January 17, 2013 - Swadeology

It’s January 17, 2013, here in Australia and three years ago, on January 17, 2010, Saab’s fate was hanging in the balance. General Motors seemed determined to close Saab down and Spyker were equally as determined to buy the company. As a community, we were determined to send GM a message – Saab was a company worth saving.

The first Saab Support Convoy was actually held in Detroit on January 5th, just before a GM board meeting. It was based on an idea that started in Holland – a gathering to celebrate Saab, no matter what the company’s fate would be. Of course, the nature of these events expanded as time went on.

Saab’s fate was expected to be decided at that Detroit GM board meeting but still hung in the balance several weeks later. The Detroit gathering gained some press coverage, which lent no small amount of determination to others to get together and make a difference.

The Saab Support Convoys began on the weekend of the 17th January and over the next few weekends, it’s estimated that around 10,000 people gathered in 6,000 Saabs (and others!) in 60 cities around the world.

It was an absolutely amazing time. Saab was saved (for the moment) and we felt like we were a part of the company. It was a wonderful time to be a Saab fan. Congratulations once again to all who were involved. I don’t think there’s ever been such a display of support for a car company, before or since.

There are 75 photos in the gallery below. Apologies if I missed anyone, but all the Saab Support Convoys are listed here.

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I know I’m a little late on this one. It’s been out for a few weeks now, but we only saw it tonight because it was a charity event and the date was set. Better late than never.

I should disclose at the outset that I’ve seen Les Mis on stage – twice. The first time was in the early 1990’s in a professional theatre in Melbourne. The second time was a more amateur, but still very good, performance here in Hobart in the mid-late 1990’s. I’m no Les Mis expert, however. Not by any means.

I’d heard mixed reviews about this film prior to seeing it and I had wondered to myself how such an established stage show would work as a film musical.

The mixed reviews all centered around the quality of the singing. The PR spinmeisters made a point of telling everyone that the singing in the film was recorded live on set. It’s not a studio performance with all of the refinements that a studio performance brings. There’s no miming here – what you see and hear is the performers doing their best at the time the film was made.

It shows, too. Take a look.

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Yes, some of the singing is much thinner than what you might expect.

I have to say, however, that I was completely surprised – and riveted – by this film.

Continue reading Movies: Les Misérables

Day: January 17, 2013

3 years on – Saab Support Convoys

Movies: Les Misérables