KOLYA
Frequently I select obscure movies, many of them foreign produced films, from the Netflix list. Today I watched “Kolya”, a story about a once renowned cellist in the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra who is reduced to play at funerals at the city crematorium in Prague. It was filmed in Prague which at the time was occupied by the Russians and on the verge of the 1989 Velvet Revolution. The dialog between the Czech speaking musician and a five year old boy who only speaks Russian is pretty intense (with me reading subtitles) when lo and behold, the sweatshirt the musician is wearing comes into view and says… “H.D. Lee Kansas Est. 1889″. It struck me as strange as a flock of penguins walking through my yard. It’s a good movie for you Netflix fans.
Henry David Lee was born in Vermont on Dec 9, 1849. Moving to Ohio at the age of 16, Lee became a successful merchant in the town of Galion with the Central Oil Co. of Galion. Selling out to John D. Rockefeller, Lee moved to Salina, KS and started the wholesale grocer Lee Mercantile Company in 1889. By 1915 he had opened a factory in Kansas City with an apparel line that included overalls, work jackets and blue denim pants. Although Lee died March 15, 1928, the company retained his name becoming The H.D. Lee Company in 1942.
I LOVE this movie. I saw it many years ago and I loved it. It is so beautiful.
Comment by sammyku — 12/10/2009 @ 7:23 pm
Ah, a movie I have long wanted to see. Thanks for the reminder.
Oh, looks like I will be in Texas in 2011. Unbelievable. Touring at 57.
Comment by Susan — 12/10/2009 @ 7:58 pm
Susan…We’ll have to find you. Austin???? Lemme know. You’ll have to stop by here on your way.
Comment by Peg Britton — 12/10/2009 @ 8:27 pm
Sammy…did you notice the H.D.Lee sweatshirt???
Comment by Peg Britton — 12/10/2009 @ 8:27 pm