RKS 2024 Film: “Be Still”: A Descent into Madness of a Forgotten Canadian

You know Salvador Dali and Mary Cassatt. But do you know Canadians Helen Galloway McNicoll and Hannah Maynard?

All but erased from history, 40 years before Dali and the Surrealist movement began, professional Canadian photographer Hannah Maynard was perfecting surrealistic techniques in her Victoria, British Columbia studio. Maynard moved beyond stone faced portraits to a more creative as opposed to reproductive style with her portrait photography.

After the death of her infant daughter Lily, Maynard began losing her grip on reality and “Be Still” chronicles her descent into “madness” as that term would have been used in 1885. Through innovative cinematography somewhat in a Guy Madden style we witness Maynard (Piercey Dalton) delusions and apparitions dealing with Lily’s death and her compelling drive towards a new style of photography. The standard photographic style including the mug shots she took for the local police force may have paid the bills but stifled her creative force. She constantly sees and converses with Lily and sees multiple images of herself in a mirrored dreamlike scenario. Is her mental illness some type of multiple personality psychiatric disorder?

A chilling yet well-suited score by Joshua Hemming.

“Be Still” is based on a play by Janet Munsil.

Should you be in Victoria, British Columbia you may see some of her photographs at the Royal B.C. Museum.

Her husband Richard (Daniel Arnold) a talented landscape photographer watches hopelessly the decline of his wife. What a crushing scene as she realizes her descent into madness and admits to Richard she is coming apart. Powerful indeed.

You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTG2PKKy9Fo

VOD and Digital release in Canada on 16January2024.

Helen Galloway McNicoll (1879-1915) was a Canadian Impressionist painter recently featured in an Art Gallery of Ontario exhibition.

RKS 2024 Film Rating: 95/100.

RKS 2024 Film: “Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer”

“Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer” is a documentary scanning the live and films of German director Werner Herzog. Herzog quips all his films emanate from pain and not pleasure. While many of the actors and directors in the documentary laud Herzog as a dreamer Herzog says he rarely dreams but sometimes when walking or driving long distances his vision is surrounded by insects and butterflies a sort of dream for him. He believes we all have deep stories within us that are not yet articulated but their articulation is equivalent to dreaming.

Herzog’s family was bombed out in Munich in the Second World War so his brothers and mother were located to a small Bavarian town. His father had deserted the family prior to their move to the countryside. They subsisted on little food and he remembers perpetual hunger. After the ending of the Second World War, he worked the night shift in a metallurgical plant and with his wages started his career making short films. The 1960’s saw a slew of German rustically based and schmaltzy films with no city scenes, young people or social relevance. By 1965 several young German directors situated in Munich began to change all that.

The documentary presents a visually captivating cruise through Herzog’s career including the visually stunning 1972 masterpiece “Aguirre: The Search For God” which if you have yet to see shame on you and me for that matter for not having watched that film and the many other Herzog gems. Herzog novices and aficionados alike should find the documentary riveting.

Directed by Thomas Steinaecker.

Limited Canadian theatrical release on 19January2024.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 88/100.

RKS 2024 Film: “Eternal You”: Manipulative and Delusional Comfort Offered By Artificial Intelligence? The Swindling of Human Intelligence (or Lack Thereof) by Artificial Intelligence

“Eternal You” is a German-American documentary world premiering at 2024 Sundance this January. It explores the use of AI by users to interact with the dead through chat box voice synthesis and often with visual interactions. In this AI paradigm logic dictates this is an hallucination or illusion which seems in the examples proffered to be a reality fantasy for those who refuse to say good-bye to the deceased. A selfish and desperate act of the grieving and a profit-making business exploiting the vulnerable?

If you have been standing on the sidelines uncertain about the desirability or dangers of AI “Eternal You” most likely will draw you into the fray and prod some decision making on your part. A mark of a good documentary.

Watch the “beneficiaries” of this AI, its profit minded creators and the deluded comforted by the delusion of “human intelligence” facilitated by AI. So sad to watch the emotional swindling.

You will be exposed to many issues concerning the use of AI here such as;

  • Morality and ethics
  • Manipulation
  • Safety
  • Misuse
  • Danger
  • Confusion of the digital self with the real self
  • Profitability
  • Oversight

Directed by Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 91/100.

