[Reellife] Child Soldiers, Here and There

[dave olsen]

The Cinematheque <http://www.thecinematheque.ca/> is about to show a double 
header this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday that on the surface seems unconnected 
but like most of human life, is all about our childhoods.

/Aquí y allá/ <http://www.thecinematheque.ca/aqui-y-alla> is a slow paced film 
that delves deeply despite its appearance.  The Spanish director tells the tale 
of a father returning to his family in a small village within the Mexican state 
of Guerrero.  His integration matches the film's speed (or vice versa) and along 
the way, civilized life, especially the medical industry, is shown for the 
absurdity it is.

I love how this loving, caring father respects his two daughter's needs and 
never pushes them beyond their capabilities, even when it would be obvious that 
his needs were not being met.  As a result, his daughters transform and become 
deeply attached despite the long separation preceding the film.

A third daughter's birth only accentuates both the insane, corrupt and inhuman 
treatment by the system and this father's unconditional love.

If the pace didn't give away this film's non-connection to Hollywood, the ending 
certainly will.  An honest, realistic portrayal of one financially impoverished 
family's life on the big screen is both rare and refreshing.

/Aquí y allá/ <http://www.thecinematheque.ca/aqui-y-alla> shows this coming 
weekend only, in Downtown Vancouver at the Cinematheque 
<http://www.thecinematheque.ca/>:
Friday, May 31 at 8:10pm
Saturday, June 1 at 6:30pm
Sunday, June 2 at 4:15pm
Sunday, June 2 at 8:10pm


/Fight like Soldiers, Die like Children/ 
<http://www.thecinematheque.ca/fight-like-soldiers-die-like-children> focuses on 
General Romeo Dallaire's new mission to end the use of children as soldiers.

He returns to Rwanda, the scene of his climb to fame, and shows us the UN's work 
in rehabilitating children that have been recruited into various armies and 
militias.

However, one colleague from Africa speaks the truth that a General simply can't 
comprehend: child soldiers will cease to exist when war ceases to exist.  Period.

A friend told me right after I viewed the film that his son, at the age of 10, 
was indirectly recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces at an event designed to 
attract children.  They showed off armaments in a way that enticed without 
scaring, completely disconnecting the fact that these weapons exist to kill and 
only kill humans.

Funny how the Canadian General of the film hasn't written a book or even a page 
about that.

/Fight like Soldiers, Die like Children/ 
<http://www.thecinematheque.ca/fight-like-soldiers-die-like-children> screens at 
the Cinematheque <http://www.thecinematheque.ca/> on:
Friday, May 31 at 6:30pm
Saturday, June 1 at 4:30pm
Saturday, June 1 at 8:35pm
Sunday, June 2 at 6:30pm

-- 

Warmly,
dave/
//
Parenting with an Open Heart: a seminar series for all Parents, Caregivers, and 
Parents-to-be: for info and session dates, please visit/ 
/http://humanpowered.wordpress.com <http://humanpowered.wordpress.com/>

Movie and Theatre lovers who know a saner world is possible may enjoying reading 
and sharing their thoughts on Reel Life, Real Ideas: Movies and more... 
<http://reellife.wordpress.com/>

Hit by a car at 60 km/h (40mph), a pedestrian has an 85 per cent chance of being 
killed; at 50 km/h (30mph) s/he has a 45 per cent chance of being killed, while 
at 30 km/h (20mph) the risk falls to 5 per cent. Source: British Parliamentary 
Advisory Council on Transport Safety (1996) //_Taking Action on Speeding_//

If you are expecting a baby soon...
...read Ina May Gaskin's insightful book, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, packed 
full of birth stories and her experience of helping deliver over 2,000 babies!
...consider Natural Infant Hygiene (aka Elimination Communication) and reduce 
the expense of diapers (and much more)...check out http://www.diaperless.org and 
http://www.natural-wisdom.com

Did you know that in Scandinavia...
--> there are laws protecting children from all forms of spanking and bullying, 
even from parents
--> these laws do not imprison or punish parents but instead raise awareness 
(http://www.empathicparenting.org)
--> the elderly are able to remain at home thanks to programs that provide free 
meals, free transportation, and free care/

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