February 6 - National Chopsticks Day

Happy National Chopsticks Day! Each year on February 6th, people all over the world celebrate the humble and ancient utensils. 

Around 1200 B.C., Chinese cooks began using chopsticks to prepare food. These tools were likely long enough to reach into hot cooking pots.  

Then about 400 B.C., when fuels for cooking became scarce, food was prepared in smaller pieces reducing the number of resources needed to cook it. At the same time, the need for sharp eating utensils faded, and shorter chopsticks entered the scene.

The Chinese term for chopsticks is kuai-tzu.

Once these handy eating tools found their way to the dinner table, the spread around the world. Portable and elegant in their design they also vary in style from region to region. 

Today they may be made from wood such as bamboo or aspen. Elaborately carved chopsticks may be carved from jade, ivory, or wood. Some chopsticks are ornately painted with miniature scenes. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Use chopsticks to eat your meals. Practice using chopsticks or teach someone how to use them. Share your favorite set of chopsticks or your favorite meal to eat with chopsticks. 

Visit your favorite restaurant where chopsticks are provided. Make sure you give them a shoutout as well!  

Of course, you should invite someone to celebrate with you, too! Maybe ask them to join you in a chopstick competition to see who is the most proficient using them. Be sure to use #NationalChopsticksDay to share on social media. 

HISTORY 

National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of this dinner time holiday. However, it seems to have been observed since at least 2012. 

#NationalChopsticksDay 

@nichecinema 

February 6 - Andrey Zvyagintsev

Happy 56th Birthday, Andrey Zvyagintsev! Born today in 1964 as Andrey Petrovich Zvyagintsev, this Russian screenwriter and film director's 2003 Russian drama film 'Vozvrashcheniye' ('The Return') won him a Golden Lion at the 60th Venice Film Festival. 

Following 'The Return', Zvyagintsev directed the 2007 Russian drama film 'Izgnanie' ('The Banishment') and the 2011 Russian drama/melodrama film 'Elena'. 

However, Zvyagintsev is best known for co-writing, producing and directing the 2014 Russian drama/crime film 'Leviafan' ('Leviathan'). 

The film follows hotheaded Russian car mechanic Kolya (Alexey Serebryakov), his second wife Lilya (Elena Lyadova) and his teenage son, Roma (Sergey Pokhodyaev). When corrupt Mayor Vadim (Roman Madyanov) tries to seize possession of Kolya's ancestral home, he fights back.  

  

Zvyagintsev has been active from 2000–present. 

  

#borntodirect 

@AndreyZvyagintsev 

@BBC 

February 6 - Jim Sheridan

Happy 71st Birthday, Jim Sheridan! Born today in 1949, this Irish playwright, screenwriter, film producer and film director is master story-teller, and an acclaimed film director of few films, but good films nevertheless. Sheridan was a prominent figure of the New Wave of Irish filmmaking in the 1990s. 

  

In the few years from 1989 to 1993, directed two critically acclaimed films set in Ireland. 

These included co-writing and directing the 1989 Irish biographical drama/comedy-drama film 'My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown' (also known simply as 'My Left Foot') and the 1993 biographical courtroom thriller/drama film 'In the Name of the Father'. Both features starred Daniel Day-Lewis. 

  

Between these features, Sheridan received thirteen Academy Award nominations. He has personally received six Academy Award nominations as well. 

  

Sheridan has been active from 1989–present. 

  

#borntodirect 

@tcm 

@BFI 

February 6 - François Truffaut

Happy Birthday, François Truffaut! Born today in 1932 as François Roland Truffaut, this French film critic, actor, screenwriter, producer and film director is widely regarded as one of the founders of the French New Wave. 

In a film career lasting over a quarter of a century, he remains an icon of the French film industry, having worked on over twenty-five films. 

  

Of these, Truffaut is best known for directing five features. 

During the late 1950s, Truffaut directed the 1959 French black and white drama/à clef film 'Les Quatre Cents Coups' ('The 400 Blows'), 

during the 1960s, he directed the French black and white crime drama/mystery film 'Tirez sur le pianiste' ('Shoot the Piano Player') and the 1962 French black and white drama/romance film 'Jules et Jim' ('Jules and Jim'). 

In the early 1970s, he directed the 1973 French drama/comedy-drama film 'La Nuit américaine' ('Day for Night').

During the late 1970s, Truffaut co-starred in Steven Spielberg's 1977 science fiction/drama film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'. He played French government scientist Claude Lacombe.    

At the beginning of the next decade, Truffaut directed the 1980 French historical drama/romance film 'Le Dernier Métro' ('The Last Metro').

Four years later, Truffaut passed from a brain tumor on October 21, 1984. He was 52. 

On February 6, 2012, a Google Doodle was created in observance of what would have been Truffaut's 80th birthday.  

  

Truffaut had been active from 1955–1984. 

  

#borntodirect 

@Criterion 

@tcm 

@BFI 

@mubi 

@SensesofCinema 

@FIAFNY
@GoogleDoodles