RKS 2024 Film: “And So It Begins”

Complimenting Ramona S. Diaz’s 2020 film “A Thousand Cuts” introducing Maria Ressa’s struggle in the Philippines to assert the rights of a free press through her media outlet Rappler, Diaz returns this month to 2024 Sundance with “And So It Begins” which chronicles the 2022 Presidential campaign of Leni Robredo affectionately known as “Leni”.

Facing a massive misinformation campaign Robredo finished a distant second. The campaign is a fascinating event to watch particularly the enthusiasm of her supporters and the festival like aspect of her campaign with dancers, jugglers, costuming and music. But through her speeches and interviews the dead seriousness of the campaign is not subsumed by joviality. The Philippines under previous Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Rodrigo Duterte was a country of martial law, corruption, beatings, torture and extra-judicial killings. The documentary explores the political history of the Philippines necessary to understand the importance of the “pink wave” presidential campaign of Leni.  

Leni placed a distant second in the presidential election losing to Ferdinand Marcos Jr. known as “Bong Bong” who at best may continue with what Maria Ressa refers to a “semblance of democracy” in the Philippines.

Directed, written and produced by Ramona S. Diaz.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 93/100.

Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog: The Final Cut: Reggie on Probation!: Chapter 11

Here I am after two glorious weeks with Bob, Fay and their West Highland Terrier Dillie. I wake up every morning and say my prayers to Allah and thanking him for taking care of me and I express my gratitude for being alive. Dillie is puzzled by this as Fay and Bob raised and trained him since he was a pup. I think he has an attitude of taking his life and all its comforts for granted. He still is my best dog friend and it is not his fault he has lived with what humans call a “silver spoon in his mouth”. But my life was like his until my master Anwar was arrested and executed for writing articles critical of the Egyptian government and the “silver spoon” was yanked out my mouth as I was tossed into the mean streets of Cairo. But through this adversity and tough time I learnt just how lucky I am to be alive every day.

Little did I know while I was staying with Bob and Fay I was on probation. From the BBC documentaries I have seen probation is where a criminal is released from jail and stays out of jail if the criminal remains on good behaviour. I heard Fay say to Bob after my first week with them that I was on probation. But I am Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog and not a criminal! How can I be on probation? Is there some mistake?

Once I regained control of my racing mind I heard more.

Firstly, I had to have a good temperament agreeable to Fay, Bob and Dillie. Despite my stupid mistake of nipping Bob on my first day all three of us are getting along wonderfully.

Secondly, I had to get along with other humans and dogs. Although most humans mistreated me in Cairo and made me suspicious of them the staff at the animal hospital, the policeman that picked me after that big dog bit me and took me to the animal hospital and people that fed me scraps and gave me water showed me that some Egyptians cared about dogs. In Canada I quickly realized that most humans were kind-hearted and loved dogs so I began to trust them. As for other dogs I like smaller dogs like me and they like me. But as for big dogs like the Rottenwhiler that bit me in Cairo when I tried to take food from his bowl when I see a big dog I get frightened and angry at the same time and growl and lunge out but Bob or Fay hold me back and reassure me I am safe. Bob and Fay look at me and say that they will not let a big bad dog bite me. This makes me feel safe but the same things happen each time I see a big dog that looks like a Rottenwhiler. Does this mean I have broken my probation?

Bob says to me shortly after my two weeks with them that he must take me to an animal hospital to get a wellness check from a person called a vet. I think vets took care of me at the animal hospital in Cairo. Fay and Bob want to make sure they have a healthy dog and not a sick one with health problems. I don’t think this will be hard for me as the Canadian adoption agency made sure I had all sorts of sharp needles full of medicine before I came to Canada. Yes I was covered in fleas and had a few sores on me and an infected eye which were taken care of in Cairo. They also made me give blood for seeing if I had any “tropical diseases”.  So the fact I made it to Canada proves I am well doesn’t it?

Bob gives me a bath which I love and he brushes me quickly looking for fleas of which he cannot find. Then off we all go to the animal hospital. I am very nervous as if my health is bad will I be thrown off the period called probation.

