cafebabel.com

Most expensive EU TV production Borgia: outsiders from Spain in renaissance Italy

('ZoeBBee',) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:58:00 -0000

The fifteenth century Italian crime family is the subject of a hit Franco-German TV series originally filmed in Prague and screened as of this summer in three European countries. We discuss reality and fiction with French Borgia expert Pol Bruno at his welcoming home on the Breton coast

Searching for my German great-grandfather in Siberia

('Annie Rutherford',) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:39:24 -0000

In summer 2010 my grandfather and I travelled to Rubtsovsk to find his father’s grave' he had died there as a prisoner of war in 1945. Far from civilisation, Rubtsovsk is a town of around 160, 000 inhabitants on the Russian-Kazakh border in southwest Siberia. My grandfather had been hoping to find his father’s burial place for over 65 years

Bonfire night: Guy Fawkes, Europe's first 'indignant' citizen

('Lucy Russell',) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:04:15 -0000

The image of Guy Fawkes is everywhere at the moment, inspiring the worldwide anonymous and occupy movements. What would he have thought if he had known that over four hundred years after his death thousands of people in Europe and beyond would be wearing masks of his face while protesting against today’s all-encompassing global political system?

Odessa to Vilkova: Ukraine's Venice

('Annie Rutherford',) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:41:24 -0000

Inspired by British website 'Nerdy Day Trips', we should say that cafebabel.com isn’t just about metropolises and life in the big city, but also Europe’s far-flung corners. A German correspondent discovers pelicans, tortoises and old believers in a sleepy fishing village in Ukraine

Expats: from London to Srebrenica this July

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:45:42 -0000

The difference between summer in the UK and summer in Bosnia-Herzegovina is much more apparent around the date of the anniversary of the massacre in July 1995, when 8, 000 Bosniak men were killed. Notes from an expat abroad on cafebabel.com's official Sarajevo blog

Green Rome’s periphery: get thee to the Casale Podere Rosa cultural centre

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:00:00 -0000

On the urbanely disfigured periphery of the Italian capital, activists have spent the last two decades using tools such as squats, organic food markets, film projections, solar panels and the idea of Italian environmental memory to promote a more convivial and environmentally friendly way of life

Nikola Tesla: unknown inventor, national hero in Balkans

('Carol Howard',) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:48:22 -0000

His dream was free electricity for the world with no cables involved. David Bowie has incarnated him in Hollywood and Serbia's biggest airport is named after him. Why is it that we have barely heard of this scientist in western Europe?

View from Belgrade's historical museum: Serbia, Europe and obsessions with history

('Aaron Rowlands',) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 11:00:36 -0000

The EU is not a compromise on the dream of a proud, independent Serbia, but rather the affirmation of it. The extremists behind such events as the nationalist riots at the gay pride march in October are merely the Serbian answer to a fringe movement in every country that gets louder when the uncertain future requires change. In other countries, radicals might cite immigration or the economy as their cause. In Serbia, they use history

Getting to grips with Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul and Europe

('victor escandell',) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:30:09 -0000

The history of Anatolia is as old as the earth itself. The last ones to arrive (from Central Asia) were the Turks, who are heading slowly towards membership of the EU. However, didn’t its territory belong to the other ancient and almost forgotten European Union? We revise a strong heritage from books and the streets of Istanbul

Islam and Europe: a five step waltz

('G. Ring',) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:30:00 -0000

The more widespread an idea, the more erroneous it is. Since the Middle Ages, each period imagines that the question of islam in Europe is a new phenomenon, too often forgetting history, which has not always been about the mode of conquest. A brief overview of a stormier past than one could have imagined

A French, German and Italian go to Berlin's Adolf Hitler exhibition…

('Helen Dray',) — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 10:45:00 -0000

