Seven blunders of the world that lead to violence: wealth without work,
pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce
without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice,
politics without principle. -Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
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| New Boobs |
We watch Polak’s intimate video journals and conversations with family and friends as she considers her options. Her probability of developing ovarian cancer by the time she turns 40 is 40-60% and her probability of breast cancer is 60-80%. Is preventative removal the answer? What if it’s all for naught and cancer never appears? Does such surgery diminish or alter one’s femininity? Such dilemmas have been a hot topic lately, with Angelina Jolie facing much scrutiny after choosing a double mastectomy to avoid the cancer that killed her mother. Polak’s film captures the myriad quandaries of this seemingly impossible decision.
After winning the FIPRESCI Prize at Berlin in 2012 for her arresting debut Hemel, Polack was named one of Variety’s “Ten European Directors to Watch.” In New Boobs, you can’t take your eyes off her as she embarks on a reflective and emotional quest and plans for a future in which regular trips to the hospital could become commonplace."
This really was an unflinching look at a complex, complex issue. The fact that that the filmmaker is both director and subject just added to the unbelievable intensity of the emotional/medical journey. Bringing even more to an already charged situation, her father talks about his wife, Rina, Sacha's mother, who died when she was eleven months old. Sacha, of course, has no memories of her but we see home movies of Rina with her daughter before breast cancer claimed her life. The talks between father and daughter, about the mother's illness and now the uncertain, potentially horrible fate awaiting Sacha, are so layered with cruel ironies, so terribly poignant that one can only shake one's head at the seeming impossibility and unfairness of it all. Nevertheless, a fairy tale ending, after many, many tests and doubts along the way. Sacha's story is not over yet but her future looks immeasurably more promising, as a result of her courageous decision, than the one her mother and aunt succumbed to. Don't miss this if you ever have a chance to see it!
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The Lion's Mouth Opens |
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| Rekorder |
Third film, Rekorder: "Maven (Ronnie Quizon), once a professional cinematographer in the film industry, is now a scuzzy videographer who compulsively records everything from the birth of his daughter to crime on the streets. His main income comes from an obsolete camcorder which he uses to shoot new releases off the cinema screen, but pirate DVDs are a dying trade, too, now that everyone streams or downloads. One night he shoots a murder, and the ruinous consequences turn his life upside-down.
This riveting feature debut from Mikhail Red (son of Raymond) plays like a dark urban thriller but in truth its plot mechanics are a pretext for other concerns. At one level, it’s a panorama of Manila lowlife, a descendant of the great films about haves and have-nots made by such directors as Lino Brocka and Ishmael Bernal in the 1980s. At another level, though, it picks up on precedents like Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom and Antonioni’s Blow Up by focusing on an alienated character who stands apart from society and just looks. In other words, Maven’s plight is a metaphor for a kind of urban dislocation which may or may not be endemic in a city like Manila. As metaphors go, it’s a doozy, sharpened by the immediacy of Red’s account of life on the city’s night streets."
— Tony Rayns
The Director, Mikail Red, was at the screening and he answered questions after the showing. An extremely articulate young man, it was wonderful to hear him talk about making the film and what he intended. I see from a VIFF release, just in, that he and Axelle Ropert, (Miss and the Doctors), have been selected to receive Best New Director Award. This for his film, shot on a budget of $30,000 US, if you can believe it! He received a $10, 000 US grant from the Cinemalaya Foundation, and had to raise rest from friends and family. Shooting/production had to stop half way through filming schedule until more funds were raised!
Film tackles numerous critical issues but one, in particular, the double-edged sword of social media/digital technology, its use and effect on us, for both good and bad, is neatly woven into the fabric of this universal story, though set unflinchingly in the gritty mean streets of Manilla. Another must see, at least as far as I'm concerened!
Hello and Goodbye, Cornwall! We waited for you to come back the second time as we found €3,000 under the Murphy bed mattress in The Annexe. I guess we'll spend it on hootch! Makes us even for the Saintsbury's card!!!
Since I'd expected to drive you to the airport I thought that I'd not have time for a ride. Once that changed, I suited up and took off for UBC. Can feel the change in the weather but still lovely riding conditions. Had to be back close to 6:00 pm as we were hoping to go the Arts Club to see Educating Rita but Cora Lee was unable to change tickets from Monday evening. We were given tickets by friends, Dawn/Gerry, and thus Coriandre's name was not on account. Anyway, we are looking for someone to use tickets as our friends, Claire/Greg, arrive that day, from Brisbane, at 5:00 pm. By the time we have them home it could be close to 7:00 pm and show starts at 7:30 pm. Stats for ride:
http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/604155935#.VC4B6o5gGKc.email
Place already seems rather quiet without you next door. (Will miss Krissy's cooking more than anything, however!!!) Thanks for the simply lovely bouquet and delightful card, not to forget the astounding meal at Edibles, of course! I'll have to be extra careful not to end up in False Creek on my way back from spending some of those Euros at Legacy Liquor Store in Olympic Village! Wonderful visit, as always, as always, too, too short! Trust your flight and bus ride back to Truro go as pleasantly as possible. Fondestos from Cora Lee to you both. Cheers, Patrizzio! Pics: Your neighbours on GI send their regards!
