For his stories he is looking for with a preference to the Tragic to the Comic. In his new book, “The Crusader” tells the story of the Russian-German writer Vladimir Kaminer from mass tourism, far out on the ocean.
Wladimir Kaminer succeeded literary breakthrough with his collection of stories, “Russendisko” (2000). Since 1990, the Moscow-born writer lives in Berlin and has long been the most popular authors of Germany. In his now published book “The crusaders”, he tells of traveling with his own joke of his new-found passion for the ship.
Deutsche Welle: Mr. Kaminer, you write in your book, friends and family had tried prior to your first cruise, you from the trip. They are still stung in the lake. Why?
Wladimir Kaminer: Our Relatives and friends have wondered very much that my wife and I wanted to embark on this adventure. We were never big Fans of mass tourism, and cross the top of the mass-tourism trips are now’. Every day you are sitting with strangers to eat at a table. I was irritated at the time. I had the feeling that the whole of humanity is hanging in the air, and wanted to find out if there’s something to it.
Compare cruise ships with the ark of Noah: While in the crisis country of the world-ridden feast of doom and gloom, it is the world of the Schiffsbar still in order. Mass escapism is the driving force of the giant steamer?
The cross is a strange mixture of empathy and mess rides. During the day, people discuss about climate change and global injustice. They suffer with a fever with the world. In the evening they Party to “Breathless through the night” until the last one falls over. This mixture has made for me, the nerve of the time. All the people in this book are drunk all the time, all of them have great Concerns, but want to celebrate anyway.
In your book you mention two large groups on the move: tourists and refugees – voluntary and involuntary travelers. The contrast could not be greater…
I’ve always tried to laugh about the tragedies and dramas of life. If you just crying, which is a cul-de-SAC. So we don’t get more. If you take the war refugees, the need to fear for your life, from this comparison, not the Situation of tourists, and Refugees’t so dissimilar. You are looking for a place that is supposed to be better than the present. Here, you will be disappointed more and more often.
How is the disappointment of the crusaders?
Book cover of Vladimir Kaminers “The crusaders”
We were just on a cruise in the Caribbean, where each island as Paradise has been touted. The excursions were called “Aruba, the Caribbean Paradise” or “Guadeloupe, the Caribbean Paradise”. The houses of the hurricanes were destroyed, the people had no teeth and were in great poverty. The Crusader thought to himself: “This is supposed to be Paradise? Since I prefer to stay on the Board.”
In the meantime, cross develop trips to find an Alternative to the earthly soil. That is, the trips and the routes are always level and the ships are becoming more and more bombastic with even more ways to pass the time. Soon, I believe, to visit the crusaders at all, no interesting places, but out on the sea, the further away from the mainland, the better.
Nevertheless, they refer to themselves as “crusaders of passion”. What fascinates you about this kind of travel?
The advantage is that I can in the shortest amount of time, an incredible number of stories to know that I would encounter on the mainland never. The disadvantage is that I need to make cruises. The is also exhausting. I underestimated you, for example, the task as a sub-holder total. I thought three readings in two weeks, I can loose. But a reading on the ship is not to be compared with a reading on the mainland. On Board your listeners stay with you all the time, for Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
How do you feel when you come to a multi-week cruise back to Berlin?
It feels like I come from a small world into a large. On the mainland, everything is different, you can run for longer showers and longer distances than on a ship. I don’t would like to miss. But a couple of the cross, I would like to make trips.
How do you imagine the cruise of the future?
I hope that the ecological footprint is smaller that the ships can travel only with solar energy. I imagine, as the people grow in the ocean beds and own vegetables. I believe that on these small Islands, the cruise ships, tried many things it could be, something that appeals to perhaps eventually, once a larger part of the Society. What we have not done it on the mainland, we can try the ships again.
The conversation Paula Rösler.
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Love, Action, disasters – cruises in the FilmTitanic (1997)
James Cameron’s masterpiece is the demise of the world-famous Titanic certainly the first Film that comes to mind when the topic of cruises on the canvas – even if the luxury ship technically a ship of the line was. Tells not only the dramatic end of the luxury steamer, but also the love story of Rose and Jack. Millions of spectators melted away.
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Love, Action, disasters – cruises in the FilmThe Dream Ship
Not a movie but a series with cult status in Germany. Already since 1981, stands out “The dream ship” in the ZDF regularly in the lake and takes passengers as well as spectators to the most beautiful spot of the earth. The Crew usually has to prove that it holds for every tricky Situation a solution ready. The secret of your success lies in the mixture of tension, Heartbreak and Humor.
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Love, Action, disasters – cruises in the FilmTurned into the Poseidon adventure (1972)
Shortly before their scrapping of the Poseidon power for the last Time on the way from New York to Athens. The guests in celebrating the new year, when the ship of a giant and is captured wave and capsizes. Kiel at the top, it finally drives in the Mediterranean – a battle for Survival begins. Ronald Neames Opus was several times nominated for the Oscar and won in the category of “special effects”.
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Love, Action, disasters – cruises in the FilmBitter Moon (1992)
Roman Polanski’s strip is from a disastrous Liaison of two couples during a cruise with Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas) married to Nigel (Hugh Grant) feels of Oscar (Peter Coyote) French wife Mimi (Emmanuelle Seigner). As Mimi spends the night with Fiona, it comes to a Showdown. A thrilling psychological drama around Sex, Power and revenge.
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Love, Action, disasters – cruises in the FilmCity Hunter (1993)
Far more light-hearted in the action film “City Hunter” by Wong Jing. Reared according to the pattern of the “die hard” – as a spoof – off of Jackie Chan in the usual manner, with martial arts and Slapstick scenes villains on a luxury steamer. The Situation between his assistant Kaorie (Joey Wong, here in the picture) and on the other hand is more complicated …
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Love, Action, disasters – cruises in the FilmSpeed 2 – Cruise Control
From the Bus in the first Speed movie (1994) is Speed 2 on the cruise ship. But here, too, everything comes for Annie (Sandra Bullock), who wanted nothing to make it as a romantic trip with her boyfriend, A vengeful inventor brings the ship under his control, and it is on a oil Tanker. Also Jan de Bont, second Speed Film is full of Action and daring Stunts.
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Love, Action, disasters – cruises in the FilmFilm Socialisme (2010)
Aerobics session by the Pool, hang Around on slot machines, crowds in the self-service zones in the on-Board restaurant. In the first part of his essayistic film experiment by Jean-Luc Godard paints a bleak picture of the cruise romance. His key question is: “Quo vadis Europe”? The ideas and image splitter of the documentary-political game movie ask the viewers a lot.
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Love, Action, disasters – cruises in the FilmDream Boat (2017)
Once a year, the “Dream Boat” in the lake – it stings a cruise for Gay men. Director Tristan Ferland Milewski has accompanied for his eponymous documentary, five men from Poland, Palestine, India, France, and Austria on your trip. In the thick athletic body and Parties you are looking for the great love for freedom and a fulfilled future. Must see!