8-- The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 12, 1996 Twisted 'Voice of the Moon' haunts the mind By Kristin Long Daily Arts Writer Sometimes films have meaning and symbolism more intense than what we can easily comprehend during a measly two-hour screening. Instead of taking a film lightly, we have to stretch our minds to understand what the charac- ters are discussing and feeling. In Italian director Federico Fellini's last film, "The Voice ofthe Moon," few statements mean less than some power- ful and immense notion. The plot has heavy meanings that audiences can hardly take delicately. Its profound story results in a mix of confusion and plea- sure. The film is a stimulating portrayal of the oddities within human nature. It follows a moment in the life of Ivo Salvino (Roberto Benigni), who does not always view life from the same standpoint as the average individual. Having just been released from a men- tal hospital, Ivo ventures out into the real world, relying on voices from within a well to guide him along his path. "The Voice of the Moon" focuses on people's longing for those luxuries in life that are not always so easily ac- quired - love, happiness and peace within the environment. A central ob- ject of focus is the moon; it becomes a never-ending symbol of something we all want to reach, but can never quite attain. The settings and the scenery for this film represent some of the finest work R.EVIEW The Voice of the Moon CORRECTION: UM School of Music Opera Workshop Friday, April 12 at 5 p.m. in McIntosh Theatre (not 7 p.m., as stated earlier) All events are free and wheelchair accessible unless specified otherwise. For weekly events listings, call the Music Hotline, 763-4726. The School of Music is located at 1100 Baits Drive, North Campus. The University of Michigan School of Music Sunday, April14 Campus Band Damien Crutcher and Tania Miller, conductors Hill Auditorium, 4 p.m. Trumpet Studio Recital Students of Professor Charles Daval McIntosh Theatre, 8 p.m. Faculty Recital " Schumann: Marchenbilder " Paganini: Quartetto XV for Viola, Guitar, Violin and Cello * Hindemith: Die Serenaden, Kleine Kantate nach Romantischen Texte.n * Schoenfield: Cafe Music Yizhak Schotten, viola; Katherine Collier, piano; Matthew Mischakoff, guitar; Jana de Mita, cello; Kristen Beene, oboe; Andrew Jennings, violin; Jennifer Ross, violin; Emily Benner, soprano; Erling Blondal Bengtsson, cello; Anthony Elliott, cello Recital Hall, 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 Chamber Choir Theodore Morrison, conductor " Bolcom: The Mask, based on works of African American poets . Brahms: Vier Gesange, op. 17 . Rossini: Vocal Quartets (from The Sins of Old Age) Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 Faculty Recital Arthur Greene, piano " Scriabin: Sonata No. 3 in F# minor, op. 23; Sonata No. 7 in C, op. 64 ("White Mass"); Sonata No. 9 in G, op. 68 ("Black Mass") " Beethoven: Sonata No. 32 in C minor, op. 11 Rackham Auditorium, 8 p.m. Thursday, April 18 Campus Philharmonia Orchestra David Tang and Bundit Ungrangsee, conductors " Brahms: Hungarian Dances " Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen " Borodin: Symphony No. 2 McIntosh Theatre, 7p.m. Jazz Combos Gerald Cleaver, director Rackham Auditorium, 8 p.n. Thursday-Sunday, April 18-21 Musical Theatre Grand Hotel-The Musical by Davis, Wright and Forrest Gary Bird, director; Ben Whitely, music director Power Center, 8 p.m. (Thu.-Sat.); 2 p.m. (Sun.) Tickets: $16-$6 (764-0450) Friday, April 19 Concert Band Dennis Glocke, conductor Hill Auditorium, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 20 Contemporary Directions Ensemble Tribute to Glenn Watkins, Earl V. Moore Professor of Music H. Robert Reynolds, director " Stravinsky: Momentum pro Gesualdo and Two Sacred Songs " Works of Bolcom, Albright, Chambers, Daugherty, Bassett, Directed by Federico Fellini; with Roberto Benigni At Michigan Theater in the renowned Italian director's ca- reer. Fellini creates each scene without using time or geographical references; in this way, he colors the ambiance of an undefined world. Fellini intended to make a film with a peculiar plot and unusual scenery. While this technique shows cinematic genius, it occasionally weakens the plot; National Poetry Month rolls through Shaman Drum Bookshop Shaman Drum Bookshop celebrates National Poetry Month withthree weekend events. On Friday night, catch Vietnam vet writer/poet W.D. Ehrhart reading from hs latest collection at 8 p.m. Then, On Saturday night at 8, it's the After Hours Poetry Series, featuring Richard Jones, published poet and English professor at DePaul University. Finally, spend a mellow Sunday, from 2 to 4 p.m., with local poets Keith Taylor, Arwulf Arwuf, Diane Wakowski and others talking about their favorite poets. In addition, two University students, Richard McMullen and Holly Spaulding, will read their award- winning entries from Shaman Drum's poetry contest. ROADWAY PACKAGE SYSTEM PACKAGE HANDLERS PERFECT FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS Saving for tuition? Find part- time work, year round at RPS! - Earn up to $8.50 per hour Roadway Package System, a small package delivery service, hires package handlers to load and unload package vans and semi-trailers. If you are not afraid of hard work, are at least 18 years old and want to work 4-5 hours per day, Mon.