ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Shelley McVea

Stray: Noble Creatures Unleashed

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“Dogs keep watch over human beings, not to ensure that they do not lose their property, but rather that they do not get robbed of their integrity”. Themistius 352. 

Zeytin. Nazar. Kartal. These will be our guides for a tour of Istanbul. Elizabeth Lo, in her short 72 minute documentary lets the melting brown eyes of these three strays show us this magnificent city in a way that we could not have experienced it had we chosen more articulate chaperones. They also become a metaphor for the numerous human drifters that inhabit this thriving city. Each vignette is prefaced by wise words from an ancient philosopher. He was obviously an early observer of the ways of strays. 

Istanbul is one of the oldest, most populous, and beautiful cities in the world. The bridge between Europe and Asia, east and west, it attracts people from around the world. Zeytin, our chief guide, has seen both its famous buildings and its cruelest dives. Being a stray dog, she is at home wherever she travels. If we are used to North American strays – thin and mangy – we will find it hard to imagine that Zeytin is out in the world on her own. She is a healthy, weighty dog and looks like she just stepped out of Hollywood casting. One observer in passing calls her “the tan beauty”. Many Istanbul workers know her by name and are always happy to give her a pat and maybe some morsels of food. In fact, Zeytin and her friends seem to know where and when to arrive for daily handouts at many locations. Like needy street people, they are free, but also totally vulnerable. 

Luckily, laws in Istanbul have changed recently and citizens are not allowed to kill stray dogs. Officials cannot euthanize them. Instead, strays are tagged, spayed or neutered, and returned to their favourite places. It’s not perfect, but it is a start. 

These chaperones introduce us to street life in Istanbul. Zeytin and her friends roam day and night. They are not the only lonely inhabitants of this city. We are privy to solitary souls – human strays – some lamenting their lot in life; some living as nomads. Like the stray dogs, they are cold and hungry much of the time. Every day is another struggle to find food and shelter. Like the canine strays, they often meet concerned citizens that are able to help them in their daily wanderings. But most ignore them. 

A group of young refugee boys from Syria form a bond with one of Kartal’s puppies and despite having nothing, feel that they can take care of this little girl. Of course, they must steal her first. That goes off without a problem. They name her Sari, and they do care for her as a little member of their band of brothers. Their plucky dedication is touching. It is a reminder that kindness and attachment are not the prerogative of only the rich and housed. It is also a reminder that our cities – so vibrant and beautiful – often have a lonely underbelly that can easily be overlooked. 

In this short film, Elizabeth Lo reminds us of the beauty of a great city. Its most lowly inhabitants in their own way contribute to the vitality. If you are a dog lover, this is a film for you. If you are not a dog lover, prepare to have your mind changed. These noble creatures, with ingenuity and persistence in a hard life, will win you over. 

Stray is available on VOD on March 5th, 2021.

Minari: What is This Place?

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“What is this place?  Our new home.”

Set in rural America in the 1980’s, Minari tells the story of a young Korean couple forging a new life in a new place.  A new home.  Produced by American companies A24 and Plan B Entertainment, the film reflects award winning director and writer Isaac Chung’s childhood on a small farm in Arkansas. Minari invites us to accompany the film’s protagonists and their children as they move from urban California to a totally new landscape. The new life they encounter is sometimes unsettling, sometimes hilarious, and always bone-tiring. It paints a picture of the life of so many of our fellow travellers as they leave less than perfect situations for what they hope will be life changing situations.  

The journey from urban to rural is often a difficult transition. “What is this place” is a real question and provides the movie with a potent motif.  Will this be a place to provide a living and happiness?  Will it be a place of beauty and grace, or only a temporary stop to an even better living?  Will our children be at home and accepted here?  How will Grandma survive, newly arrived from Korea? Will the farm be close enough to the hospital if young David need surgery?  Jacob and Monica come to different conclusions on many of these questions and their divergent views put a strain on their tiny family.

The divide is not simply between rural and urban, however.  The jobs that were so taxing in the city (chicken sexing) follow them to the country.  The divide between traditional and new also colours their decisions and discussions.  Jacob and Monica had vowed in Korea that they would come to America “and save each other”.  But has this happened?  The gap between aspiration and reality seems only to widen as the movie progresses.  

There is usually a crisis point in most lives, and in most movies too. When this happens in Minari, loyalties must be selected and decisions made.  The choice of family or farm – running or walking – grandma staying or going -must finally be made from the heart.

This film would be simply a sweet and time honoured immigrant story if it were not for the bright humour as well as the genuineness of the script.  In the hands of such skilled actors the words come alive and stay with us.  Kudos too to the exquisite musical score.  At times haunting, at times disjionted, at times lilting; it too reflects the immigrants’ experience.  Minari is visually appealing as well. The countryside is filled with lush beauty.  It acts as a compelling character in the story.  And in the final analysis it provides the ground in which the non-native plant – the Minari – can thrive and grow and bring sustenance to all.

