van Aalst, Peter Bartlema, Willem de Blaauw, Anuschka Blommers, Peter Cleutjens, Natasha Cloutier, Shyama Daryanani, Floris Dogterom, Ruth Dreier, Sarah Gehrke, Stefanie Gratz, Matt Groening, John Hartnett, Karina Hof, Nanna Koekoek, Jeroen de Leijer, Nick Leslie, Steven McCarron, Mike Peek, Marinus de Ruiter, Steve Schneider, Niels Schumm, Linawati Sidarto, Simon Wald-Lasowski and Mark Wedin.

08//02/2007 - 14:04 - MUIDERSTRAAT

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Amsterdam Weekly

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15-21 February 2007

AROUND TOWN Beyond clogs and windmills

Easy as 1, 2, 3 American Book Center settled in book central.

Has international news changed Holland’s image?

By Ruth Dreier

AMSTERDAM—Holland, that cute little country of clogs and tulips, where people of the same sex can get a marriage certificate and old, tired people can end life just like that. Have these newly minted clichés of the Netherlands changed, with international news about Dutch vicissitudes like the murders of Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh, or immigration woes? These and other such questions will be addressed this Tuesday at De Balie during the forum discussion ‘Amsterdam: From our correspondent’, which will feature several foreign journalists, reporting from within these borders.

‘The Netherlands in recent years has definitely been more featured in international news than before,’ says Jan Melissen, diplomacy and international affairs specialist at Den Haag’s Clingendael Institute. He points out that the country’s image has been ‘relatively constant’ for a long period of time. ‘When people think of Holland, they usually think of a small maritime country which is open, innovative, democratic and keen in business.’ In recent decades, Dutch tolerance towards drugs, prostitution, euthanasia and same-sex relationships has been regularly featured in world media.

The Netherlands’ increased presence on the frontline of international news started, more or less, with the rise from obscurity of aspiring politician Pim Fortuyn who, among other things, openly criticised the role of minority ethnic groups and called for stricter immigration rules. His rhetoric, so unlike the usually tolerant and politically correct voices the world was used to hearing from the Netherlands, made its way to the international pages.

More news followed: Fortuyn’s shocking murder in 2002 and the rise of Somalian-born politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who made a film criticising Islam together with Theo van Gogh, who in turn was killed by a Dutch-born Muslim extremist.

Not insignificant has been the role of hard-line minister Rita Verdonk, who made her mark by tightening the screw on the Netherlands’ immigration and asylum policies.

The rise of Nedernews elsewhere has also been driven by larger events abroad, like the attack on the World Trade Center, says Toby Sterling, Amsterdam-based correspondent for America’s The Associated Press. ‘Shortly after 9/11, the buzz in Washington was that Holland was one of the havens for Muslim terrorists,’ he states. This, in turn, increased demand

NANNA KOEKOEK

By Linawati Sidarto

for news from the Netherlands. Another factor, says Sterling, is that Dutch national media has been ‘much more dynamic in recent years.’ In addition to the established, somewhat stolid dailies, the media has seen the arrival of online news and blogs, and four new free dailies. ‘The reality is that foreign correspondents rely a lot on what is in the domestic news.’

The person with the highest profile amongst all Dutch politicians for the international public at the moment is Ayaan Hirsi Ali. ‘Most people outside of the Netherlands would not recognise the name Balkenende, but Hirsi Ali may very well ring a bell,’ Sterling says.

Melissen, meanwhile, says that he has noticed that even people abroad who don’t necessarily have a special interest in the Netherlands have read Hirsi Ali’s book. ‘I think it’s because she discusses problems which are interesting to a larger audience,’ he suggests.

So has all this changed the image of the country abroad? Melissen says that while recent news coming out of the Netherlands may have dented aspects of its image, such as that of tolerance towards immigrants, he still believes that ‘the long-term image of Holland as a democratic and open society remains.’

The fact remains that many international media organisations report on the Netherlands from Brussels or London.

‘Although news frequency from here may

Causing a stink?

have gone up in recent years, the number of foreign correspondents seems to have gone down, mainly due to financial limitations, like the decrease in newspaper circulation,’ Sterling explains.

Melissen further points out that, despite developments in recent years: ‘The Netherlands remains a small country, news-wise, in an expanding EU.’ Similarly, Sterling has found that, headline-grabbing shock stories apart, this country is still small fry on the world stage: ‘Even now, I still get questions like: “Copenhagen, that’s the capital of Holland, right?” The bottom line is that people in many countries, including the US, still do not know that much about the Netherlands.’

On the other hand, says Sterling: ‘A lot of sport fans around the world link the Netherlands with soccer,’ while stories on euthanasia usually get a big run in the US and Catholic countries. Interest in Dutch news, then, according to Sterling, depends very much on the interest of people in a particular country. Unless, of course, there’s bloodshed.

‘Amsterdam: From our correspondent’, 20 February, 20.30, De Balie, Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 10, 553 5151, €4, www.debalie.nl

Those people who regularly traverse Spui may have noticed that it has a new resident. In December just gone, the American Book Center moved from its old home on Kalverstraat to a commanding corner on the city’s world-class square for book lovers. There, in the distinctive building known as the Witte Pand, the shop has transformed what once was a piano store into a lively meeting point for minds and ideas. It’s an audacious move, straight out of the free speech spirit which defines not only the square, but the ABC itself.

Lynn Kaplanian-Buller, who owns the bookshop along with her husband Avo, makes her way through the beehive of books and people to her office. She is friendly but formidably focused, as she multi-tasks her way to her perch at the top of the building, making time in her crammed schedule to answer a few questions about her business.

What is ABC doing in Amsterdam?

Our founding fathers were Americans, Sam and Mitch, and Mitch lived in Amsterdam. They started the shop with remainders upstairs, soft porno downstairs, and comic books. That was in 1972.

They were pioneers not only in material, but in how they did things. They got a lot of harassment for staying open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. But they insisted that if the sex shops could be open this long, so could they. Since then, ABC has always featured long opening hours.

At that time, it became a locus for gays who wanted to live in Amsterdam, then it spread out to people who had connections with whatever remainders came in. All these books would arrive and we’d be, like: ‘Who likes cooking?’ Then that person would do cookbooks. So it started out really unsorted.

The sorting came from what customers told us they liked or wanted. We’d order more of those, and price down the others—unheard of in a market with set prices. Thirty-five years later, we still sell some remainders, but we’re the biggest bricks and mortar source of new Englishlanguage books on the continent.

What is ABC doing on the Spui?

We didn’t have to move: we were advised that the Kalverstraat was fast becoming an international fashion destination, and the rent would double, so we started looking around. There was only one location that made sense to move to, and that was Spui. When we heard that the owners of the Witte Pand were looking for tenants, we jumped at the chance.

Luckily, they chose us as the new occupant, which feels good. Here, we’re much more a screen, and we have a special

Amsterdam Weekly

15-21 February 2007

Kaplanian-Buller: ‘No, I’m sorry. We’re all out of pianos.’

you, and you didn’t know about it until you saw it and when you saw it you knew you had to read it? We want to feed that curiosity and carry it forward, to fulfil a wish people don’t know they have. That can only come from interaction. If our people want it, we will find it; and we will always search for connections in between. As booksellers, we can’t predict what the business will become—probably we can’t count on selling books forever. But ABC is flexible, open, and dancing on the margins. That’s our future.

As long as people want to connect, we are there to make it happen.

New ABC facts: • A Guggenheim for books: buggies and wheelchairs are the reason for its distinctive spiral design.

• The tree inside is totally PC: it was chosen by, brought in, hollowed out, and re-constructed by real Amsterdam ‘treeguys’.

• Rent is also PC: the building is owned by the Diocese of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. All proceeds from the rent go to good works.

• Books weigh more than pianos: the floors now have to carry about 450 kilos per metre compared to the 350 needed for pianos.

• Just did it: Nike is taking on the old place, at twice the rent (‘I wish them success,’ says Kaplanian-Buller).

SIMON WALD-LASOWSKI

www.abc.nl

Drunken decor Fabulous viltjes find home in a book.

By Mark Wedin

STEFANIE GRATZ

opportunity for display. For example, we have a book-signing coming up on 17 February with graffiti artists from NYC; they’re going to sign our building, at least temporarily! Our neighbours—Waterstone’s, Athenaeum, the children’s book store, the book market—are as devoted as we are, but we all serve different kinds of book people.

About ten years ago we realised the power of icons which transcend language, so we have lots of images, put out in books. Also fantasy, science fiction, animation, politics and what we like to call ‘hip and hype’—it’s current culture.

We have the heavy stuff, too, but you have to climb the stairs to get there. Most of our customers are Dutch and, against all profiles, we have a high percentage of males, both young and old. We’re not sure if this comes from the fantasy section, or what...

What is ABC planning for the future?

We want to be a ‘third space’, between home and imagination, where people feel comfortable meeting books and one another. Books have a catalytic effect, and we want to be a house for that experience. Our community, and our staff, is built on people who are looking to grow and learn. You know that feeling when a book falls on the floor in front of

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Twelve years ago, a thin Serb named Dejan Knez arrived in Amsterdam and moved into an apartment above café De Duivel. He was downstairs every night.

Regular inebriation ensued. In time, he noticed that much of the artist and musician clientele there were sketching masterful vignettes on the backsides of beer mats. And he began collecting them.

‘I started to notice what people do in bars besides just chatting and getting really stupid drunk,’ he says. ‘People don’t pay any attention to this stuff, but sometimes really great ideas come when you’re wasted and can’t think anymore. Do you want a big shot of crazy home-made plum liquor?

It’s seventy per cent.’ (He also knows how to make an interview cosy as hell.)

From there, his coaster collection continued to grow, and he soon realised that he would make it into a book. Travelling on holiday money he’d saved from working at a tattoo shop, the smiling but bashful Knez collected hundreds of beer mats adorned by like-minded drinkers from 44 countries on five continents— some by famous folks like Herman Brood, Big John from The Exploited, comic artist Peter Pontiac, graffiti artist Morcky Boy and a slew of tattooists.

‘I knew many of these guys a really long time but never dared to ask them,’ says Knez. ‘I’m just a nobody. And they’re giving me their art. I have to respect that.

Both Knez and his beermats absorb beer and ink.

Do you want another shot?’

Yes, please. His book, ART from the BARS, was released last week with 350 pages of viltje photos, all festooned in urban street style. It’s a substantial, meaty piece of literature—but one with very few words.

‘I didn’t want to write much in it, ’cause how can you explain someone’s drunken feelings next to coasters? I met so many people who made such a perfect coaster, so I gave everyone an entire page for their art. But it was really hard to make the book.’

‘I called a bunch of big shots like Heineken,’ he continues, ‘and they all turned me down ’cause I’m a nobody, and I can understand that. But I just don’t care. I put all my money together and called some people and we made it happen.

‘So then, the printer calls and says we miscalculated the size of the book. They printed the fucking sides on the front! And I was thinking of the trees they would cut down to print it again. I couldn’t use recycled paper ’cause it costs more. I felt really bad about it, but we had to fix it.

You know, we’re all hypocrites, talking about environmentalism, and then we go and make a fucking book! In a few years we’re all going to be swimming in water and trying to eat each other.’

Perhaps. But at least we’ll have this great book full of gems, masterly moments, a keepsake from an era gone by.

‘You need another shot, man.’

As such, the interview went longer than planned.

ART from the BARS by Dejan K is available at American Book Center and www.myspace.com/Dejanknez.

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T

he muck and the grime, along with the always-entertaining squatters, were wiped away from the southern banks of the IJ long ago. In their place, spanking new buildings with waterside views are popping up every day. For many, this is sexy as hell. For others, who don’t like concrete and yuppies, it’s a bit depressing.

Well, OK, it’s not all concrete—there’s plenty of new brick and wood and other materials, but those goddamned yuppies... what an irritating element of unstoppable progress.

Photographers Henk Wildschut and Raimond Wouda are among the folks who miss the old dirty dockyards.

They’ve spent years documenting what’s left of them, and their new book, A’DAM DOC.k, presents a view of the IJ’s industrial workers and working situations—the first of its kind in roughly 40 years.

For them, the comparison between the erstwhile industrial harbour and the new IJoevers is very important. ‘Those new areas are for fast-moving, goodcommunicating, good-looking people,’ says Wildschut, while walking past an enormous dry dock near NDSM. ‘Here, there’s more a sense of community. If this will be pushed out for the creative industry, that will make me really sad— and nostalgic.’

Specialising in group and individual portraits, Wildschut is interested in human interaction. Of shipyards, he says: ‘People have this image of tough, working men, but they’re actually very sweet and vulnerable.’ This is seen clearly in their new book, which has numerous shots of

Amsterdam Weekly

THE IJ IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER Two new books show the old and new of our busy water banks.

BY MARK WEDIN

men during and after a hard day’s work.

‘This one is funny,’ says Wildschut, looking at a picture of three grungy workers. ‘I asked them to pose, and this other guy walks up and sits on his lap. Normally, with CEOs and other working groups, I put them closer together to see their inti-

macy zones, which gives an interesting vibe, a level of discomfort. But with these workers, I didn’t have to ask, they’re already naturally close.’

‘These men work twenty, thirty, forty years for the same company,’ adds Wouda, who grew up in the small working-class

15-21 February 2007

Langs het IJ. Photo by Lard Buurman

village of Tuindorp Oostzaan. ‘That makes them very reliable, loyal. Not only friendly, they’re also honest and sincere. This is very valuable.’

Another photo shows a worker in only underwear, cleaning his flip-flops in the locker room. ‘I wanted to show the routine,’ says Wildschut. ‘Everyday, this guy washes up, puts that mat on the floor and cleans his sandals. He’s had that mat for thirty years.’

Complementing the portraits are Wouda’s large scenic port photos. ‘Harbour work is still inside the city,’ explains Wouda, ‘but most people don’t really know about it. This book can be a guidebook for the people who live here.’

Their previous book, Sandrien, documented a Bolivian tanker riddled with asbestos. The ship, soon tangled in bureaucracy, was moored in Amsterdam’s harbour and the matter remained unresolved for years. Wildschut and Wouda photographed the stagnant life of the mostly Indian crewmen, who were no longer receiving pay. Six weeks after their book was published, the matter was resolved.

‘That’s an example of how we try to make books in a documentary style,’ says Wildschut. ‘But we don’t make any money with them,’ he smiles. ‘We’re just happy if we can break even.’

On the other side of the water, Sabine Lebesque, architecture historian and advisor for the ontwikkelingsbedrijf, the development company branch of the

15-21 February 2007

gemeente, recently put the finishing touches to Langs het IJ, a guidebook about the fast-developing southern banks. With notable support from Daphne Beerdsen, the book is filled with a dizzying array of factual information, including architects, building dates and commissioners, all coupled with photographs of existing structures and digital representations for those still coming.

‘It was a helluva job to get the figures right,’ says Lebesque. ‘There are no city records of architects, commissioners, et cetera. Other guidebooks made mistakes in the past and we corrected lots of them.’

As for viewing the new development with apprehension, Lebesque points out that growth is part of the city’s history.

‘Amsterdam has been building into the IJ for centuries,’ she says. ‘The funny thing is, when you look to what happened when Centraal Station was first built, there was also suddenly big development happening on Prins Hendrikkade. For example, under the Victoria Hotel you still see little houses below. The owners at the time did not want to move so they built the hotel over it.’

She also highlights the importance of the city council having allotted certain areas for cultural buildings, like the Muziekgebouw. ‘They chose to build this on a prime piece of land. It is of course, a very elite building, but you could imagine if they chose to be more commercial with the space, there would be some sort of IMAX theatre there.’

Of strong importance to Lebesque are the city’s urban plans, which dictate what is built along the IJ and how. ‘On the Oostelijke Handelskade, the plan was to make

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A’DAM DOC.k. Port view by Raymond Wouda, portrait by Henk Wildschut.

that’s a big issue,’ she admits. ‘People don’t like this building. But you must remember: this is just one strip of land.

You can complain about it not having gardens or balconies, but there are enough people who like it that way.’

Lebesque finds the development on the north side of Centraal Station particularly appealing. ‘This was always considered the back of the city—the bad area,’ she says. ‘But the new approach will make the water the new centre—a promenade, where everything is happening.’

She also emphasises the IJ’s mixture of old and new. ‘There is this old push boat on Minervahavenweg with people now living on it. Near that is a trendy design—still in development—which is attractive to young creative businesses.

And near that is an ugly office building.’

The book makes a point of not ignoring the ugly buildings, which inevitably pop up in any area. ‘It’s not a selection of good architecture per se, there are some very ugly buildings in the book. But every structure has a story, and this says something about the city.’

a long strip of buildings as a kind of train, with the Muziekgebouw as the locomotive,’ she says. ‘The buildings are all sleek and no difference should be seen between the housing and offices.’

And it’s not only for rich people. Next to large office buildings, you have build-

ings like the Gibraltar, for social housing.

‘The city ensures that all areas have thirty per cent social housing,’ Lebesque says.

She points to a picture of a prisonlike, square structure full of windows without balconies. It looks unmistakeably like social housing. ‘At the moment,

A’DAM DOC.k and Sandrien are published by Stichting Bytheway. Langs het IJ: Architectuurtochten door gebieden aan de Zuidelijke IJoever, Amsterdam is published by Valiz; the English translation Along Amsterdam’s Waterfront: Exploring the Architecture of the Southern IJ Bank will be published 1 April.

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15-21 February 2007

20 April 1947—Mahatma Gandhi gives advice to a local art critic

11 april 1888—Concertgebouw in lonelier times.

AMSTERDAM 24/7, 366 R

ead Amsterdam—366 dagen and you’re up to date on the most important days of the city’s history. This canonical almanac was, as its compiler Richard Hengeveld says, painstakingly put together, in an almost never-ending process of choice making. Unfortunately, because the book had to have a finite number of pages, some things had to be left out.

The writers Aukelien Weverling and Hassan Bahara have also come up with their suggestions for other days in Amsterdam’s rich history—Weverling’s day was included; Bahara’s was not.

You must have spent weeks in the dark and dusty caves of the Amsterdam Stadsarchief?

Richard Hengeveld: ‘I haven’t set a foot in there! All the brushed-up docu-

J

ournalist Willem Ellenbroek lives in a great apartment on Prinsengracht. On this winter day, the grey water in the canal is splashing gently against the walls. A classic Amsterexperience, which is only slightly disturbed in the summertime, when the water can get rather smelly.

That minor displeasure, however, is nothing compared to the situation in 1800, when the Englishman R Fell made the following observation about the canal system: ‘The Amsterdam canals are, generally speaking, filled up with all sorts of stinking excrements. Numerous dead dogs and cats are floating in them, and in one canal I even saw a horse in a most horrid state of decomposition.’

Fell is quoted in the book Zuiver+mooi: Het nieuwe afvalwatersysteem van Amsterdam that presents the pure beauty of the new Amsterdam waste water system, written by Ellenbroek and Michael Persson. ‘When the IJsselmeer [then the Zuiderzee] still had an open connection with the sea, the tidal system cleaned the canal system twice a day,’ says Ellenbroek, ‘which explains

The days of our lives.

BY NATASCHA VAN AALST

ments, letters and other pieces in the book come from the beeldbank, the Stadsarchief image bank. We searched for it online.

There’s been criticism that your book is too arbitrary, with randomly chosen days and topics...

If only you knew... Our group of writers spent several thorough meetings on the question: ‘Wat moet erin?’ We filled the 366 days [including a leap year] after endless discussions about Amsterdam events, themes, periods and icons.

But who’s ever heard, then, of the

nine-year-old ‘icon’ Jan Boomhoff, who was busted after stealing stuff with his friends Skinny and CrossEyed Toon?

Apart from the obvious Amsterdam icons like Anne Frank and Rembrandt, we also wanted to depict slice-of-life stories like this one. Or a letter from Gandhi, showcased as one of the interesting pieces from the archive’s treasury. Our publisher wanted it to be a fun flip-through book, too, with sexy pictures like that one of a toilet krul at the Haarlemmersluis.

BIG MOVEMENT BOOST FOR URBAN BOWELS A book on the powers that push your poo in the proper direction.

BY FLORIS DOGTEROM why Amsterdam started to think about building a sewage system much later than, for instance, London or Paris. But when the IJ silted up, the canals turned into a stinking open sewer.’

To solve that smelly issue, in 1870 Amsterdam started experimenting with a sewage system. As of 1923, the heart of the system was a huge waste pipe that

transported the city’s effluence to the Zuiderzee. Today, the longitudinal embankment that starts behind former restaurant Kaap Kot on Zeeburgereiland is still redolent of that period, which lasted until 1982 (!). In that year, a RWZI (rioolwaterzuiveringsinstallatie or sewage plant) was constructed on Zeeburgereiland. A quarter of a century later,

That smells a little of an I amsterdam marketing tool. Have you also included dirtier, grittier stuff from the past?

Well, De Wallen, the blowverbod and the squatters are all in it, even Blijburg with parties and music on the beach. So there’s no shortage of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll.

What didn’t make it into the book, then?

After we’d sat down with a whole bunch of historical calendars and filled in all the dates, the list was biased towards left-ish social-political history with Wibaut, De Miranda and Marx’s visit to meet Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis. I guess that’s what happens when a bunch of journalists choose, but we had to bring that in balance.

however, residents of nearby IJburg complain about the stench the RWZI produces. It’s been decided to close it down, together with the other RWZIs in the city, and build a new one in the Westelijk Havengebied. Problem: the direction of the current. For a century the turbid waters had streamed from west to east, through natural fall. Now, the water needs to be transported to the west. A 49-kilometre-long high-pressure tube has been built, along with four booster stations to push your poo in the right direction.

