It is 2013 and Syrian sisters Rima (Maria Hassan) and Nour (Hala Hosni) arrive as refugees in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. They find a temporary home in a “camp” with Haifa (Najwa Kandakji) and her niece Shirin.
Rima is the older sister conservative in views and dress. Nour could be a teenager in any North American city and does not wear a hajib.
Pregnant Rima has left husband Firas behind in Syria. Despite numerous telephone calls to Firas pleading him to join her Rima receives no firm commitment from Firas. It is in days and then weeks. One gets that feeling he is no innocent civilian.
Nour is obsessively pining for brother Ahmad rumored to be in Beruit “setting up a base”. Again not the innocent civilian.
Rima obtains a housekeeping job with kind-hearted construction engineer Khaled who also works at the “camp” in his spare hours. Khaled is a widower.
Nour embarks upon a dangerous task of trying to locate her brother Ahmad at one point being incarcerated. Rima is also jailed for being in wrong place at the wrong time easy in volatile Lebanon.
Do Rima and Nour find their missing ones? Part of the adventure of the film.
And there is romance too between Shirin and soldier Hassan!
A portrayal of the intransience of refugee life. Rima strives to be in the moment making the best of the situation while Nour is bleak.
As Rima gives birth to her son Marwan one is compelled to ask if the child is yet part of another generation destined to grow up in desperation and misery.
The acting is excellent all round. The flow of the film is seamless if not magical. The music contemplative and well suited. A compelling watch.
I asked myself was this an oppressively depressing movie? No. I suppose it offers just a speck of hope founded in so many victims of conflict attempting to make the best in bleak circumstances. Friendship and compassion survive.
Doubles are a Trinidadian street food. Curried chickpeas (channa) between two pieces of fried flatbread in tamarind and coriander sauce with mango chutney, kuchela and cucumbers.
Dhani (Sanjiv Boodhu) who is of Indian descent and his mother run a small roadside stand selling doubles in Trinidad. It is a marginal existence worsened by a robbery of the stand. In dire straights Dhani leaves Trinidad for Toronto to obtain funds from his long-estranged father Ragbir (Errol Sitahal). Word in Trinidad is Ragbir has been successful in Toronto as a chef and lives in a big house driving a luxury SUV. Dhani, upon arriving in Toronto, discovers Ragbir is a dishwasher, cleaner and busboy at a small Caribbean restaurant and has no money to his name.
Dhani is angry, bitter and a passionless man. He encounters Anita (Rashaana Cumberbatch) at the restaurant a perfect foil for Dhani. She is ebullient, cheerful and quite a chef having been taught by her mother and Ragbir. Ragbir certainly knows his food but never progressed to chef status.
Ragbir is suffering from a terminal illness. Can Dhani connect with him before Ragbir meets his demise? Anita’s ambition is to open a food truck serving doubles as a dream as she professes food is an elixir and connects people. She considers it a privilege to feed people with lovingly prepared food. Dhani’s view is people will eat anything. Can there ever be a serious relationship between Dhani and Anita so opposite in character?
A film that explores the immigrant experience in Canada, the power of food, forgiveness and starting with “new beginnings”.
The plot is hardly novel but its Trinidadian core, fine acting, excellent soundtrack and food give it a Michelin star quality! In all the doom, gloom and sadness Cumberbatch beautifully injects energy and hope when and where it is most needed. This will not be the last time we see her on the screen.
“There is no such thing as a good father because the role itself is bad, Strict fathers, soft fathers, nice moderate fathers-one’s as bad as the other. The stand in the way of our progress while they try to burden us with their inferiority complexes, and their unrealized aspirations, and their resentments, and their ideals, and the weaknesses they never told anyone about, and their sins, and their sweeter-than-honey dreams, and the maxims they’ve never had the courage to live by-they’d like to unload all that silly crap on us, all of it!”
