Tokyo Fist – Tsukamoto Shinya – japan, 1995.
One japanese movie which left a strong print in my head. While watching it, I’ve been often chocked by the violence of the images, but it deserves a message.

The ambition of Tsukamoto is to present an extremist alternative to the current japanese society. By taking Tokyo as a symbol of this power that crushes men and souls, making them ravel like zombies between gigantic, secular buildings, He’s attacking, his own way, this violent liberal society by proposing a counter-current ever more violent, but definitively more human: the pain. Thanks to pain, one takes again conscience of his body, body which has tendency to become not more than a support for the brain without another interest than to be used to move it from one place to another. But it goes further in its expose: not only one takes again conscience of his body by the pain (brought here by boxing), but also of his soul which was no longer reflecting the deep identity of the individual. (via Cinemasie.com, part translated in english).

The movie is not entertainement, and is a highly personal view on the interaction of human beings and the city of Tokyo. I like this in a movie where the director is not compromizing to express what he wants.

Tonight at the Harajuku Harvester, as quite often on fridays, with Eddie. And another oportunity to use the wide-wide Fish Eye lens from Sigma.

Links:
- Fish Eye by Sigma

I rediscovered part of my countryside last week end while back in France for holidays. Here a picture of the Noirmoutier peninsula (Vendee 85).

It looks a bit like the Mediterranean sea. I spent there a day with my family to appreciate a bit of seaside.

The place was relaxing, not yet crowed with tourists, just a few fishermen exercising….

Link:
A few information on the peninsula with map

Marrakech – Morocco – 2003/06/18 to 2003/06/22:

5 days trip to Marrakech with Mari Chan, first time in Africa for both of us. It was a bit hard to find courage to visit around in the middle of afternoon, under this sun. Afternoon is made for long rest at the Cafe terrace, drinking of course mint tea and eating some fine Morocco cakes.

The stay in a Moroccan Riad is highly recommended. This is a typical house, and the best may to enter and live the atmosphere of Marrakech. Recommended places to visit are of course in The Medina, The old city of Marrakech: the Souks where negotiations are a rule (you’ll get your souvenir gifts for 50% of the price). Spending the day in a Souk is sometimes a bit tiring: the place is full of everything, you can get lost quite often but it’s part of the fun, the sellers are sometime trying hard to sell you something, they improvise themselves as a guide for your trip in the Souks, … But you will find a unique atmosphere that you should remember for long. Lost somewhere north in the Medina are the Medersa Ben Youssef, an old university and the Museum of Marrakech. This one is worth to see for the architecture and especially the inside main room covered with a sun yellow light.

When the night is coming, the best place to be is the Square Djemaa el-Fna where everyday seems to be a festival. Seemingly, all the population of Marrakech is converging to this site. You’ll find some street restaurants, some musicians, folkloric people showing snakes, and drawing Henne on your hands… This square is charming.

The second part of the trip was a bit resort like style, with a swimming pool included in the hotel and a top class Moroccan restaurant: Hotel Tichka Salam is situated in the new city of Marrakech, Gueliz, and called as the little Mamounia (hotel unaffordable where stars and various famous people are usually stopping).

One point as well, the city was not that crowded with tourists. People were seemingly a bit scared by the recent terrorism in Casablanca. Seeing the density of Commercials on Morocco on French television, this may change for July-August.

Places To Stay – Recommended:
Medina: Riad Hotel Gallia – One double room for 34 Euros/Night;
New City: Hotel Tichka Salam – One double room for 120 Euros/Night;

Usefull Sites:
- Information on Morocco, tips, addresses, … (in French). Les Carnets du Maroc
- The Lonely Planet Guide: Morocco
- Le Guide du Routard: Maroc (in french)

Some other pictures:
The Pictures page