Wandering the world

It feels like my movie buddy, MH, and I are making a tradition of sorts by only watching film festival films! Sentimental value is the second of two such films we experienced together in 2025. I love a good Scandi story and Stellan Skarsgard is one of my favourite actors. I was keen to see Sentimental value , too, as it had won the Grand Prix at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Sentimental value | General Australian release December 2025 | Viewed August 2025 | Directed by Joach

I've always been fascinated by Eastern Europe and life behind the Iron Curtain, particularly in East Germany. I visited Berlin in the mid 1990s, only a few years after the Wall had came down. Two to one is the first film I have seen that explores the economic and social challenges of Germany's reunification. I saw it with my movie buddy, MH, during the 2025 German Film Festival. Two to one | Released in Australia April 2025 | Viewed May 2025 | Directed by Natja Brunckhorst |

I feel it's important to start this review of three books that I have read in recent months on Palestine by giving a little context and making my standpoint clear. I freely admit that I previously had only a basic understanding of the history of Palestine, the formation of Israel, and of the events that shaped where we are today. I have a degree in History and I have always thought of myself as a social historian. I have a passionate interest in the impact on people of import

I'm at a stage in my life where I can read social, geographical and political history texts for pleasure - the nerd that I am - rather than for academic studies. I'm embracing the opportunity to enhance my understanding of the world and how we got to where we are now. I can see that this shift to non-fiction has also come about as the latest offerings from several of my long-standing favourite fictional authors have been less than stellar. I recognise, too, that I am filling