So far this week #142

Force Majeure was fantastic and fascinating, Still Alice was far too emotional a watch for me, What we do in the shadows is amazing and just perfect, Glasses (megane) makes me want to visit Okinawa immediately and eat shaved ice on the beach, Vertigo will always be a very stylish tense watch and Chef was very silly and made me crave a grilled cheese toasted sandwich.

So far this week #141

The Tale of Princess Kaguya was extremely enjoyable and really made me feel all warm inside, Magic in the Moonlight was so so, Kill Your Darlings was a bit of a bore, While We're Young was actually quite good, What if was actually great and Horns topped of my trio of Radcliffe films triumphantly because I loved this slice of silly fun.

So far this week #140

Frank had it's moments, Guardians of the Galaxy was lots of fun, Nightcrawler was just fantastic and completely gripping (I was really impressed with Jake's performance), The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet was not all I had hoped for, Birdman was definitely more than I had hoped for and Cake was rather excellent (Go Jennifer).

5ftinf

I am a big fan of the truly inspiring and insanely colourful 5ftinf (aka Philippa Stanton) so I jumped at the chance to see her house and garden and of course inside the shed (of dreams) as part of Brighton and Hove Artists' Open Houses. It was such a visual treat and a joy to photograph.

It was so fantastic to actually meet Philippa and get to have a chat with her. I would love to attend one of her workshops later in the year. I found out a bit more information about the installation in the shed on her website:

... it's theme is around nesting: creating a cosy, safe place with found functional items just like birds do, but it has also taken inspiration from collections and colour ...

So far this week #139

The Theory of Everything was just flipping marvellous but I did feel a bit emotionally dehydrated afterwards as I could not stop crying. God help the girl was such a fun little film that I sort of wanted to be in. Copenhagen was one of these films that Netflix recommends but you have never even heard of it. I am glad I didn't turn it off after the first 5 minutes (the lead guy does a rather rubbish American accent and I instantly loathed him) as I kind of loved the film. Wild made me want to buy some walking boots but I also really enjoyed it. Inherent Vice made me feel extremely agitated and I don't really know why - some sort of odd chemical reaction to it. The Babadook was such a good old freaky film that really put me on edge!

So far this week #138

Short Term 12 was a fantastic one - I really enjoyed every minute and found it a really fascinating film. Violette was a brilliant story and very well acted.  Lilting was definitely an emotional one and I loved it. Drinking Buddies was quite enjoyable really (I hadn't been expecting that). In Fear was about one of my worst nightmares - getting lost in the woods (I couldn't help thinking the whole way through - that's Tom from Downton Abbey though!). What we do in the shadows was hilarious and made me want to start buying dvds again! I really can not wait for a second viewing.

So far this week #137

White reindeer was quite a bizarre watch and I can't decide if I actually liked it or not. I nearly turned off Stuck in love after the first 5 minutes but I persevered and actually really enjoyed it. With Mary Poppins I always start off enthusiastic and singing along but then tend to wane a bit during  the second half. Happy Christmas was a really good one that I'd never even heard of. One hundred and one dalmatians is just fantastic. Liberal Arts had been on my to watch list for a while now and I am so glad i did. I loved it!

So far this week #136

I'm on a roll with actual great films. Films that I would actually include in my top 5 of the year. The Stag would not be one of them - this was ok but just the sort of thing you fancy watching on Boxing day while scoffing some Ferrero Rochers. The One I Love was rather fantastic. I adore Mark Duplass (ever since The Puffy Chair) and I thought the storyline was really unique. In Your Eyes was such a good one also. I got a bit excited when I saw it was written by Joss Whedon (I will always be a Buffy fangirl). Sinister was slightly disturbing in parts and still haunts me. In a World was such a fun watch with such great characters.  Like Father like Son was simply marvellous and extremely powerful. I really rate the director Hirokazu Koreeda so I knew I was in for some greatness. 

So far this week #135

I am still very behind with my film updates so I think I will just do a whole load so I can get back on track. One of the problems has been that during the festive period I have been watching a film a night before bed so my list just keeps getting longer (can't stop - won't stop).

Afternoon Delight was absolutely fantastic - I enjoyed every second. It's directed by Jill Solway who also did the amazing Transparent so trust me - it's great. It's a Wonderful Life is always very entertaining and is a must around this time of the year (back in December). Not here to be loved was a really touching story. Starlet was an unexpected good one. Home Alone - it has to be done in early December to get me in the mood. How I live now was an interesting idea and it really kept my attention.

So far this week #134

12 years a slave was sort of what I had expected after all the hype but I thought I had better give it a watch. We are the best was just brilliant (I have always been a Lukas Moodysson fan so this was just a dream). Prince Avalanche was thoroughly entertaining - such a good story and very funny. Breaking upwards was definitely as interesting relationship themed film but I found the couple just a bit annoying. Before I go to sleep was definitely not the tense film I had hoped for - oh so predictable. Ida was absolutely wonderful.

So far this week #133

Lemon Tree was definitely an interesting one. Sometimes I need a bit of trash - which I found in Hope Springs (do love a bit of Meryl though). Suzanne was a really great one. Fireworks Wednesday was a fascinating watch that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The Punk Singer was just how a good documentary should be and Absentia was exceedingly freaky (good freaky) and felt a bit like a really fantastic episode of the x-files.

