RKS 2024 Film: A Freebie from the Visual Communications Archives: “w(HO)”

“w(HO)” is a 2022 American 5-minute mixed media animated short film.

Director Candace Ho relates certain incidents caused by her last name whether it was “Ho.Ho” as a laugh or the insertion  of “izza” between Candice and Ho! But aside from the snickering humour playing on Ho it is also a chronicle of her sexual development.

Cute, lighthearted but insightful with just about as much wisdom a full feature film.

It is available free of charge now courtesy of Visual Communications. Go to https://watch.eventive.org/vcarchives then click on Voices of Pride and scroll to the short to watch for free or for a contribution if you wish.

RKS 2024 Film Rating; 89/100.

RKS 2024 Wine: Louis Aîné & Fils Beaujolais-Villages 2022: Riding on the Zip-Line

A friendly juicy and warm Gamay?

Aroma: Raspberry rules but there is black cherry, blackberry. None of that excessive alcohol plaguing so many red wines. Inviting.

Palate: Blackberry but more acidity than expected but is fine yet still worrisome as one expects something softer and fruitier from a Burgundian Gamay. Not much fruit on the finish.

Personality: Louis Aîné & Fils is a well-regarded powerhouse in the Beaujolais market but I am but an average and unremarkable wine. Reputation and what is in glass often clash.

Food Match: Cold turkey and chicken leftovers with a tomato salad.

Price: $21 CDN (Ontario).

Cellarbility: Drink in 2024. I am wary of the acidity. This wine is just too zippy.

RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 84/100. Wine Align 85.

(Louis Aîné & Fils Beaujolais-Villages 2022, AOP, Louis Aîné & Fils, Beaujeu, France, 750 mL, 13%)

RKS 2024 Film: A Freebie from the Visual Communications Archives: “Gio: A Man Wonderfully Created”

“Gio: A Man Wonderfully Created” is a 2015 American 7.5-minute short film.

Gio Carneal, the son of a southern Baptist minister experienced a hostile and bully ridden 1970’s childhood. Self medication with alcohol and drugs leads to his turning to a gay bar where his newfound sense of community and his desire for full acceptance graduated to sex addiction and prostitution in a community that accepted him. A sense of belonging but even that did not stem his depression and contemplating suicide he discovered God eventually being accepted into a Californian evangelical church.

Carneal says why would he choose a life of misery and alienation. His view is that his sexuality is predetermined and in fact genetics gave him no choice. He chose to live his true self and not to masquerade as a heterosexual.

Directed by Michi Tanioka. It is available free of charge now courtesy of Visual Communications. Go to https://watch.eventive.org/vcarchives then click on Voices of Pride and scroll to the short to watch for free or for a contribution if you wish.

RKS 2024 Film Rating; 83/100.

RKS 2024 Film: A Freebie from the Visual Communications Archives: “And God Loves Gays Too”

“And God Loves Gays Too” is a 10-minute short 2009 film directed by Michi Tanioka. The narrator intervenes two parishioners of an Asian American church located in California about how their church views homosexuality.

Parishioner Marian Sunabe explains how a “conversation” occurred between the pastor, herself and a gay man named Gary. Marian had been friends with Gary for many years and remarked he had left the church once he came out. For 7 years he tried various conversion therapies without success. Sunabe explains how the Bible has been selective and erroneously interpreted to justify anti-gay stances.

Another parishioner Bonnie Tang points out that many parishioners quickly make assumptions about homosexuality relying on selective interpretations of biblical passages as opposed to the generalized context of the Bible.

Although the documentary may be dated but by today’s context it is a guidepost about how far certain churches and their parishioners have moved from their earlier positions. 

“And God Loves Gays Too” is available free of charge now courtesy of Visual Communications. Go to https://watch.eventive.org/vcarchives then click on Voices of Pride and scroll to the short to watch for free or for a contribution if you wish.

RKS 2024 Film Rating; 80/100.