-Fri., we can offer you $6.50/hr. to start, $7/hr. after 90 days, plus $1/hr. tuition assistance after 30 days. Excellent opportunity for promotion while a student and after graduation. Respond to: ROADWAY PACKAGE SYSTEM, INC. 296 Jackson Plaza Ann Arbor, MI 48103 313-665-3323 EOIAAE the vagueness of the scenes often leads to confusion. In one landscape, we see Ivo in the midst of the typical Italian environment complete with soft light- ing and a picturesque village. We don't know what year it is, but it doesn't matter because the question never en- ters our minds. Then, within a few mo- ments, we have a disco with rancid Michael Jackson music polluting the background sounds. It is an unusual time change, if it is even a change at all. It is all like a very twisted nightmare, and with the subtitles, the story is even harder to fully understand. The charac- ters are a bit crazy, and their bizarre mannerisms make the film seem off the wall. The presentation of "The Voice of the Moon" is amazing. Aside from Ann Arbor, it is only being shown in three other cities across America. It was first released in Italy in 1990, and is now being shown as part of a retrospective on Academy-Award winning director Fellini. Italian comedian Benigni does a great job as the lost soul in search of some understanding of a befuddled world. He resembles a clown with his sad eyes and innocent smile; throughout the en- tire film, his words and thoughts cap- ture our hearts. The story, however, can catch many audiences off guard. The significance of some of its intricate details compli- cates the plot. Time reference is a prob- lem because it abruptly changes from classic scenery to a modern perspec- tive. "The Voice of the Moon" offers a cunning story with a great background. Fellini provides impeccable cinema- tography and artistic achievement. The deep concepts, however, turn a night at the movies into an extended trip from all realistic perception. Take a pilgrimage to Yspilanti's Green Room and hear the unique sound of Mecca Normal For more than a decade, the name Mecca Normal has been synonymous with Intense, intelligent and sometimes abrasive music. With her intense stage presence and emotive lyrics, singer/poet Jean Smith is reminiscent of punk poetess Patti Smith; however, Mecca Normal's music is more eclectic and sparse. On their latest album, "The Eagle and The Poodle," the songs range from haunting and delicate, like the opening track "Breathing in the Dark," to sharp and caustic on "The Revival of Cruelty," to hard-rocking and punky on "Now That You're Here." With just vocals, guitar and drums, the group creates ° a sound that is a perfect foil for Smith's poetic lyrics. Songs like "When You Build a House Without Doors" and "Her Ambition" work equally well as printed poetry. As great as albums like "The Eagle and the Poodle" and their Matador Records debut "Sitting on Snaps" are, Mecca Normal's live shows are even better, packed with energy and emotion. The band plays tonight in the intimate confines of the Green Room in Ypsilanti. Even better, Smith's other band Two Foot Flame opens. Tickets are just $5; call 482-8830 for more information. Indian music expands horizons By Anitha Chalam Daily Arts Writer SPIC-MACAY, the Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth, has been active within the University for a few years now. In that time, the organiza- tion has brought to campus several truly amazing performers. Most re- cent among these great performers was Shrimati Aruna Narayan Kalle, who gave a concert on the solo sarangi on Tuesday evening. The turnout for the concert was low, but those who were in attendance were lucky enough to experience this very beautiful per- formance. Though scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., the concert ran on Indian Standard Time, and didn't begin until nearly 8, lasting approximately an hour and a half. The sarangi, a predecessor to the veena (a common classical Indian in- strument) is a 36-string, carved wooden instrument. It is only recently gaining acclaim as a solo instrument, even though its sound is most often associated with the songs of folklore. Shrimati Aruna is the only female player of this instrument, having stud- ied with perhaps the most respected sarangi player in the world, her fa- ther, Sri Pandit Ram Narayan, who made significant contributions in the playing technique of the sarangi, es- REVIEW7 - Shrimati Aruna Sarangi Rackham Auditorium April 9, 1996 tablishing the modern standard play- ing method. Though she started her studies of this instrument relatively late in her life, at the age of 18, Shrimati Aruna is one of the most gifted players of this very difficult bowed instrument. She now plays concerts all over India, as well as in several other countries, including Festival of India concerts in Sweden, the United States and the former USSR, plus the Parampara Fes- tival in the former West Germany. Shrimati Aruna played three songs that evening, all of them very diffi- cult, and all of them from memory. Though the sound of the sarangi vaguely resembled that of a cello, it was more ethereal and melancholy. Also, it was tuned to various ragas, scales unfamiliar to Western ears, which accounted for a somewhat dis- sonant and almost scratchy sound to the songs. However, the songs did also sound very typically Indian, just what one would expect of Hindu mu- sic, regardless of whether or not on has ever been to India. The songs were beautiful, but long,. approximately 25 minutes each. Al- though the music was heavily ap-, plauded, the songs were difficult to stay focused on for the entirety, because, they had no meter, typical of Hindu' music. Because of this, several mcm-i bers of the audience became tired, and left after the second piece. But the ma-- jority who stayed were able to hear tl* third piece, perhaps the best piece ofthe evening. Though the majority of each piece was performed solo, a set of tabalas (Indian drums) provided an ethnic and pleasing accompaniment. Both Shrimati Aruna and her accompanists were cor- dial, and were well received by the audience. SPIC-MACAY's main goal, course, is to promote the music an culture of India. Given that a surpris- ingpercentage of Tuesday's audience was not of Indian descent, it seems that the group is operating with suc- cess. Michigan Student Assembly- elect Vice President Probir Mehta ex- pressed his excitement for this. "I'm really excited that Indian culture is being promoted among all ofsociety. It's great for Indians to make some noise, and it's even bette1.hat the are being heard." ThE BEST of ANN ARbOR: COMiNq ThikSday Make way for The Best of Ann Arbor, when those wacky kids at Weekend, Etc. wrap up the year asWe head into finals week. Find out who you thought was No.1 this school year in everything from cheap beer to hot music. Plus final columns from your favorte Weekenders. That's next Thursday, only in the Daily. A __ _ I 3s~~~~~.. :. .i.. ;Efl~irL'u~1.11 I --U-----