Dillie the West Highland Terrier tells me they are very nice at the animal hospital and Bob gives him liver treats there even if he farts after eating them. So we park the car and enter the animal hospital where a Dr. Furby gives me a through examination after scanning my medical records the adoption agency gave Fay and Bob he proclaims I am “fit as a fiddle”. I have no idea what that means but as Fay and Bob are smiling I think it is good news. Fay and Bob cook Dillie and I the most delicious meal I have eaten with rice and ground beef and cooked sweet potato.  Bob says this is a party for a dog who has found his forever home. I am not a howler but I give a big howl of happiness and thank Allah for his goodness. I never ever thought in my heart I would find a forever home.

Reggie The Egyptian Street Dog is the luckiest dog in the world!

Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 13February1970: Amsterdam, Holland: How Cultural Can I Get!

Dear Boys:

This morning I got up at 9:30 and had breakfast with a Japanese stewardess with KLM. She was very cute. She may come with me to the symphony concert with me tonight. I went through a museum today full of Dutch and Chinese art. Then I picked up tickets for a concert. One for tomorrow afternoon then one for the ballet Wednesday night. How cultural can you get?

Tomorrow I am going to see the flea market and Ann Frank’s house in the morning. I know you would love Amsterdam as there is so much to see and do. It is 3 p.m. now so I will go out for a little stroll again. On the way back I bought three different types of hot meat rolls which they sell on the streets and they are so good. They put curry in a lot of food.

The sun is out today and it is very cold here still. You will both be home tomorrow and Sunday and I’ll think of you. I am going to a quaint Dutch church Sunday morning. The service will be in English and starts at 10:30. I really like the Dutch people as they are so polite and pleasant. It is a different world here as far as I am concerned.

14February1970

I was up today and had four cups of coffee and an orange. I went to the Rotterdam Symphony last night. It was excellent but I spent most of the time trying not to cough. I am going to an afternoon concert today so I must get some cough drops.

I wonder what you are doing today. Keep at your homework both of you. You boys can use your French anywhere you go. If people can’t communicate in English they can usually speak French.

Take care of yourself and eat well. HA HA

Love Mum

Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog: The Final Cut: My New Life Begins with Bob and Fay and of Course Dillie the Westie! Evening Time and Prayers to Allah: Chapter Ten

Evening time is the time after our afternoon nap. Dillie stands by his bowl at exactly 4:30 p.m. waiting for his chicken kibble. Oh what a happy time of the day. Food in a shiny bowl I don’t have to beg or fight for like in the streets of Cairo! And that Canadian water is so sweet and clean! I have only been with Bob and Fay for a few days and I am treated like a pharaoh himself! In a way I feel the stress of simply having to survive from day to day is slowly melting away. I feel like a happy dog like I did with my master Anwar who was arrested for writing articles against the government and then executed and I found myself in the street. No easy task as I am only 14 pounds and small. So I had to be very clever to outsmart the big dogs which worked well until I was bitten by that Rottenwhiler dog trying to take dinner from his bowl.

After our dinner it is playtime with Bob and Fay. Dillie the Westie, Bob and Fay’s 13-year-old West Highland Terrier, has taught me how to play tug of war with an old towel. Humans playing with their dogs is new to me but I think Anwar played games with me but often I am so sad he is no longer with me I try and forget those days as it hurts me so badly.

There is also fetch with a tennis ball. Bob takes me and Dillie out to the park where he can throw the ball. Bob tells me that Dillie used to be a rocket and played until he was so exhausted he could not run anymore but now is a bit creaky and limps and can only take a few runs at the ball. I am just about two and I have so much energy but I told you I was a smart dog on the streets of Cairo and I am smart here too! So I ask Dillie if I can run after the ball while he rests and he says yes and that I should have fun! I really like Dillie so I must show him deference as a matter of the respect he deserves and not make him jealous.

Dillie is a bit creaky and has a slight limp. This happens to older dogs and it will happen to me so I must show how much I care about my new friend by ensuring I do not embarrass him in front of Bob and Fay. I always let him go first and never growl at him but I don’t have to do that as he is so good and accepting of me. In fact, in my evening prayers to Allah he leaves the room to give me privacy. Dillie does not know who Allah is but he is wise enough to know I pray to Allah and that he matters to me. The street dogs in Cairo laughed at me for my praying saying if Allah cared about dogs animal control would not try to shoot or poison us. But somehow my prayers brought me to Canada so I know that Allah loves me.