It was these booster stations that triggered Ellenbroek: ‘I was cycling through town and thought: what are these things?

The function of the buildings remained unclear.’ Thumbing through the book, one understands Ellenbroek’s initial amazement. The booster engines in Noord and Zuid in particular, have an unreal, futuristic beauty.

Ellenbroek wrote an article about the architecture of the booster engines in a magazine that caught the attention of water-treatment company Waternet, which wanted to publish a book about the new water waste system. Ellenbroek

15-21 February 2007

on how to recognise wisdom.

Any things that you’re personally disappointed were missed out?

I regret that I did not fight harder to get 1 April 2001—the first gay marriage in Amsterdam—in the book. But that date was already taken by something more important. [Namely, the establishment of a quality mark for Amsterdam soap in 1575—the logic perhaps being that you’ll never get married if you don’t use soap?] Ah well, there are only 366 days, so there will always be something that’s not in it. Since we finished the book, new things have happened in Amsterdam and I’ve thought at least once: ‘That should be in the book, too.’

Amsterdam—366 dagen by Marielle Hageman, Martin Harlaar and Richard Hengeveld is published by Toth.

THE DAY OF...

Aukelien Weverling recently published a comic novel, Politiek gevangene, about a girl growing up with her activist mum: ‘For me, the most important day in Amsterdam history is 4 October 1992. That

Amsterdam Weekly

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25 March 1969—In bed with John & Yoko at the Hilton hotel.

day, at 6.35 p.m., a Boeing 747 crashed at Klein Kruitberg in De Bijlmer. The building ignited, floor after floor collapsed and forty-three people lost their lives. It was a disaster that later was named De Bijlmerramp.

‘I lived on the other side of the street from Klein Kruitberg, and the plane flew over my head before it crashed. The windows almost burst and my whole building seemed to be trembling like a reed. Then the aeroplane drilled itself into Klein Kruitberg, and the air filled with thick smoke and the screaming of people. I remember the panic: cars drove down the wrong side of the street; fire trucks, police cars and ambulances came from everywhere and I can still hear the crying of devastated people.

‘I saw kids from school running around on the news that night. In the following weeks, journalists tried to gather “emotional information” from us in the schoolyard. I remember how, a day after the crash, we saw another fire in the area from the window of our school. At breaktime we ran out to see what was going on;

we saw disaster tourists picnicking next to the smouldering remains of the plane, while researchers scooped orange buckets full of stuff from the ground. These contained the dead bodies, we knew.

‘The black box wasn’t found until weeks later, but the last minutes were irretrievably destroyed. The political aftermath lasted years—and, with that, for me also the feeling of getting over the experience of the disaster. That happened eventually when I heard the tape of Schiphol’s radio tower at the time of the crash—the voice of a woman who says, very sadly: “It’s over.”’

THE DAY OF...

Hassan Bahara, author of Een verhaal uit de stad Damsko, a novel exploring the immigrant experience from inside: ‘April 23 1998 is the day the shit hit the fan on August Allebeplein in SlotervaartOvertoomse Veld. “Moroccans against police” was the headline in De Telegraaf the day after the incident. I worked at the time as a concierge in the stadsdeelkan-

toor on the square, and personally experienced the consternation which led to the “riots”. In my opinion, they weren’t more than an escalated rebellion, one that was easily quashed. True, it had been brewing for a while in Amsterdam-West; Moroccan teenagers were complaining as much as possible, and they took every opportunity they could to provoke the authorities. A trivial akkefietje between a policeman and a seventeen-year-old kid was interpreted as a mini-Jihad, even though the guys admitted afterwards that feelings of frustration and exclusion were the basis of the riots. But that’s only half the truth. Yes, there was exclusion and the frustration most kids felt was a logical consequence of being treated as second-class citizens.

But what also led to the riots was the simple need to express their feelings at everything around them—street furniture included.

‘Nevertheless, it exposed something fundamental, namely, that the fairy tale of our so-called peaceful multicultural society was a soap bubble, one that burst on 23 April 1998.’

Zuiver+mooi: Het nieuwe afvalwatersysteem van Amsterdam is published by Bas Lubberhuizen.

DIGIDAAN

explains: ‘The old pumping stations looked like the kind of bunkers you find in [Hitler’s] Atlantikwall. It is strange that Waternet wanted to invest in high-quality architecture. But I think they learned to appreciate architecture when it had its new head office built. They hired the photographer DigiDaan, who recorded the development of the new water waste system for seven years.’

The result is a book with dozens of marvellous full-colour pictures of the new sewage, on the one hand, and historical black-and-white pictures from Waternet’s and other archives, on the other. The book shows that the huge tanks and buildings of the new RWZI West have been touched by architectonic hands as well. ‘The RWZI is very impressive,’ says Ellenbroek. ‘The three interconnected tanks on the front with the entrance in the middle are quite spectacular. This is a striking complex. It marks the change in Waternet’s outlook on architecture.’

Amsterdam Weekly

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15-21 February 2007

ROB WALBERS

SHORT LIST

Die Anarchistische Abendunterhaltung, Friday, Van Gogh Museum

THURSDAY15 FEBRUARY Art: Between Dog & Wolf This is the last week to catch Gallery Vassie’s glimpse into the world of Chrystel Lebas, whose work was recently on show at London’s V&A Museum. Seven panoramas delivered from the eyes of the artist open up the wonders of a fascinating twilight world, often strewn upon a carpet of bluebells. Spread among the lush, dark tones of the English countryside, Between Dog & Wolf is the poetic appellation for that magic hour when colours are more than dreams and space becomes suspended. It would be a shame to make too short a visit to this exhibition, so be prepared to spend a while: only then does one notice how the effect of the work intensifies with the passage of time. A full hour will even offer the opportunity of experiencing the real-time passage through twilight, recorded on a disk and shown in this exhibition. And once relaxed in Lebas’ world, you may not want to leave. (John Hartnett) Gallery Vassie (Tues-Sun 11.00-18.00). Until 22 February.

Stage: The World In Pictures Never let it be said that Forced Entertainment lack ambition. In their last touring show, 2004’s Bloody Mess, these high-flying British theatre-makers recounted the creation of the world and its cataclysmic end. Now they’re tackling everything in between. Developed through months of collective improvisation and rehearsal, The World in Pictures tells the story of Man—yes, him—in ways comic, tragic, absurdist, poignant, and most everything else. It’s a hyperkinetic piece of work, with eight players, disparate music, a zillion costumes and more scenic shifts than anyone cares to count. Forced Entertainment have been refining this approach since 1984, earning plaudits all through Europe, and have become a rare and cherishable thing in the English-speaking world: a theatre troupe that both pushes boundaries and flourishes while doing so. With MTV levelling theatres left and right, it’s nice to know that the story of Man can still include this uproarious chapter. (Steve Schneider) Stadsschouwburg, 20.15, €11.50-€22.50.

FRIDAY16 FEBRUARY Stage: Brokeback Mountain For those of you who loved the Oscar-winning gay cowboy movie, now you can enjoy the live-action stage version. Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar meet while herding sheep

during one summer in Wyoming. A deep physical and emotional bond develops between them, but at the end of the summer they go their separate ways. Years later, when they meet again, their love is rekindled. However, the situation is even more complicated, as both of them are married with children. Written by Annie Proulx, Jos van Kan directs Willem Schouten and Sieger Sloot in the heart-wrenching story of two cowboys who fell in love and the problems that arose because of this lifelong connection. Bring a hanky. (Shyama Daryanani) Frascati, 20.30. €14. Also Saturday and Monday, 20.30.

Music: Die Anarchistische Abendunterhaltung Tying in with its Vincent van Gogh and Expressionism exhibition, the Van Gogh Museum is organising special events for its extended opening hours on Friday night.

The focus is on music, as this fine art is, according to the press release, perhaps the ultimate form of expression. It’s questionable whether hiring DJs, placing armchairs and installing a bar to ‘transform the central hall into a relaxed venue for socialising’, has anything to do with the often wild and unconventional individualism behind the concept of expressionism, but having Die Anarchistische Abendunterhaltung perform shows the organisers know what they’re talking about. These four classically trained musicians from Antwerp took their name from Herman Hesse’s existentialist novel Der Steppenwolf, and have described themselves as ‘a car going in four directions at once.’ While DAAU make use of as few preconceptions as possible, their choice of instruments—violin, cello, accordion and clarinet—has lead to an idiosyncratic blend of classical music, rock, jazz, folk and even dub reggae. (Peter Bartlema) Van Gogh Museum, 20.00, €10.

Pop: Jacqueline Taïeb/Amsterdam Beat Club Once upon a groovy time, back in 1967, in Cannes, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter of Tunisian origin called Jacqueline Taïeb made French music history with her smash hit ‘7 heures du matin’. Something of a prodigy, she began writing songs at the tender age of 12, and had climbed to the top of the charts by 18. The hit became a sought-after garage classic as well as her signature song. Today, in 2007, backed up by the Amsterdam Beat Club, Taïeb will be launching an EP entitled 7 heures du soir which, in fact, was presented at MIDEM, the global music industry fair in Cannes this year—the exact same place that made her famous. Last year, Taïeb performed twice in Amsterdam to a full house of fans—one of those was a roof-raising performance at the Beat Club’s salon at Paradiso in their Hommage à Gainsbourg. Then the band began working with her on this record; she was so touched by having been invited to play here that she wrote a song called ‘Partir à Amsterdam’, also included on the EP. Go see for yourself how much energy Taïeb still has on stage. (Natasha Cloutier) Sugar Factory, 22.00, €10.

15-21 February 2007

Amsterdam Weekly

SATURDAY17 FEBRUARY Rock: Aereogramme There seems to be a growing notion that this dynamic Scottish rock quartet have undergone a change of direction in recent times. It may be true, to an extent. While the band have traditionally attracted followers from the heavy music scene and have enjoyed links to metal titans like Isis—last autumn saw the release of a collaborative mini-album as part of local distributor Konkurrent’s long-running In the Fishtank series—brand new album My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go does away with much of the loud guitars and guttural screams, replacing them with layers of strings, piano and poignant lyrics. The flipside is that these elements were always a major part of Aereogramme’s make-up, only the moments of raw intimacy were always countered by furious eruptions of noise. With much of that direct aggression removed, metal fans are left scratching their heads. For the rest of us still bewitched by their cinematic efforts—the album title is taken from The Exorcist, the novel, and many tracks take inspiration from celluloid moments—this is surely the out-of-town gig of the week. (Steven McCarron) Patronaat, 21.00, Haarlem, €9.

Party: The Bond Club When else but (2)007 for Amsterdam to get shaken and stirred by The Bond Club?

Sponsored by PR company TURTLEGUM and its man-about-town Richard T Voller, this DJ soirée promises to be worth leaving your Casual Friday-wear behind for.

Whether you’re single or attached—or, for that matter, an attaché, from near or far— set your Outlook agenda for five hours of professional boozing and schmoozing. This opening edition may honour St Valentine but, like its Hollywood namesake, The Bond Club is cool, cosmopolitan and cruisin’ all the calendar year. Tonight, after getting your welcome Kir (Casino) Royale on, multitask your way around the classy DanceStreet venue. Swing the night down on the main dance floor, learn a trick or two from the tango and salsa performers, taste-test tapas at the bar, undulate to the live salsa beats of Buena Onda and chill to the after-five-shadow-smooth jazz of DJs Juju & Jordash.

Reserve tickets at www.the-bond-club.nl or purchase at venue. (Karina Hof) DanceStreet, 21.30–02.00, €25 (€19 in advance).

Gay: Black Party Black is beautiful. Black is sexy. Black is leather. And in this case, black is party ’til you drop. Yes, this weekend is Black Party Weekend, a sort of mini-leather festival that kicks off Friday with a XXXLeather Party in Club More and a steamy afterparty in Thermos. But don’t get wasted yet, because Saturday is the infamous Black Party— with 12 hours of non-stop action and a strict dress-code of—guess what? DJs like Stevie B and The Oli from Orange in London, DJ Kae from Scandal in Ibiza and our own DJ Max Morel man the decks, all playing different pumping tunes in different areas. For the eyes, there are porn star live shows and male strippers. No doubt this will further enhance the cruisey atmosphere, making the black-clad men flock to the special play room. If you’re still haven’t had enough, there’s also a Horsemen & Night sex party at the Cockring on Sunday afternoon. (Willem de Blaauw) Lexion Avenue, 22.00-10.00, Westzaan, €25.

Gay & Lesbian: Disco Hospital Nah, it’s not some doctor and nurse fetish party and you don’t need to dress up in black, either. Though no doubt your heartbeat will get faster at this Queer Underground Dance Party. It’s organised by the wonderful Spellbound Productions, which for years has been given the jaded pink scene a much needed creative injection. Held at OCCII, the techno, electro, house, minimal and dark beats are administered by DJs Trashling, Martijn (Black Box) and Tanzbereit. The small upstairs room focuses on chilled beats and vintage soul and disco from DJs Kaseta, Toon and Dorthe. Then there are visuals from Spellbound/Art Launch regulars VJs AlexEtJeremy. Need another excuse? Well, the crowd is mixed, non-scene, cute and up for it. Plus the entrance and drinks are cheap and there’s a performance from fashionados GLOED. Be queer and be there! (Willem de Blaauw) OCCII, 23.00-late, €7.

SUNDAY18 FEBRUARY Classical: Maurizio Pollini By now, it’s not enough to speak of Maurizio Pollini as representative of another generation. He’s become a representative of another world. The grandeur and Olympian mastery of this always-astonishing pianist—who’s marking his 65th birthday with tonight’s recital—remind us of a time when music partook more of the sacred than of the street, when it was more concerned with reaching for the sublime than calculating how to snag the largest possible (paying) public. Pollini’s fingers have always been more-than-astounding, his musicality greater-than-vast. Specialising in Romantic repertory, he’s also championed 20th-century sounds, and found links to locate them within the tradition. He’s doing just that tonight, in a programme that includes works

by Berg, Boulez, Stockhausen and Liszt. So by all means go, and let his birthday be a gift to you. (Steve Schneider) Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €52/€65.

Send details and images for listing consideration at least two weeks in advance to agenda@amsterdamweekly.nl.

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Amsterdam Weekly

15-21 February 2007

The Album Leaf, see Friday

MUSIC Send listing suggestions at least two weeks in advance to agenda@amsterdamweekly.nl.

Thursday 15 February Classical: Lunch Concert Conservatorium van Amsterdam’s Royal Wind Music presents works from the 16th and 17th centuries. Muziekgebouw, 12.30, free Pop/Rock: The Frames Thanks to this all-Irish affair, the city’s Guinness bars may well be deserted this evening. The Frames seem to view Amsterdam as a home from home and the locals welcome these tuneful fellows back every time. Likewise, support band Bell X1 are all about crafting songs with the most direct melodies, so it should be a Celtic crowd-pleaser. Paradiso, Grote Zaal, 19.30, €16 + membership Classical: Borodin Quartet Performing string quartets by Galynin, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky.

Concertgebouw, Kleine Zaal, 20.15, €32.50 Classical: David Daniels A vocal concert headlined by world-renowned countertenor Daniels—one of the most highly regarded voices in modern opera—and backed by Le Point du Jour and harpsichordist Jory Vinikour. Expect electric renditions of works by Monteverdi, Castello, Marini and Scarlatti.

Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €38.25/€45 Rock: Amsterdam Underground Collective With live sets from Utrecht’s We vs Death, The Black Atlantic and Kismet. Winston Kingdom, 20.30, €5 World: Julia Sarr & Patrick Larose A new perspective on the flamenco sound. While the tones and nuances produced by French guitarist Larose are unmistakably flamenco, the rich voice and African percussion by Senegalese vocalist Sarr adds a real twist to the traditional style. KIT Tropentheater, 20.30, €18 Classical: Nederlands Blazers Ensemble With special guest, the Spanish viola da gamba maestro Jordi Savall, plus guest musicians from Italy, Turkey, Spain and the Balkans. Muziekgebouw, 20.30, €30 Latin/Jazz: Javier Girotto & Luciano Biondini They may come from different backgrounds—saxophonist Girotto’s jazz and accordionist Biondini’s tango—but when they come together, they build an impressive bridge between the two styles. Bimhuis, 21.00, €14 Experimental: Muziek Kapot Moet! Noise and curiosities by Horacio Pollard (UK), Alan Courtis (Argentina), Filthy Turd (UK) and Odal & Vulvax. OCCII, 21.00, €5 Hiphop/R&B: Prikkels Featuring Jawat!, GMB, Senna and Made in da Shade. Studio 80, 21.00, €12 Singer-songwriter: Channa Electric folk with a little punk spirit. Skek, 21.30, free Experimental: The Chaddom Blechbourne Experience Once or twice a year, you can count on Eugene Chadbourne showing up at the doors of OT301, hoping to play. What’ll he play? Now that’s another question. Tonight he’s with experimental electro girl Kevin Blechdom, and along the way you may get

some bluegrass, folk, electronica, rock, jazz or just noise. No matter how it turns out, it’s sure to be different. Very different. OT301, 21.30, €4 Pop: Moss Sweet-sounding guitar rock from this Amsterdam trio. Signed to Excelsior Recordings, tonight sees them presenting their new CD. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 22.00, €6.50 + membership

Friday 16 February Classical: Lunch Concert Featuring students from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Bethaniënklooster, 12.30, free Electronica: The Album Leaf Marvellous soundscapes from virtuoso composer Jimmy LaValle. Tied to the post rock world—LaValle originally broke out of the San Diego scene—the act are linked to the likes of Sigur Rós and The Black Heart Procession. But there’s no doubting what you’ll get tonight is a healthy dose of pretty organic electronica. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 19.00, €8 + membership Pop/Rock: Dutch Delight Featuring live sets from pEp and 2nd Place Driver. Studio 80, 20.00, €6 Classical: Talich Quartet Czech quartet, performing works by Mozart, Shostakovich and Brahms. Concertgebouw, Kleine Zaal, 20.15, €32.50 Heavy: Hardcoredoppenfestival Grrr. Argh! With angry sets from Samaritan, Eyepatch, All Heads Rise, Uptight and My City Burning. Zaal 100, 20.30, €5 Rock: Krawattenklup! Tonight may well mark the new issue of That Dam Magazine. Then again, it may well not. Still, settle down for a cosy night of indie rock and noise. Rumours on the street are that The Moi Non Plus are the worst new band in town. That’s a bit unfair. They may only be a duo, but they’re actually alright. They can even be really good, though bands without a bassist are just kidding themselves. Then there’s Pfaff and the Ik Jan Kramers, with Buster Keaton sandwiched dangerously between. Confusingly, Pfaff wants to be the Ik Jan Kramers and the Ik Jan Kramers thought they were Pfaff, but aren’t anymore, so that could get messy. Other guests include Represailles, Caspian Dance Hat, Arthur Wever and more, so even if you don’t leave with a magazine, it’s not a complete waste of time. OT301, 20.30, €6 World: L’Ham de Foc This outfit from Valencia specialise in acoustic medieval music, which acts as their departure point for exploring other sounds the Mediterranean regions. KIT Tropentheater, 20.30, €18 Classical: Nederlands Kamerkoor Jacob Regnart and Jacob Gallus peform 16th-century works.

Muziekgebouw, 20.30, €19 Pop/Rock: The Rifles Dragged along behind the back of the new new new wave of Britpop stars, this young bunch wear their favourite albums on their sleeves. As such, you get a mishmash of ideas, from The Clash to Billy Bragg. Melkweg, 20.30, sold out Jazz: Ayse Tutuncu Trio Part of the Turkey Now festival, renowned pianist Tutuncu leads his trio along a narrow path tonight, nabbing elements from both composed and improvised music. Bimhuis, 21.00, €14 Pop/Rock: De IJssel Stroomt Over... People of Overijsel unite! A wee package tour aiming to give a taste of some musical happenings away from Noord-Holland. Those taking a gamble on proceedings will be

Amsterdam Weekly

15-21 February 2007 rewarded with a free CD. Winston Kingdom, 21.00, €5 Pop: Jacqueline Taïeb/Amsterdam Beat Club The First Lady of Yé-Yé is back. See Short List. Sugar Factory, 22.00, €10 Prof Nomad’s Pink Floyd session Sure, to be an epic night of rock, the Prof has promised to go overboard on decor—the venue is rumoured to be outfitted with lasers, video screens, pyrotechnics and inflatable statues. Plans to have an inflatable pig looking down on the CPW complex have sadly been scuppered by air traffic control. Café Pakhuis Wilhelmina, 22.00, €7.50 Festival: Nederlandse Muziekdagen 2007 Three days of performances celebrating the diversity of Dutch music. Stars include Spinvis, Metropole Orkest, Radio Kamer Filharmonie, Marcel Worms and more.

Vredenburg, Utrecht, various times and prices

Classical: Viola Festival Seven days of performances and workshops celebrating the sound of the viola. Guests include the likes of Anner Bijlsma, Peter Brunt, Janet Krause, Marjolein Dispa, Michael Gieler, Nobuko Imai and many more. Conservatorium van Amsterdam, various times and prices

Sunday 18 February Classical: Eliane Rodrigues Solo recital from the Brazilian/Flemish pianist. Concertgebouw, Kleine Zaal, 11.00, €14 Opera: Tannhäuser Wagner’s 19th-century opera based on medieval songs, sagas and romantic tales.

