FIlm Festivals and Thai Food

Today Lee, Caren, Dan, Natalie, AJ and I went to see the film Note by Note  a film in the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. The festival started last night here in Amsterdam and continues into next week. Featuring hundreds of films spanning the globe, the festival is a highlight in the cultural calendar.  The film was excellent, and told the story of one piano being made at the Steinway Piano factory in Astoria, New York. The film intricately followed the piano's journey over one year from a piece of wood to a piano in the Concert Division of the Steinway Company. The film gave an insider view of the process of hand craftmanship and effort that goes into each piano. So much effort goes into each individual piano, and the people who put into that effort see the art of pianomaking as their passion. The film featured interviews with individual craftsmen, and concert pianists, and even one boy getting his first piano in his home to connect with his elderly grandfather. The story was touching and interesting, the presentation immaculate, an excellent film. 

The best part of going to the film festival was the opportunity to see a film at the Tuschinsky, a beautiful theater here in Amsterdam. Built during WWII, the builder from which the theater bears its name was unable to see it completed and perished in a Nazi death camp. Fortunately, his vision is still here for us today, and it is my favorite place in the world to see a movie. 

Lee and I also got some thai food with Caren and Katrina for dinner at a very classy restaurant called Thai Company. I just cannot escape the thai food.

-Liz