That was a question in an email I received last October from a fellow (I presumed it was a fellow) named Taavi. He represented "World Film" an organization that supports an annual film festival, part of The Tartu Festival of Visual Culture to be held this year in March at the Estonian National Museum.
They wanted to honor the work and life of John Marshall, one of the pillars of the cinema verite movement that took root in America and Europe in the 1950's and evolved through the 1960's and 70's. This style of filming had a profound influence that is still felt by young filmmakers today. John was my boss and we worked closely for more than 13 years until he died at the age of 72 a year ago last April.
Actually, when the folks in Estonia first contacted me, they were looking to invite John as their guest for this program. They were unaware of his recent death. Upon being informed, they felt a festival to honor him now was even more important, so they asked if I would consider coming instead. I always say "yes" when travel opportunities come my way, it was so far in advance after saying I'd come, I put it on the back burner. Not long after this, I received another invitation for a similar film program to honor John's work, this time in Paris. In this case I'm familiar with the Festival; The Bilan Du Film Ethnographique, held at the Musée de L'Homme in Paris. Naturally I say "yes" to this too as both organizations have agreed to pay my expenses. It doesn't dawn on me till some weeks later that both these events overlap and take place THE SAME WEEK. I don't want to disappoint anybody and I know how much work goes into putting on one of these events. After some discussion with both groups a program is agreed upon that schedules my participation in Estonia for March 15th, a day long event of Marshall film screenings followed by discussion and Q&A. The full day program on John's films at the Bilan will be held on the 18th. At this point I get out the atlas to see just where the heck Estonia is and how far away Tartu is from Paris. This is going to be a whirlwind event with little time to absorb the culture or even catch my breath.
After some fiddling around on Orbitz.com I figure out a reasonable flight schedule for the whole trip. There are no direct flights from Boston to Tallinn, Estonia's capital, so I'm going via Frankfurt (that's good for me as I speak German, and if my luggage doesn't show up, I'll be able to get help). A few days later I'll be passing through Frankfurt again, on my way back to Paris.
Well, here it is March, and my flight is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. I spent some time in Harvard Square, picking up some Euros at the bank (the exchange rate for dollars is discouraging) and doing a little shopping. At one of my favorite kids clothing stores I pick up a few cute items for my granddaughters. The manager of the shop strikes up a conversation and it comes out that I'm leaving for Estonia. ESTONIA! she shrieks, I LOVE ESTONIA! This is the first American I've spoken to who even had an inkling it was a country. Turns out she had spent 2 years in the Peace Corps in Latvia teaching business courses to the locals after the collapse of the Soviet Union. She'd made frequent trips north to Estonia and the medieval capital city Tallinn and fell in love with the country. It was as though I'd opened a spigot. I learned more in my 10 minutes with her as she checked out my purchases, than in the time I'd spent reading a guide book I'd bought at the Harvard coop a few hours before. Her unbridled enthusiasm stirred my sense of adventure and anticipation for the first time. (It was so beautiful today in Boston, over 60 degrees, and it's been brutally cold in France and the Balkans all winter, spring has not yet shown it's face, so I was reluctant to leave.) As she described the beauties of this walled city, the fabulous restaurants, the wonderful people, I found myself looking forward to the coming trip. I'll have plenty of time to write, in the airports and in flight. So, if anyone asks if you want to go to Estonia, just say "yes".
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Comments: 10
I look forward to hearing about the connections you make in Paris and Tartu; what a wonderful opportunity for both your business and writing.