Strap yourself in for a long haul performance—if you manage to find tickets. Het Muziektheater, 13.30, sold out Big band: Jazzmania Joined by guest sax player Dick de Graaf. Bimhuis, 14.00, €8

Saturday 17 February Opera: Radio Filharmonisch Orkest Featuring the vocalists of the Groot Omroepkoor, this matinee performance sees the world premier of Wagemans’ Legende. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 13.00, €19/€26 Opera: Otello Verdi’s operatic reworking of the Shakespeare tale, as performed by The Opera Philharmonic and Viable Opera Koor; lead performers include Daniël Smid, Michael Hayes and Annemarie Kremer. RAI, 20.00, €45-€90 Classical: Borodin Quartet (See Thursday) Concertgebouw, Kleine Zaal, 20.15, €32.50 Classical: The Russian State Symphony Orchestra Put aside your Eastern Bloc preconceptions because tonight the mood is going to be fiery and passionate in this celebration of Spanish music. Featuring guitarist Rolando Saad and conducted by Eduard Serov, the orchestra will be performing excerpts from Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, De Falla’s El Amor Brujo and Bizet’s Carmen. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €41.50 Tango: La Chicana Outfit from Buenos Aires who like their tango to have some added bite. KIT Tropentheater, 20.30, €20 Pop/Rock: Nieuw Nederlands Peil Dutch ain’t dead.

It just seems that way sometimes. Tonight’s compilation of bands from Amsterdam touches on a range of styles: rock, pop, folk, electronica. The one thread tying pEp, Kluge Leute, Winterjong, De Mannuh, Rubber and Nachtzuster together is their willingness to write and sing Dutch lyrics. Melkweg, 20.30, €8 + membership

JAYNE DUNCAN

Roots: The Roots Club Light-hearted ensemble, mixing together Americana, bluegrass, country rock and folk. Tonight they present their new CD. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 20.30, €7.50 + membership

Aereogramme

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Rock: Aereogramme Glaswegian men with beards hitting things. What’s new? See Short List. Patronaat, Haarlem, 21.00, €9 Rock: Clash Of The Five Stadium-style guitar rock in Winston, as The Hudson Five pit their riffs against The Jack’s On Five. Winston Kingdom, 21.00, €7 Jazz: Michiel Braam’s Nopera Improvising with a large ensemble is never easy, but hardly impossible, either. Braam is already well practised at the concept with his Bik Bent, and tonight brings out the best of the best, with the cast reading like a list of Amsterdam greats. Lucia Meeuwsen, Vera Westera, Sean Bergin, Wilbert de Joode, Michael Vatcher and contemporary quartet the Zapp String Quartet all take part. Bimhuis, 21.00, €14 Americana: Winter Barn Dance Honky-tonk, country and good ol’ fashioned rockabilly, with sets from Rosie Flores (US), The Big Bayou Bandits (BE) and John Miller & His Country Casuals (UK). Cruise Inn, 21.00, €7.50 Bluegrass: The Pedro Delgado’s Bluegrass gone bad. These Amsterdammers seem to have taken a beautifully peaceful music concept and ruined it. In a good way, natuurlijk. If you can’t punk up bluegrass a bit, what’s the point? Pacific Parc, 22.00, free Festival: Nederlandse Muziekdagen 2007 (See Thursday) Vredenburg, Utrecht, various times and prices

Jazz: Muziekpakhuis Jazzconcert Jazz grooves from students of the Muziekpakhuis. Zaal 100, 14.30, free Classical: Florian Just & Israel Golani Renaissance works performed by these two young musicians: baritone Just and lute and theorbo player Golani.

Bethaniënklooster, 15.00, €15 Classical: Orchestre Charlemagne Popular works by Mozart, as performed by this Belgian chamber orchestra; featuring solo violinist Sabrina-Vivian Höpcker, and conducted by Bartholomeus-Henri van de Velde.

Muziekgebouw, 15.00, €20 Pop/Rock: Nick Helderman Expo The opening of Nick Helderman’s photo exhibition is accompanied by acoustic sets from Tjeerd and Sven (Voicst), Peter and Carol (Bettie Serveert) and The Pedro Delgado’s. De Nieuwe Anita, 16.00 Rock: Tokyo Police Club, Field Music Jagged and buzzing indie rock from Toronto band Tokyo Police Club. The real stars of the night may well turn out to be Sunderland’s Field Music, who so far haven’t put a foot wrong with their eclectic lo-fi pop. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 19.00, €6 + membership Classical: Le Jardin Secret Performing a musical programme aiming to take you on a musical journey to 17-century France. Bethaniënklooster, 20.00, €15 Chanson: Alliance Française Semi-professional and amateur soloists and ensembles out to impress with their French music repertoire. Kleine Komedie, 20.15, €12.50-€16.50 Classical: Maurizio Pollini Understanding how to milk an occasion, this Italian pianist plays the second Amsterdam show to mark his 65th birthday—last month. Tonight he’s accompanied by Alain Damiens, so expect works by Boulez, Berg, Stockhausen and Liszt. See Short List. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €52/€65 Electronica: Bonobo This star of the Ninja Tune label for the last six years should attract anyone seeking understated groove electronica. AKA Simon Green, the productions by this Brit tend to make use of hiphop beats and memorable bass hooks, but when he chooses to layer the melodies, his compositions prove rather subtle, heading towards that squishy lounge territory of Kruder & Dorfmeister. Melkweg, 21.00, €10 + membership Jazz: Joe Lovano Quartet This jazz great loves Bimhuis, and Bimhuis certainly loves him back.

Tonight one of the most respected tenor sax players going is in town with his quartet, including pianist James Weidman, bassist Dennis Irwin and drummer Otis Brown III. Bimhuis, 21.00, €20 Latin/Jazz: Sensual Thick grooves and a samba pop vibe—exactly the type of dance-friendly jazz you’d expect at the WickedJazzSounds sessions. Sugar Factory, 21.00, €8.50 Festival: Nederlandse Muziekdagen 2007 (See Thursday) Vredenburg, Utrecht, various times and prices Classical: Viola Festival (See Saturday) Conservatorium van Amsterdam, various times and prices

Monday 19 February Opera: Salomé Strauss’ one-act operatic interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s play. Performed by the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln and conducted by Markus Stenz. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €55 Electronica: Brazilian Girls Eclectic New Yorkers, whose worldly breed of electronica always in the end melts down into pop music. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 21.00, €7.50 + membership Pop/Rock: Mieke Stemerdink: The Giga Show A wild combination of styles alluding to Deutsche

Attach microphones to your bike and be amazed by the sounds hidden in the nuts and bolts of your boneshaker.

FUNK UP YR FIETS AND MAKE SOME NOIZZZE

By Sarah Gehrke Cycling is more fun if you’ve got the right soundtrack: everybody in possession of a Walkman, MP3 player or any other sort of portable music device knows that. Play yourself some chilled-out summery tunes while lazily cycling through Vondelpark and the sun will shine for you, no matter what the actual weather conditions are.

Put on some drum & bass/speed metal/happy hardcore (delete according to taste—just make sure it’s got supersonic bpms) and you might just make it in time for work, after all.

The downside to this, however, is a certain loss of connection to the outside world, which not only results in the sort of modern autistic behaviour bemoaned by many, but also in traffic accidents.

Kaspar König, a Maastricht-born, Berlin-based sound artist, offers an unusual solution to this dilemma, by posing the question: what if your bike played the music itself? ‘Normally, people see it as a negative sign if their bike makes any kind of noise,’ he says, ‘because that usually means something’s wrong with it. But I decided to turn mishap into advantage.’

He’s referring to his ‘soundbike’ workshop—to be held this Monday to Wednesday—during which König will assist participants in turning their rides into musical instruments.

Anything will be allowed, from the most basic mechanisms to complicated technical devices. For example, you can apply a playing card to the wheel so that it flips through the spokes as you cycle, thereby producing a beat. However, you might also wish to attach a six-track recorder, which will record the sounds that different parts of your bicycle are producing, then have it amplified through a set of speakers. ‘It’s amazing what sounds there are hidden in a moving bike,’ König says. Connecting ‘real’ instruments to your two-wheeler and having them triggered by the turning wheels is also an option.

The full scope of a soundbike’s possibilities are best experienced when one is taken out onto the roads. ‘The street is the biggest score in the world,’ according to König. ‘Also, I believe that some streets sound better that others, depending on the traffic, the architecture, the sound that a certain tramline is making, and so on.’

Sound good to you? Then throw away your tapes, delete your playlists, and ride your bike over to STEIM’s studio next week. You might get to hear the world with different ears.

Soundbikes Workshop: Bike Your Beat, 19-22 February, STEIM, 10.00-17.00, Achtergracht 19, 622 8690, €100, registration: www.steim.org

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Amsterdam Weekly Grande Dames such as Zarah Leander, Marlene Dietrich and Nina Hagen, and then thrown around with the glamour of Roxy Music—all presented by singer Mieke Stemerdink and band. Sugar Factory, 21.00, €7.50

15-21 February 2007

CLUBS Thursday 15 February U Vraagt, Wij Draaien AKA ‘You do all the work and we’ll walk with all the bar profits’, this is your opportunity to mould a club night you actually like by digging out your favourite CDs, and that much-loved track you only have on a mixtape from 1991. Café Pakhuis Wilhelmina, 20.00-late, free

DNK-Amsterdam Experimental: DNK-Amsterdam Electro-acoustic live sessions and experiments. OT301, 21.30, €4 Classical: Viola Festival (See Saturday) Conservatorium van Amsterdam, various times and prices

Tuesday 20 February Classical: Schubert Special An unlikely combination on paper as tonight sees the Schönberg Ensemble, Asko Ensemble and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century working together to mark the work of Franz Schubert—both in authentic form and as restored by Italian composer Luciano Berio. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €23.50 Classical: Calefax Reed Quintet Performing Bach’s The Art of Fugue. Muziekgebouw, 20.30, €17.50 Singer-songwriter: Sunshine Roots With sets from Shane Alexander from LA, Rotterdammer Dennis Kolen and Amsterdammer Lee Mason. Winston Kingdom, 20.30, €5

Poppourri Student Night: Hitsig Pop hits for students who can’t afford anything but the music. Club 8, 22.00-03.00, €5 Vreemd Outlandish electro and live performances.

Tonight brings a Valentine’s special, but with this bunch, you never know if they’ll he handing out little pink hearts or ripping them from chests. Sugar Factory, 23.00-05.00, €7.50 Dirty Disco With Moderndancing, brnrd and VJ Bin. Studio 80, 23.00-late, €5 Poptrash Three decades’ worth of rock, electro and hiphop with The Punchout DJs. Melkweg, 23.00 late, €4

Friday 16 February Extravers A multidimensional art club concept incorporating: techno DJs Daphne Darretta and Renzo, live music by Stikka, the art of Olaf Mooij, Marius van der Pol and LotteZ, and performances by Molly TV, Lauren and Carolien. Club 8, 22.00-04.00, €7.50

Classical: Viola Festival (See Saturday) Conservatorium van Amsterdam, various times and prices

Rednose Distrikt DJs Aardvarck and Steven de Peven lead this birthday bash for DJ Abstract. Bitterzoet, 22.00-04.00, €7.50

Wednesday 21 February

The Zoo A dating special, featuring DJs Chuckie, Frederik Abas and Jeremaine S. The Zebra, 22.00-04.00, €10

Classical: Lunch Concert Featuring organist Nico Blom and pianist Olga Malkina. Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 12.30, free Pop/Rock: The Decemberists If you’re looking to mix cunning storytelling with adventurous indie music, look no further than The Decemberists. While your average pop band is content to play around with verse-chorus-verse structures and sparse narratives, the lyrics of songwriter Colin Meloy typically read like screenplays. Words only go so far, however: forget not that this hardy ensemble have been responsible for just as many twists and turns in their compositions, and while new album The Crane Wife sees them take another step up the production ladder, it’s as bittersweet and effective as anything from their back catalogue. Paradiso, Grote Zaal, 19.30, €17 + membership Blues: Bjorn Berge There’s no mistaking the sound of the blues, but when it comes to Norwegian performer Berge, there’s a little added something. Maybe it’s a fury, maybe just passion. Either way, his guitar takes a real whipping on stage. Paradiso, Kleine Zaal, 20.00, €7.50 + membership Classical: Het Nederlands Studenten Orkest Performing Padding’s Two Scenes for Orchestra; Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1; and Mahler’s Symphony No.5; conducted by Jurjen Hempel.

Concertgebouw, Grote Zaal, 20.15, €15 Rock: 3xLive Math punk, bluesy indie noise and rock from Les Louise Mitchels (France), Atlantic Cable (Czech republic) and The Walt. OCCII, 21.00, €5 Ska: Athena If you thought the Turkey Now festival was going to be all about classical and jazz performances, you’d be mistaken. Athena are very much a pop act who put on hugely popular Turkish shows, as they embrace that classic ska sound. Fans of the band will have the building bouncing. Melkweg, 21.00, €10 + membership Reggae: Jam Session Led by Ghettowish. Musicians and vocalists welcome. Volta, 21.00, free Pop/Rock: Ponoka Melodic guitar pop with the band presenting new album Hindsight. Winston Kingdom, 21.00, €5 Jazz: TryTone Festival Experimental jazz projects and concepts, tonight featuring the Natalio Sued Trio, Dance, Electronics and Piano and Klee. Zaal 100, 21.00, €5

Bernie’s Burning Lounge The flaming party night returns, promising anything from Brazilian beats to Balkan swing, with unquantifiable detours along the way. Tonight Bernie’s Lounge are joined by MPS PILOT, Beambuzz and Jaqueline Taïeb. Sugar Factory, 22.00-05.00, €10 Bodyrock With Mesjokke DJs, Freddy’s Pool, Natarcia and J-Harlem. Sinners, 23.00-05.00, €11 Fashion Radio & Re-Disco-Very Stylish disco grooves, with Lupe, Les Deux D’Electrique and Mason.

Studio 80, 23.00-late, €7.50 ¿Que Pasa? Latin-crossover night with reggae, folk, ska, punk and mestizo. Melkweg, 23.00-late, €7 + membership Para 300 Detroit techno and house in the Grote Zaal, with special guest Carl Craig (Planet-E, Detroit) and San Proper. Upstairs, focus shifts to top notch instrumental hiphop, with tunes provided by Flying Lotus (Plug Research, LA), Cinnamon and Tom Trago. Paradiso, 23.59-04.00, €15

Saturday 17 February Club Rascal Indie rock to dance to, shoegaze-free.

Club 8, 21.30-04.00, €5 The Bond Club Double-oh smooth Valentine’s soirée.

See Short List. DanceStreet, 21.30–02.00, €25 Blue Note Trip Blue Note tunes from DJ maestro and friends. Bitterzoet, 22.00-04.00, €7.50 Pret! New hits and classics, with a pop dance live set from Shake Y’all. Café Meander, 22.00-04.00, €4 Vonk Featuring Erick E, Timmy Vegas (Soul Central, UK), Billy the Klit, Baggi Begovic, Steven Quarré (Hed Kandi, NL) and MC La Voce. Hotel Arena, 22.00-04.00, €15 Versch An art and performance party. Audio and visuals fill up the first half of the affair. After midnight, attention switches to the pumping electro provided by Daso (DE), Mark August and others. Sugar Factory, 22.00-05.00, €10 Voltt With an international techno and electro crowd, featuring the likes of Gaiser, Ricardo Villalobos, Bart Skils, Claro Intelecto, JPLS and Daniel Stefanik. Paradiso, 22.00-05.00, €22

Jazz: Young VIPs on Tour Featuring sets from the Franz von Chossy Trio and the Harmen Fraanje Quartet. Bimhuis, 21.00, €12

#702 Club night inspired by Pantone, Quark Xpress, The Beach Boys, Planning to Rock, the Angry Samoans, Technotronic, MF Doom and tight mixes.

OT301, 22.00-late, €5

Classical: Viola Festival (See Saturday) Conservatorium van Amsterdam, various times and prices

Kobyashi Breaks & bleeps, futuristic techno and hard Detroit sounds. Headlining with a live set tonight are

Amsterdam Weekly

15-21 February 2007

STAGE

ART

Opening

Opening

Music/Dance: Carmen La Cuadra de Sevilla’s take on the Bizet opera, with a raw flamenco feel, based on the Carmen de Triana version. Carré, (Daily 20.00, Sun also 16.00), €10-€49

Oog—Eye Images from WM Hunt’s collection which all have one thing in common—the subject is never looking into the lens. By showing people with their eyes shut or looking down, veiled or wounded, or with their face or body turned away from the camera, the photos prevent any sense of contact between the viewer and the subject, even in a close-up. Foam (Sun-Wed 10.00-17.00, Thur, Fri 10.00-21.00), opens Thursday, until 15 April

Theatre: The World In Pictures The much-lauded British theatre company Forced Entertainment presents their chaotic and hilarious attempt to tell the story of mankind. In English. See Short List. Stadsschouwburg, (Thur 20.15), €11.50-€22.50 Theatre: Wake Me When It’s Summer Following the death of his father and tired of life in London, Frank decides to return to his Northern England roots. But with his girlfriend unsettled, his mother unhinged and his best friend past his best, will Frank find the simple life he seeks? An existential adventure performed by the In Players. In English. Crea Theater, (Thur-Sat 20.15, Sat, Sun also 14.00), €14

Black Party, Gay & Lesbian, see Saturday

Ulterior, backed by resident Jeremy Norris and DJ Pis. Café Pakhuis Wilhelmina, 22.00-late, €5 De Shit! Electro disco, uplifting minimal and broken beats. With DJs Rosso, Rubywax and Hepcat. De Kring, 23.00-04.00, €6 Go!Crunc Diverse house sounds. Leroy Styles, Dekky, Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano are just some of the DJs driving this party. Panama, 23.00-04.00, €15 De Revolutie The eclectic, hiphop and house sounds chez Odeon are overpowered by artists, DJs and MCs tonight. There’s even a karaoke room—visit at your peril. Odeon, 23.00-05.00, €15 Passion Clubhouse and electro. Odeon, 23.00-05.00, €10 Nope Is Dope A busy electro line-up tonight. Just some of the cast are Erick E, Laidback Luke, Sidney Samson and Don Diablo. The Powerzone, 23.0006.00, €12.50

GAY& LESBIAN Thursday 15 February Pimp My Drink Beef up your booze with an extra shot of spirits for just €1. PRIK, free Jamsessie Bring an instrument. Or some jam. Custom Café Sugar, 19.00, free

Friday 16 February

eRRorKREW Creative creatures of the night, with sets from Rombout(SubUnited), V-Neal, Kwik and a mystery live act. In Room 2, the Jazzamusica crew will be blazing a trail of jazz, funk and soul. Studio 80, 23.00late, €9

Vrouwenavond Oh yes it’s ladies’ night and everything’s all right, oh yes it’s lesbian ladies’, their straight female and gay and straight male friends’ night. Oh what a night. Café Sappho, 21.00-03.00, free

Dance Arena Alternative dance, pop and rock. Melkweg, 23.59-late, €7 + membership

Twisted Tunes Tonight’s DJ: Adrian-T. PRIK, 22.0003.00, free

Sunday 18 February

Saturday 17 February

HushHush With The Fabulous Turntable Orchestra, Opgevogeld and Jaziah. Jimmy Woo, 23.00-03.00, €8

Twisted House Tunes DJ Bo spins the sound that began in the Windy City. PRIK, 22.00-03.00, free

WickedJazzSounds Jazz, hiphop, broken beats, nu-jazz, funk and Afro sounds, as classic vinyl collides with live musicians. Sugar Factory, 23.00-05.00, €8.50

Black Party Dark ’n’ moody circuit party. See Short List. Lexion Avenue, Westzaan, 22.00-10.00, €25 Disco Hospital Spellbound’s cure for whatever ails you. See Short List. OCCII, 23.00-late, €7

Monday 19 February

Sunday 18 February

Cheeky Monday Jungle and drum & bass night. Winston Kingdom, 22.00-03.00, €6

Cinema! Tonight, a screening of episode three and four of the UK TV programme Sugar Rush, about two teenagers’ sexual shenanagins in Brighton. Custom Café Sugar, 19.00, free

Tuesday 20 February

Furball Café If your hairy, beary, or merely a fur-loving Mary, this is the place for you. Tonight, get a free HepB jab courtesy of GGD between 19.00 and 22.00. Go on: you know it matters. PRIK, 19.00-01.00, free

Tuesday 20 February

Merage (Hiphopclub) Hiphopclub Featuring Kiddo Cee (live), Merage (live), Switch, Turn, Love Supreme, Rapstar Cypfer and Rachid Larouz. Studio 80, 21.00, €5 Bass Culture Reggae and dancehall night. Special guests include Brother Marcus and K-Wida. Bitterzoet, 21.30-03.00, €5

Wednesday 21 February Rock the Pop! An intoxicating mix of cocktails and pop (and rock) music. Sugar Factory, 23.00-04.00, €5

Movie Night No film tonight, but three episodes of Sex and the City (you know, the HBO series where the oddly dressed equine-featured one, the ginger one, the old one and the other one buy shoes then eat cake). There are also €5 cocktails and a clothes exchange. Bring along any old garments you don’t want, and you too could look like Sarah Jessica Parker! PRIK, free

Wednesday 21 February F*cking Pop Queers Tonight featuring Manga, Claudette, Kmart, The Sophisticated Faders and RFH Delfos. Get your booty on the floor tonight. Make my day. Studio 80, 22.00-05.00, free before 00.00, €5 after Bückstück.brutale Musik DJs play interesting, unusual and worthy tunes until midnight. PRIK, Tues-Thur 16.00-01.00, Fri-Sat 16.00-03.00, free

15

Cabaret: Terminaal An unconventional and often absurdist tale based on the fact that we’ve all gotta die one day by the Flemish cabaret duo Gino Sancti. In Dutch. Theater Bellevue, (Thur-Sat 20.30), €12 Ballet: La Bayadère In Russia the story of the love between the Indian temple dancer Nikiya and the warrior Solor has touched the hearts of ballet audiences for some 130 years, and after the Kirov Ballet brought La Bayadère to the West, the work became a cornerstone of the repertoire of several Western ballet companies. It is, however, the first time Het Nationale Ballet have tackled it. Het Muziektheater, (Thur-Sat, Tues, Wed 20.00, Sat also 14.00), €20-€50 Theatre: Wraakoefening Inspired by the works of Sylvia Plath, this play by Joëlke Sanderse and Daniëlle van de Ven dares to question where responsibility ends, and what happens if the facade between the individual and the outside world breaks down. In Dutch. Frascati, (Thur-Sat, Tues, Wed 21.00), €12 Theatre: Vasio-Levsky A comic theatre event, in which two shady businessmen try to muck about with the audience. Includes cheesy PowerPoint presentations, unidentifiable borrelhappen and a glum financial advisor. In Dutch. De Brakke Grond, (Fri, Sat 20.30), €12

Brokeback Mountain Music/Theatre: Brokeback Mountain Yeeeee-haw! A stage adaptation of Annie Proulx’s novel about two cowboys in love, famous since last year’s award-winning film version by Ang Lee. In Dutch. See Short List.

