What's up in Europe? | Page 53

Cinema and TV ROMANIA A few of my favourite things! By Andreia What do the following four images have in common? Nothing at first, but quite a lot in the right context... ”The Sound of Music”, an all-time classic starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, has recently been shown on an entertainment TV channel in Romania. In case you haven’t seen it, it tells the story of the Trapp family singers, who fled Nazi-invaded Austria during World War 2. The movie focuses on the relationship between Maria, a former nun, and the seven von Trapp children she has to look after. Captain von Trapp, a strict naval officer, insists on discipline and raises his children as if they were soldiers taught to obey orders. In the absence of a mother, the children, though somewhat mischievous in the beginning, end up becoming fond of Maria, who is openhearted and great fun to be with. What helps bring them together is Maria’s passion for singing and her positive, optimistic attitude to life. One of the memorable scenes in the musical is the one in which the children, scared by a thunderstorm, go to Maria’s room on the first night of her arrival in their house, and she sings ”My Favourite Things” to cheer them up. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens Brown paper packages tied up with strings These are a few of my favorite things Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings These are a few of my favorite things Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes Silver white winters that melt into springs These are a few of my favorite things When the dog bites When the bee stings When I’m feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don’t feel so bad!