Post by davidhr on Nov 8, 2011 10:39:53 GMT -5
A week has gone by since the brouhaha over the Mlle. Zhivago film erupted, and nothing publicly has occurred in that time. There have been no new statements from the principals in this drama: Lara has not fulfilled her promise to explain herself "shortly", Alan Badoev has resumed his commentary on Twitter with non-Lara-related tweets, and Igor Krutoi remains out of sight. What this might imply ranges anywhere from they are working on a compromise behind the scenes, to nothing at all is happening. Nothing actually has to happen - the film may just never appear, although eventually Lara will have to 'face the music' about it, perhaps in a "Platine" interview concerned with her next album, if nowhere else. Platine generally does not let her get away with anything - questioning her, for example, about the "failure of her American career" - and up to now she has answered all their questions. So failing anything else, we may get an answer then, whenever that occurs (probably not for six months, at least). This is probably a worst-case scenario, but a plausible one.
Her fans, who started out quite respectful of Lara's point of view, have grown increasingly less charitable towards it, and the silence following her decision to suppress the film has not helped her cause. Fans can understand Lara's abhorrence to too much 'sex and violence' in anything with regard to herself - although since most of what appears in the film in that regard likely involves her, the best time to have objected was when she was filming it. However, the one specific comment she included in her note was that she didn't like the "politics" behind the movie. This was met with considerable derision, as people started noticing that she had been one of the artists criticized for performing in front of the Chechnyan President Ramzan Kadyrov, "a ruthless man accused of torturing and killing many, many people". (Hillary Swank is the latest celebrity caught up in that). You may remember Lara gave a concert there at his invitation last March. This point was brought up on Lara's FB page, and then the whole MZ thread was removed...Fans soon started another, more obliquely-related one. Lara's silence makes it hard for fans to support her point of view wholeheartedly; all they know is that they are being deprived of watching Lara display the full array of her talents, and they fear she is hurting her career with an irrational decision.
Nevertheless, at least at this point in time, the controversy seems to be losing some steam, starved of any new information. Of course, as in Lara's inactivity concerning the film, fans don't have to literally "do" anything to express their disapproval - they can just simply stay way, from her concerts, websites and from purchasing her CDs. The sad thing is that as her official site, and the associated fan sites, seek to suppress all signs of controversy (to the point of not even referring to MZ anymore), they lose the channels that would have informed Lara of the fans' discontent. All she may end up noticing is that less and less people seem to care about what she does. Avoiding facing the controversy is not the same as addressing the actual anger that has appeared - and this among fans who really care about her. Let's hope it does not end up this way, and that some action is taken to produce a resolution that gives everyone satisfaction, or failing that, at least significantly more understanding from all sides.
Another way we may learn more is that 'Spark' on the Russian forum posted the following announcement (with Google translator):
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION LIGA HEALTH NATION
INTERNATIONAL FUND CULTURE AND SCIENCE "HARMONY�
FORUM HALL REPRESENT
GALA CHARITABLE EVENING
December 8 2011
Concert Dinner, Awarding
Lara Fabian QUATRO Foundation Spivakov
If Lara really is attending this awards dinner, she may feel compelled to address the film situation - or not, probably depending on what she is asked. We already know that Lara had previously arranged a concert in Bucharest for March 17th next year. In addition, we have also learned that she is to be the 'belle of the ball' next April 14th in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The more activities that she lines up in the "countries to the east", the more likely she will be to have to address the issues involved with MZ (not only the film, but the lack of CD distribution as well, assuming she sings songs from it). It will also be interesting at these events to see whether Igor Krutoi is present, and, if the film really is killed, whether he and Lara can get past that. [Remember, it was his idea, he brought in Badoev, he's given many interviews praising it, even appearing in it, etc.].
With respect to this last event, Lara has found the time to communicate (thanks for the translation to Alena on the Russian forum, with the original at:
www.eventica.kz/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=133:-iv-&catid=38:2011-09-07-18-21-01):
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Angels,
I am writing to express my joyfulness about attending the fourth edition of the Charity Ball on April 2012 in Almaty.
Indeed I am delighted to join a cause that touches me a lot: kids in need.
As a mother, I perfectly understand the distress of sick or disabled children.
If my presence can help to collect funds to help many children in pain, I am proud of it.
As you know, I have been supporting the AMTM association ("Association Medicale Toit du Monde") since 2006. Every year, they provide care and treatments for underprivileged children in Nepal and India.
I am not only a singer. I receive so much from people that I can't conceive this job without sharing.
I look forward to meeting you.
With all my love, Lara
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Various websites are now reporting that Lara will participate in the show "Laurent Gerra ne s'interdit rien" presented by Jean-Pierre Foucault. It's supposed to be recorded on November 14th. According to 'Lara Fabian est ton autre' it has been confirmed officially, but regardless, the program itself lists Lara as one of the invitees on their official webpage. The title means "Laurent Gerra doesn't forbid anything" - pretty ironic, huh?
