Nice Ladies (2024): review 1.5/10

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Documentary film tracing the experiences of elderly Ukrainian women who become cheerleaders, before their troupe finds itself dispersed following the Russian invasion.

There is not enough material here to justify a film of this length. We are presented footage of women checking their cell-phones and having banal conversations with family members along with some interviews and scenes from their performances at sports events. Who cares?

a. The basic idea: isn`t it interesting how some older Ukrainian women decide to become cheerleaders! is not in fact very interesting.

b. The people in the film have nothing interesting to say.

b. The amount of good footage here might justify a film of up to about 15 minutes in length, if that.

I`m giving the film 1.5 because I am in a good mood, and feel well-disposed to Ukrainian causes. But when I left the cinema I felt like drowning myself.

Santo Antônio de Lisboa, Monet

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Santo Antônio de Lisboa, end of the day SOLD

 oil on card, 29.7 x 27.5 cm

 

 

 

 

 Santo Antônio de Lisboa, end of the day -  detail

 

 

 The proceeds from the sale of this painting have gone to UNICEF to help in Ukraine. To help Ukraine, and recieve a painting, please contact me.

 

 What happens when you are painting sunsets is that you work away steadily for ages then suddenly become aware that the scene has changed entirely.

 So you wipe off the painting and start again...and again...

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There's no getting away from Monet with pictures like this, is there? The subject and and plein air approach are utterly dominated by him.

 It would be like playing reggae and trying to deny the influence of Bob Marley. 

 

Well, if one is going to have an influence, at least Monet is a good one to have...

 

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Help Ukraine

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Help Ukraine

 

 I pledge to send all money from art sales from 2022 to help Ukraine.

If you send a donation of 100$ or more to help Ukraine, I will send you a painting.

1. Choose an organisation from the page- https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine

 

2. Choose a painting from the pages which use the word Pochades in the post labels (for example pochades 2022). These are smaller paintings and are easier to post. 

Then confirm with me that the picture(s) are available. 

 

3. Send me proof of a donation of at least 100$ per picture to one of the organisations above (proof of money transfer)- Tadeusz598@yahoo.co.uk

 

4. Send me your full name, postal address and phone number.

 

5. Note that delivery may take up to 3 months as I am in Brazil and the post can be slow.

 

6. Thank you.

 

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A street in Biguaçu - dogs and children

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A street in Biguaçu- dogs and children, oil on card, 22 x 18 cm  SOLD

This has been sold to and English couple.

 

The proceeds are going to help Ukraine, through a donation given to a registered British charity.

 

The proceeds from all paintings sold in 2022 will go to help Ukraine.

 

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I`m going to push up in scale over the next few days. 

I`m interested in capturing something of the life of the streets here: shamelessly pinching some ideas from Lowry.

Working class neighbourhoods are best for this: you can see people doing all sorts of things their streets- flying kites, playing ball games, riding bikes, drinking, selling things, and just hanging around. 

The middle-class zones, with their tight-lipped condominiums and security cameras might be neat and tidy but they must be a lot less fun to grow up in.

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