Frascati, (Fri, Sat, Mon 20.30), €14 Music/Dance: Wonderland #4 Dancers Makiko Ito, Sylvain Meret and Alexandra Manasse, plus musicians Colin McLean and Andy Moor present a new fantasy work, for both young and old. OT301, (Sun 16.00), €4 Theatre: De Kopvoeter A play about a disabled artist who paints with her mouth. As her popularity begins to surges and her works become known, she feels it crucial to keep her handicap a secret. In Dutch.

Rozentheater, (Tues, Wed 20.00), €11 Music/Theatre: Café Noir A nightclub show inspired by the worlds of film noir and gangster musicals. With musical works by André Previn, Elmer Bernstein, Tom Waits, Kurt Weill and Leonard Cohen. Theater Bellevue, (Tues, Wed 20.30), €12 Theatre: Het Wijde Land Arthur Schnitzler’s tragicomedy about adultery and marriage morals, in a production by Theu Boermans and De Theatercompagnie. In Dutch. Stadsschouwburg, (Wed 20.15), €10-€18.50

LFTFLD Art Show A selection of works by raw talents who’ve impressed with previous submissions in LFTFLD, the counterculture mag which is celebrating its third birthday. Artists include Eva Roovers, Ina Smits, Morcky, Lil’Shy, Dennis van Doorn, Timothy van Vliet and a bunch more. Chiellerie (Fri-Sun, Wed 14.00-18.00), opens Friday, closing Thursday Mapping the City This group exhibition focuses on the relationship between artists and the city from 1960 to the present day. With works by Doug Aitken, Francis Alÿs, Stanley Brouwn, Matthew Buckingham, Philip Lorca diCorcia and many more. See article on p. 18.

Stedelijk Museum CS (Daily 10.00-18.00), opens Friday, until 20 May Ten Klooster: A Man With Two Lives Showing over 50 works by the Indonesian-Dutch artist Ten Klooster, varying from paintings to wood engravings. Tropenmuseum (Daily 10.00-17.00), opens Friday, until 20 May Erik Parker: Liner Notes Parker’s large-scale, colourful paintings stylistically fit into the tradition of ’80s graffiti, ’60s psychedelic album covers and comic strips. Often they depict a hallucinogenic world, but lying below is a sharp analysis of Western subcultures.

De Appel (Tues-Sun 11.00-18.00), opens Saturday, until 15 April Het Schaduwkabinet: Parts I & II In The Ghost of James Lee Byars Calling, the Berlin-based American artist Erik Smith fuses work by conceptual performance artist James Lee Byars with imagery from the black and death metal scenes to reflect Byars’ preoccupation with his own death. Route A1 is a playful project exploring the tension between uniqueness and reproduction through 10 artists’ creations of A1 posters. Besides those on display at De Appel, framed copies of the posters will be on view for four weeks throughout the city. The intended statement is one of guerilla action exploiting the poster as mass media exponent to territorialise alternative art space. De Appel (Tues-Sun 11.00-18.00), opens Saturday, until 15 April Konstruierte Landschaften Dramatic landscape paintings by Aquil Copier, with particularly vivid views from the sky. Saskia de Maree’s paintings represent an industrialised culture, but captured in bright and bold colours, a new perspective is offered. AYAC’S (Fri, Sat 13.00-17.30), opens Saturday, until 24 February Oskar Nilsson/Mattijs van den Bosch Nilsson presents Hello Noir/(secret supper)/Memories from Provance a series of paintings bubbling with personal mythology and home-made symbolism. Moroccanborn artist Van den Bosch shows paintings of street scenes and working men, created over the last couple of years. De Praktijk (Wed-Sat 13.00-18.00), opens Saturday, until 17 March Renata del Medico: Soft Landscapes Italian architect who creates landscape installations from textiles.

Galerie Ra (Tues-Sat 12.00-18.00), opens Saturday, until 17 March South Korean Artists Works by three South Korean artists: copper wire sculptures by Cheong Kwang-Ho, photography by Hong Song-Do and paintings by Nampyo Kim. Canvas International Art (Thur-Sat 14.00-18.00), Amstelveen, opens Saturday, until 17 March

Ongoing

Steven Shearer The motifs for many of this Canadian artist’s colourful canvases come from the obscure, suburban subculture of the American heavy metal scene and its various Scandinavian offshoots. Not something you’d typically find in a gallery, the satanic imagery and scenes of violence are nevertheless fascinating, and Shearer pulls off a historic dialogue with the titans of European painting, from Bosch and Breughel to Bonnard and Munch—all undisputed masters of the melancholic and the gothic spirit. De Appel (Tues-Sun 11.00-18.00), opens Saturday, until 15 April

Theatre: Late Night Studio: Thom Pain Will Eno’s off-Broadway smash about a young man who appears out of the wilderness to offer his views about our world. In Dutch. Rozentheater, (Thur-Sat 22.15), €7.50

Nick Helderman Photos of bands from the Amsterdam rock scene: Voicst, Bettie Serveert, Blues Brother Castro, et al. De Nieuwe Anita, opens Sunday, until 4 March

Music/Theatre: Public Animal Inspired by the life and works of Cornelis Bastiaan Vaandrager, John Buijsman plays the Dutch writer and poet as an ambiguous, obsessed and tragic character in this musical production. In Dutch. Theater Bellevue, (Wed 20.30), €1

16

Amsterdam Weekly

15-21 February 2007

Oog—Eye, see Opening

Museums Facts, Fictions and Stories The first solo exhibition in the Netherlands by the South African photographers Adam Broomberg (1970) and Oliver Chanarin (1971), featuring their most recent work, Chicago . This collection shows various aspects of the war and propaganda in Israel, as well as the series Mr. Mkhize’s Portrait, which casts a glance at South Africa 10 years after the end of apartheid. Stedelijk Museum CS (Fri-Wed 10.00-18.00), until 25 February Anton Rooskens A tribute to Anton Rooskens (19061976), co-founder of the CoBrA movement and one of the Netherlands’ leading post-war experimentalists.

This extensive exhibition features painterly highlights from his body of work. CoBrA Museum (Tues-Sun 11.00-17.00), until 25 February Gregory Crewdson: Retrospective 1985-2005 Since the mid-’80s, New York photographer Crewdson has created six carefully staged photo series in which he presents the world as an obscure cinematographic dream. Against the background of suburban America, he explores the fears, neuroses and desires that are deeply rooted in everyday modern life. Fotomuseum (Tues-Sun 12.00-18.00), Den Haag, until 25 February Vincent van Gogh and Expressionism The first show to highlight the impact of Van Gogh on German and Austrian Expressionists. Van Gogh Museum (Mon-Thur, Sat, Sun 10.00-18.00, Fri 10.00-22.00), until 4 March Bare Hidden poverty in the Netherlands is the theme for this year’s annual ‘Document Nederland’ photography assignment organised by the Rijksmuseum and NRC Handelsblad. The works show those who literally live ‘below the minimum’. Photographer Geert van Kesteren leads the exhibition. Huis Marseille (TuesSun 11.00-18.00), until 4 March Bert Teunissen: Domestic Landscapes Taking more than 300 photos for this project over the last decade, Teunissen has been in search of the light that he remembers from his parental home, while also documenting an authentic way of life that is disappearing.

Huis Marseille (Tues-Sun 11.00-18.00), until 4 March Capricious Inspired by the New York/Amsterdam based cutting-edge photography magazine of the same name, Capricious presents works by six young and experimental photographers. Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam (Tues-Sun 11.00-17.00), until 4 March TJ Wilcox: A Fair Tale & Garland One The American artist TJ Wilcox makes short films featuring characters such as Marie Antoinette, the Roman emperor Hadrian and the family Romanov’s bull dog. By using subtitles and refraining from clear story lines in favour of an open relationship between images and content, Wilcox leaves room for the viewers’ imagination. Stedelijk Museum CS (Daily 10.00-18.00), until 4 March Ringel Goslinga: Family Tree A black-and-white photo series showing portraits of people in the artist’s immediate surroundings. By presenting these in the form of a family tree, Goslinga illustrates the social structures that develop out of a personal network of friends, family and coincidental acquaintances. Foam (Sun-Wed 10.0017.00, Thur, Fri 10.00-21.00), until 7 March The Girlfriend Experience Martin Butler presents four human avatars to play with. Log in at home to control your character of choice—direct the avatar, explore the space and challenge him or her. The four participants can also be observed live in Mediamatic three nights a week. Mediamatic (Wed-Fri 18.00-23.00), until 9 March

Collectors in St Petersburg A celebration of the cosmopolitan nature of early 20th-century St Petersburg, when the city was so prosperous that its art scene flourished and expansive collections were born. Hermitage Amsterdam (Daily 10.00-17.00), until 11 March French Passion During the early 20th century, private collectors in the Netherlands acquired many masterpieces by painters including Monet, Daubigny, Cézanne and other famed French artists. This exhibition provides an overview of the pieces united at the time. Centraal Museum (Tues-Sun 11.00-17.00), Utrecht, until 11 March Just In Time The annual Municipal Art Acquisitions exhibitions allow for an overview of cultural activity in Amsterdam in the areas of visual art, photography, design and applied arts. Each year the show pivots on one discipline—or a combination of various disciplines—and works are acquired from it for the Stedelijk Museum collection. Stedelijk Museum CS (Fri-Wed 10.00-18.00), until 11 March Affichetentoonstelling A chance to view impressive selections from the Filmmuseum’s mammoth collection of old film posters from across the decades.

Filmmuseum (Mon-Fri 09.00-22.15, Sat, Sun one hour prior to show-22:15), until 14 March Bodies Something of a controversial exhibition, though undoubtedly also hugely popular as it tours the world, this is one anatomy lesson you won’t forget. Making use of dissected corpses in a range of poses, real foetuses and a large selection of human organs, the collection aims to educate and remind us how remarkable the human body is. Beurs van Berlage (Thur-Sat 10.00-22.00, Sun-Wed 10.0018.00), until 15 March Geef mij maar Amsterdam A melodious tribute to Mokum as AHM ventures into the musical past and present. From classic Amsterdam liedjes that reverberated from pub doorways to the modern beats and urban rhymes born from some of the city’s poorest districts, this is a chance to re-hear some sonorant moments and enjoy a singalong, too. Amsterdams Historisch Museum (Mon-Fri 10.00-17.00, Sat, Sun 11.00-17.00), until 18 March Kees de Kort A tribute to 40 years of painting, illustrating and designing by the Dutch artist. His work shows biblical inspiration but also a great fascination with animals. Bijbels Museum (Mon-Sat 10.00-17.00, Sun 11.00-17.00), until 18 March August Sander: People of the 20th Century A representative selection of vintage prints from the German photographer’s (1876-1964) world-famous project.

Proposing to chart the entire structure of society of his day, the result was a sociological project, a historical document and a photographic masterpiece. Foam (Sun-Wed 10.00-17.00, Thur, Fri 10.00-21.00), until 21 March Groene Vingers A close look at Amsterdam’s ‘green fingers’—the areas of the city pre-designed to pierce the urbanity. Found all over, they were created for various reasons, but by and large their function is to bring recreation in green space closer to the city dweller. ARCAM (Tues-Sat 13.00-17.00), until 31 March Seeing is Knowing: Perspectives in Dutch Architecture An opportunity for locals to finally take in the Netherlands’ entry at the 10th International Architecture Biennale of Venice in 2006, which explores the nation’s cities as complete, inhabitable environments rather than simply collections of disconnected buildings. Zuiderkerk (Mon 11.00-16.00, Tues-Fri 09.00-16.00, Sat 12.00-16.00), until 31 March

15-21 February 2007 Eva’s Story Showing paintings of Erich and Heinz Gieringer made while they were in hiding from the Nazi prosecutors. Verzetsmuseum (Tues-Fri 10.0017.00), until 6 April Aanwinsten 2005-2006 A presentation of recent purchases, including pieces by Francis Alÿs, Mike Kelley, William Kentridge, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Aernout Mik and Thomas Ruff. Stedelijk Museum CS (Fri-Wed 10.00-18.00), until 9 April Istanbul From Byzantium to the Ottomans, from Constantinople to Istanbul: the exhibition focuses on Ottoman heritage, displaying nearly 300 treasures of the sultans, including exhibits from Topkapi Palace Museum. Nieuwe Kerk (Thur 10.00-22.00, Fri-Wed 10.00-18.00), until 15 April Jan van der Heyden The first monographic exhibition since 1937 of one of the leading 17th-century painters of Dutch cityscapes. He was also fascinated by firefighting and is still remembered to this day by many as the inventor of the fire hose. Rijksmuseum (Daily 09.00-18.00), until 30 April Architecture of the Night: Luminous Buildings A voyage into the dark night and the beautiful buildings and lighting designs that can transform the look and feel of cities. There’s an environmental message, too, with focus on light pollution and energy efficiency.

Nederlands Architectuurinstituut (Tues-Sat 10.0017.00. Sun 11.00-17.00), Rotterdam, until 6 May Behind the Curtains Fifteen innovative architectural designs by Willem Jan Neutelings and Michiel Riedijk, whose expressive buildings are icons within cities, appreciated equally by tenants and passers-by. Museum Hilversum (Tues-Sat 11.00-17.00, Sun 12.00-17.00), Hilversum, until 6 May Che! An analysis of the posterboy for the revolution, whose starting point is Korda’s 1960 portrait. Tropenmuseum (Daily 10.00-17.00), until 6 May Beauty and the Bead: From Madonna to the Maasai This first exhibition ever to focus on beads as a worldwide phenomenon features beaded costumes from every epoch and all corners of the earth. Tropenmuseum (Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00, Sun 12.00-17.00), until 13 May Moderniteit in de Tropen: Architectuur in Nederlands-Indië This collection features photographs, drawings and maquettes from Indonesia between 1850 and 1950. Nederlands Architectuurinstituut (Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00, Sun 11.00-17.00), Rotterdam, until 3 June Lucebert. Drawings Gouaches, drawings in Indian ink and works on paper in mixed media, dating from 1948 to 1993. CoBrA Museum (Tues-Sun 11.00-17.00), until 3 June Flowers Under the Magnifying Glass: A Homage to Linnaeus A celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus (17071778), who studied and worked in the Netherlands from 1735 to 1738. In collaboration with the National Herbarium Nederland, this exhibition provides an overview of depictions of flowers, mainly by Dutch artists or artists who worked in the Netherlands.

Teylers Museum (Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00, Sun 12.0017.00), Haarlem, until 3 June De Engelse Kerk op het Begijnhof: 1607-2007 Exhibition marking the 400th anniversary of the English Reformed Church. Amsterdams Historisch Museum (Mon-Fri 10.00-17.00, Sat, Sun 11.00-17.00), until 17 June

Galleries Frank Hannon: Upside Down Rabbit Country Irish artist Frank Hannon presents musical installations and collages. Galerie Juliette Jongma (Wed-Sat 13.0018.00), closing Saturday Jan van de Pavert Showing works by Dutch sculptor and painter Van de Pavert (1960). Galerie Paul Andriesse (Tues-Fri 11.00-18.00, Sat 14.00-18.00), closing Saturday Baghdad Disco: Arno Coenen A shiny sardonic video by the virtual reality games artist. Carl Berg Gallery (Thur-Sat 13.00-18.00), closing Saturday

Amsterdam Weekly

LEKKER BEZIG Rijerse also teachWhile Mayor Job ELS RIJERSE es painting and Cohen has been busy Sculptor sculpture, something trying to close down 30 that she loves: ‘It’s very or so windows in the inspiring. The most Red Light District, important things I try artist Els Rijerse has to teach my students been working on a are to dare and to sculpture in honour of develop freedom when the sex workers. The they work. I also work statue, which will be two days in a nursing unveiled some time in home as an activity March, is an initiative attendant. This is for from Mariska Majoor, financial reasons, but an ex-prostitute who I also find it really now runs the Protituimportant to work tie Informatie with people. If I just Centrum (PIC). worked in my work‘I studied at the Rijksacademie van True, De Wallen and pros- shop I would get alienated from sociBeeldende Kunsten in titution is not my world, ety.’

Amsterdam,’ says but...

As well as being a Rijerse. ‘I’ve always monument to the had a knack for drawworking girls of the ing and later I started Rosse Buurt, part of what Rijerse’s sculpto paint and to illustrate. The latter just ture will symbolise is admiration for a happened by accident, when a publisher friend. ‘Mariska Majoor and I go back a friend of mine asked me to illustrate long way. We’ve known each other for ages, some children’s books for special educaand she admires my work. True, De tion. The emphasis in my work is on Wallen and prostitution is not my world, spatial stuff, but I love to illustrate as but I find Mariska’s work for the PIC very well. I just have to make sure I don’t fritimportant. That’s why I didn’t have to ter away my talent doing too many think long before I said “yes” when she different things. asked me to make a statue. She will donate ‘When I make a statue, it has to be perit as a symbol to all these women and men fect from all angles. This makes it who work in the sex industry. I made a hard—but at the same time it’s a chaldesign of a woman who stands in a doorlenge. Paintings are more about way, on a little staircase, with her hands composition and colours. Then again, on her side. The feeling is that of someone there are no rules in the arts. Sometimes a who’s proud.’ painting with an unlikely combination of colours and a non-obvious composition

By Willem de Blaauw can make a fabulous work.’

Paradise Love Bar A group exhibition featuring works by three young and upcoming artists: installations and drawings by Aisling Hedgecock (Ireland); video art and photographs by Alice Finbow (England); and installations and paper cut-outs by Sangeeta Sandrasegar (Australia). Galerie Gabriel Rolt (Wed-Sun 12.00-18.00), until 24 February

Thomas Hoepker: Muhammed Ali Photographs of the infamous charismatic boxer, in and out of the ring, by the renowned German photographer.