In case you didn't notice, the 'pure-lara' website (not the FB site) was hacked and went down several weeks ago. It is now coming back, with an updated design. Not everything has returned, and maybe it won't - this includes the catalog of older videos of Lara. It's at www.pure-lara.fr
Lara will apparently be in France next week for the taping of the TV show, if not for additional work on "Le Secret". We may learn something about whatever else is going on be behind the scenes, if anything.
David
Her fans, who started out quite respectful of Lara's point of view, have grown increasingly less charitable towards it, and the silence following her decision to suppress the film has not helped her cause. Fans can understand Lara's abhorrence to too much 'sex and violence' in anything with regard to herself - although since most of what appears in the film in that regard likely involves her, the best time to have objected was when she was filming it. However, the one specific comment she included in her note was that she didn't like the "politics" behind the movie. This was met with considerable derision, as people started noticing that she had been one of the artists criticized for performing in front of the Chechnyan President Ramzan Kadyrov, "a ruthless man accused of torturing and killing many, many people". (Hillary Swank is the latest celebrity caught up in that). You may remember Lara gave a concert there at his invitation last March. This point was brought up on Lara's FB page, and then the whole MZ thread was removed...Fans soon started another, more obliquely-related one. Lara's silence makes it hard for fans to support her point of view wholeheartedly; all they know is that they are being deprived of watching Lara display the full array of her talents, and they fear she is hurting her career with an irrational decision.
Nevertheless, at least at this point in time, the controversy seems to be losing some steam, starved of any new information. Of course, as in Lara's inactivity concerning the film, fans don't have to literally "do" anything to express their disapproval - they can just simply stay way, from her concerts, websites and from purchasing her CDs. The sad thing is that as her official site, and the associated fan sites, seek to suppress all signs of controversy (to the point of not even referring to MZ anymore), they lose the channels that would have informed Lara of the fans' discontent. All she may end up noticing is that less and less people seem to care about what she does. Avoiding facing the controversy is not the same as addressing the actual anger that has appeared - and this among fans who really care about her. Let's hope it does not end up this way, and that some action is taken to produce a resolution that gives everyone satisfaction, or failing that, at least significantly more understanding from all sides.
Another way we may learn more is that 'Spark' on the Russian forum posted the following announcement (with Google translator):
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION LIGA HEALTH NATION
INTERNATIONAL FUND CULTURE AND SCIENCE "HARMONY�
FORUM HALL REPRESENT
GALA CHARITABLE EVENING
December 8 2011
Concert Dinner, Awarding
Lara Fabian QUATRO Foundation Spivakov
If Lara really is attending this awards dinner, she may feel compelled to address the film situation - or not, probably depending on what she is asked. We already know that Lara had previously arranged a concert in Bucharest for March 17th next year. In addition, we have also learned that she is to be the 'belle of the ball' next April 14th in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The more activities that she lines up in the "countries to the east", the more likely she will be to have to address the issues involved with MZ (not only the film, but the lack of CD distribution as well, assuming she sings songs from it). It will also be interesting at these events to see whether Igor Krutoi is present, and, if the film really is killed, whether he and Lara can get past that. [Remember, it was his idea, he brought in Badoev, he's given many interviews praising it, even appearing in it, etc.].
With respect to this last event, Lara has found the time to communicate (thanks for the translation to Alena on the Russian forum, with the original at:
www.eventica.kz/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=133:-iv-&catid=38:2011-09-07-18-21-01):
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Angels,
I am writing to express my joyfulness about attending the fourth edition of the Charity Ball on April 2012 in Almaty.
Indeed I am delighted to join a cause that touches me a lot: kids in need.
As a mother, I perfectly understand the distress of sick or disabled children.
If my presence can help to collect funds to help many children in pain, I am proud of it.
As you know, I have been supporting the AMTM association ("Association Medicale Toit du Monde") since 2006. Every year, they provide care and treatments for underprivileged children in Nepal and India.
I am not only a singer. I receive so much from people that I can't conceive this job without sharing.
I look forward to meeting you.
With all my love, Lara
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Various websites are now reporting that Lara will participate in the show "Laurent Gerra ne s'interdit rien" presented by Jean-Pierre Foucault. It's supposed to be recorded on November 14th. According to 'Lara Fabian est ton autre' it has been confirmed officially, but regardless, the program itself lists Lara as one of the invitees on their official webpage. The title means "Laurent Gerra doesn't forbid anything" - pretty ironic, huh?
In case you didn't notice, the 'pure-lara' website (not the FB site) was hacked and went down several weeks ago. It is now coming back, with an updated design. Not everything has returned, and maybe it won't - this includes the catalog of older videos of Lara. It's at www.pure-lara.fr
Lara will apparently be in France next week for the taping of the TV show, if not for additional work on "Le Secret". We may learn something about whatever else is going on be behind the scenes, if anything.
David