[Reellife] Hope your summer isn't with this Grandpa!

[dave olsen]

The Cinematheque <http://www.thecinematheque.ca> in Vancouver is currently 
showing a series of films by Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien.

One that caught my eye was /Flight of the Red Balloon 
<http://www.thecinematheque.ca/also-like-life-the-films-of-hou-hsiao-hsien/flight-of-the-red-balloon>/.  
This film is an homage to the French short made in 1956 by Albert Lamorisse.  It 
may be the first film that my daughter ever saw...and she loved it.  So you can 
see why I was excited to see what this film would do.

Unfortunately, if you didn't see the 1956 short, you'd likely think that a Red 
Balloon kept accidentally drifting into this film.  It seems to be more of a 
statement about the craziness of Western Civilization, or perhaps another 
Parisian tourism ode.  Juliette Binoche does the over-stressed, neglectful 
single mom very well, but this isn't a children's film.  Too long for that.

There are lots of smart, subtle references throughout the film, but overall I 
was very disappointed.

/Flight of the Red Balloon 
<http://www.thecinematheque.ca/also-like-life-the-films-of-hou-hsiao-hsien/flight-of-the-red-balloon>/ 
plays this Saturday, March 7 @ 6:30pm and next Wednesday, March 11 @ 8:30pm.
/
A Summer at Grandpa's 
<http://www.thecinematheque.ca/also-like-life-the-films-of-hou-hsiao-hsien/a-summer-at-grandpas>/ 
is set in the Taiwanese countryside, but really it looks like just about 
anywhere in civilization.  The focus on the brother and sister that are sent to 
Grandpa's house makes this film very worthwhile.  However, it is another 
testament to the patriarchy and abuse directed at children in our world.

A lovely subplot is the humanization of the "mentally retarded" young woman.  
She both becomes pregnant and saves the young girl, despite the local children's 
ironic slander of her.

But this is another tale of privilege.  A more realistic one than most since Hou 
generously fills the story with the warts of the upper class.  And of course, 
despite their suffering, the children make life worth living in their own unique 
way.
/
A Summer at Grandpa's 
<http://www.thecinematheque.ca/also-like-life-the-films-of-hou-hsiao-hsien/a-summer-at-grandpas>/ 
plays Wednesday, March 11 @ 6:30pm

And later this month...
A free showing of the local documentary */The Pristine Coast/ *will be held 
*Friday, March 27th* (doors open at 6:30pm and film starts at 7:00pm) at the 
*Hastings Community Centre in the Community Hall*.  Entrance to the Community 
Hall and parking off of Pender Street, and bike racks available at the front 
door of the Community Centre.

Scott Renyard, the Writer, Director and Producer of the movie will be in 
attendance and will be available for a Q&A session immediately after the showing 
of the film.

This is another excellent documentary depicting the amazing efforts of Alexandra 
Morton in her work to save wild salmon from the diseases caused and spread by 
farming Atlantic salmon in the wild. She can't do it alone so hopefully this 
film will recruit a few more of us to this now-or-never cause.
-- 

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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