Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS 2023 Hot Docs: “Razing Liberty Square”: Them vs. Us

Liberty Square was one of the United States’ first public housing projects and the first for black residents of Miami. On the municipal plans it was referred to as a “negro community” and duly segregated in the spirit of the times. Over 700 families had homes in Liberty Square. The homes looked like army barracksContinue reading “RKS 2023 Hot Docs: “Razing Liberty Square”: Them vs. Us”

RKS 2023 Toronto Hot Docs: “Unseen”: Compassion and Entitlement

“Unseen” is an American documentary chronicling the story of Pedro an undocumented visually impaired Mexican living in California with his family filmed over a six-year period. Pedro’s story is remarkable. It takes him years to obtain his BSW and MSW but being undocumented without a social insurance number he can’t work. A talented man oneContinue reading “RKS 2023 Toronto Hot Docs: “Unseen”: Compassion and Entitlement”

RKS Film: Are Review Embargos Self Defeating? The Early Bird Catches the Worm!

I am in the midst of reviewing some films that are showing at the 2023 Toronto Hot Docs Festival. With over 200 documentaries showing between April 27 and May 7 as a sole reviewer I hope to review 15 or so films. Often with releases of films before their release date or very close toContinue reading “RKS Film: Are Review Embargos Self Defeating? The Early Bird Catches the Worm!”

RKS 2023 Wine: Zingari 2019 Toscana: Is There a Stranger in the Midst?

There are no shortages of grape varieties where Italian wine is concerned! I must admit though in this Zingari Tuscan IGT there is 25% Petit Verdot in addition to 25% Merlot, 25% Sangiovese and 25% Syrah. I can’t recall having Petit Verdot in an Italian red blend. Is it a stranger in the midst? ItContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Zingari 2019 Toscana: Is There a Stranger in the Midst?”

RKS 2023 Hot Docs: “Theatre of Violence”: Innocent Little Boy or the King of War Crimes in Uganda?

“Theatre of Violence” is a documentary examining the heinous crimes against humanity committed by Dominic Ongwen a senior brigade leader in the rebel faction Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). His trial for 70 charges of crimes against humanity began in 2016 in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague. Clear cut isn’t it? Not reallyContinue reading “RKS 2023 Hot Docs: “Theatre of Violence”: Innocent Little Boy or the King of War Crimes in Uganda?”

RKS 2023 Film: “The Cure for Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz”

“The Cure for Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz” had its world premiere at Pittsburgh’s 30th annual JFilm Festival on 25 April. The documentary follows Tony McAleer a former American Neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier who transcended his hate to found the anti-hate activist group Life After Hate in an attempt to stymy right wing hate throughContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “The Cure for Hate: Bearing Witness to Auschwitz””

RKS 2023 Wine: Lisbon in the Red Wine Hunt

What we Torontonians see on the shelves of our provincial liquor monopoly from Portugal in terms of red wine is the Douro region leading the pack but the Alentejo and Lisbon are catching up but the poor Dão lags way back in the pack. As quality goes there is not much rhyme and reason forContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Lisbon in the Red Wine Hunt”

RKS 2023 Toronto Hot Docs Film: “Angel Applicant”

The American documentary “Angel Applicant” is an intertwined story of Swiss German abstract painter Paul Klee (1879-1940) and film maker Ken August Meyer. Both were and are suffering from a disease Scleroderma as are some 2.5 million people globally. It is caused by an overactive immune system attacking the body’s healthy connective tissue including skin,Continue reading “RKS 2023 Toronto Hot Docs Film: “Angel Applicant””

RKS 2023 Toronto Hot Docs: “Rowdy Girl”

“Rowdy Girl” examines the story of two married former cattle ranchers in Texas, Renee King-Sonnen and Tommy Sonnen, who have transitioned out of ranching and into running the “Rowdy Girl Sanctuary” in Texas for abandoned, lost and unwanted farm animals. In that story about these former ranchers we learn why they have converted to vegansContinue reading “RKS 2023 Toronto Hot Docs: “Rowdy Girl””

RKS 2023 Wine: Bachelder les Villages Gamay Noir

Having suffered through half a glass of a Tawse 2020 Grower’s Blend Gamay Noir it is now to a sure winner? A Bachelder les Villages 2020 Gamay Noir. Aroma: Geez! After an initial whiff of oak upon uncorking the aroma is seemingly more than what might expect from “largely neutral oak barrels” but it doesContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Bachelder les Villages Gamay Noir”