After play time we go back with Bob and I go upstairs with Fay as she always watches the BBC World news every night just like Anwar did. But she watches ABC news after that. So my English is getting very good! After news there is a movie usually and a big treat for me is watching old Lassie movies or watching Lady and the Tramp. I feel like Tramp! There are so many movies with dogs on television as soon as I hear a bark on the television I race to it to see and hear dogs.

Bob spends the evening writing. In fact, he has written books before and he told me one evening he is writing a book about me! Who could be interested in a scrappy 14-pound dog from the dirty mean streets of Cairo? Bob must be joking with me. Sometimes I become frightened that the army will take away Bob in the middle of the night like they did to Anwar. But this is not Egypt but Canada so I pray each night to Allah for the safety of Bob and Fay.

Before Dillie and I go to bed we get a walk with Bob in the evening. We meet other dogs and Bob often talks to their owners and if we like each other, wag our tails and sniff each other. Dillie pees a lot and he tells me he is marking his territory. He can’t explain what that means but says his brain makes him do it. I think he means instinct. I begin to understand it as something wants to make me pee and mark my territory too. And if we poop Bob picks it up in a green bag. These Canadians are so clean and polite! We get home and we both head to our beds. Although I think of Anwar each night I feel so safe here I rarely cry and whimper. There is so much love for me here in Canada but in Cairo it was mostly hate except for a few kind souls that gave me food and water and spoke to me softly. I pray to Allah each night thanking those people. My prayers to Allah are of gratitude. I see BBC news clips of angry people in Cairo and those wanting to use the name of Allah in many countries to do bad things. I think they are called terrorists.

Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 12February1971: Amsterdam, Holland: Hippies at Heineken

Dear Barb:

Last night was Ex Lax night so today I stay fairly close to the hotel. They don’t serve many vegetables here. I have been eating too many starches. Although so tasty they are hard to refuse. The most incredible pastry. The boys would go wild.

I have been to the symphony. The concert hall is one of the most famous ones in the world. Incredible acoustics. I hope to attend again on Saturday. Last night I went to see “Hair” in English but I’ll reserve my remarks until later. But evidently it was an excellent performance. The man sitting beside me said it was better than the London production. I only paid $4.50 for my seat. The finale was something and I cried. People jammed the stage. It was wild. Old people. Young people. There are hundreds and hundreds of hippies here. They wear the weirdest clothes I have ever seen. Fur coats to their boots. Hair frizzed out. Big hats. Anything that looks like garbage.

I went on a tour of Heineken Brewery yesterday. It was an hour long and very interesting. I met four Canadian hippies all nice boys from Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto. After the tour we headed to a higher floor and the beer flowed like water. The kids told me it was their third time there. One of them said he knew a Canadian that had been there 37 times before they asked him to leave.

The Dutch will do just about anything for Canadians. A Dutch couple has invited me out for coffee. They are 49 years old and have three children a boy 14 and two girls 17 and 19. I think it will be fun to have coffee over at their house. I hope they are not shy. I hope I will hear from you soon. Every time I think about you and the boys and I get homesick.

I am proficient riding the trams. I am finding my way around Amsterdam. I can’t walk here like I could walk in Spain because it is cold and damp here and my back won’t let me. I am walking but not as much as in Spain.

Back from my sortie to bookland. What a place with hundreds of books. I paid 42 cents for two paperbacks. I saw beautiful pewter mugs and will get one for us, sorry meant stainless steel. I have always wanted a stainless-steel thermos. It costs $16 here but a fortune in Montreal. I can make coffee and put it in the thermos and it will stay hot all day. I guess this is what I will buy in Holland.

The longer I stay here the more I learn about Amsterdam. It is so damp and cold and I wish it were spring and tulips were out. There are huge flower stalls on just about every corner mostly tulips, daffodils and roses. Today on the streets there were ice cream wagons selling so many colours of ice cream and ice cream sandwiches. I was nearly frozen but had one to see what it tasted like and it was delicious. I can’t explain the flavour but it was covered with nuts. One can get very fat here.

Home from symphony and there were a lot of kids there under 12 and they sat like quiet mice. It is no wonder the Dutch appreciate music so much when they start so early.

Barb, I just can’t quit eating. I bought two different types of chocolate and I have a pimple. I have put on plenty of weight. I’m nuts. I should never had stopped at that store that sells al those gorgeous things to eat. Around the corner from the hotel you can have half a chicken, French fries, salad and milk for $1.30. They eat too many potatoes here.

