Film review: The Best Offer

Genre: Drama/Mystery/Romantic

Year: 2013

Who to watch out for: Geoffrey Rush and Donald Sutherland

Music by Ennio Morricone

The Best Offer (La migliore offerta) is a film about love, deception and mystery. The story revolves around an elderly auctioneer, Virgil Oldman who is hired by a reclusive young heiress, Claire Ibbetson to handle the auctioning of her inherited antiques and collection of paintings. Oldman however does not seem to live up to his prestige and poise when we discover that he has been ongoingly acquiring through an elaborate scam, a secret private collection of master paintings with the help of his friend Billy Whistler (Donald Sutherland).

Giuseppe Tornatore, the writer and director of the film engages the viewer with intrigues and mysteries throughout the film. In the beginning you are left wondering who is this Ms. Ibbetson who appeared elusively out of nowhere and managed to pull in Oldman who is notoriously difficult to track down. Then the plot thickens when we discover that she is an agoraphobic hermit who does not leave her house and wishes not to be seen. As time goes on we get to spy on Oldman and Ibbetson's warming relations and discover where it leads to. The best offer is a multi-layered journey into the unknown and this story of love and deceit is in my opinion one of the best written mystery stories in contemporary time.

Delightful Interruption Star Rating:  

✩✩✩✩✩

Through the lens: Florence, Italy

Firenze

This is one city that should be on everyone's bucket list. Florence is as authentic as Italian culture gets! Whether you would like to travel back into Italian renaissance in the Uffizi gallery or simply people watch in the Piazza della Signoria, I recommend at least 3 or 4 days in this beautiful city. There is so much to see, especially as the Florentines are especially proud of their heritage, they have worked hard to preserve the gifts their elder generations have left them in the form of architecture, art and glorious food! 

Imitation of the famous David

If you would like to see the masterpieces of Michelangelo, Botticelli and Da Vinci be sure to buy tickets in advance as it gets awfully busy (we queued for over an hour in the freezing cold- although it was worth it). My favourite in the Uffizi gallery was Michelangelo's Doni Tondo, which must be seen for its intricate details in person. 

Also another one of my favourite highlights from Florence was the visit to Piazzale Michelangelo. This is a famous square with a phenomenal view of the city - photographs don't do it justice!

Floating Umbrellas on the way to the Boboli gardens

Authentic Florentine architecture

Enjoying the best Cappucino I've ever tasted!

Panorama from the Piazzale Michelangelo

Happy New Year!

Ponte Vecchio - the oldest bridge in Florence with in built shops still operating

If you missed out on Venice, catch up here.

Series: Monday Musings

1. If you are having savoury cravings why not make some Skinny green popcorn. I made some this weekend, and it was devoured in minutes! (Courtesy of the Londoner)

2. In a technology led world, one father reminds us how the simple things make the big differences. He made his kids the coolest packed lunches.

3. Building up on the thrill of Girls season 3 back on our screens - 10 reasons why we love Lena Dunham

4. Explore the magic of genuine and beautiful moments captured on a great new photo blog - Unposed Scenes

5. Get excited, the Wolf of Wall street is coming soon!

Film Review: About Time

Genre: Romantic/Drama

Year: 2013

Who to watch out for: Rachel McAdams (The Notebook!) 

This is a wonderfully warm, adorable yet also heart wrenching film about a 21 year old Tim who discovers he has the ability to time travel. The film takes you through his life where he meets the girl of his dreams, Mary (McAdams) and wanders through life getting second chances to fix little moments for the better (or worse!). Tim is a rather likeable character in his brilliantly awkward yet charming way, he's also blessed with a quintessential British attitude, has a lovely family and lives in good old London. What's not to like? If you enjoyed Love Actually and Notting Hill, this will definitely be right up your alley.

