The Strangers’ Case” was filmed in Jordan, Turkey and Greece. It recounts the journey of several refugees from Aleppo in Syria to the island of Lesvos, Greece in the Eastern Aegean Sea. Amira is a successful pediatric radiologist working in a hospital running short of supplies but is never short of blood and suffering. AfterContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: The 65th Annual Thessaloniki International Film Festival: “The Strangers’ Case””
Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)
RKS Travel: WC Blues on Long Airplane Flights
I have taken transatlantic flights with Air Canada, Air Transat, TAP Air Portugal, Lufthansa, SATA, EVA Air and most recently with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines on Economy and Enhanced Economy fares. Their WC bathrooms start clean enough and in all instances, other than with EVA Air, the WC is after a few in-flight hours inContinue reading “RKS Travel: WC Blues on Long Airplane Flights”
RKS 2024 Film: The 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival: “Wishbone”
Sorry for jumping ahead here. Do you like “happy endings” and by that I don’t mean that term as used in that “Curb Your Enthusiasm” episode with Larry David and his Korean masseuse I watched on my KLM flight from Thessaloniki to Toronto this week. There is no clear-cut ending here. Director Penny Panayotopoulou hasContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: The 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival: “Wishbone””
RKS 2024 Wine: A Pinot Nero from Northern Italy
The winery is in Bolzano, Italy and I have passed through Bolzano several times on my way to Austria. It is 118 kms. from Innsbruck. Aroma: Smoky red cherry. Some red beet and milk chocolate. Palate: More or less the same as on the nose. Light with a micro coating of tannins that fades almostContinue reading “RKS 2024 Wine: A Pinot Nero from Northern Italy”
RKS 2024 Film: The 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival: “Riviera”
Alkisti (Eva Samioti) lives with her mother Anna (Maria Apostlakea) in a house on the Athenian Riviera letting out rooms to Greek and foreign tourists. Failed writer Petros and an elder couple the Hatzivasiliou’s are guests. Alkisti often expresses herself poetically. Alkisti describes the end of the world in literary terms asking her devil toContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: The 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival: “Riviera””
RKS 2024 Film: “The Sweet Hereafter”
One of the most honoured Canadian films of all time, Atom Egoyan’s “The Sweet Hereafter” (1997) was nominated for 16 Genie Awards and won eight, including best picture, director and actor. It also won three major awards at the Cannes Film Festival and received Academy Award nominations for adapted screenplay and director. Widely regarded asContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “The Sweet Hereafter””
RKS Travel: Stop That Continual Currency Comparison!
In a country with a different currency than your home country? Are you continually saying in “my currency” what would that amount to? Well, you aren’t in your country are you? Perhaps a better perspective would be, in most cases, to stop that comparison. Why not think local and act local as isn’t that theContinue reading “RKS Travel: Stop That Continual Currency Comparison!”
RKS 2024 Film: “All You Need is Blood”: A Bloody Interesting Targeted Audience Comedy
I returned two days ago from 10 days at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival where I watched and reviewed 20 movies. Three were Greek films about making a movie about a movie. They weren’t comedies as “All You Need is Blood” which is a movie about making a movie about making a movie. Bucky (LoganContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “All You Need is Blood”: A Bloody Interesting Targeted Audience Comedy”
RKS Travel: Thessaloniki’s Segundo Molo Suites
Thessaloniki is in Northern Greece and is its second largest city. Thessaloniki’s Segundo Molo Suites is not a traditional hotel so do not expect a lobby, front desk staff or most hotel amenities. You are largely on your own here. You may be daunted by its entrance or rather lack of entrance. Once you arriveContinue reading “RKS Travel: Thessaloniki’s Segundo Molo Suites”
RKS Travel: The Snotty Nosed and Wheezing Passengers and Mega Selfishness
On my second flight to Toronto from Thessaloniki on KLM to JFK Airport in New York I had to listen to that gurgling cough, pulling up snots in the nose and sneezing from two nearby passengers the whole flight. The selfish prigs (a polite term) were not wearing a mask and they hacked, gurgled andContinue reading “RKS Travel: The Snotty Nosed and Wheezing Passengers and Mega Selfishness”
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 