Galerie Wouter van Leeuwen (Thur-Sat 12.00-18.00), until 24 February

Kunst in Exodus 2007 Artists in exile. This collection features works from Persheng Warzandegan, Shafiq Soroush, Raouf Saleh and Zenon Abdalla. De Levante (Wed-Sun 13.00-17.30), until 24 February

Althea Thauberger: Alone Again (In the Likeness of Life) The Canadian artist’s first solo show in Europe, this exhibition presents five video and audio works, showing social and political allegories with an almost purist and vivid visuality. bak (Wed-Sat 12.0017.00, Sun 13.00-17.00), Utrecht, until 25 February

Between Dog and Wolf Chrystel Lebas’ photographs taken in forests in England, France, Germany, Finland and Japan. See Short List. Gallery Vassie (Wed-Sat 13.00-18.00), until 24 February

W139 Coloured Reopening exhibition with works by Iris Kensmil, Paul Drissen, Peter Vos, Adriaan Rees and Rob Birza. W139 (Sun-Thur 11.00-20.00, Fri, Sat 11.00-22.00), until 25 February

Helen Verhoeven In Verhoeven’s paintings, a sense of unrest often combines with a feeling of harmony as she blends everyday sceneries with unusual and sometimes disgusting images. Galerie Fons Welters (Tues-Sat 13.00-18.00), until 24 February

Corcoran Subtitled ‘Strategies of Confinement in the Age of Biopolitics’, this exhibition features installation works by Alexandra Croitoru, Johan Grimonprez, Mladen Miljanovic, Solmaz Shahbazi and Sean Snyder. De Brakke Grond (Mon 10.00 18.00, Tues-Fri 10.00-20.30, Sat 13.00-20.30, Sun 13.00-17.00), until 25 February

Min Kim New drawings and paintings. Torch Gallery (Thur-Sat 14.00-18.00), until 24 February Rutger Emmelkamp Emmelkamp’s objects are often the result of a long and intensive labour process yielding a focus on the coherence of concept, work and meaning. Galerie Fons Welters (Tues-Sat 13.0018.00), until 24 February

We Make Art Multidisciplinary artworks from some of Holland’s freshest young artists. Starting with a list of 65, Jan Maarten Voskuil (Arti), Christine van de Bergh (outLINE) and Christine Sluysmans (Kunstenaars CO) were handed the task of whittling it down to a short list of 15. Arti et Amicitiae (Tues-

17 Sun 13.00-18.00), until 25 February Abstract Accents Works by three European painters living and working in the Netherlands: Jack Allick, Pascale Bazille and Bernhard von Braun. ABC Treehouse (Thur-Sun 13.00-18.00), until 25 February The Art of Fashion Fashion-inspired works by young artists, including Merel Boers, Liselotte Schuppers, Monica Ragazzini and Cindy Jeurissen. ArtOlive (MonFri 11.00-17.00, Sun 12.00-17.00), until 25 February Docentenexpositie Featuring the works of two key Fotogram teachers: Peter Dammers and Malou van Breevoort. Fotogram (Mon-Thur 11.00-22.00, Fri, Sat 11.00-16.30), until 28 February Sven-Ole Frahm: Grace of Schwerkraft Paintings by the German artist, whose work is characterised by socalled ‘dual images’. Aschenbach & Hofland Galleries (Wed-Sat 12.00-17.00), until 4 March Marie Cecile Thijs: Portretten Photographic portraits

by Thijs, who makes use of symbolism to unravel stories about those portrayed, as well as the viewer.

Melkweg Galerie (Wed-Sun 13.00-20.00), until 4 March Foodology Bringing together arts and crafts and ‘high’ and ‘low’ art, this show by Toyoko Shimada focuses on eating habits and fashion codes. Hence, a Japanese dress bordered with macaroni, a necklace made from peanuts and other unusual creations. Platform 21 (Wed-Sun 12.00-18.00), until 4 March Roos Houniet & Jelte Eikenaar Both artists graduated from the Rietveld Academy in 2005: Houniet with a video installation, Eikenaar with paintings. A new project combines both their disciplines. Horse Move Project (Fri-Sun 14.00-20.00), until 4 March Minimalpop A travelling group exhibition curated by Petra Bungert, director of CCNOA (Center for Contemporary Non-Objective Art) in Brussels, and German artist Tilman, featuring the works of many international artists. Arti et Amicitiae (Tues-Sun 13.00-18.00), until 11 March 34,5 m2 The works of photographic duo WassinkLundgren typically come from a sociological standpoint, with globalisation as central theme. This exhibition presents pictures taken in China, showing posters and advertising boards that seem to form an almost artificial reality. De Balie, until 11 March Borderline Behaviour An exhibition regarding animation as a state of mind rather than a cinematic genre.

With the pioneering animations of Emilie Cohl as the main point of reference, it becomes a meeting point for film projection, video beams, drawings, illustrations, sculpture, mural and photography. TENT (Tues-Sun 11.00-18.00, Daily during IFFR), Rotterdam, until 18 March Trees de Mits: After Image A series of sculptures inspired by medical apparatus and human organs.

Additionally, De Mits will be showing large format photographs. Galerie de Witte Voet (Wed-Sat 12.00-17.00), until 25 March The High Mind of Lowbrow The Lowbrow art movement, originated from LA’s underground garage and punk rock scenes, frequently likes to combine stylistic extremes like manga, religious kitsch and commercial art. Pop surrealist Ray Caesar’s ‘Science Fiction Meets Victorian’ print series is accompanied by works by other big names from the scene, like Mark Ryden, Tim Biskup, Joe Sorren, Glenn Barr and Naoto Hattori. KochxBos Gallery (Wed-Sat 13.00-18.00), until 1 April Beauty Unrealized A research project dedicated to the investigation of beauty and the status of objects.

Until 18 February, the works featured are that of Canadian artist Michel de Broin and composer Maurits Fennis. Public Space with a Roof (Daily 15.00-19.00), until 8 April Van Huis Uit... The results of a research project by the Meertens Instituut about immigrant families and interiors of their homes. The project focuses on the influence that class, ethnicity and tradition have on way of life, and the resulting exhibition presents a collage of photographs and stories about migration, material culture, identity and cultural exchange. Imagine IC (Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 11.00-17.00, Thur 11.00-21.00), until 30 April

Amsterdam Weekly

18

Copping a feel in the name of art.

That’s his excuse and he’s sticking to it.

Investigating the city through artists’ eyes—not to mention maps and breasts— and turning it on its head.

LET’S GET LOST, REAL REAL LOST

By Marinus de Ruiter To some it might sound adventurous, while others would find it downright scary, wandering aimlessly around the city at night, for hours at a time. For the artists of the 1950s and ’60s Situationist movement, the idea behind this so called dérive—or wandering to get deliberately lost—was to investigate the city on a personal level, with the ultimate goal of transforming it.

Dérive is one of the many ideas following the Situationist principle to

EVENTS

change modern life by disrupting it with artistic action. Aside from criticising urban developments, the Situationists detested the way modern media had evolved and tried to sabotage it by stealing the forms and changing the message. With détournement, or distortion of advertisements, comics and other popular media, Situationism influenced many other artistic movements, from pop art and Fluxus to punk.

Dérive is the guiding principle of Mapping the City, the exhibition opening at Stedelijk Museum CS on

sauce sizzling for The Bond Club (See Short List) as it descends on DanceStreet tonight? DanceStreet, 13.0014.30, €12/€7-€9 for The Bond Club ticketholders

Thursday 15 February Literature: Claudio Magris An interview with the Italian writer, talking about his life and works. In English.

Goethe-Institut Amsterdam, 20.00, €5

Friday 16 February Die Anarchistische Abendunterhaltung (DAAU) Belgians express at German Expressionist expo. See Short List. Van Gogh Museum, 20.00, €10

Saturday. The contemporary artists in this large, diverse group exhibition all use their own similar methods to explore cities all around the world.

Some of the urban experiments undertaken by contemporary artists can be quite radical. Mexico City-based Francis Alÿs, for example, once made a film where he walks through his neighbourhood with a gun in his hand, up to the point where he gets stopped by the police. Mapping the City brings together some of his films with the photographs, drawings and notes that Alÿs made on his many wanderings.

The urban explorations shown in the exhibition often have a political dimension. Valie Export expressed her feminist point of view on camera in her street performance Tapp- und Tastkino from 1968, a video of which is being screened at the Stedelijk. It shows Export on the streets of Munich, carrying around a box covering her bare breasts. The artist invites male passersby to put their hands in the box and touch her. With this action, Export demonstrates the feminist view that male directors mostly portrayed women as the visual objects of sexual desire, without regarding the feeling of invasion experienced by female spectators.

While some of the works in Mapping the City can be considered disturbing or confusing, some are, at the same time, very amusing: Mars door Amsterdam, for instance, a march through the city initiated by Wim T Schippers and Willem de Ridder, which is documented in a television news fragment from 1963.

The march can be seen as a deliberately useless variation on the protest marches that were prevalent at the time. Posters to announce the event were spread throughout the city and eventually, on 6 December at 3 p.m. sharp, six men showed up at Centraal Station and started marching to Rembrandtplein, followed by cameras and a police escort. This ‘march for nothing’

matic work to life by adding smell, taste and touch to the equation. Tonight’s main feature is Vietnamese film The Scent of Green Papaya. If you wish, you can just show up and watch, but those who book ahead, will enjoy the bigger experience with a three-course meal inspired entirely by the on-screen atmosphere.

Paradiso, 20.00, €7.50/€42.50 incl dinner Art/Film: Video Shorts A selection of short video films

by Amsterdam-based artists. OT301, 20.30, €4

Retro-Socialism Lecture: Retro-Socialism Lectures by Gideon Boie and Matthias Pauwels & Lukasz Stanek about the influences of socialism in areas like Nowa Huta (Poland) and Spangen (Rotterdam). Also with short films. In English. 66 East, 20.00, free

Poetry/Music: Poetry Performance An open podium for those with words to share. Guests signed up in advance include: Hans Plomp & Aixia, Gijs Ter Haar, Irene Langenfeld, Merik van der Torren, Ted Jackson and Ken Parsons. In Dutch and English. De Nieuwe Anita, 20.30, free

Event: Blind Date #5: De Avond van Schuld en Schuldgevoel An evening of lectures, debates, music, poetry, films and theatre that work through the theme of ‘guilt’. Also present will be the blind date tables, where you can sit down with other members of the audience and ask what they’re guilty of. In Dutch.

Stadsschouwburg, 20.15, €15

Saturday 17 February

Sunday 18 February

Salsa: Salsa Crash Course Learn the basics in less than half an hour. What better way to get your special

Film/Dining: Screen Cuisine A sensory night is in store as the Screen Cuisine team aim to bring a cine-

Monday 19 February Workshop: Bike Your Beat Get more out of your bike than a short, sharp scare when a drunken tourist falls onto the path ahead of you. This four-day workshop will teach you all you need to convert your two wheels into a full-blown Amsterdam sound machine. You can even keep it roadworthy—first to take to the streets with a full carillon gets a lollipop. See article on p. 13.

STEIM, 10.00-17.00, €100 Quiz: Broeinest Help raise funds for the public space’s programme of political activism, lectures and discussions—by studying. Tonight’s spectacular pub quiz theme is ‘rebellious history’; play solo, on your own team or form alliances on the spot. Also in the cards is an art auction—of public donations—and a chilled dance party, music courtesy the Diepvriesdames. In Dutch. Plantage Doklaan 8-12, 20.00, free Discussion: Women Inc Euro MP Kathalijne Buiten-

15-21 February 2007

was basically a low-key, almost mocking, combination of dérive and détournement.

While Schippers continued to distort art forms, from sculpture to television to theatre, others saw détournement as a pleasant distraction.

Sol LeWitt, who can be considered a serious minimal artist, provocatively experimented with maps of Amsterdam, demonstrating how the city would change if the geometrical parts were removed. At the Stedelijk exhibition, a map is shown where the founding element of the city, the Amstel River, is completely cut out.

Like Situationism, a lot of the art that was inspired by it can be considered anti-art, in the sense that it tries to transcend conventional forms. A perfect example of an artist who remained true to this principle throughout his career is Stanley Brouwn, who briefly shows up in the Mars door Amsterdam television fragment and whose seminal work This way Brouwn from the early ’60s is a focal point for Mapping the City.

For the work, the Amsterdam-based artist asked random people in the street for directions to another point in the city. He offered to make them a drawing of the route on a sheet of paper. The sheets were stamped afterwards with This way Brouwn emblems.

Brouwn is an almost mythical figure because of his reclusiveness; he prefers to let his work speak for itself, which is why he refuses to explain it. At the Stedelijk, he aimed for minimal involvement by curators by installing several of the drawings himself, while the museum was closed.

However intolerable to his critics, Brouwn aims at the essential human faculty for experiencing art: the mind.

Through his ethereal works, he has created an endless source of inspiration in the field of contemporary art, which is tangible in even the most excessive contributions to Mapping the City.

Mapping the City, Stedelijk Museum CS (Daily 10.00-18.00), Oosterdokskade 5, 573 2911, until 20 May

weg presents ‘My Life, My Choice, My Body’, a World Population Foundation campaign to allow individuals to make their own decisions about sexuality and the number of children they so desire. In Dutch. Pakhuis de Zwijger, 20.00, free Party: Gouden Kabouter Awards The 11th edition of the ever-ludicrous dance and party awards. Now that it’s carnival time worldwide, the evening’s dress-code is colourful, at the very least. Paradiso, Grote Zaal, 20.00, €12.50 + membership

Tuesday 20 February Discussion: Amsterdam: From Our Correspondent Analysing Dutch current affairs by examining the viewpoints of international news agencies. In English. See article on p. 4. De Balie, 20.30, €4 Lecture: Audiosport A lecture on the works of Kaspar König, and how creating sound can be a sport. Are you ready for the 2008 Audiolympics? In English. STEIM, 20.30, free

Wednesday 21 February Literature: Het Scheppingsverhaal van Abdelkader Benali An interview with the young Dutch-Moroccan playwright and author of popular novels like De langverwachte and Laat het morgen mooi weer zijn. In Dutch. De Balie, 20.00, €9

Amsterdam Weekly

15-21 February 2007

19

Fotogram Korte Prinsengracht 33, 624 9994

Patronaat Zijlsingel 2, Haarlem, 023 517 5858

Studio 80 Rembrandtplein 70, 521 8333

ADDRESSES

Fotomuseum Stadhouderslaan 43, Den Haag, 070 338 1144

Plantage Doklaan 8-12 Plantage Doklaan

Sugar Factory Lijnbaansgracht 238, 627 0008

66 East Sumatrastraat 66, 06 4475 4773

Frascati Nes 63, 626 6866

Platform 21 Prinses Irenestraat 19, 344 9449

TENT Witte de Withstraat 50, Rotterdam, 010 413 5498

ABC Treehouse Voetboogstraat 11, 423 0967

Galerie de Witte Voet Kerkstraat 135, 625 8412

The Powerzone Spaklerweg, 681 8866

Teylers Museum Spaarne 16, Haarlem, 023 516 0960

Amsterdams Historisch Museum Kalverstraat 92, 523 1822

Galerie Fons Welters Bloemstraat 140, 423 3046

De Praktijk Lauriergracht 96, 422 1727

Theater Bellevue Leidsekade 90, 530 5301

PRIK Spuistraat 109, 06 4544 2321

Torch Gallery Lauriergracht 94, 626 0284

Public Space with a Roof Overtoom 301, 06 1117 4239

Tropenmuseum Linnaeusstraat 2, 568 8200

RAI Europaplein 22, 549 1212

Under the Grand Chapiteau Next to ArenA, 621 1288

Rijksmuseum Jan Luykenstraat 1, 674 7000

Van Gogh Museum Paulus Potterstraat 7, 570 5200

De Appel Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 10, 625 5651 ARCAM Prins Hendrikkade 600, 620 4878

Galerie Gabriel Rolt Elandsgracht 34, 785 5146 Galerie Juliette Jongma Gerard Douplein 23, 463 6904 Galerie Paul Andriesse Withoedenveem 8, 623 6237

Arti et Amicitiae Rokin 112, 624 5134

Galerie Ra Vijzelstraat 80, 626 5100

ArtOlive Polonceaukade 17, 675 8504

Galerie Wouter van Leeuwen Hazenstraat 27, 06 5203 1540

Rozentheater Rozengracht 117, 620 7953

Verzetsmuseum Plantage Kerklaan 61, 620 2535

Sinners Wagenstraat 3-7, 620 1375

Volta Houtmankade 334-336, 628 6429

Gallery Vassie 1e Tuindwarsstraat 16, 489 4042

Skek Zeedijk 4-8, 427 0551

Vredenburg Vredenburgpassage 77, Utrecht, 030 2862286

AYAC'S Keizersgracht 166, 638 5240

Goethe-Institut Amsterdam Herengracht 470

W139 Warmoesstraat 139, 622 9434

bak Lange Nieuwstraat 4, Utrecht, 030 231 6125

Stadsschouwburg Leidseplein 26, 624 2311

Hermitage Amsterdam Nieuwe Herengracht 14, 530 8751

Winston Kingdom Warmoesstraat 129, 623 1380

De Balie Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10, 553 5151

Horse Move Project Oosterdokskade 5 Post CS

Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam Rozenstraat 59, 422 0471

Bethaniënklooster Barndesteeg 6, 625 0078

Hotel Arena ’s-Gravesandestraat 51, 850 2400

Stedelijk Museum CS Oosterdokskade 5, 573 2911

The Zebra Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 14, 330 5266

Beurs van Berlage Damrak 277, 530 4141

Huis Marseille Keizersgracht 401, 531 8989

STEIM Utrechtsedwarsstraat 134, 622 8690

Zuiderkerk Zuiderkerkhof 72, 552 7987

Bijbels Museum Herengracht 366-368, 624 2436

Imagine IC Bijlmerplein 1006-1008, 489 4866

Bimhuis Piet Heinkade 3, 788 2150

Jimmy Woo Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 18, 626 3150

Bitterzoet Spuistraat 2, 521 3001

KIT Tropentheater Mauritskade 63, 568 8711

De Brakke Grond Nes 45, 626 6866

Kleine Komedie Amstel 56-58, 624 0534

Café Meander Voetboogstraat 3, 625 8430

KochxBos Gallery 1e Anjeliersdwarsstraat 3-5, 681 4567

Café Pakhuis Wilhelmina Veemkade 576, 419 3368

De Kring Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 7-9, 623 6985

Café Sappho Vijzelstraat 103, 423 1509

De Levante Hobbemastraat 28, 671 5485

Canvas International Art Fokkerlaan 46, Amstelveen, 428 6040

Mediamatic Post CS, Oosterdokskade 5, 638 9901

Carl Berg Gallery Wittenburgergracht 315, 489 7471

Melkweg Lijnbaansgracht 234A, 531 8181

Carré Amstel 115-125, 524 9452

Melkweg Galerie Marnixstraat 409, 531 8181

Centraal Museum Nicolaaskerkhof, Utrecht, 030 236 2362

Museum Hilversum Kerkbrink 6, Hilversum, 035 629 2826

Chiellerie Raamgracht 58, 320 9448

Muziekgebouw Piet Heinkade 1, 788 2010

Club 8 Admiraal de Ruyterweg 56B, 685 1703

Het Muziektheater Amstel 3, 625 5455

CoBrA Museum Sandbergplein 1-3, Amstelveen, 547 5050

Nederlands Architectuurinstituut Museumpark 25, Rotterdam, 010 440 1200

Aschenbach & Hofland Galleries Bilderdijkstraat 165C, 412 1772

Concertgebouw Concertgebouwplein 2-6, 671 8345

Lexion Avenue Overtoom 65, Westzaan, 0900-BelLexion

Conservatorium van Amsterdam (Ensemblezaal and Ellingtonzaal) Van Baerlestraat 27, 527 7550

De Nieuwe Anita Frederik Hendrikstraat 111, 06 4150 3512

Consortium Veemkade 570, 06 2611 8950

OCCII Amstelveenseweg 134, 671 7778

Crea Theater Turfdraagsterpad 17, 525 1400

Odeon Singel 460, 624 9711

Cruise Inn Zuiderzeeweg 29, 692 7188

OT301 Overtoom 301, 779 4913

Custom Café Sugar Hazenstraat 19, 06 1401 3143

Pacific Parc Polonceaukade 23, 488 7778

DanceStreet 1e Rozendwarsstraat 10, 489 7676

Pakhuis de Zwijger Piet Heinkade 179-181, 788 4444

Filmmuseum Vondelpark 3, 589 1400

Panama Oostelijke Handelskade 4, 311 8680

Foam Keizersgracht 609, 551 6546

Paradiso Weteringschans 6-8, 626 4521

Nieuwe Kerk entrance on the Dam, 638 6909

Zaal 100 De Wittenstraat 100, 688 0127

Amsterdam Weekly

20

Letters from Iwo Jima

FILM Edited by Julie Phillips.This week’s films reviewed

by Angela Dress (AD),Sven Gerrets (SG),Pat Graham (PG), Andrea Gronvall (AG), John Hartnett (JH), Luuk van Huët (LvH), JR Jones (JJ), Dave Kehr (DK), Terri J Kester (TJK), Peter Margasak (PM),Steven McCarron (SM),Marie-Claire Melzer (MM),Vincent Moritz (VM), Mike Peek (MP), Julie Phillips (JP),Jonathan Rosenbaum (JR),Marinus de Ruiter (MdR) and Bregtje Schudel (BS). All films are screened in English with Dutch subtitles unless otherwise noted. Amsterdam Weekly recommends.

Festival Starting from Scratch #5 As digital takes over, Starting from Scratch, the Dutch travelling festival for ‘celluloid fetishists’ and experimental cinema, expects to get more 35 mm contributions. But for now, the bulk of the programme is still on Super 8 and 16 mm.

To prove that experimental film doesn’t have to be difficult, John Porter has been invited to show a selection from the over 300 Super 8 shorts he has shot since 1968. Last month in Rotterdam, Porter proved to be an entertaining performer, providing on-the-spot commentary on his works and playing ingenious tricks with a portable projector. And watch for Building a Broken Mousetrap, the concert film that the American music documentarist Jem Cohen made of Dutch anarchopunk band The Ex. Also included in the celluloid marathon are a selection of films by Austrian experimentalist Peter Tscherkassky and Dutch film-makers such as Anna Lange and Dan Geesin. Feb. 17-18.

(MdR) De Balie

New this week The

Good Shepherd Robert De Niro and Matt Damon deglamorise the profession of espionage. See review on p. 24. Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt, Pathé Tuschinski Letters from Iwo Jima In this second panel of his diptych on the battle for Iwo Jima (after Flags of our Fathers), Clint Eastwood shows us the Japanese angle. And what do you know: the Japanese have feelings, too! It’s a laudable objective and Eastwood has proven himself to be a film-maker with integrity; yet the film’s three protagonists are also the ones with the most identifiable Western values, especially concerning honourable suicide. General Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) and Baron Nishi (Tsuyoshi Ihara) would rather die in a losing battle than take their own lives prematurely; soldier Saigo (Kazunari Ninomiya) just wants to get home to his wife and infant daughter.