RKS 2024 Film: A Freebie from the Visual Communications Archives: “Comfort Girls”

“Comfort Girls” is a 5-minute short film.

The “Comfort Girls” initially appear in a Japanese garden in traditional Korean garb and sing before military officers of nations that have shaped the fate of a divided Korea. The officers sit at a table to a feast ravenously and disgustingly devouring food. The traditional quickly disappears and the Comfort Girls launch into a K-Pop song. This song rips into the occupation of Korea by military powers, the incessant and destructive quest for beauty and the shallowness of the entertainment business.

A compelling short history lesson of Korea and a satirical view of the male approved version of feminine beauty.

Directed by Eugene Lee Young. It is available free of charge now courtesy of Visual Communications. Go to https://watch.eventive.org/vcarchives then click on Voices of Pride and scroll to the short to watch for free or for a contribution if you wish.

RKS 2024 Film Rating; 96/100.

RKS 2024 Film: “I Used to be Funny”: A Filthy Snake in the Grass Bites a Comedian: Absolute Naturalness

The Canadian film titled “I Used to Be Funny” seems incompatible with the progression of the film but hints and innuendos are dropped along the way Hansel and Gretel fashion that taunt the viewer to determine why comedian Samantha Cowell (Rachel Sennott) is no longer funny as at the outset Sam is funny dropping one liners and receiving retorts from her roomies Paige (Sabrina Jadees) and Phillip (Caleb Hearon). Life appears to be jolly but hints are laid suggesting Sam is suffering and they intensify as the film rolls. But why?

Sam was hired as an “au pair” for 13-year-old Brooke (Olga Petsa) attempting to cope with the terminal illness and then the death of her mother Laura. Brooke and Sam hit it off primarily because Sam is not the typical child minder and her endless humour disarms both Brooke and her policeman father Cameron.

Weaving through the past and present it becomes apparent Sam is suffering from PTSD but why? A snake in grass bit Sam and the venom is her PTSD. The snakebite decimates Sam and Brooke and sends them hurtling towards self destruction.

Despite the relentless comedic aura of the film sinister reigns. Rest assured the puzzling title of the film about not being funny anymore is a lighthearted way of addressing a serious issue. It is perhaps her comedic soul that propels Sam to salvation while paradoxically it may have been very well mistakenly interpreted as a license for the snake bite.

Sennott is brilliant in her performance and Jadees and Hearon are lovable instantaneously and cement the complete naturalness of the film. The film is built and is launched into excellence by the interaction of the actors primarily as a result of the writing and directing of Ally Pankiw.

An impressive collage of indie music helps rubbing salt in the wounds.

The film deserves a major North American release. This is how good it is. Available on VOD/iTunes on 2July2024.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 94/100.

RKS 2024 Wine: You Hear “Barbera” Think Piedmont

As Italian wine goes hear “Barbera” think Piedmont with the best Barbera wine being produced near the towns of Asti and Alba. Barbera is Piedmont’s most widely planted variety and technically takes third place in prestige to Barolo and Barbaresco. Often prestige and palate are incompatible.

We try a Barbera D’Asti from Michele Chiarlo.

Aroma: Fig, blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and black plum.

Palate: On the tart side. Acidity in many red wines is off-putting unless the right accompanying food is served There is well integrated acidity in this wine and by that I mean it does not overpower the palate. Black cherry and blueberry battles “harmoniously” with the acidy. Short finish.

Personality: I am straight to the point and will admit I am built for food with some acidity in it. Don’t waste me drinking me at some corporate “team building” cocktail party.

Food Match: Livorno style baked cod.

Cellarbility: With its acidity I feel like “The Lost in Space” robot in a 1960’s television manner wildly waving its arms in distress shouting, “Warning Warning Warning Warning Warning” i.e. best drink now.

Price: $ 16.95 CDN (Ontario).

RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 88/100. Wine Align and Wine Enthusiast 92.

(Le Orme Barbera D’Asti 2021, DOCG Michele Chiarlo, Calamandrana, Italy, 750, 14%).