A very orange Berlin.

I really can't stop thinking about Berlin and I feel this burning desire to get back there, so to tide me over I will post some colourful snaps. Everyday we consumed a silly amount of cola because there was just so much choice (not a cocoa cola bottle in sight). Café Cinema was down an alley we happened to chance upon in Mitte but we didn't really have time to fully explore the area so that's another one for our next visit. I think there was an open air cinema around there also so that will definitely be researched! We enjoyed the most amazing feast at Yellow Sunshine in Kreuzberg on our first day there. Thomas told me these fantastical stories about his visits there on previous trips so it was our first port of call. It did not disappoint our hungry bellies as portions were huge as you can see - pretty sure we both polished off all of our chips! I was a bit over-excited by the lifts I kept seeing on the outside of buildings - it all looked very futuristic to me. I have since read about the AquaDom which is now at the top of my list for next time! The last photograph was taken in a shop called VEB orange in Prenzlauer berg, a district that I loved. We couldn't believe it when we stumbled into this back room exploding with so much kitchen colour!

So far this week #132

Breathe in was absolutely captivating (I have to admit I have a real crush on Guy Pearce now). I, Anna was a good old thriller - you can't beat a bit of charlotte Rampling. The Apple was such a fascinating one - at first I didn't think I would like it but after sticking with it I was gripped by the story of these two sisters. Lost in Translation makes me feel all warm and fuzzy every single time. Sometimes I watch rubbish on Netflix and Thanks for sharing definitely falls in to that category. I felt emotionally drained after watching Like Crazy but I still really enjoyed it.

So far this week #131

Going to keep up with on a regular basis - so here we go. A thousand times good night could have been better but I saw it in a great cinema in Stockholm so that boosted my overall enjoyment of it. Labor Day was actually really good. Love is all you need was just amazing - I'm a big fan of Susanne Bier so this made me very happy. The Past was another great one - again a wonderful director (Asghar Farhadi - watch About Elly and A Separation right now). I found Le Week-end just lovely - a great setting and brilliant characters! Carriers was really rubbish - but the other good films I saw made me not care!

So far this week #130

The title of this post is not technically correct. I watched all of these films at least a few months back, but my watch list has been getting longer and longer and my blog posting has become slower and slower. I am going to get up to speed though. Boyhood was such a wonderful watch, it certainly left me hungry for more as the credits rolled. Her was just brilliant and I really want to see it again. The Double was everything I had hoped for from this (a fantastic watch indeed). The Two Faces of January was sadly not all I had hoped for and I found it very underwhelming but with very pretty scenery. Under the skin was extremely disturbing in parts but a fascinating and strangely hypnotic watch. Ginger and Rosa was fairly entertaining I guess but nothing to write home about.

Stationary goodness in Berlin.

I never knew that Berlin had such amazing shops - in particular stationary shops. We compiled a list late one night of must visits and each one was fantastic. The first stop was Santokki (Pappelallee 82) in Prenzlauer Berg. It was full of amazing Korean goodies and even a cafe.

Next stop was Das Goodhaus (Kastanienallee 101) which had some amazing homeware delights, great stationary and the most wonderful greetings cards. Such a beautifully curated shop.

I was lost for words as we walked through the door to R.S.V.P (Mulackstr. 14) in Mitte. My first thought was - I want everything! I very carefully selected some notebooks, stickers for decorating envelopes to my pen pals and a few other bits. I have to admit I may have got a bit over excited when the glassine bag came out when it was getting packaged up. It was very reasonable in there and I did actually regret not buying double the quantity as I was slowly walking away from the shop (very slowly). I know that next time we visit I won't hold back so much. Buy buy buy.

A few more highlights included Papiertiger (Schönhauser Allee 129) where I treated myself to a Leuchtturm1917 diary for 2015 so the days of the week are in German - I am determined to know a bit more of the language on my next trip. Also PapierConcept (Kastanienallee 11) was great for pads of paper and patterned cardboard storage boxes. Next time we definitely need to take two empty suitcases to fill up as one clearly wasn't enough.

Transparent.

This was my favourite tv show of 2014. It's even up there in my top 5 all time favourite tv shows. I may have watched it twice and will definitely make it happen for a third time. I miss all of the characters when I'm not re-watching it and quite frankly I can't get it out of my head. Thankfully some kind person on spotify has made up a playlist with some of the wonderful tunes we are treated to throughout the series. Go find it on Amazon prime - you will not regret this!

Photoautomat.

For me a photobooth will always conjure up romantic memories of Amélie and a little bit of magic. We were thrilled that on the same road as our hotel we spotted about three booths, each one with it's own quirks. Throughout our trip we were constantly trying to think up different ideas to make our strips more memorable - I loved Thomas' (almost) full body shot. I think a few black and white booths in Brighton would be much appreciated. 

Michelberger hotel.

I absolutely love the thought that has gone into this hotel - it was hard to stop snapping away with every step I took. There were so many spots to relax, inside and out, so I used to really look forward to coming back every evening. On our last night we decided to treat ourselves to dinner there, so come 8pm we were sitting in the most perfect courtyard listening to a live performance by Wooden Arms (a British band who happened to have a gig there that night) eating the most melt in your mouth ricotta gnocchi with orange and sage (Thomas was equally enjoying his cucumber with avocado mousse soup) and trying to work out when we can next escape to this amazing city.