"If you want to kill me, you'd better hurry, because I'm 100 years old."

Earlier this week, I felt like watching a film and when I was searching for something interesting on the Internet, I came across a 2013 Swedish comedy "The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared". The movie is so full with absurdism that it can cheer up even the most pessimistic person.

Allan Karlsson, who lives in a care home, is supossed to celebrate his 100th birthday. Despite his age, Allan is able to take care of himself and when he sees a little boy who plays in a slightly unusual way, he climbs out the window and... this is how his adventures begin. 

Accidentally, he steals the suitcase which belongs to a motorcycle gang member, so obviously he tries to get it back, but it turns out it's not so simple. Let's just say that there are some dead bodies in the film, but the victims are killed in such stupid ways that it's impossible not to laugh. Allan and his companions are the most ridiculously incompatible and inept group of people I've ever seen, but somehow they always manage to stay safe and sound. 

The film is also full of Allan's memories, rather extraordinary ones, I would say, including saving general's Franco life, helping the Americans with an atom bomb (yes, it was Allan Karlsson, everyone, who actually created it), etc. One big historical mess, but such a funny one! :)

To sum up - when you have a bad day, don't each chocolate; you'll only put on weight. Just watch this movie. 

WARNING:  Many uncontrollable bursts of laughter highly probable while watching. 

"However bad life may seem, when there is life, there's hope"

During the break after the exams, I saw "The theory of everything" the movie presenting the story of Jane and Stephen Hawking, the famous cosmologist. Although I'd heard about him before I went to the cinema, I've never been really interested in his life and achievements. In fact, the choice of the film was a sheer coincidence. I don't regret it. I have to admit that I can't recall the last time I saw such a beautiful film.
"The theory of everything", despite the slightly scientific title, focuses more on the the Hawking's struggle with the serious neurological disease  rather than on his actual work. What I particulary like about this film, is that the characters are not overdrawn. Stephen Hawking (played by Eddie Redmayne) and his wife Jane (Felicity Jones)  try to live like a normal family, as far as it's possible; there are moments of sadness and of happiness. The movie presents well the way their relationship changes over the years; the ending may be slightly surprising.
Another reason why this film is exceptional, is the outstanding acting of Eddie Redmayne. While watching the movie, I had the impression he wasn't playing but he was Stephen Hawking. No wonder he won the Academy Award for Actor in a Leading Role. He really deserved it.
I don't forget about the music; the sountrack, composed by Jóhann Jóhannsson, perfectly expresses the atmosphere in every scene. It's so beautiful that I keep listening to it over and over again;  moving, but also giving hope; sometimes making me cry, sometimes cheering me up - like the whole movie.

Moya Brennan

As the winter exam session is getting closer, it is high time I got back to listening Irish folk music. My brain needs it whenever I need to learn something by heart, especially when there is snow outside, because it helps me to concentrate. Besides, I strongly believe that this kind of music has a positive influence on my results, considering that last year, I was literally obsessed with Enya's songs and I passed all of my exams :)

This year, apart from all possible forms of relaxing music, which I wrote about some time ago and which is absolutely my number 1 when it comes to studying, I've decided to listen to Moya( Máire) Brennan, Enya's older and no less talented sister.

I have no intention to write her biography here, you can find it on Wikipedia or anywhere on the Internet. I just want to mention that she was a member  of the family band, Clannad, before starting her solo career 23 years ago and that she is called “The First Lady of Celtic Music”. Her songs were included in the soundtracks for many films, like “King Arthur”.  She is not only a singer, but also a harpist.

What I love about her songs, is the harmonic, beautiful melody, due to instruments such as violin or harp (thanks to Moya Brennan it has become my favourite instrument), but also her voice, which seems to come from other dimension, like the echo in the mountains.  Despite the fact that the majority of her songs is calm, they are very emotional. I do not know why, but whatever the lyrics are about, they make me think of nature: a calm sea, a forest with rustling leaves, the raindrops on a window…  they are truly magical.

So…I have to go back to studying and I hope Moya Brennan’s music will help me to memorize everything J

Christmas spirit?

Our long (but still too short) winter break is still not over, even Christmas is still not over, but somehow I'm sad and  I've got a strange feeling of missing something intangible. I'm not in the mood of listening Christmas songs, I don't feel this joy which should accompany me these days. At the beginning I thought it was because of the tiredness, hurry, preparations or constant necessity to learn something, but later I realised that even when I have everything done, I still feel frustrated. Christmas time is said to be the time for reflexion, so I've been reflecting and I eventually came to a conclusion that it's me who is responsible for this situation. My lack of self-confidence, my self-loathing at times, the fact that I'm never satisfied with my successes; I always want something more, I want to be better, smarter, prettier, etc. 

I'm aware of the fact I'm not perfect and I will never be, but lately I've decided to change my attitude towards myself. I know it won't be easy, but at least I want to try as we have only one life and a right to be happy. It's my New Year's resolution :)

Countdown...

no, not to Christmas :) Despite the fact that it's my favourite festival and every year I'm glad when it finally comes, for me it's too early to think about right now; I mean, how is it possible to feel this very special atmosphere of Christimas in the third week of November?
No, what I'm really looking forward to at the moment, is something much more mundane- the premieres of some movies which have caught my attention.
The first to come is "Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies"-(sadly) the last part of Bilbo Baggins adventures, which I'm going to see during this extremely long Christmas break. I'm so excited! And I promise to share my impressions on the film; after watching the trailer, I'm almost sure they'll be positive.
Another must-see for me is "The Imitation Game", stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightely. This movie presents a story of Alan Turing, a British mathematician who helped to break the Enigma code during the Second World War.
And of course, new, special Christmas episode of "Sherlock"- 90 minutes with the genius in a funny hat, his loyal friend John Watson and their enthralling adventures- which is premiered in 2 months
Did I mention patience is definitely not one of my strengths? I think I should probably study more to occupy my mind with something, because this waiting is killing me :)

Music vs. studying

When I was younger, in primary shool and later in junior high, I  just couldn't stand music playing in the background while I was preparing for a test or writing an essay; all I needed was absolute silence. However, later my attitude has changed; in fact, I'm not able to focus on what I'm reading or writing when all I hear is the sound of my clock (signum temporis, I would say :) We're used to sounds literally attacking us everyhere so the silence makes us feel strange and uneasy). 

The question is, what kind of music is the best to listen to while studying? I can only answer on my own behalf; for me, it's relaxing music, which I 'discovered' last year. 

'Relaxing music' is a vast genre, which contains instrumental music, nature sounds, traditional music (e.g.Chinese, Indian, Irish), etc. It's great, because every time I can choose something new, depending on my mood. It helps me to focus on the task or the book I read, because there are no lyrics, just pure, harmonic sounds. This kind of music also help me to calm down and relax after 4 days spent at university. 

I strongly recommend it to everyone. Of course, I like different music genres too, I would be bored to death or fall asleep otherwise, because honestly, relaxing music is not very lively, just the opposite. When it comes to studying, though, I belive there is nothing better:) 

Hello again :)

Maybe it'a a cliché but time really passes so fast. After wonderful 3 months it's time to start my second year at the university and despite all of the exams I'm going to take in a few months and a heap of books at my desk after just 2 days I must admit that I am excited.

 It will be a very challenging year for me because in January I'm going to France as an Erasmus student. I wonder what it will be like to study abroad.  For sure, I'll have an exceptional opportunity to improve my language skills (or, speaking straight from the shoulder, I'll be forced to communicate in French to survive) which is the main reason I can't wait to go. But for now, I should focus on my exams here, in Poland, which I have to take earlier(because of my depart). Wish me luck :)