Eastwood has made them humane, but also, inevitably, American. In Japanese and English with Dutch subtitles. (BS) 142 min. Kriterion, Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt Night at the Museum Taken from a children’s book

by Croatian illustrator Milan Trenc, this fantasy isn’t exactly heavy, but its ideological implications are interesting nevertheless. A poorly educated, professionally challenged father (Ben Stiller) lands a job as a security guard at New York’s Museum of Natural History, where the historical mannequins come to life every night, most of them speaking perfect contemporary English and behaving like sitcom characters. They mostly fight among themselves until the guard brings all of global history into benign, all-American colonial harmony, even launching a romance between Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) and the Native American guide Sacajawea (Mizuo Peck). Reasonably entertaining. (JR) 108 min. Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt

The Princess Half Japanese-style animation and half live action, this Danish cult film tells the violent

15-21 February 2007

Night at the Museum

story of a priest’s bloody quest through the sex film industry to avenge the death of his porn star sister and the abuse of her five-year-old daughter. Princess is relentless in its portrayal of porn as a life-ruining business, raising the issue whether its director, cartoonist Anders Morgenthaler, should have toned down his moral judgement. Highly recommended for those not allergic to controversy. In Danish with Dutch subtitles.

(MdR) 90 min. The Movies

hard workers making a living in the face of adversity.

Earth is represented by a coal mine, water by crab fishermen in the Bering Strait, fire by firefighters in Siberia and air by a crew of astronauts in training. Narration and dialogue are in Russian, English, German and Kazakh, with sparing use of subtitles; but in this beautiful, thought-provoking film, the challenge to the audience is amply repaid. (TJK) 100 min. Filmhuis Griffioen, Het Ketelhuis, Rialto

The Way I Spent the End of The World After years

After the Wedding Jacob Petersen has dedicated his life to helping street children in India. When the orphanage he heads is threatened by closure, he receives an unusual offer from Danish businessman Jørgen who offers him a donation of four million dollars. There are, however, certain conditions: not only must Jacob return to Denmark, he must also take part in the wedding of Jørgen’s daughter. This proves to be a critical juncture between past and future and catapults Jacob into the most intense dilemma of his life.

In Danish with Dutch subtitles. 120 min. De Uitkijk

of change and culture shock, Romanian film-makers are finally starting to portray the chaos of the 1989 revolution. This utterly charming and well-acted family portrait by Catalin Mitulescu is set in the last year before Ceausescu’s fall, when fear and repression were still part of everyday life. Small dramas are paralleled with the historical changes taking place in the background: teenager Eva falls in love with Alex, son of a Communist Party member, much to the dismay of her dictator-hating grandfather and her devious little brother. In Romanian with Dutch subtitles. (MdR) 106 min. The Movies, Rialto

Still playing 4 Elements Documentarist Jiska Rickels portrays the four elements by linking each one to man’s efforts to use—or fight—them. Each element has its own landscape, atmosphere, language and protagonists,

An Inconvenient Truth This souped-up slide show by former US VP and presidential candidate Al Gore is brought to you in full Lecture-Vision, as the man bashes you over the head with statistics, pictures, scientific facts and cute computer-animated polar bears to make you understand the importance of his mission.

Gore is out to save the world from global warming and Uncle Al needs you! If you’re already in the know, it might be a sermon to the converted, but that doesn’t detract from the importance of this documentary and

Five-Word Movie Review

ROSSELLINI AS LEGLESS BEER HEIRESS The Saddest Music in the World OT301

how it inspires people—maybe even you—to make a difference. (LvH) 100 min. Kriterion Apocalypto In a lush rain forest of 16th-century South America, a village is ransacked by a group of fierce warriors. The hero, Jaguar Paw, is taken prisoner and is about to have is heart torn out, but manages to flee with a Maya war party hot on his heels. Since this is a film by Mel Gibson (The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre), two hours of unrelenting violence and sadism are redeemed in the end by the sign of the Cross. (LvH) 139 min. Pathé De Munt Babel In a North African desert, two bored boys herding goats decide to try out their gun. The shot causes a chain reaction that changes the lives of an American

Special screenings Appleseed Awesome visuals battle a sluggish script in this computer-generated Japanese anime. The 2-D characters are delicately drawn and anatomically precise, and the cel-shaded animation, which involves constructing a 3-D model for the character, beautifully mimics the interplay of light and shadow. Equally impressive is the smooth integration of drawn characters and digitally photographed backgrounds.

Unfortunately, all this craft serves a familiar space opera with lots of robot fights; there’s still no computer program capable of telling a decent story. Shinji Aramaki directed. In Japanese with Dutch subtitles.

(JJ) 103 min. Melkweg Cinema Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul This lively 2005 documentary by German-Turkish director Fatih Akin (Gegen die Wand) follows bassist Alexander Hacke of Einstürzende Neubauten through the crumbling streets of Istanbul to present a dynamic and wide-ranging portrait of the ancient city’s musical riches. The intimate performance footage ranges from more traditional sounds to Turkish iterations of global styles like rock, hiphop and electronica, delivering commentary on the nation’s conflicted status as a bridge between Europe and Asia that’s even more poignant than the passionate and informative interviews. In English/German/Turkish with Dutch subtitles. (PM) 92 min. KIT Tropentheater, Kleine Zaal

Gloria This 1980 release from John Cassavetes is

written as a soggy, conventional melodrama about a former gun moll (Gena Rowlands) who tries to protect an orphaned Puerto Rican boy from the mob. But it’s directed in Cassavetes’s usual style of deflated naturalism: while the script pitches a series of wildly improbable events, the direction remains disruptively attuned to the dark, arrhythmic poetry of anticlimax.

Heightened emotion and nagging banal reality fight each other for screen space, doing final battle in a daringly ambiguous ending. (DK) 110 min. Rialto Gosford Park This 2001 comedy drama, set in 1932 in an English country house, is probably Robert Altman’s most accomplished film since the ’70s. Among its virtues are a fine English cast, a good script that incorporates certain aspects of Agatha Christie-style whodunnit, and the interesting ground rule that no guest be shown unless a servant is present in the same scene. There are more characters of interest here than in Nashville, and an almost constantly mov-

ing camera tends to objectify the relationships among them. With Eileen Atkins, Bob Balaban (a Hollywood producer), Alan Bates (a butler), Helen Mirren, Clive Owen, Derek Jacobi and Stephen Fry doing a M Hulot impersonation. (JR) 137 min. The Movies

La

Grande bouffe Hilarious, stomach-turning, morbid, breezy and sad fable about four men (Marcello Mastroianni, Ugo Tognazzi, Philippe Noiret and Michel Piccoli) who shut themselves up in a Parisian villa and eat themselves to death, pausing only to sample the charms of three prostitutes and the simple affections of Andréa Ferréol before expiring disgustingly one by one. Marco Ferreri directed this 1973 black comedy, which satirises two of France’s most cherished institutions: dining and whoring. In French with Dutch subtitles. 130 min. Filmhuis Griffioen Das Leben ist eine Baustelle This 1997 romance set among the down-and-out of Berlin was directed

by Wolfgang Becker from a script by Becker and Tom Tykwer. The real star is the city itself, undergoing a post-communist makeover as its residents hang on by their toenails. In German with Dutch subtitles. 118 min. Cavia Munich Steven Spielberg made us feel exhilarated about killing Arabs with Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981); a quarter of a century later he’s decent enough to have second thoughts, but he can’t find much to do with them in this mediocre thriller. (JR) 162 min. Pathé Tuschinski Performance In this 1970 example of swinging surrealism from David Cammell and Nicolas Roeg, a working-class gangster hides out in a London estate full of strange people and events. Mick Jagger is one of the strange people, a man named Turner; Anita Pallenberg is another. Gradually, divisions of gender, time, space and identity become blurred. The Moog synthesizer score is from Jack Nitszche; Jagger performs ‘Memo from Turner’. 105 min. De Nieuwe Anita Rumble Fish In this Francis Ford Coppola film, made in an expressionist moment in 1983, Matt Dillon plays a searching, confused teenager in a nearfuture city, trying to come to grips with the influence of his older brother, Mickey Rourke. The action is murky, despite a moment or two of amazing naturalism from Dennis Hopper. (DK) 94 min. iLLUSEUM

The Saddest Music in the World Director Guy

Maddin takes a bold step forward with this 2003 feature, a comic/melodramatic musical enhanced by his flair for expressionist studio shooting (in grainy black and white, with selected scenes in two-strip Technicolor). The project originated as a script by novelist Kazuo Ishiguro; revising extensively, Maddin and George Toles, his usual collaborator, turn it into an allegory about Canada’s colonial relationship with the US. In the depths of the Depression, a Winnipeg beer baroness (Isabella Rossellini) launches an international contest to come up with ‘the saddest music in the world.’ Competing for the US is her former lover (Mark McKinney), a brassy Broadway producer; for Serbia, the producer’s older brother (Ross McMillan), who grieves for his dead son and vanished amnesiac wife (Maria de Madeiros); and for Canada, both men’s father (David Fox), a surgeon who’s drunkenly amputated Rossellini’s legs. Not to be missed. (JR) OT301 Short Cuts Robert Altman returns to the anthology mode of Nashville to offer 22 crisscrossing characters and nine loosely related plots set in Los Angeles over a breezy 180 minutes. Inevitably it’s a mixed bag, though the film’s assurance in keeping it all coherent is at times exhilarating. (JR) The Movies De Spiegel A childhood autobiography of sorts from Russian film-maker Andrei Tarkovsky. Quite a few critics consider this 1974 film (AKA The Mirror) a metaphysical masterpiece, though one dissenter has described it as ‘the sort of film that one can only hope worked out some personal problem for its director’. In Russian and Spanish with Dutch subtitles. (PG) 108 min. Kriterion Van de koele meren des doods The two leading Dutch actresses from the 1980s were the sexy, cheerful Monique van de Ven and the more serious and dramatic Renée Soutendijk. Soutendijk preceded Sharon Stone as Paul Verhoeven’s favourite for his icy, blonde femme fatales in his films Spetters (1980) and De vierde man (1982). In In Nouchka van Brakel’s 1982 film Van de koele meren des doods, after the novel by Frederik van Eeden, Soutendijk plays a rebellious 19th-century woman, a Dutch Madame Bovary with epic bad luck in love. In Dutch/French/English with Dutch subtitles. (MM) 123 min. Pathé Tuschinski

15-21 February 2007 couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett), a rebellious, deaf teenage girl in Japan and a Mexican au pair caring for two American children. According to director Alejandro González Iñárritu, this is the third film in a trilogy that began with 21 Grams and Amores Perros.

It’s all about relationships, love in the midst of adversity and communication. In many languages with Dutch subtitles. 142 min. Cinecenter, The Movies, Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt

Bamako

Bamako In a courtyard in a slum in Bamako, the

capital of Mali, the World Bank and IMF are subjected to a mock trial, accused of creating poverty in Africa.

Meanwhile, Melé, a bar singer, and her husband Chaka break up; another couple get married; the residents of the courtyard work and play alongside the abstract discussion of Africa’s economic malaise. Intriguing in both content and structure, the film was directed by Abderrahmane Sissako. In French/Bambara with Dutch subtitles. 115 min. Rialto

’n Beetje Verliefd Martin Koolhoven (Het Schnitzelparadijs) brings us another multicultural comedy with a multinational cast. Cute 19-year-old rapper Yes-R stars as Omar, who can marry his Turkish sweetie only if he oil-wrestles her brother (figure that one out). He goes for help to his grandfather Thijs (Ad van Kempen), who used to be a wrestling champion. Also with Plien van Bennekom, Tjitske Reidinga and Sabri Saad El-Hamus. In Dutch. 82 min. Pathé De Munt Blind While actress-turned-director Tamar van den Dop may have based her feature debut on a cheesy expression—‘love is blind’—the execution is dead serious. The physically and psychologically damaged Marie (Halina Reijn) finally finds love with a blind young man (Joren Seldeslachts). But when he regains his sight, will his love still be blind? Van den Dop takes full advantage of the serene snow-clad landscapes of Bulgaria (posing for Belgium) and Reijn’s perfectly restrained body language, but is more concerned with the dichotomy between seeing and being seen than with a bona fide storyline. In Dutch. (BS) 98 min. Het Ketelhuis, Pathé De Munt Blood Diamond Just like the previous effort of director Edward Zwick, The Last Samurai, this film is a hackneyed action flick bearing a preachy message. It may look splendiferous on the big screen, and the intentions are noble, but the underlying tone is condescending and exclusively occidental, with Djimoun Hounsou cast in a thankless role as a ‘noble savage’ and Jennifer Connelly as a goody-two-shoes American reporter. The only redeeming factor is Leonardo DiCaprio, who shines as a morally conflicted Rhodesian mercenary; sadly, his Bogart-worthy role doesn’t rescue this insipid flick, despite all the bling bling of the title. (LvH) 143 min. Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt Bobby Old-fashioned in both its liberal humanism and its commitment to classic Hollywood storytelling, Emilio Estevez’s fictional account of the 1968 shooting of Robert Kennedy is also a fine example of old-fashioned studio craft. Deftly juggling over a dozen characters, ranging from hotel personnel and guests to Democratic Party volunteers, Estevez offers a sharp cross section of the issues and attitudes surrounding Kennedy’s presidential campaign. Without privileging any member of the talented cast, he gives many of them chances to shine, especially Sharon Stone, Freddy Rodriguez (from Six Feet Under), Laurence Fishburne and Martin Sheen. The film’s premise that RFK was America’s last chance to save itself is a bit hard to buy, but the passion and thoughtfulness with which Estevez builds on it are stirring nonetheless.

(JR) 119 min. Pathé Tuschinski Casino Royale Blond, very blond. A lot of fans were left gasping for air after Daniel Craig was tapped to come shake—not stir—things up as the new James.

But Mr Craig does a wonderful job bringing Bond back to basics. Casino Royale isn’t another part of the franchise, it’s a whole new beginning. Bond has just received his 00 status and is on the tail of a banker who finances a lot of nasty people around the world.

There are bad guys, there are Bond girls and there are spectacular stunts; it’s all just a bit more rough, tough and gadget-less. This start-over does takes some time getting used to, but after the last few instalments, that’s a small price to pay for the pleasure. (SG) 144 min. Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt, Pathé Tuschinski

The Departed Director Martin Scorsese’s latest finds him once again in top form and at home in his favourite subjects: the underworld, money and clan loyalty. The Departed is based on the 2002 Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs and set in Irish-Italian South

Amsterdam Weekly Boston. Mob boss Frank Costello (an exuberantly evileyed Jack Nicholson) runs the show; Matt Damon, as Costello’s police department mole, alternates between a poker face and a winning smile. But the police have their own double agent, Leonardo DiCaprio, whose slow disintegration is at the heart of this drama about doubling and deception. (JH) 152 min. Pathé De Munt Flags of Our Fathers Perhaps only the clout of director Clint Eastwood and co-producer Steven Spielberg could have brought us a movie about how the most inspirational photo of World War II—four GIs raising the flag at Iwo Jima—was mendaciously exploited to sell war bonds. It’s a noble undertaking, and Eastwood is stylistically bold enough to create a view of combat based mainly on images that are clearly manufactured. (As with Saving Private Ryan, the movie’s principal source is The Big Red One, whose director, Samuel Fuller, actually experienced the war.) But this film is underimagined and so thesis-ridden that it’s nearly over before it starts. With Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford and Adam Beach. (JR) 132 min. Kriterion Flandres Shy Démester lives a dull life on a farm. His only pleasure is occasional sex with free-spirited Barbe. Disaster strikes when he and a few of his friends are called up to serve in a (nameless) war.

They commit and undergo unspeakable crimes, leading to subtle but profound changes in the protagonist’s personality. French director Bruno Dumont’s films are hit or miss. His last, Twentynine Palms, was a definite miss, but Flandres, which won the Jury Prize at Cannes, is a hit. Its slow pacing and strong visuals allow us to get inside Démester’s head, even though he hardly speaks. However complex Dumont’s films may seem, his message is always simple: everyone, everywhere, wants to be loved. In Flandres, it takes the experience of evil to help the main character acknowledge this need. In French with Dutch subtitles. (MP) Rialto Forever Heddy Honigmann’s latest film documents the life of the Parisian cemetery Père-Lachaise. But the film-maker can’t seem to make up her mind whether to make a film about Proust (one of the cemetery’s residents), a statement on art versus mortality or a portrait of the living visitors. Her quiet style of filming, using long shots and a static camera to allow the action to unfold, has worked well for her in the past, when you felt she had a connection with the people she filmed.

But in Forever, none of these approaches brings the talented Honigmann onto familiar ground. In French with Dutch or English subtitles. (MM) 95 min. De Uitkijk The Holiday Iris (Kate Winslet) lives in London and faces the same problem as Amanda (Cameron Diaz) in Los Angeles: men. In order to get away from it all they switch houses for two weeks, only to find out that love can’t be avoided. Iris runs into local film composer Miles (Jack Black) and Amanda hooks up with Graham (Jude Law), Iris’ brother. Director Nancy Meyers has Bridget Jones (Iris) meeting Posh Spice (Amanda) in a bittersweet Christmas fairy tale that works mainly thanks to its incredibly charismatic cast.

Winslet once again shows her excellent range, Diaz outdoes herself and, for once, Jack Black truly seems a nice guy. Check your cynical self at the door and enjoy Hollywood at its cutest. (MP) 135 min. Cinema Amstelveen, Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt

The Illusionist In 1900s Vienna, the magician Eisenheim (Edward Norton) appears capable of the greatest feats, from slowing the movement of an object in mid-air to making an orange tree grow instantaneously from a newly planted seed. His wizardry confounds both Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell) and Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti), who, despite growing admiration, is ordered to shut him down. Trapped in a corner, Eisenheim hires a group of Chinese assistants and begins to dabble in the spirit world. When an apparition of the late Duchess Sophie van Teschen (Jessica Biel), his childhood love as well as the Prince’s betrothed, manifests itself onstage, the problems begin to get out of hand. Suddenly, both the monarchy and the magician are in danger. A romantic love story and intriguing political thriller, directed by Neil Burger, with score by Philip Glass. (JH) 110 min.

The Movies, Pathé Tuschinski Indigènes French/Algerian director Rachid Bouchareb set his new film in 1943, when the cheerful young North Africans Saïd, Yassir, Messaoud and Abdelkader, enlist in the French army to fight for their country.

Instead, they find themselves caught between the horrors of the battlefield and the prejudice of their fellow soldiers. The four leads, as a group, won last year’s Best Actor award at Cannes; after the film came out in France, President Chirac promised the surviving colonial veterans (who never received full benefits) compensation. In French and Arabic with Dutch subtitles. 128 min. Kriterion Into Great Silence A first look into the lives of the monks of the Grande Chartreuse—the mother house of the legendary Carthusian Order in the French

21

22

Amsterdam Weekly

15-21 February 2007 Dancing around certain issues...

Robert De Niro’s new film stars Matt Damon as a sensitive spy who sacrifices his personal life for—what?

THE KIND AND GENTLE ART OF ESPIONAGE

By Mike Peek Ever since he made his directorial debut with A Bronx Tale in 1993, Robert De Niro had planned to make a film on ‘the birth of the CIA.’ He wanted to show the true face of espionage, not the glamorised cinematic image. After years of research, the result is The Good Shepherd. The film is loosely based on the life of James Jesus Angleton, the Agency’s legendary counterintelligence chief. A sensitive grower of

Alps—this documentary by Philip Groening serves to remind that there’s more to silence than just silence.

There are no interviews, no commentary and no music, other than the monks’ song, yet this is an eyeand ear-opening piece. Groening spent six months alone in the monastery, filming daily rhythms and rituals as the monks went about their slow-paced business. In French/Latin with Dutch subtitles. 164 min. Rialto The Last King of Scotland This compelling UK drama features a titanic performance by Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin, the brutal dictator who terrorised Uganda throughout the ’70s. A fictional young Scottish doctor (James McAvoy) follows his taste for adventure to Africa and becomes personal physician to the general, who’s just seized power in a military coup.

orchids and lover of poetry, Angleton was also famous for his understanding of spycraft—a contradiction for which he would pay heavily in his personal life.

Here, Angleton is renamed Edward Bell Wilson and played in a pitch-perfect performance by Matt Damon in a role that is the polar opposite of his popular character in the Bourne Identity series.

As an eager student at Yale University in the late 1930s, Wilson is recruited into the mysterious student society Skull and

Alternately charming and sinister, vulnerable and vengeful, Amin draws the naive young man deeper into his murderous regime, and by the time the doctor fully grasps the depth of Amin’s evil he’s complicit in it. (JJ) 123 min. The Movies, Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man The trick of a true ladies’ man is that he knows how to act out the part of a sad and lonely one. No woman with a heart can resist that. Leonard Cohen knows the trick: he has written numerous sad songs and slept with numerous beautiful women. Just admit it, a line like ‘I said that I was curious, I never said that I was brave’ (from ‘So Long, Marianne’) is a very romantic way of saying: ‘Sorry babe, I found someone more interesting than you.’ And now, in his seventies, the Canadian bard

Bones, known as a nursery for political leaders. (Many American movers and shakers have been members of this secret organisation—including the current president—though Angleton himself was never a member in real life.) When the United States enters World War II, the idealistic and intelligent Wilson is recruited into the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency.