Yukio Mishima, “The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea”, 1963
British Columbia’s Okanagan produces a variety of red wines but we are most likely to see Pinot Noir ex-British Columbia. One reliable producer I have encountered to date would be St. Hubertis & Oak Bay Estate Winery located in Kelowna, British Columbia.
From clone CL777 the wine is organic and has been aged in French oak. 850 cases produced.
Aroma: Raspberry, strawberry and red cherry.
Palate: Broad based tannins perhaps more than one would expect from an Okanagan Pinot Noir. Some Pinot Noir can be on the delicate side and tannins can rob it of fruit. Unfortunately, that is the case here. The fruit here has been hijacked by the tannins.
Personality: I have a typical Pinot Noir aroma to build up the anticipation but I fall flat going down the hatch. Not much to savour.
Food Match: Sorry to categorize as such but a Friday night wine. Yes you know what I mean and sorry not to be Friday night “inclusive”. Should this wine writer be defunded?
Look to top left of photo. They start by wanting to defund Spanish Cava. Next target wine writers?
Price: $22 CDN (Ontario).
RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 84/100.
(Oak Bay 2021 Organic Pinot Noir, BC VQA South Kelowna Slopes of Okanagan Valley, St. Hubertis & Oak Bay Estate Winery, Kelowna, British Columbia 750 mL, 13.2%).
My original intention was assisting Bob in the preparation of a children’s book about my time in Cairo as a street dog and my traumatic journey to Canada as a “rescue dog”. Just a few simple pages!
I am convinced that children and dogs can be the answer for just about anything
However that intent I had was formed at a younger point in my life. My life was much simpler then than it is today. As time passed matters moved quickly and I was converted from a mangy flea infested dog to a superstar because of two animated Disney films made about me. The fact I was a Muslim dog made me popular in many countries where Islam is the main religion. Both Christians and Muslims realized a degree of common ground through me. Political commentators suggested I brought healing between good hearted Christians and Muslims. I was revered by children in Iran as I was in Toronto. I acted as an intermediary between the United States and Iran and quite frankly isn’t this amazing as I am a dog and cannot speak the language of you humans. I prayed with the big Ayatollah guy there and sat on his lap as a Muslim brother although he knew I was living and loved in a Christian world. Do you have any idea how that photo of me on his lap did to advance world peace and stability!
You humans are not as complex as you think. Your hostilities and hatreds show how simplistic and crude you can be but rip the facade of politics and perverted religions aside you share more in common that you would care to admit. That is my hope for you and if I have had a small part in that so be it.
I have mingled with stars in the entertainment industry, politicians and religious leaders. I have won the Nobel Peace Prize and a Presidential Medal of Freedom which I am delighted to have done so but my biggest joy is meeting with the children of The United States, Iran, North Korea and many other countries. These children all recognize the wonder of Reggie and Dylan the Westie and unite as one whilst the leaders of their nations stomp their feet, squabble and threaten so that the world is perpetually on the path to self destruction. Politicians listen to the children of your nation.
As you read I nearly died from a strange North Korean Horsemeat Bulgogi Virus and I did technically die and go to The Land Beyond. It was my late master Anwar and my deceased doggie pals Karim and Poofy the Poodle with the blessing of Allah that shoved me back to the bed of an animal hospital saying it was not my time. As I recuperate from that nasty virus I am giving a great deal of thought of why Anwar said it was not my time. How can I bring the world closer together? Is it simply telling my story so that all humans can identify with my struggles, ambitions and dreams? Can I show the world that dogs and humans from all nations are remarkably similar when you strip out politics and extremist religions?
I am uncertain about what my next steps are but I need some time to get healthy. Bob had told me we would take a year off from travel and public appearances. We would go back to a simpler point in our lives where long walks, chicken kibble and clean cold Canadian water were so awesome for me.
I think I would like another Egyptian rescue dog in my life so Dylan the Westie and I can be THE RATPACK like Bosco/Karim/Dylan the Westie and I were! Yes I have the Reggie’s Dog Foundation to help rescue dogs but I think I have a personal duty to train a Cairo brother or sister to be a leader and example for rescue dogs throughout the world. Ollie, The Mookster and Penny…will they be joining me?
