Movie Monday: Oscar et la Dame en Rose

Another movie from the French Cousins: Oscar et la Dame en Rose (2009), which came out over seas last December, is finally coming to us, here in Québec.

Although the story is about a young boy who is dying of cancer (and I usually steer clear of such movies - I want to be entertained, not depressed - I can do the latter all by myself, thank you very much), Rose brings a certain fantasy aspect to the film as she and Oscar start to go through their games to this imaginary place full of wonders. I love the catch scene and the pink wrestler costume she wears.

Amir Ben Abdelmoumen as Oscar and Michèle Laroque as Rose, Oscar et la Dame en Rose (2009)

So who's up for making and wearing a pink suit? I just happen to have pink gabardine; maybe I could... Oh, you know what I'm going to say, don't you?

Montreal's St. Patrick's Parade 55th Queen Selection

Last night, I went to my first pageant ever: it was the 55th Montreal St. Patrick’s Parade Queen Selection Evening. It was nothing like what you see on tele, on TLC (thank goodness!); the entrants had to give speeches and answer questions, but they were judged on their ability to speak in public and what they had to say, not on their looks. One of my friends from Irish Dancing had decided to enter (she didn’t win and was quite happy about it – I think she might have entered to please her mom), so I went to support and encourage her.

J.K.

In between speeches, there was a little entertainment, and some had interesting dresses or costumes. One was the Marlow Sisters, a couple of singers.

The Marlow Sisters

I of course loved their green dresses. Many people attending wore green, but that green satin was very cool and flashy.

The founder of the Montreal St. Patrick’s day Parade Queen Selection Pageant is none other than Bernadette Short, Québec’s first TCRG (that is Irish Dance teacher). It comes as no surprise then that we were treated to a couple dance numbers by Celtic Grace, Bernadette Short’s Dance Troupe.

The Bernadette Short Irish Dancers

Celtic Grace

I do love Celtic Grace’s navy and purple dresses. They are very simple, but elegant. I also have to say, they were impressive dancers!

But this evening was about choosing a Queen and Princesses for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Without further ado, here is this year’s Queen and her court:

2010 Parade Queen Katherine McKendy

Princess Sandra Evangelista

Princess Kelly Taylor

Princess Chelsea Wakeling

Princess Kelsie Murphy-Rusnak

Don’t you just love those capes? They are so dreamy and romantic! I know that crazily enough, many entrants hope to be a princess to wear a green cape instead of the red one. And those Tiaras are so sparkly! No wonder some participants say they have been dreaming of this since they were little girls.

The Queen and her Court

I wish I could enter next year. I would look good in a cape and tiara! Besides, I found out this past Christmas that I have an Irish ancestor, which is one of the most important prerequisite for participants. You must also be single, which I’m not (and I have a kid), but you know, I’m not married... My friend started asking me how old I was, thinking she could get me to enter next year (one needs to share the "torture" around), but alas, I am too old now. Had I only known a few years back that Great Great Grandma Rose came from Ireland! I would have loved to be a princess! (Maybe my daughter can one day, but only if she wishes to.)

Rio de Janeiro Carnival

Around the world, just before lent begins, there are Celebrations and Carnivals. I have mentioned Venice and New-Orleans already, but last week, with the beginning of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, I skipped over one of “the greatest show on Earth”: the Rio de Janeiro Carnival. If you like the parties of the New-Orleans Mardi Gras and the elaborate costumes of the Carnival of Venice, then you are going to love Rio!

The first Carnival was celebrated in 1723. Since then, it has never stopped growing. There is Music! There is dancing (samba)! There are street carnivals! And of course, there is a most impressive parade!

The parade features the Samba Schools, which can either be an actual school or just a collaboration of local neighbors that want to attend carnival. The Carnival has become one huge competition between Samba schools, each of which shows off its talent in parades (there are four, depending on the school’s classification or group). Now these are no ordinary parades! Each school chooses a theme or enredo (it can be anything: History of Brazil, History of Humanity, Amazonia, DNA, Visions of the future, etc.) which will be represented in their son, floats and costumes; in the Special group (the best Samba Schools), there are between six and eight elaborate floats each upon which floatees in the best costumes dance and sing and around 3000 (you read that right) participants, also in costumes, singing and dancing all the way. The important parades are held at the Sambodromo, an alley with spectator viewing areas on each side, and each school has to go through its length in 65 to 80 minutes. The following Saturday (today), the top six schools of the special group parade again. Oh, and by the way, the parades go on from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Now that’s what I call partying all night! (From Wikipedia - Carnaval de Rio and Rio Carnival)

Want to see those famed costumes?

Note: The following pictures come from Wikimedia Commons. In most cases, the captions were in Portuguese, which is not a language I know (though I speak French, English, some Spanish, a little German and even less Sindarin). I tried as best I could to translate them in English, but I might have made mistakes. If it is so, I apologize (and please tell me so I can correct it).