Since 15 October, 20, 000 people have already flocked to the German History Museum in Berlin to find out more about one man - the most famous dictator in Europe. 'What made Hitler possible? That's the question we're trying to answer in this exhibition, which runs until 6 February', explains a spokesperson. Three young Europeans chart their emotions

Poland: Solidarnosc 30th anniversary through Hackers cinema keyhole

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:08:41 -0000

'I'm taking over the TV network'...When we Poles watch the cult movie Hackers (1995) featuring Angelina Jolie, one line from the movie's main character makes us feel good to remember that the real takeover of the Polish TV network took place ten years before

'Come to Romania': quest to brand Bucharest

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:15:32 -0000

Forging a skate culture, redesigning lei banknotes and offering a story to tourists, aside from the palace of parliament hotspot, the result of dictator Ceaucescu's tearing down a third of the city in communist times. These are just some of the ideas to boost the image and GDP of a crisis-riddled country

Berlin film festival: 60 years of masterpieces

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:00:00 -0000

The Berlin international film festival (or Berlinale) has been fraught with political struggles. Created by the allies of west Berlin right under the noses of communist dictators, it was a way of opening a window to the 'free' world. Over the years, it has developed into an unmissable world cinema event

John Demjanjuk: one of Europe's last Nazis takes the stand

('James Friscia',) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:00:00 -0000

Undoubtedly one of the last acts of de-nazification in history has been playing out inside the appellate court of Munich since 2 December. International media is closely tracking the case against the accused, a former executioner at the Sobibor concentration camp. Trial hearings have resumed after being halted due to the poor health conditions of the 89-year-old defendant and US extradite; we hear opinions from young people in Germany

Credit crunch: a fistful of pounds and zlotys

('laurenthompson',) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:24:35 -0000

‘It’s the financial crisis!’ We’re surrounded by numbers on all sides: it’s becoming a real obsession! Almost makes you wish you were a numismatist. Weekly plunge into - the world of currencies

L.U.C: 'Poland is not just vodka and pretty girl exports'

('Hayley Worsley-Carter',) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:00:00 -0000

Rather than rapping on his new album, producer Lukasz Rostkowski, 29, mixes in historical soundtracks, including the voice of ex-Polish president Lech Walesa. The jazz, trip hop and electro musician explains how a sometimes pessimist view of his country's past has inspired him in his musical projects, for which he has just picked up a 2009 'Passport award' from the journalists at Polityka

Mulled wine across Europe

('Annie Rutherford',) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:10:28 -0000

Sugarloaves, Swedish punch and grog: how Europe drinks to stay warm in the chilly run up to christmas

Holocaust Polish boy speaks from the dead on Facebook

('Darren Thompson',) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:49:14 -0000

'Winter’s here. Every Jew must write their name on the Star of David that is sewn on their clothes...' In the same way that Anne Frank documented her experience day after day in her journal, a young victim of the Holocaust is being virtually revived through Facebook, where he has 2, 279 'friends'

European bloggers describe their Berlin walls

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:20:11 -0000

Monday is 9 November, the day when the Berlin wall was brought down. To reflect on this iconic modern historical event for the eurogeneration, citizen journalists from five cafebabel.com local teams - Sofia, Budapest, Turin, Strasbourg and Istanbul - simultaneously blogged one day about the walls they see in their cities

20th anniversary: go and see the 'Berlin wall' be destroyed in Paris

('Aatish Pattni',) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0000

On 9 November 2009 there will be a lot of commemoration services to celebrate the Berlin wall coming down 20 years ago. Two ‘euro-enthusiast’ associations in Paris are organising a ‘destroy party’ on the big day itself. What’s the concept? A wall made of foam, some pickaxes and some good wine

9/11 - the fateful day of German history

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:17:00 -0000

From the revolution to the reunification, from Hitler’s putsch until Kristallnacht: November 9 marks the German history of the twentieth century

Comparing Paris and Berlin 20 years after the Berlin Wall

('Darren Thompson',) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:15:00 -0000