General Bill Sullivan (De Niro) is pleased with his OSS work and encourages him to stay in the business. Without ever making a clear choice, Wilson—who was more interested in the arts at college—becomes involved in forming the CIA. His natural gift for seeing through espionage techniques gives him fame and the code name ‘Mother’. But in his private life, Wilson is estranged from his wife Margaret (Angelina Jolie), never gets to see his son until he is six years old, and becomes increasingly paranoid. And for what? What does the CIA protect, actually?

has had a beautiful blonde, Lian Lunson, shoot a documentary about him. The film contains footage of a recent concert in Sydney, as well as old material and interviews, both with Cohen himself and artists such as Nick Cave, Beth Orton and Rufus and Martha Wainwright, who all talk about his influence on their music.

(MM) 105 min. Cinema Amstelveen, Het Ketelhuis Lights in the Dusk Aki Kaurismaki’s trilogy about Finnish despair (Drifting Clouds, The Man Without a Past) closes with this story of the lonely night watchman Koistinen (Janne Hyytiäinen), who gets caught up with a femme fatale. In Finnish with Dutch subtitles. 78 min. Filmmuseum

Little Children Five years after his superb debut feature In the Bedroom, writer-director Todd Field

De Niro’s explicit focus on Wilson’s life story allows him to show the CIA from a more human perspective. Its founders wanted the Agency to be ‘the eyes and ears of the United States, not its heart and soul.’ De Niro makes a clear statement with this line, which summarises The Good Shepherd perfectly. The CIA was meant to discover enemies’ secrets, but ultimately became a shield to hide behind, for Wilson personally as much as for his country. The only happy period in Wilson’s life is when he begins dating a deaf girl, Laura (Tammy Blanchard), who stimulates him to explore his creative side. But a stupid and even unwanted liaison with another girl—Margaret—ends in a pregnancy which obliges him to marry her. From then on, Wilson puts his passions aside and turns to his work to forget what could have been.

People looking for an in-depth exploration of the CIA will be disappointed in The Good Shepherd. Its history is clear and De Niro has made sure all the details, from telephones and neckties to operation strategies, are correct, but we don’t learn about any concrete methods or secret plans. Events such as the Bay of Pigs invasion are touched upon, but rarely become anything more than a background for Wilson’s life story. That makes it a little hard to understand why Wilson is so attached to his job, or why he is so good at it. Ultimately, though, The Good Shepherd is less about the CIA than it is about the influence of fate and coincidence on the course of each human life.

The Good Shepherd opens Thursday at Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt and Pathé Tuschinski.

returns with another story set in a close-knit community whose quietness makes the characters’ unhappiness seem like thunder. Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson, both disenchanted with their spouses, meet in a public park with their toddlers, and a series of carefully arranged playdates allows them to nurse their unspoken infatuation until it finally engulfs them. Meanwhile, a bitter ex-cop lets off steam by harassing a paroled paedophile who’s come home to live with his mother.

As in Field’s first film, the characters are drawn with such compassion their follies become our own and their desires seem as vast as the night sky. (JJ) 130 min. Cinecenter, The Movies, Pathé Tuschinski Miss Potter As the sheltered Londoner who created Peter Rabbit and struck gold with her illustrated children’s stories, Renée Zellweger gives a performance

Amsterdam Weekly

15-21 February 2007 so cute she seems on the verge of turning into a bunny and hopping off into the brush. Ewan McGregor is the eager young publisher Norman Warne, who took a chance on Potter’s stories in 1902 and pressed her snobbish parents for her hand; Emily Watson is Warne’s sister, who befriended Potter. The romance is twee, but the movie’s first half follows in fascinating detail the innovations Warne introduced to popularise illustrated picture books for children. Chris Noonan (Babe) directed. (JJ) 92 min. Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt, Pathé Tuschinski

Olivier etc.

Olivier etc. Director Sander Burger’s feature film debut concerns a young man with a heart condition that could kill him at any moment. As a result, he lives life to the fullest, never having to think about the future or make long-term commitments. But when his condition is cured, he suddenly has to take responsibility.

Olivier, who in his illness always appeared so strong, now—in health—behaves like a victim. A marvellous performance by Dragan Bakema gives depth to this heartfelt story. In Dutch. (BS) 92 min. Het Ketelhuis

obsessed to the point of murder with making the perfect scent. As long as you’re not allergic to Tom Tykwer’s mysticism, it’s an incredibly sensual film.

With Dustin Hoffman as master perfumer Giuseppe Baldini and Alan Rickman as the father of endangered love interest Rachel Hurd-Wood. In English. 147 min.

Kriterion, Pathé De Munt, De Uitkijk

A Prairie Home Companion Director Robert Alt-

man’s final film has turned a popular American radio show into an enormously entertaining backstage comedy with country and western music. The movie takes place during a fictional last performance of the show, which has been cancelled by a Texas media conglomerate; as the numbers play onstage, an angel of death (Virginia Madsen) wanders the wings searching for her prey. These hokey plot elements provide an adequate structure for some of the funniest and warmest character improvisations Altman generated in years.

(JJ) 105 min. The Movies The Prestige With his fifth feature film, Christopher Nolan is back to the tricks he used successfully in Memento. The plot appears simple: it’s about the bitter rivalry between two magicians, with fatal consequences. But a keen observer will discover there’s a third man at play: Christopher Nolan himself, Master of Misdirection, who, with dazzling visuals, clever montage and intricate story lines, tries to divert our attention from the obvious. When you have such good actors at your disposal and such visual finesse, it’s a real shame to bet everything on one clever trick.

It’s a sad miscalculation in an otherwise well crafted movie. With Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, David Bowie and Scarlett Johansson. (BS) 130 min. Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt, Pathé Tuschinski

Our Daily Bread This may remind you of We Feed the World, the documentary by Erwin Wagenhofer that was released in the Netherlands last November. Like that film, it’s a behind-the-scenes look at how meat and produce make the transition from soil to supermarket. But Our Daily Bread is far more experimental, abstaining from dialogue and even music. Alternating shots from the work floor of a meat-packing plant with the same people silently eating their lunches, Austrian director Nikolaus Geyrhalter creates a mood of inevitability. He is not interested in opinions or politics, only in showing the bizarre, almost science-fictional way our food is produced in the 21st century. (MP) 92 min. Filmmuseum

The Princess Half Japanese-style animation and half live action, this Danish cult film tells the violent story of a priest’s bloody quest through the sex film industry to avenge the death of his porn star sister and the abuse of her five-year-old daughter. Princess is relentless in its portrayal of porn as a life-ruining business, raising the issue whether its director, cartoonist Anders Morgenthaler, should have toned down his moral judgement. Highly recommended for those not allergic to controversy. (MdR) 90 mins. The Movies

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer One of the most expensive European films ever produced, Perfume, based on Patrick Süskind’s book, is a sinister fairy tale about Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw), who is born with an unusually sensitive nose and becomes

Pursuit of Happyness Failure is one of the most potent American subjects, largely because of the drama implicit in Americans’ denial of it. This inspirational movie tells the true story of an unsuccessful salesman in San Francisco (Will Smith) who

FILM TIMES Thursday 15 February until Wednesday 21 February. Times are provided by cinemas and are subject to last-minute changes. Film times also at www.amsterdamweekly.nl.

De Balie Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10, 553 5151 Starting from Scratch #5 Sat, Sun. Cavia Van Hallstraat 52-I, 681 1419 The Garden Thur 20.30 Das Leben ist eine Baustelle Fri 20.30.

Cinecenter Lijnbaansgracht 236, 623 6615 Babel daily 15.45, 18.45, 21.45, Sun also 12.45 Little Children daily 16.00, 19.00, 21.45, Sun also 11.15 The Queen daily 16.15, 19.15, 22.00, Sun also 11.00, 13.45 La Tourneuse de pages daily 16.30, 19.30, 21.45, Sun also 11.15, 14.00.

Cinema Amstelveen Plein 1960 2, Amstelveen, 547 5175 Ernst, Bobbie en de geslepen Onix Sat, Wed 13.30, Sun 12.00 Happy Feet (NL) Sat, Wed 15.30, Sun 14.00 The Holiday Thur-Sat 20.30, Sun 16.15 Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man Tues, Wed 20.30 La Tourneuse de pages Thur 15.00.

Filmhuis Griffioen Uilenstede 106, Amstelveen, 444 5100 4 Elements Thur, Fri 19.00, Tues 21.30 La Grande bouffe Thur, Fri 21.00, Tues 19.00.

Filmmuseum Vondelpark 3, 589 1400 Cinema of Attractions Reloaded Thur 19.00 The Death of Mr. Lazarescu Thur-Wed 21.15, Fri, Sat, Mon-Wed also 17.45, Sun also 16.30 Kuifje en het Haaienmeer Sun, Wed 14.00 Lights in the Dusk Fri-Wed 19.45, Sun also 18.00 Lorange, Muffin & Dartanjang Sun, Wed 13.45 Our Daily Bread daily 21.30, Thur-Sat, Mon-Wed also 17.30, Sun also 15.30 Stuff and Dough Thur 19.30. iLLUSEUM Witte de Withstraat 120, 770 5581 Rumble Fish Wed 21.00.

Het Ketelhuis Haarlemmerweg 8-10, 684 0090 4 Elements Thur-Sat, Mon-Wed 18.30, Sat, Sun, Wed 15.00 De Avonturen van het Molletje Sat, Sun, Wed 13.30 Blind daily 19.30, Thur-Sat, Mon-Wed also 17.30

Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek (NL) Sat, Wed 15.00, Sun 13.00 Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man Sat, Sun, Wed 15.00 Ober Thur-Sat, Mon-Wed 17.15, Thur, Fri, Sat also 20.30 Olivier etc. daily 2015, 22.00 Red Road daily 19.15, 21.30, Sat, Sun also 13.45 Schoffies Thur, Sat, Mon-Wed 17.00, Sun 13.30 Zwartboek daily 21.15.

KIT Tropentheater, Kleine Zaal Linnaeusstraat 2, 568 8500 Crossing the Bridge:The Sound of Istanbul Wed 20.30.

Kriterion Roetersstraat 170, 623 1708 An Inconvenient Truth Mon-Wed 17.30 Buddha's Lost Children Sat, Sun 14.45 Flags of Our Fathers daily 17.15 Indigènes Sun 12.15 Letters from Iwo Jima daily 19.35 Little Miss Sunshine Thur-Sun, Tues, Wed 22.00, Sat, Sun 15.15 Perfume:The Story of a Murderer Thur-Sun 16.45 Red Road Thur-Mon, Wed 22.15, Fri, Sat also 0.15 The Science of Sleep daily 20.00, Fri, Sat also 0.00 Sneak Preview Tues 22.15 De Spiegel Mon 22.15.

Melkweg Cinema Lijnbaansgracht 234A, 624 1777 Appleseed Thur, Sun 20.00 Origine Fri, Sat, Wed 20.00.

The Movies Haarlemmerdijk 159-165, 638 6016 Babel Thur-Sat 21.45 Beestenboel Sat, Sun, Wed also 14.45 Gosford Park Fri, Sat 0.15 The Illusionist daily 16.45, Sun-Wed also 21.45, Sun also 12.15, Fri, Sat also 0.15 The Last King of Scotland daily 17.00, 19.30, 22.00, Sun also 12.30 Little Children daily 19.15, 21.45, Sat, Sun, Wed also 14.15 Prairie Home Companion,A daily 21.30, Sat, Wed also 15.15 The Princess Fri, Sat 0.15 The Queen daily 17.15, 19.15, Sun also 12.15, 15.00, Wed also 15.00 Short Cuts Fri, Sat 23.30, Sun 14.15 Ten Canoes daily 19.45, Sun also 12.00 The Way I Spent the End of The World daily 17.30.

De Nieuwe Anita Frederik Hendrikstraat 111, 06 4150 3512, Performance Mon 20.30.

OT301 Overtoom 301, 779 4913 The Saddest Music in the World Tues 20.30 Video Shorts Sun 20.30.

Pathé ArenA ArenA Boulevard 600, 0900 1458 Arthur en de Minimoys Fri-Sun, Wed 13.25, 16.05, Sat, Sun also 10.55 Babel daily 21.15 Beestenboel Fri-Sun, Wed 12.50, 13.20, 15.35, Sat, Sun also 10.10, 10.45 Blood Diamond daily 15.10, 18.15, 21.20, Thur, Mon, Tues also 12.05 Casino Royale Thur-Mon, Wed 21.00 Déjà Vu: D-4 Thur-Sat, Tues 21.35

assumes custody of his young son and contrives to switch professions. Smith is resourceful in the role, though the story stretches one’s credulity about his character’s resourcefulness. Gabrielle Muccino directed; with Thandie Newton and Jaden Smith (the star’s son). (JR) 117 min. Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt The Queen Helen Mirren’s flinty performance as Elizabeth II is getting all the attention, but equally impressive is Peter Morgan’s insightful script for this UK drama, which quietly teases out the social, political, and historical implications of the 1997 death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Shortly after the shocking news reaches Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) scores a PR coup by memorialising Diana as the ‘people’s princess’, while the royal family’s obstinate silence angers their grieving subjects.

But Blair is more sympathetic to Elizabeth than many of his staffers, and he instinctively understands what she cannot: that in the tabloid age, celebrities are dangerously usurping the monarch’s hold on the public imagination. (JJ) 97 min. Cinecenter, The Movies, Pathé Tuschinski

23 bour Stéphanie, which he expresses by presenting all kinds of inventive doodads for her. While Stéphane is a cocksure and confident dude in his cardboard-riddled dreams, he turns into a clunky kid in real life.

Gondry’s inventive low-fi aesthetic is always appealing, as are the two leads, Gael García Bernal and Charlotte Gainsbourg. In Spanish/English/French with Dutch subtitles. (LvH) 105 min. Kriterion Smokin’Aces It’s very easy to classify this hyperactive pile-up of exploitation genres as a wannabe-Tarantino flick; but for connoisseurs of trashy cinema who have an open mind and low expectations, this grab bag, mixing up everything from Elmore Leonard and Mad Max to Foxy Brown and Hostel, is a hyperkinetic hootand-a-half. The two drawbacks in this drama about the attempt to kill a Las Vegas entertainer are a formulaic twist that anyone with half a brain can see coming and a forced climax in which the audience is asked to care about the one-note characters. But if you want an over-the-top movie experience, knock yourself out!

Directed by Joe Carnahan; with Ben Affleck and Jeremy Piven. (LvH) Pathé ArenA, Pathé De Munt

Ten Canoes This indigenous morality drama, set in

Red Road

Red Road If there were an Oscar available for Best Film to Make You Glad You Weren’t Born in Glasgow, Andrea Arnold would walk away with it for her feature debut. Red Road presents us with Jackie (Kate Dickie), a woman who monitors CCTV cameras for signs of disorder. She begins tracking a man named Clyde; as the reasons for her actions are revealed, it’s in the sexual arena that she conspires to exact revenge. Her vulnerability and sadness are framed against the bleak buildings of a run-down sink estate to lend the film much of its power. (AD) 113 min. Het Ketelhuis, Kriterion Schoffies Documentary by Marc van Fucht about the herons of Amsterdam. In Dutch. 60 min. Het Ketelhuis

The Science of Sleep Michael Gondry’s latest flick is a bit more lightweight than his previous efforts, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. The Science of Sleep is a rumination on love and longing, in this case the love felt by the dopey Stéphane for his lanky neigh-

DOA: Dead or Alive daily 12.15, 14.30, 16.45, 19.00, Sat, Sun also 10.05 Eklavya the Royal Guard daily 15.35, 18.30, 21.10, Thur-Mon, Wed also 13.00, Sat, Sun also 10.20 Ernst, Bobbie en de geslepen Onix Fri-Sun, Wed 12.30, 14.35, 16.50, Sat, Sun also 10.30 Flushed Away (NL) Fri-Sun, Wed 13.10, 15.25, Sat, Sun 11.05 The Good Shepherd daily 20.45, Thur, Mon, Tues also 12.20, 16.10 Happy Feet (NL) Fri-Sun, Wed 14.00, 16.40, Sat, Sun also 11.15 The Holiday Sun, Mon, Wed 21.35 Kruistocht in Spijkerbroek (NL) Fri-Sun, Wed 13.05, 16.15, Sat, Sun also 10.15 The Last King of Scotland daily 12.30, 15.25, 18.05, 21.05 Letters from Iwo Jima daily 17.50, 20.55, Thur, Mon, Tues also 11.45, 14.45 Maskeli Besler daily 18.25, Thur, Mon also 13.10, 15.50 Memoirs of a Geisha Tues 13.30 Miss Potter daily 19.20, Thur, Mon, Tues also 12.10, 14.20, 16.30 Night at the Museum daily 12.35, 15.20, 18.00, 20.50 Night at the Museum (IMAX) daily 12.55, 15.45, 18.35, 21.30 The Prestige daily 15.40, 18.45, 21.40, Thur, Fri, Mon-Wed also 12.40, Sat, Sun also 10.00, 12.50 Pursuit of Happyness daily 13.15, 16.00, 19.00, 21.45, Sat also 10.25 Smokin' Aces daily 19.15, 21.50, Thur, Mon, Tues also 16.40, Thur, Mon also 14.00 Sneak Preview Tues 21.00 Son Osmanli daily 18.45, 21.25, Thur, Mon, Tues also 13.25, 16.05.

Pathé De Munt Vijzelstraat 15, 0900 1458 Apocalypto Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 14.45, Thur, Fri, Mon-Wed also 12.15, Sat 10.20, 12.30, 14.40, 16.50, Sun also 10.25, 12.35 Arthur and the Minimoys Fri, Wed 12.00, 14.20, Sat 11.25, 14.05, 16.30, Sun also 10.05, 12.20, 14.40 Arthur en de Minimoys Fri, Wed 12.05, 14.30, Sat 10.50, 13.20, 15.50, Sun 10.00, 12.15, 14.35 Babel Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 17.00, 20.30, Thur, Mon, Tues also 13.15, Sat 18.20, 21.30 Beestenboel Fri, Sun, Wed 13.20, 15.50, Sat 10.45, 13.00, 15.45, Sun also 11.00 Blind Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 14.50, 17.30, Thur, Fri, Mon, Tues also 12.25, Sat 16.05, 18.30Thur, Fri, Mon, Tues also 12.00, Sat 16.10, 18.45, 21.10, 23.35 Blood Diamond Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 12.00, 15.10, 18.20, 21.30, Sat 10.10, 13.10, 16.15, 19.30, 22.45 Casino Royale Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 20.40, Sat 22.15 Charlotte's Web (NL) Sat 11.15, 13.40, Sun, Wed 12.25, Sun also 10.20 The Departed Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 20.00, Sat 21.00 DOA: Dead or Alive Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 12.05, 14.10, 16.20, 18.30, Sat 11.30, 13.45, 16.00, 18.15, 23.40 Ernst, Bobbie en de geslepen Onix Fri, Sun, Wed 12.30, 14.30, Sat 10.10, 12.00, 13.50, 15.40, Sun also 10.30 The Good Shepherd Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 16.30, 20.15, Thur, Mon, Tues also 12.30, Sat 17.30, 21.15 Happy Feet (NL) Fri, Sun, Wed 12.40, 15.15, Fri also 10.00, Sat 11.10, 13.55, 16.40 The Holiday Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 20.10, Sat 21.45 The Last King of Scotland Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 12.35, 15.20, 18.10,

Australia in the year 1000, begins with a young man who has taken a fancy to his older brother’s wife. To teach the youngster not to break the sacred tribal laws, the brother tells an ancestral story that directly relates to the delicate issue at hand. The story takes place in a mythical past and deals with forbidden love, kidnapping, sorcery and revenge gone deadly wrong.

Films about indigenous people tend to meet with a solemn approach. Director Rolf De Heer (born in Holland in 1951, raised in Australia) ventured far from this beaten path, mixing epic storytelling with cheeky humour in this mythic swamp comedy—a thoroughly entertaining film that will teach you how to live the proper way. In English/Ganalbingu with Dutch subtitles. (VM) 90 min. The Movies, Rialto

Zwartboek In the closing days of World War II, a Jewish cabaret artiste (Carice van Houten) is betrayed to the Nazis, escapes and joins a resistance group.

When she is assigned to seduce a German officer (Sebastian Koch) she falls in love with him, one of the many plot twists (some more, some less credible) in Paul Verhoeven’s complex, violent, gripping and deeply cynical adventure story. With Halina Reijn as a good-time girl, Thom Hoffman as a resistance leader and Michiel Huisman as a red herring. In Dutch. (JP) 139 min. Het Ketelhuis, De Uitkijk

21.10, Sat 10.40, 13.30, 16.50, 19.45, 22.30, Sun also 10.00 Letters from Iwo Jima Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 20.45, Sat 20.30 Miss Potter Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 17.45, Thur, Mon, Tues also 13.05, 15.25, Sat 19.15 Night at the Museum Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 13.30, 16.15, 19.15, 22.00, Sat 10.15, 12.4 Perfume:The Story of a Murderer Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 17.20, Sat 19.10 The Prestige Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 12.00, 15.00, 18.00, 21.00, Sat 11.00, 14.00, 17.00, 20.00, 23.00 Pursuit of Happyness Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 12.45, 15.45, 18.45, 21.45, Sat 11.30, 14.15, 17.15, 20.15, 23.15, Sun also 10.10 Smokin' Aces Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 18.15, 21.15, Thur, Mon, Tues also 12.20, 15.30, Sat 18.10, 20.40, 23.25 Sneak Preview Tues 21.30 ’N Beetje Verliefd Thur, Fri, Sun-Wed 12.10, 14.15, 16.40, Sat 11.15, 13.35, 15.50, 18.05, Sun also 10.10.

