"WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY"

Now that we're about to start our holidays, remember that a good way to practice your English is watching films in the original English language with subtitles (either in English or Spanish/Galician). And it's always great to watch a film which has a bit of everyday life. Here's a recommendation, which is still on at the local cinemas, but it would be interesting to be able to watch in the original language: "WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY". It's a 2015 British comedy-drama, directed by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkins and starring Rosamund Pike, David Tennant and Billy Connolly, and some three charming kids in between, during their last summer holidays at the Scottish Highlands.  More on its plot HERE. The video trailer below.

Video-trailers "WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY":

PADDINGTON

There's a new film with London as the background. The adventures of a bear that came all the way from the jungle in Peru to London to find a home and get his new name after one of London's famous railway stations: Paddington.

All about this character Paddington:
- at its website.
- Paddington Bear, a brief story.

The video trailers of the film:

A TRIBUTE TO ROBIN WILLIAMS: O'CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN!

We open up with a tribute, because last August 11th, American actor Robin Williams died. We want to pay tribute to him with some videos of his role as John Keating, an English literature teacher at the Welton Academy in Vermont in the film "DEAD POETS SOCIETY"

Video "CARPE DIEM":

Video "O'CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN!":



Tribute video:

"ABOUT TIME" [+song: "How long will I love you?"]

"ABOUT TIME" is the 2013 film from director Richard Curtis, also director or playwriter of such famous films as "FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL", "NOTTING HILL", or "LOVE ACTUALLY". It is another British romantic comedy film revolving around time travel where a young man tries to change his past to have a better future. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2013. More about the plot here.

We're all traveling through time together

Every day of our lives

All we can do is do our best

To relish this remarkable ride

Here's the "ABOUT TIME" trailer:

And here's the original soundtrack song from it "HOW LONG WILL I LOVE YOU?"

 Audio+lyrics

Video "ABOUT TIME":

Lyrics:
How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you,
And longer if I can

How long will I need you?
As long as the seasons need to
Follow their plan

How long will I be with you?
As long as the sea is bound to
Wash upon the sand

How long will I want you?
As long as you want me to,
And longer by far

How long will I hold you?
As long as your father told you,
As long as you can

How long will I give to you?
As long as I live through you,
However long you say

How long will I love you?
As long as stars are above you,
And longer if I may

We're all traveling through time together
Every day of our lives
All we can do is do our best
To relish this remarkable ride


 Video "HOW LONG WILL I LOVE YOU?", Ellie Goulding:

SO YOU'VE DECIDED TO WATCH...

The deadline has arrived (Saturday, 14th December at 22:00h), the votes have been counted and here are the results of the voting to choose which film to watch in class before the Christmas holidays. Your comments have been included and corrected, the game has been between two films "Love Actually" and "The Holiday". In one of the classes, the draw continues...

1ºBAC-A's results: 

14 students voted (exactly half the class)

There's a draw between the two films (7/7), tie-breaking vote cast by teacher for "Love Actually".

Brais Martinez, "Love Actually", because it is the funniest film

Diego Caamaño "The Holiday" Because I like Cameron Díaz.

Sergio Cobas I prefer "Love Actually" because it looks like a funny film. The actors are very famous and I like them.

Lucia Canalda "The Holiday", because I really like how Cameron Diaz acts.

Francisco Pérez "Love Actually". I vote this film because i like the plot of the movie

Daniela García  I prefer " The Holiday" because the film is funny and the actresses are very.

Nerea Martín I prefer "The Holiday" because I think that this film is the most interesting and funny.

María Romero, I choose "The Holiday" because I saw it before and its actors are very famous, you can laugh a lot with them, it´s a very funny film

Marcos Domínguez "Love Actually" because I saw it at home and it was very funny. It also has a lot of famous actors. 