Hi handsome I've never met a stranger and I'm looking for someone who is interested in getting to know the real me. I have never been married, no children. I am a workaholic!
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| Olga the Workaholic! |
Somebody wants me!!!! We hope you and Olga will be very happy in Russia together! Xoxo No no I think Olga might want to come here!!! Oh goodie, then we'll have two Mommies!! Goody indeed something tells me if Olga comes to town we may be homeless , well me and she will take D for all the scotch and bikes she can get her hands on!!!
Hello sweet I have a passion for exploring new places and meeting new people. I'm a very easygoing, happy person and an excellent listener. Someone that is Christian, funny, honest, loyal, dependable, outgoing, confident, family oriented, a hard-worker. I'm looking for someone that is strong and goal-oriented.I want a guy that knows what they want out of life and in a relationship. E-mail if you want to get to know me better. Olga
Hi Goils! You'll be pleased to note that my relationship with Olga is flowering, at light speed! She is a great corespondent but I can hardly wait for her to arrive at YVR. Good news is that she has a younger brother, Ivan, who needs to get out of Russia for awhile as things are a bit hot with some mafia bosses he seems to have stolen a great amount of money from. He looks like Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises and he's quite keen to get to know Chloë as he is wondering if she might be able to launder his cash through Aunt Leah's. He wants to buy 15 tables at Trivia Night as a show of good faith! Mail Order Groom! Who coiuls ask for anything more? Must away as Olga starts to pout if I don't reply immediately. Cheers, Daddy No. 1/Patrizzio!
PS: I think she'll really like Heartwood as well since she is a good Christian girl as well as being a workaholic!Since she's a practising Mormon, she's quite in favour of polygamy. I'll leave it up to Ayn and Chloë to decide who will be Mommy No.1 and Mommy No.2! Great that we have the new Murphy bed in the spare room.
Yikes!! This thread needs to end. Gadzooks, just starting to get interesting!
Patrick, Thanks for the information. We got back from our three week trip to Europe on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the same time I came down with a horrible cold, which I am still in the midst of. Marilyn is gone for a week on a vacation with her sister to New England now. However, I am sure that we can put you up and drink. Is Whirlygig George Maddison? I don't know Glasgow. The movie from Iceland sounds interesting. It is a very unusual place. By the way, do you know that there is one horse for every five people in Iceland?
Due to your use of pseudonyms and other literary obfuscations, it is a little hard to follow your discussions in your letter. I am sure that, when you are here, you can elaborate on the activities you describe. Looking forward to your visit. Best wishes, Mike
Hello Michaelo and New England Goil! Terribly sorry to hear that you have come down with a nasty cold, just back from your European junket! Trust you enjoyed your trip there. Your hospitality knows no bounds but, under the circumstances, I think we should leave you to recuperate and Marilyn to decompress from both trips once back in Portland. If everything is fine with you both perhaps we might stay on way back, probably around the 5th or 6th of November. However, I would, of course, be in touch before then to see what works for you. Again, we certainly do not wish to impose so please don't change any of your plans in order to accommodate us.
With respect to Whirlygig, yes, his real name is George Maddison, younger brother to Carlos the Jackal, Charlie Maddison! Glasgow is Matt Garrey, from Glasgow, funnily enough! He and I played doubles together when I first started playing the game and he even came down to Portland for your Open, as it was then known. We stayed with Tricia and Gary when they lived in Laurelhurst, I believe, back in mid-'80's!
If convenient, we may stop by on Monday, October 27th, to pick up some hootch to have for the road but we can work out those details closer to the time. Again, not a big deal if you will not be around, for whatever reasons, appointments, grand-parenting, etc. Fondestos from Cora Lee. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pics: Mug shots, Glasgow with Sarge, on our deck, last year; Carlos the Jackal with Whirlygig, in Whistler, after GranFondo on September 6th.
hi patrick,you mentioned we may come back earlier.would we then be back by wed 5 th. matt
Hi Glasgow! With respect to the California junket, I hadn't imagined being back by Wednesday, November 5th, especially since Sarge is not going to be able to join us. At one time he was hoping to come along but now a close friend from Newfoundland is coming to town so he wants to be in Vancouver, as you might imagine.
Looking at rough timeline, I thought that the 7th, possibly the 8th, might be return date. Don't think we will be leaving Berkeley until Monday, November 3rd as Giorgio imagines he will stay in SF until then. That gives us a couple of nights in Calaveras before we head north past Reno and then central Oregon. To be back by the 5th really means steady driving and I'd rather not have to "blast" unless it really is imperative for you to be back by then. If so, exactly when on that date as that makes quite a difference as well. Anyway, let me know your thoughts or give me a call and we can talk about "adjustments" to itinerary. I plan to go riding tomorrow morning at 7:30 am and probably won't be back, weather permitting, until around noon. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Pics: Derek with Matt, friend who works with Krissy on food truck; Krissy with her Mom, Gayle. They had left a few minutes earlier and then had to return as Gayle forgot her coat!
great. nov 5 would be perfect for me;matt sorry pat.i see what you mean. coming back 7th or 8 th is fine. matt
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