Pogo Cafe

Mon 24th Sept 7.30pm, Sunshine

Sunshine is a 1999 historical film written by Israel Horovitz and István Szabó, directed and produced by István Szabó. It follows three generations of a Jewish family (originally called Sonnenschein, a name that literally means “sunshine” in German, but later changed to Sors, meaning “fate” in Hungarian) during the changes in Hungary from the beginning of the 20th century to the period after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The central male protagonist of all three generations is portrayed by Ralph Fiennes. The film also stars the real-life mother and daughter team of Rosemary Harris and Jennifer Ehle as well as Rachel Weisz and John Neville.

Although fictional, the film weaves events drawn from several real sources into the story. The Sunshine family’s liquor business was based on the Zwack family’s liquor brand Unicum. One of Fiennes’s three roles is based at least partly on Hungarian Olympian Attila Petschauer, but also includes allusions to the early life of Miksa Fenyő and other famous Hungarians of Jewish origin who suffered from anti-Semitism and the persecution of Jews in World War II Hungary. Another role in the film which is similar to that of a historic person is the character Andor Knorr played by William Hurt which closely resembles the latter part of the life of László Rajk.

Please note this film is great but it’s also long about 3 hours long! We will probably have an intermission!

Monday 17th Sept 7.30pm, The Legend of Rita

Die Stille nach dem Schua -The Legend of Rita- Noted German director Volker Schlondorff helms this riveting exploration of 1970s West German political terrorism. The film opens with Rita (Bibiana Beglau) reminiscing to her unseen friend Tatjana of her life as a radical. Cut to a flashback of her along with her like- minded colleagues robbing a bank. Later while traveling from Beirut to East Berlin, she is carted away for questioning. When the interrogators learn of Rita’s vocation, Stasi officer Erwin (Martin Wuttke) releases her and tells her to consult him if she needs help. After she botches the breakout of her boyfriend Andi (Harald Schrott from a West Berlin jail, she calls on her Stasi contact to protect the gang and provide safe passage to Beirut and later to Paris. Tension between the group members — particularly between Andi and Rita — soon grow strained. After Rita almost gets arrested for killing a cop, she turns to Erwin, who comes up with a different offer. Rita will stay in East Germany as a working proletarian under an assumed name. While in East Berlin, she befriends Tatjana (Nadja Uhl) who soon becomes her lover.

Weigh In at Pogo Thursday 20th Sept. 7pm to 9pm

Come and hang out at the Social Club for fat folk, fat activists and allies! People of all sizes are welcome.

Monday 10th Sept 7.30pm, Carlos the Jakal

The story of (in)famous Venezuelan revolutionary Ilich Ramarez Sanchez, who founded a worldwide terrorist organization and raided the 1975 OPEC meeting.

Monday 3rd Sept 7.30pm, Bronco Bullfrog

The film follows the fortunes of a 17 year old, Del (Del Walker) and his group of friends. As the film opens four youths (Del, Roy, Chris and Geoff) are seen breaking into a cafe in Stratford, East London, but they only get away with about ninepence and some cake, and it is clear that they are hardly master criminals. Back at their hut on waste ground they mention Jo (Sam Shepherd), known as ‘Bronco Bullfrog’ (for reasons which are never explained), who has just got out of Borstal.

Florian Wolff at Pogo Sunday 2nd Sept 7pm

Florian Wolff wants to leave the world two things: a huge catalogue filled with beautiful songs and… nothing. Because, despite of his rather large shoe size, Florian aims for leaving a footprint that is as small as possible. He takes a step in the right direction with The Nature of Things, since the songs on this record will make you want turn down the heat two degrees come winter.

The Nature Of Things is the second album by the singer-songwriter from Groningen. While his 2008 début Catching Up, Standing Still could be summarized as a ‘collection of catchy songs’, his second album needs more words. With nothing but a few rough outlines Florian went into the studio. There he wrung himself out like a sponge and everything that influenced him during his musical career came flowing out. Together with these influences he used the studio as his playground. All conventions were binned. He could do anything while nothing had to be done. That is how a organic album came to be, powerful and close to the heart. No head, no tale, just body. Dynamic as a whole, tied together by the persona Florian Wolff is: warm, friendly and optimistic. There is a dash of rawness, yet it is mostly calm and smooth. Like a teddy bear with a one day old beard. An oak table smeared with coffee stains.

Florian is not only represented by warmth and quiet. Above all else he is sustainable. Not because it is fashionable, but as a way of life. Florian breaths sustainability. And that does not stop at the reform shop he works in two days a week. In 2010 he started the Green Tour: a tour sporting a ‘Green Stage’ powered by the sun, the wind and… the audience. The artwork on The Nature of Things also is durable, thanks to the use of recycled paper and environment friendly ink. And the result is beautiful. In fact its beauty made Florian decide to deviate from standard measurement. Next to having a record you also have a painting. The peg is included to put it up on the wall.

It’s understood that Florian is not afraid to bump his head. And that is a good thing, because that got him quite some attention. He was in the final round of the national music competition ‘De Grote Prijs van Nederland’ and he was selected as ‘Serious Talent’ by Dutch national radio station 3FM. He took stage at Paradiso, de Melkweg, Tivoli and other popular venues and played at music fests like Eurosonic. Also he played at Lowlands. Not once, but six times. ‘till now…

www.florianwolff.com