Wednesday 1 October 2014

Dragons & Tigers Blues: Wednesday, October 1st!

War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children. -Jimmy Carter, 39th US President, Nobel laureate (b. 1924) 

Horse Money

"Horse Money, the first new "fiction" feature from Pedro Costa in almost a decade, again begins with the familiar figure of Ventura, descending slowly down a dark staircase, into what we will discover might be an asylum, where he will be haunted by the ghosts of his past for most of Costa’s extremely unclassifiable masterpiece. Ventura’s journey into what Costa has called "a Baudelairean night" transpires outside the realm of rationality, framed in expressionist angles, as darkly lit as Caravaggio, and, in no uncertain terms, resists a neat summary. Is this a film that takes place as much in the head of Ventura as it does in Costa’s?

The anguish is up there on the screen, in every shot, every tremulous gesture of Ventura’s, trudging along in his concentration-camp-like pyjamas. His mental landscape receives a tangible form of resistance in the film’s aesthetics: like Jean-Marie Straub, Costa adheres to the philosophical impossibility of matching one shot to the next. Although the struggles of Cape Verdean immigrant experience remain on the level of the text, in stories provided by Ventura and newcomer Vitalina, formally we’ve ventured into another dimension, one of indeterminate space and time. Horse Money was an attempt to exorcise the demons from Ventura’s past, and there is a monumental sense of finality to this troubled work—but does a release necessarily equate with an exorcism? Where do we go from here?"

The Sun, the Moon and the Hurricane

"When Rain (William Tjokro) looks back as a 32-year-old, he reflects that it all started the day the enigmatic Kris (Natalius Chendana, a star is born) protected him from bullies in high school. Kris went on to demand Rain’s friendship, insisting on sleepovers and telling him to ditch his other friends, despite himself pursuing nights out with a succession of casual girlfriends. Rain, who’s coming to terms with being gay, can’t understand at all, and he’s devastated when Kris abruptly disappears from his life. But he gets over it, and has a formative sexual experience on a visit to Bangkok. Several years later he gets a surprising invitation to visit Kris, now married and living in Bali. But what does Kris really want?

Andri Cung’s debut feature is essentially about the ways we all learn from experience… and the ways we try to avoid getting trapped in recurring mistakes. It flirts with schmaltz in a few voice-overs and with melodramatic excess in its closing scenes, but is for the most part acutely observed, exceptionally well-acted and ardently sincere. It sustains its three-act structure with aplomb and looks and sounds great. It’s also sexy, seductive and emotionally very, very intense." — Tony Rayns

Corbo
"Montréal, July 14, 1966. There’s a fatal explosion at the Dominion Textile factory located in the working-class Saint-Henri neighbourhood. Director Mathieu Denis, in his first feature as a solo director, brings us this riveting retelling of one of the most dynamic and pivotal moments in Québec and Canadian history.

Jean Corbo, an idealistic 16-year-old of Québécois and Italian descent, is conflicted. While deeply concerned with the future and politics of his province, he’s also marginalized and mistrusted as a child of immigrants who will never be "pure laine." His life changes abruptly when he befriends two far-left political activists and joins the FLQ (Liberation Front of Québec), a subversive movement determined to spark a socialist revolution. Young Corbo thus begins an inextricable march towards his destiny, a journey that will lead him to the Dominion Textile factory and a place in Canadian history. This is a very rare film that shows us an underground movement from the inside, and, more importantly, gives us a new perspective on our country."




Hi Digitale and Fingare! Trust all goes well in the Independent Republic of Portland! Sorry I've not been in touch sooner but have been very busy since last week as my VIFF shifts started on Thursday, September 25th. Not sure what your plans are for late October but am planning a trip to California then. My last shift at the VWF ends on Sunday, October 26th, so I'm heading south next day, Monday, 27th, with Whirlygig and Glasgow, sans Mme Coriandre, as she is saving her pennies for our planned trip to Inja in 2015. At any rate, am wondering if you'd be amenable to an overnight stay that evening. If not convenient, don't worry as we can always blast further south. Just let me know what you think and we can plan accordingly. 
 
On the home front, the social merry-go-round hasn't stopped spinning for some time. Gayle and Derek, house exchange people from Cornwall, August, 2013, have been here since September 10th, staying at The Annexe. They leave tomorrow and then The Brisbanites, Claire and Greg, (Along with Flamin'/Sarge, we stayed with them in 2012), arrive on Monday, for a week. Same day friends from France, (Rosemary/Andre), arrive but they are staying with other friends, both in Vancouver and on Saltspring Island. Again, we four stayed with them in 2013. Another Ozzite, Stefano, lands day after. His wife, Kathleen, (classmate of Cora Lee's in Library School), has been here for a few days already, visiting family. Literally haven't had time to figure out when we can see everyone!
 
Very pleased to report that Sarge is doing extremely well. He was planning to come wine-tasting but a close friend from Newfoundland will be in town over course of most of trip so he has had to bow out. However, just shows how well he is doing. He has medical clearance, as well, for two weeks in Hawaii, with the Millionaires, in early November! Another hardship posting! Fondestos from Cora Lee to you both. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pics: Dinner at Edibles, on GI, with Gayle and Derek; silos; Book Club with Whirlygig; The Sisterhood!

P, off to Seattle this morning. My friend Susan and I share the same birthday -- year and day. I am there until Sunday. Saturday is their 30th anniversary.

If I stay over I will stay with Jane. Thank you again for your generous hospitality. Carlos is trying to arrange squash and I need to fill the truck with stuff... I better not commit to bridge -- as appealing as that sounds. And yes, of course I would like to introduce Jane to you and C. I look forward to that occasion. Fond regards to you both, G P, had some back and forth with Kurt and am left feeling really annoyed with him. I will fill you in on detail when I get a minute. Just running to the ferry. W


Congratulations and Felicitations to Susannah and Whirlygig, both, on the very happy and special occasion of their shared birthdays! For they are Jolly Good Fellows! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Cheers, Cora Lee and Patrizzio!!! 

Thank you for the card. Susan & I had a good laugh. I told her your roots were in New Hampshire so it looks like that trip is now on our riding itinerary. A short dipsy doodle from California...W


For anyone interested in seeing James Ellroy at the Vancouver's Writer's Fest, tickets are still available!!! Wed Oct 22 @ 830p on Granville Island (Waterfront Theatre) VL
 
P, had some back and forth with Kurt and am left feeling really annoyed with him. I will fill you in on detail when I get a minute. Just running to the ferry. W 





 

No comments:

Post a Comment