Clide Enríquez "Love Actually" because it has got famous actors and it is funny

Borja Dono "Love Actually", because I've heard about it and I liked it. There are many famous actors. and it looks entertaining

Alejandro Freire  I prefer "Love Actually" because the trailer was very funny, the story is really interesting because it is not only a simple story with an end and that makes the movie funnier.

Laura del Monte I like "The Holiday" because Cameron Diaz is my favorite actress

Lucía Grandío I like "The Holiday" because I think it is entertaining and Cameron Diaz is the best actress

1ºBAC-B's results:

14 students voted (half the class+2)

The winning film: "The Holiday" (7 votes) 

to 6 for "Love Actually" and one that doesn't mind.

María Ramos "The Holiday" because i think the trailer was very funny and its actors are very famous too

Ani Poghosyan "The Holiday" or "Love Actually".I saw "The Holiday" one year ago and I really like that film "Love Actually" looks like a good movie, so i don't know what movie I prefer. I don't mind!

Sara Romero I would like to watch "Love Actually". It's not that I love that movie, but I think it's interesting since it has various side stories in the plot. I've also seen it twice at home. I'm not going to lie, it's kind of exciting because in the the cast there's Martin Freeman. Although he doesn't appear really much, I really like how he does appear. I mean, it's suprinsingly hilarious! Also, that kid in the cast acts really, really good!

Andrea Morano  "The Holiday" because I think the trailer was very funny

Alba Novo I chose "The Holiday" because I really like it

Óscar Pedreira I like "Love Actually" because it looks fun

Marín Rama I decide "The Holiday" because it's the least bad

Andrea Primoy I chose "The Holiday" because the trailer was very funny and I've never seen this film .

Miguel Duque I prefer "Love Actually" because Hugh Grant is a very good actor

Victoria Fuciños "The Holiday" because it is an interesting movie and the actors are good.

Alejandro Rey I vote for "Love Actually", because I've already seen "The Holiday" and I´m not keen on "Peter´s Friends".

Iria García I prefer to watch "The Holiday" because I like the actors in this film and I've wanted to watch it before.

Carmen Rodríguez I prefer "Love Actually" because I love romantic films and I like comedies and this film has both.

Xurxo Prieto I prefer ``Love Actually`` because it's the funniest.

1ºBAC-C's results:

14 students voted (half the class+3)

The winning film: "The Holiday" (11 votes)

2 for "Love Actually" and 1 for "Peter's Friends"

Ana Figueiras I prefer "The Holiday" because I love comedy movies and I think it's the funniest.

Tania Martínez Grobas I'm going to choose "The Holiday" because I love how Cameron Diaz acts and I've also found this film interesting and peculiar.

Yolanda Señarís I choose "Love Actually" , I've never seen it and my friends told me that it´s a very good film and also the actors are very famous so I think that probably it can be a very good film to see in class

Alejandra Toledano "The Holiday" because the trailer was very funny so I've decided to see it in class.

Paula Méndez I prefer to see'' The Holiday'' because I like Cameron Diaz, and I think it's an entertaining film

Nuria Freire Well, I chose ''The Holiday'' because I saw it and I like the actors and the story of the movie.

Rita Blanco I chose "Peter's Friends" because it's the only one I haven't seen.

Ruth Castro I vote for "The Holiday" because I've never seen this film and it looks funny

Diego Viera "The Holiday". Because I've seen the other movies

Tamara Ramos "The Holiday" because I haven't seen this film

Sergio Piñeiro "The Holiday". Because I watched this film when I was in 3 of ESO and it's funny.

Joel Pérez "The Holiday" because it's the funniest film.

Paula García I chose "Love Actually" because I have already seen the other two

Lorena Muradas I chose "The Holiday" because I think it's a funny and entertaining film.

REMEMBERING MANDELA THROUGH HIS OWN WORDS

South Africa leader Nelson Mandela's death has impressed the world, though it was expected. He was a symbol of the fight for Human Rights, consensus and reconciliation of a whole country. We remember him through some of his quotes and speeches on video and also the trailer of the film "Invictus", based on his real life.

"Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity."

"One day I will be the first black president of South Africa." - 1952

"There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain tops of our desires." - 21 September 1953. Presidential address to ANC conference, adapted from a statement by former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru

"The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days." - 26 June 1961

"If I had my time over I would do the same again. So would any man who dares call himself a man." - November 1962. Mitigation speech after being convicted of inciting a strike and leaving the country illegally

"I have never regarded any man as my superior, either in my life outside or inside prison." - 12 July 1976. Letter written to commissioner of prisons while on Robben Island

"Only free men can negotiate; prisoners cannot enter into contracts." - 10 February 1985. Reply to an offer to release him if he renounced violence

"I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I, and you, the people, are not free. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated." - 10 February 1985. Message from prison, read by his daughter to a rally in Soweto

"Friends, comrades and fellow South Africans, I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all. I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands." - 11 February 1990. Speaking on his release from Robben Island from the balcony of Cape Town city hall

"Years of imprisonment could not stamp out our determination to be free. Years of intimidation and violence could not stop us. And we will not be stopped now." – 26 April 1994. Press conference

"My fellow South Africans, today we are entering a new era for our country and its people. Today we celebrate not the victory of a party, but a victory for all the people of South Africa." - 9 May 1994. Speech following his election to the presidency, Cape Town

"In South Africa, to be poor and black was normal, to be poor and white was a tragedy." - 1994, Long Walk to Freedom

"I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb."- 1994. Long Walk to Freedom

"Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people." - April 1998

"There will be life after Mandela. On my last day I want to know that those who remain behind will say: 'The man who lies here has done his duty for his country and his people.'" - 1999

Video Nelson Mandela's free from prison speech: (Nelson Mandela speech delivered at the Nelson Mandela: An International tribute to Free South Africa concert on 16/4/1990,at Wembley stadium, two months after his release from prison on 11/2/1990):

Video Nelson Mandela's inauguration as President speech (May/94):

Video "INVICTUS":

Video "MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM (2013):


More of his quotes here: THE GUARDIAN

Galician version of this post @ ArquivosDoTrasno.

"THE WAY" (Film of the IV Cultural Week)

"Rafael Dieste" IV Cultural Week ends today showing the film "The Way".

The Way is a 2010 American drama film. It is a collaboration between Martin Sheen and his son Emilio Estevez to honor the Camino de Santiago and promote the traditional pilgrimage.

Thomas Avery is an American ophthalmologist who goes to France following the death of his adult son, killed in the Pyrenees during a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James), a Catholic pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. Tom's purpose is initially to retrieve his son's body. However, in a combination of grief and homage to his son, Tom decides to walk the ancient spiritual trail where his son died.

While walking the Camino, Tom meets others from around the world, all looking for greater meaning in their lives. He reluctantly falls in with three other pilgrims in particular. Joost (Yorick van Wageningen) is an overweight man from Amsterdam who says he is walking the route to lose weight to get ready for his brother's wedding and so that his wife will desire him again. He is a warm extrovert who is the first to start walking with Tom. Sarah (Deborah Kara Unger) is a Canadian fleeing an abusive husband, who says she is walking the pilgrimage to quit smoking. Jack (James Nesbitt) is an Irish travel writer who when younger had desires to be great author like Yeats or Joyce but never wrote the novel he dreamed of. He is the last to join the quartet and has been suffering from "writer's block." As the pilgrims travel the Camino, they occasionally meet and talk with other pilgrims — two Frenchmen, a young Italian and an elderly priest from New York named Father Frank. Thomas occasionally sees his son alive and smiling among other people.

On the pilgrimage, the group have various incidents such as when a young Romani steals Tom's backpack. Although the thief escapes, his father drags him back to Tom to return the pack with his embarrassed apologies and an offer to attend a street party in compensation.

Video trailer of "THE WAY":

The Galician version of this post @ ArquivosDoTrasno.