Friday, September 21, 2012

Two Years!

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of Bonjour Tristesse!

Just like that, another year has come and gone, and it's been an interesting one. At times it's been difficult juggling all my various interests and responsibilities while still maintaining the blog, and for awhile I had to take a break from it; but don't worry, my love for cinema is as strong as ever, and I plan to keep doing my part in bringing attention to films nobody's heard of for as long as I can.

Looking at my stats as I write this, I'm up to over 650 posts, the vast majority of them being reviews. Most amazingly there have been over 530,000 pageviews from 308,000 unique visitors, and in the last year there have been visits from 190 different countries. That represents almost the entire world, save for North Korea, plus a small handful of countries in Central Africa. I never expected my little niche to have this kind of reach or popularity when starting out, so its a bit staggering to see.


Big shout outs go out to my most frequent and loyal commenters. Some of whom have been around since almost the beginning, and some who I've sadly not seen or heard from in a long time:

and also to those who visit and send traffic my way but prefer to lurk on the sidelines:

and a few other important blogs/bloggers who provide endless amounts of awesomeness, inspiration, entertainment, and valuable insight:

and to everyone else I forgot, including the hundreds who stop by daily for whatever reason. Thank you all!

It's been a great adventure so far, I've seen and learned so much, and made a lot of cool friends from all over. Hopefully more of these great things are in store for the coming year.


Cheers!
 

79 comments:

Diana said...

2 years and so many accomplishments- congratulations for everything BT, you deserve it! Your blog is one of the best, most informative and interesting ones I have ever read! Keep up the good work!

Jessica said...

I don't know anyone who makes more to highlight the great movies that otherwise would pass unnoticed than you do. You are a filmspotter in its best sense. Thank you for bringing the world of movies to all of us! And congratulations!

Stevee said...

Congratulations! 2 years is a great achievement! As Jessica said, you do highlight so many films that I would have never heard of had it not been for you. So well done :)

365 moviesandsongs365 said...

2 years, feels like you've always been there! (I've been at it for 2½ years you see) Happy Anniversary, and thanks for all the reviews and festival coverage.

David Zou said...

Congrats,BT.The whole cinema world should thank you,you site is the most unique blog I've ever read.

stevens1 said...

Well done BT. It's a hard slog sometimes I know but worth it in the end!

The Reel Foto said...

Hey man, congrats! I've been visiting your blog regularly, but ever since you changed the comments system (twice I believe), I just got tired of creating a new account and logging in.


Anyway, here's to two more years of awesome movie recommendations!!! :D

Will said...

Oh, right. I forgot out blogoversaries are a day apart. Congratulations for the success of your blog. The third year's gonna be more awesome, that we can promise.

Dr Blood said...

Congratulations. Time flies by when you start blogging. doesn't it? Thanks you for providing information about some often overlooked foreign movies which I then have to spend months trying to track down. :)

Maria Sofia said...

So, I haven't posted here (or anywhere else where Disqus is used) because the comment thread didn't load. Now I realise the problem is Chrome, sorry about that.


Anyway, congratulations! You keep this site neat, you're constant, reliable, and always professional. There's some real quality here, and your dedication to foreign cinema sets BT apart, and it's educational - if not for your reviews I wouldn't have seen many great independent films, so thank you. I'm glad to know you're reaching so many people, and hope BT keeps growing. Have a swell third year of blogging!

Joel Burman said...

Congrats for two awesome years so far! Amazing stuff indeed!

Michaël Parent said...

Congrats!! Thanks for the link this is very much appreciated! I hope you'll keep on blogging for thousands of other posts! I love your niche and you bring light on movies that I wouldn't have heard of have read about. Now Bonjour Tristesse is essential in my morning routine!

Murtaza Ali said...

Congratulations mate! Your ability to be true to your aspirations has made you our primary source of inspiration. I salute your perseverance and assiduity. Thanks for being a role model for me as well as countless other bloggers!!! Just keep the juggernaut rolling :-)

Jack Deth said...

Congratulations, Bonjour!

Thank you for expanding my pallet with films foreign, domestic and just plain good!

Looking forward toward many more!

SDG said...

Great! Congratulations on 2 Awesome Years, Bonjour. It's great to see you highlighting films that we generally don't see anywhere else. Keep it up, Bonjour !!

pturner1010 said...

Happy birthday and 1000 congratulations! Keep up the good work!

Ricardo D. R. Watson said...

Happy Birthday from Buenos Aires, Argentina!

Storyteller Teller said...

Congratulations! and Many More!!!

d_4 said...

Congratulations! You're truly an inspiration, I hope to juggle my life around and manage myself into something as professional as what you've got eventually.

To many more!

NeverTooEarlyMP said...

Congratulations Bonjour! You really do provide an important service here and I am always amazed that you are able to find so many of these films! Happy Anniversary!

Steven Flores said...

Congrats on 2 years!!!

Lisa Thatcher said...

Huge congrats BT! Your site is one of the few on my morning routine. Your email never goes unopened by me. And even the grey lady sometimes goes unopened by me!
Your site is superb, your warmth and hospitality second to none! You have a winning formula here and I wish you many many many more happy years.

Mavi said...

No!!! Thankyou!!! Pleasure discovering some gems I hadn't heard off...

Bonjour Tristesse said...