Delightful Interruption Star Rating:  

✩✩✩✩

Through the lens: Venice, Italy

Venezia

Venice was an absolutely magical place that firmly captured my heart. Not only was it beautiful in its own way, but it also had some of the most delicious food I've ever tasted, the most stylishly dressed people I've seen, as well as the friendliest people I met. That is a lot of superlatives for one little city yo!

Also, be sure not to miss Harry's bar. This is the original Cipriani's restaurant and where the carpaccio and bellini were born. Although you can find branches of Harry's across the globe which all serve delicious food, trust me when I say nothing beats the original. Hands down the best meal I've ever had! Evidently there are no photos, as we were incredibly hungry bunnies - so I didn't get to capture it by camera.

An introductory shot of the well known Venetian gondolas

A delightful berry and chocolate gelato from the iconic Florian Cafe

A gratuitous shot of the real Venice!

Did you know there are only 405 licensed gondoliers in Venice?

Sumptuous warm Bruschetta at a local favourite - Capavitti

Fried in extra light batter - calamari and vegetables

Best Tiramisu you'll ever taste!

Views from the Rialto

Stay tuned for my next post where I will whisk you away to Florence!

19 Things to do before you die

I came across an article recently mentioning that although everyone has their own version of things to cross off their bucket list; such as "buy dream car" or "learn a new language" or "take an adventure somewhere far away" - what drives each of these desires is a common connector, an innate yearning to belong and to feel love.

In the spirit of living life to the fullest - here is my take on things you should do before you die.

When we do what we love, we become an expression of love and our happiness is infectious. 

1. Stop trying to control your outcome
2. Find your purpose and live it full-heartedly
3. Adopt a furry friend
4. Trust that everything is in the right order
5. Don't feel guilty for holiday weight gain
6. Travel to the place you keep thinking about
7. Be open to change
8. Forgive and let go
9. Be the best YOU can be
10. Share your joy with the world - it's contagious!
11. Stop blame-shifting
12. Show your loved ones you care every single day
13. Reject rejection
14. Give up all attachments to belongings
15. Stay hopeful and optimistic in difficult situations
16. Welcome all life lessons
17. See the opportunities in every challenge rather than give up
18. Establish your moral compass and stay true to your values
19. Play with the world

That place I keep thinking about...

The Curiosity Cabinet

Curiosity cabinets are seen as the ancestor's of today's museums. During the European Renaissance, aristocrats and enlightened amateurs would often collect and display rare and unusual, sometimes bizarre 'curios' with a taste for the eclectic and unique. They assembled a mixed selection of antiquities, stuffed animals, skeletons, seashells, works of art and other precious pieces.

Today the House of Boucheron boasts a tribute to the curiosity cabinet in the form of a fine jewellery collection. Jewellery conoisseurs are not unlike yesterday's curiosity cabinet collector: they enjoy rarity, exclusiveness, and creativity.

Boucheron: The iconic first jeweller of the Place Vendôme

Here are my 3 favourite pieces...

Masy the Chameleon - truly a natural phenomenon - it is the only animal endowed with the extraordinary faculty to change colours thanks to specific cells in its skin. This piece embodies a range of the most exquisite coloured gems including tsavorites, blue, pink, and yellow sapphires & rubies.

Masy

Cypris - the Swan - is so closely linked with beauty, elegance and majesty that it has always adorned the water features of European princely homes, while the peacock would grace Oriental gardens.
Did you know Swans mate for life - how beautiful is that? Couples form almost a year before having offspring, and this is referred to as the Swans' engagement. Then they go off together to find a place to raise their family. I had no idea they were so romantic...

Cypris

Boucheron's Swan was poetically named Cypris because it was the Cyprian name of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, pleasures and beauty.  According to Greek mythology she travels on a white swan.
This piece evokes the nobility of the bird itself as well as the ballerina dancing to Tchaikovsky's Swan lake. When worn together they look truly breathtaking. It is almost animated to reality with the way it wraps around the finger.

Natalie Portman in the Black Swan

Explore the rest of the collection and find your favourite here.