“Hello Dolly” the movie is playing nearby so I may go tonight to see it.

I had breakfast yesterday with a Japanese stewardess who is with KLM and flies back and forth from Tokyo. There was a nice note from her today with her address in Tokyo. She is married and so sweet. She asked me to get in touch with her should I ever be in Tokyo. She is very young and beautiful. There is a Japanese waiter in the hotel room and he nearly knocked himself out waiting on her. He brought us a huge dish of ham from the kitchen.

I will say goodnight to you. I’m going to have a hot bath and an aspirin, get into bed and read. When I get hungry I have all that crap outside of my window. I sure don’t want to get pneumonia here.

Love Mum

RKS 2024 Film: “After the Fire” (Avant que les flames): Tired Old Plot Barely Saved by Fresh Talent

The French film “After the Fire” suffers from tired old plot syndrome perhaps more common in the news of the day or in documentaries than in a feature film. Minority member brutalized and killed by the police. It happens ubiquitously in almost all countries. In this film Karim El Yadari of Strasbourg dies after a “police interaction”. The official police report is the cause of death is an epileptic fit due to his drug use. One problem is that the official autopsy report does not jive with the police side of the story and a key witness, Karim’s girlfriend, points to police brutality as does trauma inflicted on the body. Karim was not carrying weapons or drugs. The autopsy report listed a crushed thorax as the cause of death a la George Floyd. The Strasbourg public prosecutor more of an ally to the police than to justice is pulled from the investigation and an independent examining magistrate is appointed who advises the Yadari family it will be some time before she can be in position to make a ruling due to the French bureaucratic legal system. She points out manslaughter charges are likely to be laid against the police officers in the “police interaction”.

Karim’s sister Malika (Camélia Jordana) embarks on a quest for justice for Karim at times losing a sense of rationality and proportionality. Admirable Malika faces terrible odds a North African may have in France for justice but wanting to sell the business she runs with her husband to raise funds to fight the legal fight makes no sense as without the income from the business how will they survive!

While the plot initially focuses on the generalities of French police brutality against Africans its delving into the use of the media by both the police and its victims freshens up the plot as does the familial turmoil within the Yadari family.

The family has been advised by a community activist get the media involved as “when the fire goes out” the media will have little interest. The fire may certainly “go out” in the public eye but for the Yadari family the fire will smolder for a very long time.

The film introduces a wealth of new talent. Jordana effortlessly carries some heavy weight. The cast is flawless and I expect to see more of them in French cinema. Unfortunately at times the film reminds me of an American television show and it is the acting that rescues it from repetitious boredom.

Watch the trailer here https://vimeo.com/880600402

Limited theatrical release in Canada starting 2February2024.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 76/100.

Directed by Mehdi Fikiri.

Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: ? February1971: Palma de Mallorca, Spain (Red Roses from British Film Director!)

Dearest Barbara:

I am leaving here tomorrow. I think I can stop over in Nice. I will see if I can. I will write at once. I would like stay a week there. Diane, bless her heart phoned me yesterday morning. She will phone you upon her return. She is a very thoughtful girl.

I had my hair done yesterday for 35 pesetas and I look like a Spanish senorita too high.

I ate at a fabulous restaurant and the maître d spoke excellent English and says I am nuts to get an apartment at the rate I expected to pay. He gave me his card.

The Spanish people rarely smile. They are very sad people and wear dark clothes. They can be very polite and they don’t have their hands out for money all the time. I think they are proud. I don’t know if I like them or not.

I bought both boys leather gloves for 99 pesetas and they are beautifully lined. I’d like to get you something but not sure what. So you probably won’t get a thing.

I gave VT all the books I read. She is going out with a Sanish pilot so she is too busy to read. I am now going to the front desk to mail this letter. So it is bye for now. I am having such a good time. Bless you.

Love Mum

P.S. I should really keep a diary about what I have seen and done or I might forget.

No Canadians in sight. I wonder why they are so slow in discovering Spain. There are plenty more men here than in New York. Before I sign off I met a British film director- a real doll. He has kids about the same age as Robert and Andy. He says his second wife is dumb and he should have stayed with the first one. He sent me a dozen red roses today with an invite for dinner. NO GO!