Pathé Tuschinski Reguliersbreestraat 34, 0900 1458 Arthur en de Minimoys Sat, Sun, Wed 13.00 Beestenboel Sat, Sun, Wed 12.45 Bobby daily 16.15, 21.45, Thur, Fri, Mon, Tues also 12.45 Casino Royale Thur-Sun, Tues 21.15 Dreamgirls Roadshow Wed 20.30 Ernst, Bobbie en de geslepen Onix Sat, Sun, Wed 12.15, 14.15 The Good Shepherd daily 13.15, 17.00, 20.45 The Illusionist Thur-Sun, Tues, Wed 21.50 Little Children Thur-Sun, Tues, Wed 18.00, 21.00, Fri-Mon, Wed also 15.00, Fri, Mon also 12.00 Little Miss Sunshine Thur-Sun, Tues, Wed 12.00, 16.50, Mon 13.30 Meiden van de Keileweg Sun 10.30 Miss Potter Thur-Sun, Tues, Wed 14.30, 19.30, Mon 16.00 Munich Thur, Tues 13.30 The Prestige Thur, Fri, Mon-Wed 12.30, 18.30, 21.30, Thur, Fri, Mon, Tues also 15.30, Sat, Sun 15.30, 18.40, 21.40, Sat also 13.10, Sun also 13.00 The Queen Thur-Mon, Wed 15.45, Thur-Sun, Tues 18.45, Thur, Fri, Mon also 13.00, Tues also 16.30 Van de koele meren des doods Sun 10.30.

Rialto Ceintuurbaan 338, 676 8700 12:08 East of Bucharest Sat 16.00 4 Elements daily 18.00, Sat, Sun, Wed also 15.45, Sun also 11.45 Bamako daily 17.45, 21.45, Sat also 15.15, Sun also 13.30 Dark Horses Fri 16.00 Flandres daily 19.30, 21.15, Sat, Sun also 14.15 Gloria Sun 11.00 Into Great Silence Fri, Sun, Wed 16.15, Sun also 11.15 Romanian Shorts Fri 23.00 Ryna Sat 23.00 Ten Canoes daily 20.00, Fri, Sun, Wed also 15.45, Sat also 13.30 The Way I Spent the End of The World daily 19.45, 22.00, Sat, Sun also 13.45,.

De Uitkijk Prinsengracht 452, 623 7460 After the Wedding daily 21.15 Forever Sun 14.00 Perfume:The Story of a Murderer daily 18.30 Zwartboek daily 16.00.

Amsterdam Weekly

24

Chicken is my bizznis Temiz Slagerij Jan Pieter Heijerstraat 72, 612 0376 Open Mon-Sat 10.00-21.30 Cash Remember the opening sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey? The sun rises, Also sprach Zarathustra plays, and monkey-man type creatures busy themselves a-hunting and a-gathering for food. One of the ape-men scrabbles in a pile of bones, picks up a sharp one, and learns how to kill. He becomes Homo erectus, and chucks his chicken bone high into the sky.

Instead of the Black Monolith, picture a rotisserie, filled with spit-roast chickens, emitting a humming sound. An awe-struck simian humanoid dances up to it. He is totally fascinated by the delicious smells pouring forth from the twirling poultry. He has already learned a valuable lesson from his forbears: not only does cooked chicken smell nicer than raw, it’s better for you. And it’s a damn sight tastier, too. (What a giant leap for humankind!)

Round and round the slowly orbiting chickens go. The scene is scored by another ditty by another Strauss, and the birds waltz in time to the Blue Danube, setting ape-boy’s taste buds dancing.

Cut to Amsterdam, 2007. The Glutton, peering into the poultry roaster, is shaken from his reverie by Temiz Slagerij’s owner, Mustafa.

Together with his family, he has been running this butchery and green grocery market for over 21 years.

And no one, but no one, makes chickens like Mustafa makes chickens; he learned the

THE UNDERCOVER GLUTTON They are plump birds, spiced with fresh rosemary and garlic—and other secret magic—then spit-roasted.

A plain one will set you back €4.00, a herbed one €4.50. special spicing that he coats the birds with from his late father. He supplies around a hundred a day to customers who come from all over town— and sometimes from as far as Purmerend—to

fetch them.

They are large plump birds, carefully washed, then herbed and spiced with fresh rosemary and garlic—and other secret magic

15-21 February 2007

ingredients—then spit-roasted. A plain one will set you back €4.00, a herbed one €4.50.

The first lot is ready by noon, then every 90 minutes a new batch is prepared. At 5.00 p.m. things get hectic, with hungry commuters stopping by to get a chicken dinner. Mustafa’s section of the shop closes at 7.00 p.m., but the chickens are available until closing time.

When Britain was struck by Mad Cow Disease, it was the ubiquitous kip that saved Mustafa’s bacon (though everything here is halal, natch), as customers eschewed red meat in favour of chewin’ chicken. His quality merguez sausages are really spicy and hot and contain very little fat, so there’s hardly any shrinkage.

Only good meat goes into them, not the unmentionable parts. More expensive than most at €10 a kilo, they’re worth the extra.

In 1963 in France, the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs was founded to promote the use of the spit, and respect for its art. They should come here and take a look. His fare is honest, simple, timeless and universal.

My gob begins to drool: the skin is golden brown, crisp, and the fat has dripped away, leaving the tender meat juicy and succulent to the taste. The flavour of fresh herbs and garlic give nuances that make finger-lickin’ inevitable.

Once, many years ago, in a past life, I conspiratorially asked a crafty old Zulu night watchman if he could get me some enyama kuku—chicken meat. I winked at him knowingly, and handed over some cash. He nodded, and melted into the dark. I closed my eyes in relief.

I was desperate for a smoke.

‘Here you are, baasie!’ he said, handing me a rotisserie chicken from the all-night Greek takeaway. I was most disappointed, back then.

But now, on my darkened balcony, where I sit picking bones, these herby fumes are sufficient to get me high—on food.

Amsterdam Weekly

15-21 February 2007

WEEKLY CLASSIFIEDS Ads are free, space permitting. They will be posted both to the paper and online. Guaranteed placement is available for a small fee; see our website for details. Ads may be published in English, het Nederlands or whatever language is best for you to communicate your message. How to submit an ad: via our website at www.amsterdamweekly.nl, by fax at 020 620 1666 or post to Amsterdam Weekly, De Ruyterkade 106, 1011 AB Amsterdam. Deadline: Monday at 12.00, the week of publication.

AD OF THE WEEK COLLECTIONof old Cuban money. Three specimens from1960, notes of 5, 10 and 20 pesos signed by Che Guevara, that time President of the Cuban Bank. For more information call Antonio 06 4320 3783 or email drg_cub@hotmail.com.

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NICE ROOM WANTEDPartnered 50+ gay man requires double room w/ 2 chairs, table, TV & internet in A’dam Centrum. Very clean, tidy person & I do not impose on others. Would like room full-time even though would only use it occasionally when I visit from Scotland. Am a moderate smoker. Email mflamarra@aol.com.

HOUSING TO SHARE FLAT WANTEDWe are 2 female dancers, looking for flat to share from April on. It should be for minimum 2 people and max €350 per person. Contact crista.leitao@gmail.com or martalopesmar@gmail.com.

RENT ROOM IN NEW FLAT Fully furnished room, lovely decor.

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PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED Sugar Factory looking for photographers enthusiastic about going out in our club & making high-quality pictures to grasp spirit of the night. Will put you on guest-list + 1 & all used pix used for promotional goals will have your name on it! Interested? Email sanne@sugarfactory.nl w/ work samples.

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ROCK AND ROLLand something more: global, unique, authentic and passionate. Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam is hiring servers, bartenders, hosts, dishwashers, shop assistants and cooks. Open hiring day: Tues 20 Feb11.30-13.30. No appointments necessary. Just bring ID, CV + passport photo. Max Euweplein 57-61, A’dam.

OPPAS GEZOCHTNiet rokende, Nederlands sprekende oppas gezocht. Ervaring en referenties vereist. Reacties met foto naar miauw@miauw.com.

ECHO ONE DESIGNare looking for part-time sales person to promote and sell our web design and digital signage services.

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KILLERS TICKETS 2 tickets for The Killers at the Heineken Music Hall in A’dam on7 Mar. €50 per ticket.

MOVING SALE We’re leaving

Amsterdam Weekly

26 the country and everything must go, from A-luminum ladder to Z-oom lens and everything in between. Couch, chairs, fridge, kitchenware, books. You get the gist. Contact jhokin@hotmail.com for more info.

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HOME PUB FOR SALEFor all you beer lovers out there, I’ve got a Home Pub Fridge Freezer for sale. Less than one year old. Visit www.homepub.cc to see fridge and mail rapenburg-nl@hotmail.com for sale details.

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Contact Lee on 06 2388 2184 or isabelleandlee@planet.nl.

FRED'S PET CARE Friendly dogwalker with references, available from 07.00-20.00 to take care of your pets. Also possible to keep them during the day and overnight. Reasonable rates. Call Fred 06 1649 1359.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

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SPANISH BABYSITTER Spanish/English speaker babysitter looking for job. Experienced either in babysitting children (all ages) and back-up teaching them. 2 years teaching in an academy and helping chil-

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NEED TO TALK? Experienced therapeutic counsellor Audrey Weinberg offers confidential client centered sessions in A’dam and Amstelveen. Why suffer any longer? Contact me today on weinberg@xs4all.nl or 06 4137 0866 or http://littledolphin.tripod.com/audreyweinberg.index.html.

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Good references available. Contact Dacho 06 4275 6045.

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De Bock Home Improvement.

Contact 06 1064 0697.

COMPUTERS PC HOUSE DOCTORSpecialised in virus/spyware removal, H/W, S/W repair, data recovery, wireless, cable/ADSL installation and computer lessons from friendly and experienced Microsoft professional for reasonable price. Contact Mario

06 1644 8230.

NEED HELP WITH YOURMAC??

MAC-lover helps you with basic setups, minor troubleshooting, install, networking, basic MAC lessons, setting up programs, MS Word, QuarkXpress, etc.

Help with purchasing the right MAC. Contact Sagar at7791926.

TÉCNICO INFORMÁTICOReparaciones a domicilio: Eliminación de virus,reparaciones de hardware, instalaciones, ADSL/cable.

Buen precio. Contacto Joaquim 06 5205 5383, jllinformatica@gmail.com.

APPLEComputer help, solutions and general troubleshooting.

Contact Jay on 06 4094 1991.

MASSAGE PHYSICAL COMFORT Have you done too much too long?

Improve your physical comfort with a professional massage. €50, Center of A’dam. Call Henk on 625 1991.

TANTRA MASSAGESacred sensual massage created to arouse, circulate and increase sexual energy throughout your entire body. Moving erotic energy throughout the body not only enhances awareness and the capacity for pleasure, it can also be a powerful healing experience. Shanti.TantraCoach@ gmail.com/06 4277 3290.

SENSUAL BODY MASSAGEVery handsome top body builder, Arab, masseur. 27 y.o. 1.87m.

Active, honest, good level. Gives complete sensual body massage. Discreet and clean. Please call Gamo 06 2413 4197.

15-21 February 2007 SHIATSU MASSAGE A qualified Shiatsu massage offered in De Pijp, A’dam. Have an English guy with many years of experience look after your health and relieve many common ailments of today’s lifestyle. Competitive prices. Email redshiatsu@hotmail.com for more information or appointments.

COURSES TAI CHI LESSONSTai Yang school starting new courses now. Beginners welcomed. Come train body, mind and spirit. See website and sign up for free introduction lesson. www.taiyang.nl or 623 0835.

DRUM LESSONS! Study with experienced professional. Reading and rudiments to rock ‘n’ roll. Beginners to working drummers. Call Jack Dempsey on 06 1707 8673. Email drumdempsey@hotmail.com.

HEALING WORKSHOPS Learn Hands-on Energy Healing, Guided Visualisations, Shamanic Journeys in the ‘Source of Life’ workshop series. Heal yourself & others & reconnect with your inner being. 8-wk course Wed 13.15-16.45 starting 14 Feb at Aurora Holistic Centre. Misha: 06 466 94556 or www.soulweaving.com.

IYENGAR YOGA CLASSES with certified Iyengar yoga teacher Cristina Libanori, Tues 19.30 to 21.00 at Training Centrum, Europaplein 127 near RAI. Tram 4 (stop Dintelstraat). €8 p/class; with yoga strippenkaart €7.50.

Individual therapeutic classes

arranged by appt at €20/hr. cristina@the-wheel-of-yoga.com/773 5307.

LEARN 3D ANIMATION Experienced freelancer teaches 3D animation (3dsmax), video editing (premiere), photo editing (Photoshop) at your own PC. Also available to create intro’s or videos/special effects projects. Arty or straight. Email madisongrange@hotmail.com.

STILL LOOKINGfor the right yoga class? Think you are too creaky?

At Studio Body & Mind, Herculestraat 109, it’s not about tying yourself in knots but feeling good in your own body. Trial class thru Feb. Only €5. Find a lttle time for yourself & boost your winter energy. more info www.peakexperience.nl.

NEW BELLY DANCE course in A’dam at Mirror Centre. Every Mon & Fri from 20.30-21.45.

Starting 15 Jan ’07. More info at www.sitadance.com or contact 06 2518 1717.

INTRO WORKSHOP DSLR Learn to love your digital camera. If you have Digital SLR and want to spend a weekend learning how to make it work, attend one of our Introduction to Digital workshops on17,18 Mar or 21, 22 April. See www.JohnHindmarsh.com/travelworkshop.htm or email John@JohnHindmarsh.com or phone 06 2127 6246.

INTUITIVE PAINTINGWant to be creative, but it’s not happening? Get unstuck via fun and easy method of painting with soft pastels on paper. Half self-

development group, half creative. Changes will occur! weinberg@xs4all.nl or 06 4137 0866.

Visit http://littledolphin.tripod.com/audreyweinberg/inde x.html.

DRAWING AND PAINTINGDrawing and painting workshops by professional artist, various techniques, all styles. For info call 681 3067/joneiselin@hetnet.nl.

VOICE OVERS Learn a comprehensive overview of the voice over industry. Workshops run weekly in A’dam. For more information visit www.voicetake.com.

SPRING RETREAT Yoga and Ayurveda in daily life. Dive deep into your yoga practice and learn about the Indian art of healing. Two daily hatha yoga classes, Ayurveda lectures, meditation, chanting and healthy diet. 1 hour from A’dam, 25-28 May. For more information contact nicolas@planet.nl or 06 5176 4621.

ORIENTAL BELLY DANCE Introducing movement technique: developing arm, shoulders, hips & waist techniques & isolations.

Attention to finding your centre, expression & channelling your physical impulses & energy.

Using different Oriental rhythms & dance phrases. Starting 22 Feb at 20.00. Please call Lina on 06 4274 6470.

YOGAYOGA.NL offers Hatha, Iyengar and Vinyasa Flow classes. Daily morning and evening, in English, in A’dam close to the Jordaan. Also classes in the weekend: 3 on Sat as well as

Amsterdam Weekly

15-21 February 2007

lady interested in design, good talks and humor? Then meet me on the same frequency! Email webwideworld@web.de.

monthly Sun workshops. Visit www.yogayoga.nl or call 688 3418.

BALLET DANCE LESSONS Freestyle jazz dance with classical elements. Level beginners.

Develop your body to dance, strength + flexibility. Tues nights at 19.45. http://home.tiscali.nl/ balletjeannetsmit. Call 682 5478 or email jeannetsmit@ yahoo.com.

INTRO TO KABBALAH You’ve heard people talk about Kabbalah, you’ve read about Kabbalah. Now you can discover Kabbalah in a 2-day intensive course, offered by the Kabbalah Centre (www.kabbalah.com).

25 Feb & 18 March in A’dam.

Email Arie.politi@kabbalah.com or call NL free phone 0800 023 5027 for details.

FUN COOKING CLASSESRediscover your love of cooking. New cooking classes based on plantbased, organic, whole-food ingredients. Topics from Healthy Sweets to 30 min Whole Food Meals. Classes are kept small to provide personal attention.

Visit www.justnosh.com or contact joslyn@justnosh.com for info or to reserve.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS CREATIVES! Open invitation for international creatives in Amsterdam to BSUR OPEN 2007. Mix ‘n’ mingle/informal drinks/inspirational meet and greet/short movie Brand Iconics (10 mins).

Thurs 8 Mar from 17.00-19.00. rsvp to beasyouare@bsur.com.

Return on branding. sion. Cultural events for small groups, a visit to a museum and painting workshop. More information in English visit www.inloopatelieramstel.nl or contact 06 2299 0420.

LANGUAGES DUTCH LESSONSNew evening courses starting in Feb, centre of A’dam. €200-€250 for 20 hours. Visit www.mercuurtaal.nl or contact 693 4250.

YOGA FOR WOMEN Friendly & well-established yoga group has space for new women. Tues mornings in A’dam Centrum.

Contact 679 8753.

ENGLISH PRACTICE GROEnglish Language Practice Group open to all levels, beginner to advanced. Led by native speaking TEFL Instructor, Practice Group meets Tues 19.00-21.00 at Voetboogstraat 11. Grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, conversation & more. Informal & inexpensive. Contact elizabethehr03@yahoo.com/486 1037.

PAINTING WORKSHOPS in studio in canal house along Amstel river near Muziektheater.

Courses in different materials.

Open studio, visit for single ses-

CHINESE Do you want to learn Chinese effectively from beginning with flexible time & place?

Perfectindividualcoursedesigned according to your level. Lecture,

literature&free.Individuallessons €10/hr;grouplessons€8(2-3persons). Contact 06 1453 1365 or tracy1304@hotmail.com for more information.

IMPROVE YOURSPANISH! Experienced Latin American Spanish teacher in small groups as well as private lessons, conversations and grammar. Call for more info: 06 2518 1717.

SPANISH CATALANInternational Student is giving Spanish and Catalan Lessons. Flexible schedules & rates. Contact fele_site@yahoo.com.

IMPROVE YOUR DUTCHLink Taal Studio, a professional way to learn Dutch. Private lessons, small groups, intensive, etc, starting every week. Vijzelgracht 53. Info: 06 4133 9323.

ARABIC LESSONSIndividual and small groups. Conversation and writing both in classical Arabic and in spoken dialect if preferred.

Lesson content flexible to meet your needs. Communicative and experienced teacher. Modest

rates and flexible schedule.

Please call 06 4274 6470.

IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISHQualified experienced English teacher available for individuals and small groups. Lesson content flexible to meet your needs.

Contact 06 5213 0541 or email lucyegg@gmail.com.

HAND LANGUAGEI want to learn to talk with my hands, like all the people who can’t hear, so I can comunicate with them. Who can teach me this language?!? I live in A’dam. Email si-si@37.com.

LEARNING DUTCH? JOOST WEET HET! €7/hr. 2x2 hrs/wk.

Don’t go to sleep in wintertime, improve your Dutch at Joost Weet Het! Courses on all levels and real quality. Visit our website www.joostweethet.nl or call us at 420 8146 or email info@aprenderholandes.nl.

INTENSIVE DUTCH COURSES at Joost Weet Het! €7/hr, 4x4 hrs/wk. We have an unconventional and very clear learning method. Fun classes, emphasis

on conversation and inexpensive!

Visit www.joostweethet.nl or call us at 420 8146 or email info@aprenderholandes.nl.

MUSICIANS SINGING LESSONS On Prinsengracht, beautiful atmosphere. Classical voice training, breathing techniques, vocalization, scales, etc. For beginners and professionals. From classic to jazz, pop or rock, all styles of singing. Good prices + free introduction lesson. Contact Michael on 320 2095 or ajara77@yahoo.com.

STEM IN BEWEGING Voor wie: Iedereen die nieuwsgierig is naar de mogelijkheden van stem, zang & beweging en die op zoek is naar diepgang in het werken met de stem. Contact info@steminbeweging.nl. Aanmelden. Voor meer informatie kijk op www.steminbeweging.nl of bel 419 8389.

PERSONALS DATE A DAVID (27) Are you a

WHALES CYBER TEAM Volunteers needed for online outreach and mobilization to save whales.

The Greenpeace ship Esperanza is in the whaling ground right now. To join the team, contact Andrew at supporter.services@int.greenpeace.org.

FILMMAKER/ PHOTOGRAPHER Choreographer seeks filmmaker orphotographerinterestedincollaboratingonadancefilmorphotographic installation in A’dam.

To know more send an email to boywithhat@hotmail.com.

WANTED: PHP4 HELP! I am a beginner learning PHP from scratch for use on my own website (apache server). Could do with a couple of hours a week primer/starter but need to be fairly competent before July 2007.

Contact simonbenyair.com or 06 2854 4424.

NINE INCH NAILS TICKETS I am looking for one or two spare Nine Inch Nails tickets for Paradiso 21 or 22 Mar. I cannot miss it! Kudos. Contact 06 50241837 or bresych@hotmail.com.