Porta-Bandeira and Mestre-Sala of Unidos de Vila Isabel

2009 Parade

Madrinha of the Rocinha Samba School

Luíza Brunet Imperatriz 2008

Luma de Oliveira

Desfile Beija Flor

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

Carnaval in Rio - Bahianaises

Brazilian Carnival

Baianas in 2008

Arranco 2006 Group A

Alessandra Mattos

Model and TV presentater Adriane Galisteu, 2008

Acadêmicos da Abolição - ala das baianas - 2009

A Float of the Santa Cruz Samba School, Carnaval 2002

In Québec, there is a small Samba Dance troupe called “Le Carnaval de Rio” (at least that is how they were presented to us). I’m not sure if they are still around, but they were the entertainment at the Office Christmas Party back in 2008. I got to look at their costumes up close (and take pictures).

Peacock Dancer

Pink and Purple Dancer

Green and White dancer

The "Carnaval de Rio" troupe in Québec colours

Gwenyver with some of the Dancers

What? I couldn't miss this opportunity to get my picture taken surounded by fabulous costumes! I remember at the time, I was seven months pregnant and seeing them dance made me miss dancing so very much.

Although it all looks very complicated, their feathered back pieces were quite simply made. It looked like a large round cardboard upholstered with shiny material. The back side was decorated with sequins to create a design, while the feathers looked like they had been sew in the seam that held both pices of material over the cardboard. Shoulder straps were fixed to one side so the whole contraption could be worn like a back pack.

At least, that is my interpretation of what I saw. I didn't actually ask anyone how it was made.

I need an excuse to make something like that. You’ve got to love those feathered headdresses and back pieces! Wish I had the abs; I love rhythmic music and dancing!

So in conclusion, music, drums, bikinis, costumes, feathers, bright colours and dancing.

I wanna go!

Vancouver 2010 - Men's Figure Skating

Unless you do your best to ignore the media, you must have heard that many commentators have strong opinions about Men's Costumes in Figure Skating. Some say they are too feminine, that there is too much glitter and feathers. Me, it gives me something to show you, so why would I mind?

Once again, here are the Gwenyver Figure Skating Costumes Categories:

(Note: All pictures came from the Vancouver 2010 website)

Nice, but not all that memorable

Jeremy Abbott of the United States, Figure Skating

Stefan Lindemann of Germany - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Florent Amodio (France) - Figure Skating

Vaughn Chipeur of Canada - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Ooh! Nice! (Pretty is for girls.)

Vaughn Chipeur (Canada) - Figure Skating

I'm really sorry he fell, but look at the lovely design on the back of his shirt!

Tomas Verner of Czech Republic - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

I especially like that the stripes are on the diagonal on half of his waistcoat and straight on the other half. I feel inspired to make myself something similar!

Przemyslaw Domanski (Poland) - Figure Skating

Patrick Chan of Canada, Figure Skating

Patrick Chan of Canada, Figure Skating

Got to love the 18th century feel of this one!

Paolo Bacchini of Italy - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Denis Ten (Kazakhstan) - Figure Skating

What did I tell you about graded dye being in fashion!

Brian Joubert of France, Figure Skating

Brian Joubert of France, Figure Skating

They are wearing what?

Javier Fernandez of Spain - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Ahoy matey!

Gregor Urbas (Slovenia) - Figure Skating

Maybe it's just me, but hot pink for a guy just seams strange.

Abzal Rakimgaliev (Kazakhstan) -Figure Skating

Where's Waldo meets Poison Ivy!

Artem Borodulin of Russia - Figure Skating

The whole disco-cowboy thing is not my cup of tea.

Artem Borodulin of Russia - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Ri Song Chol (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) - Figure Skating

It's not that bad, but I can't help but be reminded of Cher's dress at the 67th Golden Globes Awards.

Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, Figure Skating

This is actually quite nice and interesting, but it makes this category due to its costumey look; it is very Elizabethan in style.

Viktor Pfeifer (Austria) - Figure Skating

Viktor Pfeifer of Austria - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

Here, my problem is with the nude yoke; in my mind, it should be reserved for the women's dresses, to make them look sexy and skin bearing while really covering everything.

Nobunari Oda of Japan, Figure Skating

And again here (on an otherwise smashing costume).

Adrian Schultheiss of Sweden - Figure Skating (Men's Free Skating)

No offense to my friends in Germany, but what is it with the German skaters and really strange costumes?

Johnny Weir of the United States, Figure Skating

Nancy-Raven was asking me about the male skater who's been the talk of the media due to his feminine costumes: as you can see, he also found his inspiration in Cher's dress. But you can truly see why Alain Goldberg made the comments which where highly criticized in the next picture:

Johnny Weir of the United States, Figure Skating

I rest my case.

Podium

I didn't skip the Turquoise category, there are just none that fit in it, so why bother.

Bronze:

Daisuke Takahashi of Japan, Figure skating

Daisuke Takahashi of Japan, Figure skating

Daisuke, had you not been on the podium, this costume would find itself in the previous category. Who wears a sheer checkered shirt? But your first costume was awesome.

Silver:

Evgeni Plushenko (Russian Federation) - Figure Skating

Evgeni Plushenko of Russia, Figure Skating

Skate with attitude! Your costumes deserve Gold.

Gold:

Evan Lysacek of the United States, Figure Skating

Evgeni Plushenko of Russia, Evan Lysacek of the United States and Daisuke Takahashi of Japan, Figure Skating

Congratulations to all the male skaters. Up next: Ice Dance!

Note: Do you realize this is my first post featuring men only? The reference to Cher's dress doesn't count!