Prague Journal

Saturday, February 19, 2005.

The evening with Charlotte and Bruce was a welcome respite from transcribing interview notes. Bruce put steaks and veggies on the grill, Charlotte made a wonderful salad and fresh dinner rolls, and we hunkered down for pleasant evening. Charlotte had rented a DVD of the 1999 film Pelíšky (“Cozy Dens”), set in the Christmas season leading up to the “Prague Spring” of 1968. The story is about two neighbor families, the Šebeks and Krauses, who live a suburban apartment building in Prague 5 (northeast of us). Teenage Michal Šebek has a major crush on his cool and pretty neighbor, Jindřiska Kraus, but they are divided by politics, personalities, and another suitor. Mr. Šebek, a simple-minded, good-natured officer by profession, is a supporter of the ruling political regime. In contrast, Mr. Kraus, a former resistance fighter with bitter war experiences, is his staunch adversary. Each member of both families lives out his/her own story in his own “cozy den” until the Soviet invasion in August 1968 violently disturbs their world. It’s a sweet film about aging parents, maturing teens, losses and loves, friendships and families.
We know Prague is a small town, but we didn’t expect to run into two mathematicians -- Daniele Mundici from Florence (Italy) and a colleague from Barcelona -- at our bus stop on our way home. They were here for a birthday-tribute conference for someone at Charles University. Unfortunately, they will only stay one more day, but I was pleased to meet Mundici, since Rick has talked about him. We had hoped to use him as an excuse to visit Florence – that will be unlikely this year, despite the fact that we'd both like to visit Italy before we head back to the US this summer.

posted by JWinn @ 10:10 PM