Rosie

...Architectural Forum Bilbao. The death of architecture?

Black Light, the new novel from the Swiss author Lorenz Meran.

Welcome to Culture Time.

Black Light, the sixth novel by 39-year-old author Lorenz Meran

tells the story of 50-year-old physicist Georg Anders

trying to rationally come to terms with his life partner's sudden death.

Like most of Meran's novels it is set in his adopted home, Berlin.

He first came from Switzerland to the German metropolis at 19 and never left.

As he himself says, Berlin enabled him to become a writer.

Black Light, the title of his new novel, works on two levels

It refers to the protagonist's research area,

as a wave-particle physicist.

It also describes the UV light in the gay darkrooms

which the protagonist frequents ever more as the story develops.

George Anders, 50, physicist, has a mid-life crisis

following his partner's suicide.

He frequents Berlin's gay subculture

and indulges in sexual excesses.

It is the attempt of a man to step outside himself

hoping to escape pain.

In this universe, the only love present is in the tenderness

with which Meran observes his characters on their descent into hell.

The author himself says of love,

Love is nothing more than a deceptive Fata Morgana, but...

it spurs us on, it empowers us to our boldest creative achievements.

Hello.

It's good you're here.

What's wrong with her face? - Partial paralysis.

The doctor says it all hangs on what sort of night she has.

Why have they torn up all the garden?

The people upstairs moved out.

Who found her?

The postman. He called for an ambulance too.

So? How's the book going?

Too early to say.

I'm just about to do the book-signing tour.

Don't you know when it's first published?

Have you read it? - No, I haven't had time.

Just a few reviews.

There were some good ones. - Yes.

And otherwise? What about Philip? - What?

The music teacher. - Oh, right. That's long since over.

We should think about what to do about Mum.

Someone has to look after her. - Someone?

I've got the tour, I told you. - And I've got a course.

Does that last for weeks? - Yes, social management.

It's important to me.

Plus I've got problems with Alex.

Wow, what's new?

It was the same last year and you wanted to separate.

You couldn't care less?

Why do you say that?

Come on, let's not fight. - I'm not fighting.

We don't even know if she'll make it.

Hello, Mum.

Hello.

Hello, Mum.

Did you come specially?

Of course.

So? How are you?

The doctor said I was lucky, it was just a minor stroke.

I look terrible. - No you don't, Mum.

It will all be fine.

Did you fed the cat? - Yes, we did.

Are you going to put them in water? - Right.

Sit yourself down.

Excuse me, where can I find a vase?

On the shelf. - Thank you very much.

Did you have to pay a lot extra for the room?

It's fine.

How long can you stay?

Just a couple of days.

But the doctor said you're over the worst.

Only the good die young.

Put them by the window, they'll get more light.

When can I go home, did the doctor say?

It will be a while. You need at least three weeks in rehab, he said.

But the cat? - Don't worry.

Chantal will see to it. She sends her love.

Thank you.

100 YEARS OF RÜTIHALDL SAWMILL St GALLEN OPEN DAY

Hey, long time, no see. - Hello there.

Hello, Silvan.

It's up here.

Hello. - Hello.

Hello. - Hi.

Good journey? - Yes, not bad.

Bit of backache.

Nice. - What is?

The flat.

Seen it all already? - No.

Have you eaten? - No.

There's not enough meat. We weren't expecting you.

How come? - She only just told us.

She called me three days ago. - Ask her. I'll get the salad.

What are you doing in the dark?

They're barbecuing.

Exactly.

Aren't you hungry?

It's too cold. That food doesn't agree with me.

She knows that. - Oh, Mum.

Hello, Mum, hello.

Are we leaving? - What? No?

I've just got here. I'm hung Ry.

Oh.

Mum.

You didn't say I was coming. - I did.

Not til I today.

They treat me like a child. She's given up smoking.

Who? Sophie? - Yes, she's unbearable.

And the sawmill drives you nuts.

What sawmill? - Over there.

They're on a break now.

Can you manage? Wait.

Take the suitcase.

Why? You don't need it now. - Yes, I do.

No, let's join them first.

And then we'll go. Then I'll take it.

No, Mum, leave it there.

Leave it. I'll take it. Come on, let's go.

Then take it. - Yes, I... Oh, come here, Mum.

Can you manage? - My leg isn't so great.

Don't you need this?

No, I do not. She always wants me to use it.

I'm not Ga-Ga.

Wait.

Can you manage? - Yes, yes.

I thought the carer started on Monday.

Thursday.

That's six days away. You said two or three.

Three or six. If you have to leave sooner, fine.

Who'll help you with your stockings? And the housework?

Chantal.

I can do the rest myself. I'm all right again.

As you'll see.

Silvan, grub's up.

In a minute. - No, now. Come and sit down.

Is that all? - You've had your two glasses already.

Don't you dare.

Thanks for the film. It's cool.

So, do you like the flat? - Yes.

It's nice. What I've seen of it.

If it weren't for the sawmill. That's all you hear all day.

You said it's noisy at yours.

You paid far too much.

You'll never get that for it. - We're not selling.

We'll grow old here.

What's wrong with him? - You just can't drop it.

There you are.

He only said good morning and good night to me the whole day.

It's not normal. - He's the quiet type.

Boring, too. Doesn't smoke, doesn't drink.

Goes down into the cellar to laugh.

It's true.

If she hadn't been pregnant she'd not be with him.

A cop.

Couldn't he have pulled out before the last stop?

What? Before the last stop?

Don't you know what I mean? 'Pull out', 'take precautions'.

He deliberately landed her with the kid.

Now she's stuck there with the sawmill.

You're dreadful, Mum.

It's all the same If I laugh or sing

I have a heart like a bird And fall in love so easily

Do you have to crawl along? - Am I driving, or are you?

All graveled over.

They destroyed the garden for this.

Delicious. You're still a good cook

Thanks.

But still on your own.

Who says I'm on my own?

Have you got a boyfriend?

Not like you think.

Nothing steady.

Oh, son, all these affairs. They're no good.

You're still reasonably presentable now.

But when you're 50, and no one looks at you?

It wasn't always easy with Dad. But I was happy to have him.

Sure.

You think I'd have been better off without him but it's hard to say.

I always said I'd find no one better. - Nonsense.

He was a loser. - That's not true.

He got out of everything.

He left you to Run the show. - Yes...

But when it came to it, he stood by me.

Hello.

Hello, Gregor. Sorry.

Hang on a sec.

No.

In six days.

I thought I'd be back by Monday.

I can't get away any sooner.

It doesn't suit me either.

You don't have to tell me how the book's doing.

What? I can't do anything about it.

Who was that?

My agent.

Problems? - No.

That's your third glass.

It's okay. I was allowed it in rehab.