Europe vs. America : Off-Topic Chit-Chat : TranslatorsCafe.com Forums

Veteran

Mother tongue: Polish
Posts: 402
Joined: September 13, 2008
Location: United States

RE: Europe vs. America

You might perhaps ,Jacek, have a very comfortable life in India or Bangladesh. You may even have up to a dozen sevants if you chose to , which is customary in Bangladesh, as one of my friends from this country told me, because you are a professional who speaks several languages. I am talking about a regular man who totally lost all hope in Poland or got tired of waiting for years for the slight sign of prosperity, growing a grey beard at the same time. I was listening to an interview with Andrzej Wajda on the radio the other day, in fact he was talking to the New York Russian Radio reporter and he said that the Polish audience did not need him any more. What was this all about. He probably meant the very young audience, but still he refered to it as the audience in Poland. They want different movies and the politicians allocate the funds accordingly. What is the story with the Polish film making industry I would be very interested in learning something about it. I was shocked.

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
October 22, 2008 12:54 PM

Post #159125—in reply to #159121

Mother tongue: Polish
Joined: February 18, 2003
Location: Poland

RE: Europe vs. America

Originally written by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on October 22, 2008 5:58 PM
I am talking about a regular man who totally lost all hope in Poland

It's a very complex issue, Liliana, and I am afraid I cannot dwell on it right now. In a nutshell, strong economic growth over the last few years brought about an improvement in life of many entrepreneurial Poles. Many others had to emigrate, but very quickly the strength of the Polish currency (which follows the movement of oil prices, i.e., inversely with respect to the dollar) made their bank transfers to Poland lose any sense. Now, with the fall of oil prices, dollar has gained some 34% with respect to the Polish zloty over the last few weeks. So the whole world has turned upside down once again...

Andrzej Wajda .... said that the Polish audience did not need him any more. What was this all about. He probably meant the very young audience, but still he refered to it as the audience in Poland. They want different movies ....

Yes, times have changed... Andrzej Wajda is a giant of the 20th century, like Roberto Rossellini, Alain Resnais or Ingmar Bergman. Come to think about it, I don't suppose masses in Italy, France or Sweden look forward to more of those kinds of movies either...

Jacek

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
October 22, 2008 2:35 PM

Post #159132—in reply to #51929

Veteran

Mother tongue: Polish
Posts: 402
Joined: September 13, 2008
Location: United States

RE: Europe vs. America

Ingmar Bergman could make his movies until his very end and everything he made was great. it is very sad that Andrzej Wajda cannot afford to make movies in the new reality he fought for, in the Poland he fought for in his movies.

Liliana

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
October 23, 2008 4:54 AM

Post #159171—in reply to #51929

Mother tongue: Polish
Joined: February 18, 2003
Location: Poland

RE: Europe vs. America

He does, Liliana.

Originally written by Jacek Krankowski on February 6, 2008 10:14 AM
On the latest Wajda's movie "Katyn": http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21012

And for you who are fortunate to live in NYC here is another piece of news : http://www.poland.pl/news/article,Polish_theater_stages_Files_in_New_York_as_part_of_Made_in_Poland_festival,id,351489.htm

The "Eight Day Theater" from Poznań is taking part in the "Made in Poland" Polish culture festival in New York.

The group will perform the "Teczki" or "Files" spectacle to the audience on one of off-Broadway scenes.

"Made in Poland" festival is organized by the Manhattan Theater and the Institute of Polish Culture in New York. It will last thru the 30th of November.

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
October 23, 2008 9:25 AM

Post #159199—in reply to #159171

Veteran

Mother tongue: Polish
Posts: 402
Joined: September 13, 2008
Location: United States

RE: Europe vs. America

Thank you Jacek. I am really fortunate. The more I live the more I see how fortunate I am regardless of being mugged with a gun twice. I am joking, although this is true. Living in New York is not good luck however, only: it is hard work and certain perseverance. I think I would not change it for any place on Earth.

All the best.

Liliana

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
October 23, 2008 9:28 AM

Post #159200—in reply to #159199

Mother tongue: Polish
Joined: February 18, 2003
Location: Poland

RE: Europe vs. America

For me, an equally viable alternative was living 40 minutes away from Manhattan on a NJ Transit line...

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
October 23, 2008 9:45 AM

Post #159201—in reply to #159200

Veteran

Mother tongue: Polish
Posts: 402
Joined: September 13, 2008
Location: United States

RE: Europe vs. America

When are you coming back. You must miss America. I usually miss New York after 2 days. I travelled a lot in my past, but now, for some reason I don't. I think I found a place which I consider home. America seems different from the outside. I am not talking about you, Jacek, because you have lived here. It seems to some people who have never been here like an agressive, maybe sometimes unjust country. Regardless of all the problems and certain corruption in corporations and other problms of different sorts, this is still the most democractic country I have seen and which for some reason gives the feeling of the most freedom I have ever encountered.

Liliana

[Edited by Liliana Boladz-Nekipelov on October 23, 2008 9:46 AM]

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
October 23, 2008 10:52 AM

Post #159206—in reply to #51929

Terrence Keenan
TC Master

Member

Mother tongue: English
Posts: 9
Joined: April 25, 2003
Location: United States

RE: Europe vs. America

With respect to Liliana's 2 muggings, here is a piece of NYC lore: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Goetz)
Here in St. Louis, my sister has been carjacked with a gun put to her head, my brother has been mugged. While my wife and I were housesitting last year, a burglar broke-in while we were upstairs watching Meet the Fockers. Their Maltese heard the intrusion, while their big Poodle ganged up to chase the guy out of the house. (the Romans used the Maltese as an alert-dog so its no wonder) And there are plenty of other bad experiences to go around between friends. So you can imagine, you either move to the suburbs or get a conceal/carry permit.
I'm rambling, but the point is: I hope you can prevent a third mugging whatever you decide to do.

Edit|

Delete

Posted:
November 15, 2008 5:51 PM

Post #161830—in reply to #159206

Mother tongue: Polish
Joined: February 18, 2003
Location: Poland

RE: Europe vs. America

Originally written by Jacek Krankowski on October 21, 2008 9:06 PM
Here is a neat comparison between the US healthcare system and six other major countries: http://www.npr.org/news/specials/healthcare/healthcare_profiles.html

Obama - take a look at the Netherlands if you want to reform the US healthcare system in a good way!
http://www.healthpowerhouse.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=235:obama-take-a-look-at-the-netherlands-if-you-want-to-reform-the-us-healthcare-system-in-a-good-way-

The results of the study, published by the journal Health Affairs, belie the notion held by many American politicians that health care in the U.S. is the best in the world. That may be true at a handful of pre-eminent medical centers, but it is hardly true for the care provided to a huge portion of the population. http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/11/18/opinion/edhealth.php

[Edited by Jacek Krankowski on November 19, 2008 6:22 AM]