For this International Review Edition Matthew Sweet is joined by Moscow based broadcaster and critic Konstantin Eggert, Colombian born philosopher and law lecturer Oscar Guardiola-Rivera, Iranian academic Narguess Farzad, and Lesley Lokko, a novelist who shares her time between Ghana, South Africa and Scotland. They discuss a new book by Alonso Cueto, the Blue Hour which deals with the legacy of the war with the Shining Path and a Russian film Silent Souls, about two men trying to keep alive the ancient traditions of their people. They also debate whether an ageing population is perceived as a gift or a burden in other parts of the world and discuss arts and cultural events where they are.