On 9 November 1989, Romy and Niklas were little more than children. Twenty years on, they have grown up between Paris and Berlin. They remember the divided city and think of a modern Berlin 'standing alone and free'

How to seek the Holy Grail one hour from London

("naomi o'leary",) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:09:27 -0000

As American author Dan Brown's follow-up to 'The Da Vinci Code' is released on 16 September - 'The Lost Symbol' focuses on the Freemasons - we uphold tradition and go questing for the cup that Jesus used at the Last Supper at its rumoured location in Hertford

Europe 70 years after the outbreak of WWII

('euro topics',) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:55:02 -0000

The German invasion of Poland seventy years ago on September 1, 1939, marked the start of world war II. The repercussions of the war are still felt across Europe today. The Estonian, Austrian, British and Portuguese media comment

Selçuk Altun: 'Being in a crisis or recovering from one is part of normal life in Turkey'

('Nicholas Newman',) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0000

Planning to visit Istanbul when the city will be Europe’s Capital of Culture in 2010? The Turkish writer, columnist and Chelsea supporter’s latest book ‘Many and Many a Year Ago’ is published in English this month, and is an enjoyable way to prepare for a visit

Israeli national trail: take a bible, talk to your God and don’t walk on water

('yoav',) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:29:08 -0000

The free month-and-a-half trek crosses Israel from tip to toe, via valleys and mountains, winding in the cities, deserts and woods. A bit of context to help you plan carefully and prepare for a tough physical effort, plus some tips

London and Berlin reviews of Mark Ravenhill's 'Over There' play

('Sandra Wickert',) — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:30:46 -0000

Mark Ravenhill’s unconventional play about identical twins who are reunited after growing up in east and west Germany travelled from London to Berlin this spring. Our London reviewer calls it a timely commentary on the EU’s current political troubles. Our Berlin reviewer wonders if the British director reproaches the Germans with the repression of history. Cross-reviews from the Royal Court and Schaubühne theatres

Solidarity turn their backs on 1989

('Aatish Pattni',) — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:00:00 -0000

In 1989, the Solidarnosc (Solidarity) trade union contributed to a democratic revolution in Poland. Now, on the 20th anniversary the celebrations could be called off due to trade union protestors

Israeli-German theatre: the Holocaust, Nazi and Palestinian 'Third Generation'

('Annie Rutherford',) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0000

Together with the dramaturges Amit Epstein and Irina Szodruck, Israeli director Yael Ronen ventured on an experiment with Third Generation. The theatre project has already been performed as a work in progress in Halle (Germany), Tel Aviv and Parma (Italy). A newly finished version hit the Berliner Schaubühne in early May. Review and interview

The EU puts the GDR flag up in Brussels

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:44:09 -0000

An awkward EU faux pas - for the European green capital ceremony on 2 March in Brussels, where Hamburg won capital of 2011, an ancient GDR flag was put up to represent Germany - ups. Latest titbit of news from Brussels

Verena Gerlach: 'font design is a very white male heterosexual field'

('Soili Semkina',) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:01:13 -0000

Berlin is the inspiration behind the German font designer’s creations, so we meet the 38-year-old there. We talk type, women, men and originality

The Reader: Germany’s Nazi past a festival highlight

('Agnes Emri',) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:00:00 -0000

Stephen Daldry's stirring film is an attempt to ethically approach taking responsibility for the Holocaust crimes which is ingeniously intertwined with the story of ill-fated love. The phenomenal Kate Winslet picked up a BAFTA on 8 February to add to her Golden Globe for her role as Hanna Schmitz

Europe's volunteers speak: 'Action Reconciliation Service for Peace'

('Sarah Pybus',) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:20:49 -0000

The 'ARSP' was founded in Berlin in 1959 with the aim of carrying out reconciliation work in the countries worst affected by national socialism. Every year, 500 people in eleven European countries, Israel and the USA get involved in the short, medium, and long-term voluntary services