You are one of the bloggers I respect the most, so your words mean a lot. Thank you Jessica!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thank you Stevee! It actually is a big achievement for me sticking with something for this long.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Chris, seems like yesterday I discovered your blog and your great mix of music and films.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks David. You too provide a unique perspective in the blogging world. I don't know of any other Chinese, or even any other Asian film blogs that are actually based over there and also write in English.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Steven. It's comments like these that make it worth it.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I actually only changed it once. Disqus recently did an overhaul of their system, and your old account should still work with it. Not sure what's up with that.

Anyhow, thanks for sticking around, and for highlighting the work of cool photographers!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

That's cool. We are almost twins :) Here's to another great year!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Dr Blood. I hope the recommendations have been mostly good ones.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

That's odd, I'm using Chrome to reply right now. Maybe it's one of the extensions you are using? Anyhow, thanks for letting me know about that. I'll see if there is some kind of compatibility problem. And also thank you for your kind words!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Joel! Hopefully before too long I'll get to review a Joel Burman Production on here.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Michaël! You are a part of my daily rounds too, and I hope we both make it that long.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks JD, and thanks for all your always vivid posts and comments. Maybe I'll have to try recruiting you for a couple guest spots from time to time.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thank you SDG! You do an excellent job with the foreign classics yourself.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Pete!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Ricardo!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Storyteller! Your awards and festival coverage is by far the best around, and I aspire to one day be able to provide the same level of dedicated coverage.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks D4, especially for your remarkably consistent visits and comments. You've come a long way too since the early days, as far as quality of posts and presentation. Keep bringing the tunes, and I'll keep bringing the flicks.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks, and good to see you back in action NTE! Was getting worried there.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thank you Steven! Your pace and consistency always amazes me.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thank you Lisa, despite what I've heard about the quality of Aussie newspapers that is a huge compliment. :)

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Mavi, you guys do a great job over there too, and I like it even better now that I finally discovered the button to change the theme from dark to light.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thank you very much Diana!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Murtaza, that's some strong praise. I will try my best to live up to that.

Martin Naylor said...

Congratulations BT on a great milestone, and hopefully many more to come!

A Hero Never Dies said...

Congratulations BT on a great milestone, and hopefully many more to come!

Lisa Thatcher said...

Ha! I don't even read Aust newspapers ( I can hear about football and female wardrobe malfunctions on the net). I was talking about the NYT - and it's still true! :)

evl keith said...

Congratulations! I know how much hard work it is and how it's sometimes a challenge to keep it going so well done.

365 moviesandsongs365 said...

I can only comment on your site using Google Chrome. I've experienced Internet Explorer doesn't load Disqus. Same deal for me at Pete's site I Love That Film(he also uses Disqus)

Max Covill said...

Thanks for the inclusion and congrats on 2 wonderful years. I thought this website had been around for a lot longer. You do a fantastic job here. Here's to many more.

AJaye2009 said...

And let's not forget A.Jaye from Thrill Fiction who's always a bridesmaid.

filmnohito said...

Two years! Congratulations! You should get a medal for Services to Cinema or something along those lines only much more finely worded. Your blog is still one of the most interesting and stylish!


Thanks for the shout out and thanks for commenting on my blog. I always appreciate the comments and it's great exchanging ideas because you are a true cinephile and I like to read your views on Japanese cinema!

Mettel Ray said...

Congrats! Two years is an important threshold, I remember my blogging totally expanded after the second year. I'm coming into my third now and it has been a wild ride - definitely for everybody so good luck with the blogging future as well!

PS: Wow, you can list so many blogs and stuff, magic. I keep forgetting to check my blogroll now as I'm back in school. Bad, blogger, bad! Anyways, congrats again!!

Cherokee said...

Aw thank you for including me in your blog-friends, BT!


And may the many years of blogging carry on for you!

MRanthrope said...

niiiiiiiiiiiiice, Congrats again. 2 years is serious now as most people flake out of blogging after a few months. Always enjoy your write ups and tips for new films.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Martin!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Haha. In that case, thank you again. I'll try to not let it get to my head.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thank you AHND!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks evl keith, you do a great job finding the obscurities, and I'm glad to count you among my readers.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Max. For dropping by and for the mention on your site!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Apologies, but thanks for stopping by AJaye.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Jason. You provide an excellent service over there as well. There are tons of Japanese movie blogs but you are my favorite one.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Mettel Ray! Here's to a great third year!

You know, I used to try to discover and follow at least 5 new blogs every month, but lately I barely have the time to even keep up with the existing ones in my reader.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Cherokee, and no worries, I always love reading your rants.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks MRanthrope. It's true only the serious ones make it this far. Glad you are one of them.

Jack Deth said...

Hi, Bonjour:

I'm always up for a challenge.

Let me know what you think.

AJaye2009 said...

Never mind me; you know I was joking, right?

ruth said...

Congrats Bonjour!! Sorry I haven't been around often but I'll come and visit more often :)

The Warning Sign said...

A bit late dropping by, but congrats on hitting the two year mark!

Alex Withrow said...

HUGE cheers to you and your site! Happy two years, keep on going!

FrontRoomCinema said...

How the feck did I miss this??????


Happy 2nd Anniversary matey

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Ruth!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

and a bit late in reply... thank you!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks Alex! I appreciate it.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

No worries. Thanks for your continued support Scott!

AIDY said...

Amazing! Can't believe I missed this as well! Buried in books! Thank you so much for the mention. You truly have a wonderful and informative site. I am truly inspired by you. Thank you for your awesome.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Thanks AIDY, better late than never. Always glad when you drop by!

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