I started one of the first foreign language blogs about Moscow. Ever since there are so many blogs about Moscow and many try to specialize, not to compete with each other. There are a few exotic ones like Moscow Muscle Cars, created by Donald, who is a good friend of mine. I wish I’d have the time to put up more blogs like that. I have collected so many bizarre photos from this city and its new rich citizens. Believe me, I could create a few of these blogs.

Bitch Beamer by Moscow Muscle Cars
http://moscowmusclecars.makollektiv.ru/

My girlfriends family was concerned last night. They parked their cars inside protected yards, where there is less of a chance that they get damaged if a riot breaks out. Most of Moscow was excited before the game and one could only imagine what would have happened if the Russian team would have lost against Holland. The Netherlands played bad and shortly after 2 AM Moscow turned into a big wild party. No matter where you went, people were celebrating their team and their new national pride. “Rossia” shouts could be heard from Tverskaya, my neighbors apartments and on any Moscow street, even in these little protected yards where my girlfriends family parked their cars.

Russians are flying high these days. They won the Ice Hockey world championships, St.Petersburg won the UEFA Cup, then the Russian singer Dima Bilan won the European Song Contest and now they are in the half finals of the European Soccer Championships.

“Who flies high, falls deep”, is a saying which the old greeks already described in their Icarus mythology. The atmosphere here is heated up and the expectations are unreal, although the Russian team had been able to keep up with it so far.

Its summer in Moscow. The air is warm and humid and the occasional heavy thunderstorms are moving over the city. The cities mood is heated up as well and it feels like just prior to a thunderstorm. Nobody knows if its going to be a soft one that brings a relief or a fierce storm, with much lightning and destruction. Its sort of a YIN & YANG situation (just not very much balanced) with nothing between black and white and nobody knows if it will turn either way.

One thing is clear, Russia did a good job in the EM 2008 so far. No matter if they win a title or not, they can be proud of themselves, but that is not enough for the Russians. They want it all! They feel they need it. They want to be accepted by the international community again and especially by their European neighbors. Did I say accepted? I meant respected or some may even want to be feared. This goes far beyond soccer and sports. Its an old deep complex, which was much supported by a (past) decade of ignorant behavior against Russia by the US and most of all the arrogant Europeans.

No matter how this EM will end, I see storm clouds on the horizon and they are moving from East to West. This storm is fueled by a patriotism which is more and more turning into nationalism. Some Russian politicians are using this patriotism to unite Russians (what else do they have?) and to divert from the countries main problems. The Europeans and the US seem not to understand the situation and with their current behavior they are not helping to disarm this nationalistic approach. They just push Russia more into the brown swamp (and isolation), instead of giving it a hand and pulling it out of the dirt. The outcome is unpredictable, but dangerous one way or the other. Russia may fail and break down, but it can also get its act together and become that strong dangerous global player, it wants to be. No matter what, it is dangerous and the West should recognize this and finally do something about it.

Most of these people are not soccer fans. They are fans of their country. They are proud of their country and they use little occasions, such as a soccer game to celebrate their country. This may seem normal for many of us, but it worries me. Patriotism is ok, although I feel its not fitting into our new global world. Nationalism is dangerous and was/is often abused by ruthless politicians.

Some of you may know, that I am involved into the YUM YUM parties. Come over and check it out tonight. We have a guest DJ from Munich and a MC from Detroit, along with Pirumov, a really good Russian DJ and our YUM YUM DJ Gatek, who rocks!

YUM YUM

Cover: 300 Rub

Soundcheck and more info at http://yumyum.labelfucker.ru

Friends of mine organize the Irish Film Festival at 35mm from today until June 1st. They bring you the top 10 Irish films. Here is a list of what they show in the next days:

ONCE (2007)
Dir. John Carney
Starring Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova
Best Song - 2008 Academy Awards, Audience Award – 2007 Sundance Film Festival

ADAM AND PAUL (2004)
Dir Lenny Abrahamson.
Starring Mark O’Halloran, Tom Murphy
Best script – 2005 European Film Awards

THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY (2006)
Dir. Ken Loach
Starring Cillian Murphy
Palme D’Or – 2006 Cannes Film Festival

BLOODY SUNDAY (2002)
Dir. Paul Greengrass
Starring James Nesbitt
Best film – 2002 Berlin Film Festival, Audience Award – 2002 Sundance Film Festival

INTERMISSION (2002)
Dir. John Crowley
Starring Colin Farrell, Cillian Murphy
Best Actor nomination, 2002 European Film Awards
THE BUTCHER BOY (1997)
Dir. Neil Jordan
Starring Eamonn Owens, Stephen Rea, Sinead O’Connor
Silver Bear – 1997 Berlin Film Festival

MICHAEL COLLINS (1996)
Dir. Neil Jordan
Starring Liam Neeson, Julia Roberts
Best film – 1996 Venice Film Festival

I WENT DOWN (1997)
Dir. Paddy Breathnach
Starring Peter McDonald, Brendan Gleeson
Best Film – 1997 San Sebastián International Film Festival

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER (1993)
Director Jim Sheridan
Starring Daniel Day Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson
7 Oscar Nominations – 1993 Academy Awards, Best Film – 1992 Berlin Film Festival

THE FIELD (1990)
Dir Jim Sheridan
Starring Richard Harris, John Hurt
Best Actor nomination 1990 Academy Awards

Irish Film Festival
May 28th - June 1st
35mm
Ulitsa Pokrovka / Sadove
Metro: Krasnye Vorota
http://www.irishfilm.ru/

Its a strange thing. Two English teams are battling for the Champions League Cup in Moscow. The trophy is displayed on Red Square, which was converted into a giant fun park with even an improvised small soccer field. Its hard to believe that heavy tanks and nuclear rockets were displayed here only 2 weeks ago in a display of want to be a super power.

This soccer game is the biggest sports event in Moscow since the Olympics. Russians have a reason to participate. Roman Abramovitch, one of Russians richest men, has bought into Chelsea long ago and now his team has the opportunity to become the master of European soccer clubs. The fact that this is a British team is not of interest because its owned by a Russian, so its owned by Russia and so its a Russian team in the eyes of many here. Its this typical outbreak of nationalism again. Sorry, yes I know, its patriotism, but being a German I often view it as nationalism.

So something very strange is happening these days. While the UK and Russia are politically far away from each other and there are deep diplomatic tensions between these two countries, Russia and the UK are actually closer than ever on a private level. More than 40 000 fans are welcomed. The president even waived the visa restrictions for this game. Russian and British fans are kicking the ball on Red Square and even though there are language problems, they give each other a smile. World peace is so easy. If the English fans only knew, why the Russian fans are so enthusiastic about soccer these days and have that very special smile. Don’t get me wrong I am not suggesting that most of the Russian fans think they “own” this English club and therefor own the fans or a piece of it, that would probably go to far.

As for me, I am not a big soccer fan. I have never been. Still, I give my sympathy to Manchester United. Not only because they are the pure English team and not connected to Russia at all, but because it doesn’t have this stupid show off glamor a la Bayern München. Its this glamor that Russians live and like. Its what they look up to, although its just a fake, bought by money. United instead is the real deal. Soccer pure, as it should be. But hey, everybody has his own reasons to favor one or the other team. OK, I am off to work. If you want to read more, check my participation on Paul Handlers sports blog at the Manchester Evening News.