RKS 2024 Wine: Monte Zovo Caligo Veronese 2018

This red wine is a blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella.

Aroma: Red cherry, cranberry and raspberry.

Palate: Relatively light and dry with low tannins making it an attractive sipper. Strawberry, raspberry jam and cactus pear. Moderately long finish.

Personality: I am easy going but not a push over. A mere IGT you say but I can stand with wines theoretically above my classification.

Food Match: Pizza Margherita with a Calabrese potato salad on the side.

Cellarbility: Drink by 2024-year end.

Price: $ 15.95 CDN (Ontario).

RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 88/100. Wine Enthusiast 90.jamessuckling.com 92.

(Monte Zovo Caligo Rosso Veronese 2018, IGT, Monte Zovo, San Pietro in Cariano, Italy, 750 mL,13.5%).

RKS 2024 Film: “The Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed”

Ann (Joanna Arnow) is just north of thirty living in Brooklyn, New York. She is living and speaking in a monotone. There is little joy, excitement and vibrancy in her life. A string of alienating BDSM relationships. A numbing corporate existence that awards her a one-year award when she has been an employee for three. A nagging mother. A stream of alienation, frustration, loneliness and lack of fulfillment. Even her prepackaged Dal resembles the runs.

Is being stuck in this negative rut caused her to accept her fate because it is too late to change its course. After a string of failed if not debasing relationships she meets Chris (Babak Tafti) and matters seem improving as we see Ann smiling, singing and engaging with Chris. Rest assured I finally cracked a smile and thought, “FINALLY”.

The final scene was a crushing blow to me and dejectedly I felt like a rat scurrying under the path of an E Train. My God do I secretly admire Harlequin Romance films!

If I felt like throwing a rotten tomato at Ann it is because Arnow knows her stuff as both a writer and an actor and the title of the film “The Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed” rings depressingly true. Oh Ann how could you have done that!!!!!

WARNING: If you are sad, depressed or it is raining best to avoid watching this film unless you feel dark and depressing humour may cheer you up.

You may watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UfoiKPxdoY

Limited theatrical release in Canada on 18June2024 with a VOD/Digital release on 2July2024.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 87/100.

RKS 2024 Film: “Population Purge”: The Story That May Not Be The Story You Think

Sometime in the future the United States government initiates a population purge in its population management programme. The governmentally introduced virus is genetically engineered to spare a relatively small group; those with AB+ blood. The few survivors of the governmental purge only survive with transfusions of AB+ blood. The government issues transfusion cards for “legal transfusions” but a black-market flourishes for AB+ blood and the currency of exchange is gold. Those caught selling “unregistered” AB+ blood may be executed on the spot.

Despite the harsh penalties a thriving black market exists with donors, buyers, middlemen and wholesalers. Underground AB+ blood auctions thrive.  

The United States is a dilapidated and ragged country full of outcasts in gangs battling each other for access to AB+. It reminds one of a Mad Max world where blood not petrol is the prize.

The acting is ragged, the fight scenes are rank amateur and the writing leaves much to be desired but the idea and theme are intriguing. The sets are apocalyptic. The wardrobe creative and the musical score right on. These positive factors will keep your attention despite the weak acting.  

Charlie (Peter Holland) is an old geezer with a strangely unlimited supply of blood. He lives in a decrepit abandoned amusement park with his granddaughter Maya (Lyndsay Soto). His living is selling his blood. He has a bizarre habit of putting on shows for his mannequins attired in a bizarre and threatening ringmaster’s outfit. His imagination is a bit wild and perhaps his sanity as well.

There are many bad guys after Charlie for his eternal wells of AB+ and a good part of the film centres on this.

But is the story we watch real? No this is no corny it is only a dream technique but something a bit more inventive if not riveting attempting to determine another story about a different purge.

You can watch the trailer here https://vimeo.com/936857311/9fb02eaba6?share=copy

The film will be released on digital platforms on 9July2024.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 82/100