Minari is now available on VOD.

HeartWorn Highways: Back to Simpler Times

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Coming to you from 1976. This is a film that is guaranteed to warm your heart and get your toes tapping. Crimson Productions is re-releasing Heartworn Highways, a documentary from two generations ago that reminds us of how good outlaw music was and the role it played in our current country and western scene. This movie doesn’t have the polish of the later 2015 documentary The Wrecking Crew, but its down-home style complements the down-home style of the artists that it portrays. 

Unless you are a country music fan already, most of the artists highlighted in this movie might not be familiar to you. David Allan Coe, Gamble Rogers, Barefoot Jerry. Maybe Guy Clark or Townes VanZandt will ring a bell, but you probably cannot recall a song to go with either of those names. Once these artists start playing, however, you’ll want to “rewind the tape” to hear the great picking and playing all over again. 

In many ways, this documentary has the feel of a “home” project. There are no sophisticated intros or fancy sets. The first artist (Guy Clark) just starts playing guitar and singing a sweet and winsome song. Then comes Larry John Wilson. Wow – an amazing guitarist. No intro – just playing. 

From place to place, we follow artist after artist as they do their rounds down country roads, past cows, horses, cool 70’s cars, and lots of snow – and smokes (even as they’re singing). The one interview we’re treated to is from singer Townes Van Zandt as he talks to 79-year-old Seamore Washington, the walking blacksmith. We get his best advice on how to shoe a horse – and to talk to the good Lord. Then, Van Zandt breaks into the chords of the first song he ever wrote, and Washington is overcome with emotion as he listens and thinks back over his life. Even from a distance of only 45 years, we feel like we’re stepping back in time to a simpler era. 

From cafe to tavern, from school gym concert to Tennessee State prison, the music of these artists either moves people to tears or gets them up dancing. This documentary shows us both. 

From the blacksmith, Washington and his horse-shoeing lesson, we move on to Guy Clark fixing a broken guitar and telling us the merits of ivory over bone, and bone over wood. I feel like I’m learning as I’m being entertained. And being reminded that life is hard and beautiful and can only be improved if you have one of these artists singing about it. 

The movie ends with more snow, car headlights in the dark of the night, and the boys singing Silent Night. Watching this movie again the time of Covid, it portrays the dignity of humbleness and is disarmingly poignant. Most of the artists are gone now but once you’ve heard them sing and play they’ll be firmly implanted in your mind. You’ll be glad that this film was re-released. And you’ll be glad that you watched.

Heartworn Highways is available now on VOD.

Gloria Bell: Dancing through Life

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Middle age is tough. When you are Gloria Bell, however, you handle it with verve and joy.

In Gloria Bell, the English remake of his 2013 film Gloria, director Sebastian Lelio casts the luminous Julianne Moore in the lead role. Gloria leads a happy life. She’s divorced but on good terms with her ex. She’s involved in the lives of her children and grandchild. She has an office job that she seems to enjoy and girlfriends to confide in and laugh with. She also loves to dance, spending her evenings at dance clubs.

It is at one of these clubs that she meets Arnold (John Turturro). They make eye contact on the dance floor and from there the romance begins. Arnold comes with lots of hurts and complications from his own recently ended marriage and these will play out in sad, yet frustrating ways throughout the movie. We are rooting for both of them and are never really sure whether their lives will come together in a happy way. Both Moore and Turturro give sensitive and true-to-life performances. Youth is a complicated time in life, but Gloria Bell shows that mid life is every bit as daunting. Between Arnold’s needy family and Moore’s sudden change in circumstances (terrible neighbour, daughter moving to Europe, friend losing her job, son unable to stay in his apartment), they find that they have unexpected challenges to cope with. Will their budding love offer strength for these changing situations?

Gloria’s life is also chronicled by her daily drives. Karaoke-style she belts out whatever song is playing on her playlist and the music is always a reflection of her current situation in life. The songs are all golden oldies and add an 80’s vibe to the movie. It was a bit heavy-handed linking the music to her status but Moore looks so convincing as she sings along off key, it’s hard not to find it charming.

Julianne Moore is truly magnificent in this role. Her acting is subtle and nuanced. In the worst of circumstances she keeps her character even keeled and moving forward. These are skills and coping mechanisms that you learn with age. When she needs to make a bold statement she nails it. When she is happy she radiates joy and delight. Other than fitting her with overlarge glasses (to age her?) Moore looks like a woman barely into her forties, rather than mid-to-late 50’s woman that she is portraying. Even with an amazing supporting cast, this movie belongs to her.

So, if you are a fan of Julianne Moore (or have lived through a few crises yourself) this is the movie to see.

Gloria Bell is in theatres now.