57. Komorebi
I.
The sunlight filtering through the trees, casting shifting shadows on the ground or walls. The Japanese have a word for this: komorebi. This phenomenon is ever-present, everywhere, but you will only notice it if you take the time to experience it.
In Perfect Days, the latest film by director Wim Wenders, the taciturn protagonist Hirayama has made this concept the very essence of his existence. He cleans public toilets in Tokyo, driving from one place to another in his Daihatsu Hijet Cargo. Whilst the people around him are always in a hurry, have somewhere to be and look upon his job with disgust, Hirayama lives the best life. Fully in the moment, completely content with his books, cassette tapes and old camera. I read somewhere that Hirayama looks with his eyes, but sees with his heart. That’s a lovely way of putting it.
You can let life carry you along or set your own pace. In our society, the latter sometimes sounds like nirvana. Give it a go. Watching the sunlight dancing through the trees is a good start.
In a month’s time, I’ll be walking through Japan myself. First through Tokyo, then through Kyoto and Osaka. Tips are still welcome. That goes for book and film recommendations too, because the anticipation has already begun.
---II.
A Libertines concert is always chaotic. Eight years ago at Paradiso, the band were in fine form during a wonderfully messy gig that seemed to go on forever. The band members kept egging each other on to crowd-surf. Bottles of drink were being passed around. Meanwhile, someone from the audience dropped onto the stage from the lower balcony, to Pete Doherty’s delighted cackling.
Doherty. It’s always a bit of a downer to say, but it’s a miracle that the now 45-year-old artist has reached this age at all. In a conversation with Louis Theroux, broadcast on NPO this month, he says that after years of alcohol and drug addiction, death is near. “You’re looking at a very sick man,” he says.
He is now – sort of – sober. But in the interview, he certainly doesn’t come across as very healthy. What a life the singer has had. From one addiction to the next, constantly in trouble with the police. Now he lives in a remote French village, where the storm has died down somewhat. The interview with Theroux is highly recommended, as Theroux does not shy away from difficult subjects and does not glorify Doherty’s rock ’n’ roll lifestyle.
“I’ve beaten it to a pulp,” says Doherty of his ailing body. “I gave myself over to heroin and crack. That later became cocaine, smoking and alcohol. Now it’s cheese, saucisson and sugar in my tea.”
And there’s a new Libertines album. I’ve been listening to it with great pleasure for the past week. Carl Barat, his friend and rival in the band, insisted that it be recorded completely sober. Not a drop of alcohol was allowed in the studio. “Carl insisted,” says Doherty in an interview with The Guardian. “He wanted to keep it pure. I don’t need to give it up completely, but I do still enjoy a glass of cider.”
III.
I’m appearing on Apple TV+ from this week. Or rather, I’m barely there. Blurry in the background. If you didn’t know it was me, you wouldn’t notice.
When I was in Seville with friends last year, we bumped into Eugene Levy and a camera crew. The American Pie actor was filming there for his travel programme The Reluctant Traveller. And the Seville episode is now online. Just like us, Levy walks through the Spanish city, attends a flamenco show and watches the tense Seville v Betis football derby. The only difference is that we had a seat in the stadium and he didn’t.
It’s quite amusing, though. A travelogue of the same weekend in Seville, but through Levy’s eyes. Everyone experiences things differently, especially when your entire trip is being filmed.
PS.
Here we go. Aldi is replacing actor Diederik Ebbinge’s voice in its adverts with an AI-generated voice. The supermarket is clear about it: it saves costs. Ebbinge says he’ll manage. “But for many actors who can earn a bit of extra money with their voices, this is an unfortunate development. Let alone for sound studios. These are strange times.” According to him, this development is a harbinger of things to come. “It is literally dehumanisation. You also see advertising photos featuring models in sets where both the models and the sets are AI. It’s going to be a busy time at the job centre soon.” Well!
The Verge tests the Humane AI Pin, a personal assistant that you clip onto your clothes. The gadget uses a camera to observe the world around you and answers your questions. The only thing is: it costs a fortune and it doesn’t work at all.
---The German art project NUCA challenges you to think about the path we’ve taken with AI and deepfakes. The prototype of this camera takes photos of people and then removes their clothes. The camera is, of course, not for sale.
After 24 years and twelve seasons, Larry David’s comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm has come to an end. The final episode is on HBO Max and ends perfectly. With a compensatory joke about the (much-criticised) ending of Seinfeld, which was, of course, written by David. I’m going to miss that old grumbler – what a hilarious show.
There’s a trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to the 2019 Joker film. Joaquin Phoenix stars again, but this time he’s joined by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. The first footage leaves you wanting more.
---British physicist Peter Higgs has died at the age of 94. He predicted that there must be a particle that gives mass to all other particles in the world. Forty years after he made that prediction, that particle was found and named after him. Not only did Higgs receive a Nobel Prize for this, but Nick Cave also dedicated a song to it.
Earlier this year, to mark the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball, the Chinese video service Bilibili organised a dance performance based on the anime series. It included epic Kamehamehas and a Super Saiyan transformation. This is brilliant. It’s actually much better than it should be.
---A certain Matthew Highton has recreated the intro to X-Men ‘97 using only stock footage. Hilarious.
---In this Japanese TV show, talented skaters tackle an obstacle course. In the style of Takeshi’s Castle and Ninja Warrior.
---Lars and I have recorded the final episode of the first season of our book podcast. Over six episodes, we take you along on our book club discussion of Lessons by the British writer Ian McEwan. A few of my own lessons on podcasting:
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It’s still a bit of a learning curve, but not quite as accessible as it used to be; many recording programmes cost money these days, for example.
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Actually, only uploading via Spotify is still free, but then your podcast won’t be available everywhere.
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Editing takes more time than you think (and than you hear as a listener).
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A good microphone is half the battle – perhaps a lesson for next season.
Binge away:
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