Die Welle

I am quite picky about good films, but yesterday I saw a film which is definitely worth mentioning - German film "Die Welle" ("The Wave") from 2008.

First - watch the film.

Second - read the background about the film.

Third - tell me where can I borrow the book! After seeing the film I want to read the book on which the film is based!

Dienvidslāvija

Tikko pabeidzu angliski lasīt ļoti interesantu un viegli lasāmu grāmatu.

Horvātietes Slavenkas Drakulič grāmata "They Would Never Hurt a Fly: War Criminals on Trial in The Hague" stāsta par tiem augstākā mēroga kara noziedzniekiem, kuri bija iesaistīti 90. gadu Dienvidslāvijas karos, nogalinot vairākus tūkstošus horvātu, serbu, musulmaņu u. c.

Lai gan tā nav pirmā reize, kad iegūstu jaunu informāciju par šo laika periodu Dienvidslāvijā, es joprojām cenšos atcerēties, vai skolas laikā mums par to vēstures stundās mācīja? Savu atmiņu neuzskatu par sliktu, bet absolūti, absolūti (!) neko par to neatceros.

Latvijas vēsture - skaidra lieta. Krievijas, Francijas, Lielbritānijas, pat ASV Pilsoņu kara un citi notikumi ir spilgtā atmiņā no vēstures stundām. Neatceros neko daudz par Āfriku, it īpaši tās kolonizēšanu, un Āziju.

Tomēr bijušās Dienvidslāvijas teritorija ir kas cits, tā ir tepat Eiropā, pavisam netālu no mums. Un 90. gadu vidus bija tieši tas laiks, kad es sāku iet skolā. Ja vēl ne pamatskolā, tad varbūt vidusskolā par to vajadzēja runāt?

Tagad pēc gadiem par to uzzinu vien no saviem ārzemju draugiem, kuri paši nav dienvidslāvi (jo zinu, ka ar viņiem par to labāk nerunāt) - bet kuriem par to ir vairāk informācijas. Skatos (dokumentālās) filmas un lasu dažas grāmatas, lai gūtu kaut aptuvenu priekšstatu.

Tomēr jautājums paliek... Vai varbūt citās skolās ne tikai par Dienvidslāvijas karu/-iem, bet par to teritoriju vispār tika vairāk mācīts? Un vai šobrīd par to māca?

History Walks

Following my luck always to win something, a few weeks ago I won two hours long walking tour around Amsterdam, thanks to English Breakfast Radio.

We agreed that the tour will happen exactly on my name day, so on Sunday afternoon Michael and me were ready to join three other people and our British tour guide. For the next two hours we walked and listened her stories about the history of Amsterdam during World War II and the Jewish population at that time. It was no surprise to hear that Michael was the first German taking part in this tour!

I must admit that I am a fan of history, although I do not think that it is a fan of me - I forget all the historical facts and important dates very fast, although I like to read history books and watch historical movies. Back in the school history was one of my favourite subjects as well (maybe thanks to the great history teacher).

I can definitely suggest the tour to anybody who is interested in history or has Jewish origins. I do not think that a lot of ordinary tourists will be interested in such a tour as it's not the most touristical one, but it really tells a lot not only about Jewish at that time, but also the city and Dutch people themselves. Having lived here for quite a while, it was interesting to see the city from a different perspective - and notice the signs and monuments which I would not notice otherwise.