Mahler, Varela, Irving: living alongside Europe's Holocaust deniers

('Andrew Christie',) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:16:09 -0000

Holocaust deniers are dealt with differently across Europe, although the EU has taken initial steps to standardise laws, with Germany taking the lead

Holocaust memorial day in the European consciousness

('Fiona Herdman Smith',) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:10:35 -0000

Italian historian Enzo Traverso, 52, says the Holocaust memorial day, which falls on 27 January, ‘cannot be considered unrelated to what is happening in the Middle East today’. Interview

Leo Baeck summer university: ‘Berlin, so similar to Tel Aviv, my home town’

('Kate Stansfield',) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:00:00 -0000

At the crossroads of migratory flows and in a city so full of history, every year young people reflect on their Jewish identity since the European post-war period. Report

Obama election images: once upon a campaign in Atlanta

('fabien campoverde',) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:17:42 -0000

From Georgia to Paris: one of three official photographers at the democrat rally on 4 November 2008, shares his last moments of election history. Barack Obama is inaugurated president of the US on 20 January

Perspective: Hungarian-Slovak relations reach their nadir

('Linda lu',) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:08:40 -0000

On 10 December, Hungarian prime minister Ferenc Gyurscany said he was disappointed with Slovak prime minister Robert Fico's decision to reject a November agreement to improve relations between the neighbours. A look back at the events running up to the baby step that was

The Baader-Meinhof Complex: Germany’s Oscar entry should be more honest

('Sarah Gray',) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Adapted from the book by Stefan Aust, the film is released in UK cinemas on 15 November. The story of the demystification of the terrorist group the Red Army Faction (RAF) is also the German entry for best foreign language film for the 2009 Oscars. Film review

Elie Barnavi: 'Europe has lost her sex appeal and her men are weak’

('Kate Martin',) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:15:00 -0000

The Romanian-born 62-year-old historian and Israeli citizen on feeling European, why Europe is frigid and why the British are among the biggest supporters of Turkish membership

‘W’ by Oliver Stone: what about Europe's improbable leaders?

('Helen Swain',) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:51:55 -0000

An unashamed America goes on the big screen to ruminate on its history. But in Europe, directors are too dependent on public subventions to dare make biopics about public figures during their lifetimes

Miracle at Santa Anna: Spike Lee stirs up history in Italy

('Matthew Pagett',) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:30:00 -0000

The American director recounts a sombre moment in Italian history in August 1944, through the eyes of the first all-black American infantry division, the ‘Buffalo Soldiers’. Plus an interview with the film’s Italian screenwriter, Francesco Bruni

Åland - å land neither Finnish nor Swedish

('Angela Steen',) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The 26, 000 islanders of this archipelago neighbouring Finland have the power to shape the future of Europe

Croissant – Turkish, not French

('Sophie Paterson',) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0000

The European journey of a French legend, and why the croissant has finally become a veritable speciality in France

‘It’s our History’ exhibition in Brussels

('Martyn Hawkins',) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The story of the EU through the real life stories of its inhabitants; an event organised to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on 25 March 2007

Australia: ‘Sorry’ for the Indigenous

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

13 February. Big screens, daytrips to Canberra, and a historical ‘apology’ by the new Labor government, to the 13, 000 Indigenous children taken from their Aboriginal parents after British colonisation

Feminism in France: the Rose Revolution

('John Smith',) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:32:00 -0000

May 1968 was a turning point in world history, but it was also a rupture for women's history. Feminists of yesterday and today tell us about their war

1968: a tour of Europe's revolts

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Spain, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Germany - spinning through Europe's uprisings during that infamous year of rebellion

Picturing faith in Vilnius

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Vilnius’ landscape is defined by the number of houses of worship scattered throughout it. This reflects the rich heritage Vilnius has with the number of religions that have co-existed together for hundreds of years