When I am back to 100% I look forward to long walks in Sherwood Park where I first met Bob and Fay. Dylan and I have many canine and human friends there and most people have no idea I am Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog. I enjoy hobnobbing with the elite but there is much to be said for a simple well-loved dog. Isn’t that what every dog wants to be?
If there is anything I can ask you dear human reader it is to love and care for your dog and if you do you will find that love has no limits. And I ask you to remember I was a lowly flea infested mutt and that it was Bob and Fay that made my story so well known. Perhaps you humans can give a street or abused dog a chance to thrive in a loving environment and perhaps give that dog a hance to hasten world peace. You know they say a cat has nine lives. Bob told me he was near death 5 times but survived. I have been near death twice so I figure I have a few more lives to live to make the world a better place to go to before I die. It will just take me some time to figure out my next steps.
Good-bye and thank you for sharing your time with me. After my rest I promise you REGGIE THE EYGPTIAN RESCUE DOG WILL BE BACK!
Shortly after returning from our restaurant openings in North Korea I began feeling strange. Suddenly I lost my sense of taste and smell. My beloved chicken kibble stated to taste like sawdust. My cool clean Canadian water tasted metallic. When out for a walk I had difficulty in smelling where to leave my pee mail. I started feeling totally exhausted. One night before bed I felt I was burning up. As I lay in my favourite Winnipeg Blue Bombers doggie bed I heard a gurgling. Where was that strange noise coming from? My chest! I told Dylan the Westie to keep an eye on me. From this point on things are foggy and confused.
Over my bed I saw a pale light filtering in as daylight greeted the kitchen but Dylan the Westie was barking furiously. What is the matter with him? I remember seeing Bob run into the kitchen to see what the commotion was. I was having difficulty breathing and my chest hurt. All I could see was a blur. I remember Bob saying, “Holy Moses. Reggie is having difficulty breathing! We have to get him to the Vet!” Although my taste and smell may have dissipated, I could detect fear in his voice. A blood chilling fear. I was bundled up and sat with Dylan the Westie and Fay in the car on the way on the animal hospital but I really only remember having difficulty breathing. And then it stopped. Bob sprung into action and in the middle of Mount Pleasant Boulevard in subzero temperatures in his pajamas grabbed my hind legs and began shaking me upside down until I started sputtering and breathing.
Bob drove like a bat out of hell going through red lights and we arrived in 15 minutes at the animal hospital. Dr. Murray took one look at me and shouted, “Oxygen NOW!!!!” I heard Bob and Fay crying and Dylan the Westie whining. I was taken to a room in the back and many wires were attached to me. Dr. Murray was saying, “We are losing Reggie. Quick get some adrenalin.”
“Flatlined” meant I was dying. I was so frightened. Then a bright white tunnel and my pain and suffering disappeared and I saw Anwar my late master! I must be in The Land Beyond. Kamil and Poofy the Poodle my deceased doggie friends were there with Anwar. I was so happy to be reunited! Anwar spoke to me sternly and said that it was not my time to go and stay with him in The Land Beyond as I had many things left to accomplish. I heard him praying to Allah begging him to make me return to the animal hospital and that is where I remember waking up for a moment to hear Dr. Murray say. “Reggie is back!”. Bob and Fay were jumping up and down with great joy.
Eventually I woke up in the animal hospital a few days later. Dr. Murray said that it was not COVID but a weird parasite that I might have picked up in North Korea. He sent blood samples to a special veterinarian institute in Lisbon and they confirmed it was the DMZ parasite found in some horsemeat bulgogi!
10 days later pumped with Portuguese anti-biotics I returned home. There were many cards, flowers and dog treats. I had gifts and well wishes from Kim Jong-Un, the King and Queen of Sweden, the big guy Iranian Ayatollah, Nicole Kidman, Snookie’s Rescue Society, President Joe Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden, the President of the Canadian Football League, Mr. Gordon Lightfoot, Mr. Keith Urban, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, Drake, Russell Crowe, The Pope, Rick Mercer and many others. CBC National News did a 10-minute story about me and David Suzuki from the CBC show “Nature of Things” wanted to produce an hour special about me. Dearest to my heart were get well wishes from children all over the world.
