The Lord of the Rings (Romanian version)

Check this photo; in English means “The Lords of the Rings” ! 😉

Circus Museum

Circus Museum is an absolutely astonishing site with tons (more than 8000 images) of vintage art posters of circus since 1880. I saw this website in the past, but now I rediscover it with great pleasure.

The site is in Dutch and requires Flash.

I’m Not There to be shot in Romania

American director Todd Haynes plans to start shooting in Romania this summer for a biopic on music legend Bob Dylan.

The film will bring together stars like Colin Farrell, Richard Gere, Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett, according to Production Weekly Web site. For this movie, entitled “I’m Not There,” Haynes also included in the cast, actors Christian Bale and Charlotte Gainsbourgh, the publication writes.

According to the same source, Bob Dylan has already given his approval for the movie based on his life. The shooting schedule is essential for the stars to remain involved in the project, and as such, Haynes has decided to start shooting this summer in Romania.

The 45-year-old filmmaker, Todd Haynes, has directed among other movies, “Velvet Goldmine” starring Ewan McGregor and Christian Bale and “Far From Heaven” with Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid.

As a result of low costs, Romania has become a popular destination for Hollywood productions, such as Anthony Minghella’s “Cold Mountain” starring Nicole Kidman and Jude Law.

Pictures of the Year

The winners of the 2006 Pictures of the Year International (POYi) competition have been announced. Magazine Photographer of the Year is the Hungarian freelancer Tamas Dezso with his photo set “Romania – On Europe’s Eastern Edge”.

Tamas Dezso was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1978. He is one of the best Hungarian photographs with many awards in his portfolio. His photos capture people from small village and their relationship with nature and the land.

Boys kickboxing on the main street of Buzescu. The gypsy community created a bizarre cityscape here: they erect pompous buildings to show off their wealth, many of which stand uninhabited afterwards.

Couple standing in front of their home which the floods made uninhabitable in Nanov village near Alexandria.

Car approaching a village through the riverbed after the floods washed away the bridge of the only road leading to the village. A string of floods hit some two-thirds of Romania’s territory in 2005.

Traditional funeral ceremony in Barca on a winter afternoon.

Woman returns home with goose under arm in Sapoca village. Bird flu threatening fowls and humans is a serious concern.

Orthodox priest Constantin Milos blesses a seminarist in the town Bocsa.

Locals at the village Calvini feast in the tent put up in the rectory’s garden on the day of St Nicholas, the major patron saint of the Orthodox Church.

Man about to descend from the top of a haystack near Savinesti. The centuries-old method of drying hay guarantees ample food for animals in the winter. With the lack of machinery, most farming work is carried out in the traditional way.

Old couple sit in their unheated living room in Vedea village, close to the southern border.

Early on a winter morning, a young boy is off to work to saw firewood for locals in Odobesti and nearby villages.

Pictures and descriptions from the POYi website.
More info about Tamas Dezso on his website.

Goodbye Laura!

Laura Stoica one of Romania’s most popular rock star died on March 9, 2006 night in a car accident. She was returning from a concert when her car had a collision with a small truck. Laura and her fiance, Cristian Margescu, a drummer in her band, died immediately. The other driver also died in the accident. Laura recently announced that she was expecting a baby in September and planning a new album.

Yesterday hundreds of people gathered at the Belu cemetery, where the funeral took place. Friends, family and fans of Laura and Cristian came with flowers and candles to say goodbye. Televisions and media don’t loose the occasion to obtain some good rating points showing images of pain and suffering.

May the Good rest Laura’s soul and grant peace to her family! Sometimes you need to die for people to appreciate and remember you!

Sade, very sade…

Laura’s Stoica website