<h1>Darrel Manson</h1>

Darrel Manson

Posts by Darrel Manson:

Disobedience – Community or Individual?

Religious communities can be nurturing and fulfilling, providing people with spiritual meaning and a sense of belonging. But those same communities may also be stifling and destructive of individual freedom and self-esteem. Disobedience, set within an Orthodox Jewish...

Solo: A Star Wars Story – Do We Need This?

Solo: A Star Wars Story – Do We Need This?

One of the things I liked about the original Star Wars (now Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope) is that we come into a story in the middle, yet it captivated audiences. That?s one of the reasons I wasn?t fond of the prequel trilogy. I never believed the backstory was...

Tully – A Bit of Help to Find Happiness

Tully – A Bit of Help to Find Happiness

When writer Diablo Cody and director Jason Reitman collaborate (as they did earlier in Juno and Young Adult), the result is always an interesting bit of social philosophy set within the institution of family. Tully is their latest work, with a special emphasis on the...

The Escape – Wife and Mother Want Out

The Escape – Wife and Mother Want Out

When a woman abandons her family, how are we to understand her? In Dominic Savage?s The Escape, we may be tempted to be judgmental. We may ask if being unhappy is enough of a reason in itself to destroy her family. We may look down at her?or perhaps we may ponder what...

Day 7 (the finale) at NBFF

Day 7 (the finale) at NBFF

As the Newport Beach Film Festival comes to a close, I want to express my appreciation to the festival for allowing me to take part in so much over the last week. I also want to thank the staff and especially the volunteers for all the work they put in to make the...

Day 6 at NBFF

Day 6 at NBFF

Why should people go to film festivals? Because it may be the only chance they get to see films like Meerkat Moonship. This South African film by Hanneke Schutte features wonderful cinematography and a story of overcoming fear to be able to embrace life. Young...