In the meantime, Dr. Murray ordered two weeks of bed rest. Why did I not stay with Anwar? What more do I have to accomplish on Earth? I am not sure but like in Cairo after being bitten by that Rottenweiler I feel like I have more than one life. Why didn’t I die? What does Allah have planned for me? We can answer those questions later but for now REGGIE IS HAPPY TO BE BACK!
“For Ryuji the kiss was death, the very death in love he always dreamed of. The softness of her lips, her mouth so crimson in the darkness he could see it with closed eyes, so infinitely moist, a tepid coral sea, her restless tongue quivering like seagrass….in the dark rapture of all this was something directly linked to death. He was perfectly aware that he would be leaving her in a day, yet he was ready to die happily for her sake. Death roused inside him, stirred.”
(Yukio Mishima, “The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea”, 1963.
You recall when you sighed with a tremble of terror that oh no not again to the dentist fluoridated smell high pitched whines cold steel slowly penetrating the gums
OH STOP IT YOU SADIST!
What I meant to say a dental visit Trumps a urologist visit where they seek classified documents in the most secret places
Golly gee on a bottle of Kacaba 2019 Cabernet Franc I see a sticker at the top of the front label indicating the wine has won a bronze medal in Wine Align National Wine Awards (2022) of Canada! I am assured of excellence with this impressive sticker which most likely had to be paid for to be affixed to the bottle. So what if there is an entry fee for each wine etc. Wine awards are business and not a charity. Pay to play i.e. entrance fees? I recall years ago discussing these “wine awards” with a producer in Ontario’s Lake Erie North Shore saying they didn’t want to waste their money participating in these wine award “competitions”. In some of these “competitions” one can be assured of walking away with some medal which entitles you to pay a fee to purchase “medal winning stickers” for placement on your bottles to snag the eyes of hurried consumers (hopefully) having no idea about the profit-making nature of some wine awards. The Midas principle.
Bear in mind multiple wines can win medals in the same medal category if they are within a score range.
So what can this Bronze Baby offer?
Aroma: Typical of a Niagara Cabernet Franc or perhaps even an Ontario one with black cherry, black raspberry, chocolate covered cherries and milk chocolate. Smidge of cranberry. Promises a lighter and more nuanced red wine.
Palate: Light-footed with no cavalry charging at you. Raspberry, Ginja d’o Óbidos and somewhat of a short juicy black cherry finish. Tannins are (unlike Joe B.) about ready to retire in Clearwater, Florida. Acids shoved in the cheap seats where they sit silently unlike Republicans at SOTU!
Personality: Consider me a welcome break from so much “heavier” red wine on the market.
Food Match: If like your Tomahawk Steak rare and feel like a beast when consuming it this is not your wine. But where it would excel is with Bachalau at least with the dozen or so I have tried in the Douro. There are at least 350 more recipes I haven’t tried.
Cellarbility: Nada. Drink by August 12, 2025 at 17:32. No. I am not one of those, “Do as I say” type of writers.
Price: $33.15 CDN (Ontario).
Comments from the peanut gallery: Just a bit more fruit on the finish and we would be drinking GOLD MEDAL WINE! But wait the wine may have won quadruple platinum medals elsewhere Details to follow.
“Nor had he mentioned his concept of ideal love: a man encounters the perfect woman only once in a lifetime and in every case death interposes-an unseen Pandarus-and lures them into the preordained embrace. This fantasy was probably a product of the hyperbole of popular songs. But over the years it had taken on substance in some recess of his mind and merged there with other things: the shrieking of a tidal wave, the ineluctable force of high tide, the avalanching break of surf upon a shoal…”
Yukio Mishima, “The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea”, 1963
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