RKS Literature: The Particularly Nasty British Press (Balzac)

“Whenever you see the press out for the blood of some powerful figure, you will not be far wrong in concluding that behind the attacks there is the story of a refusal to pay or to render some service or other. Blackmail arising out of their private lives is the special terror of rich Englishmen and is a major source of secret revenue for the English press, which is far more depraved than our own. We are children in comparison. In England they will pay five or six thousand francs for a compromising letter to sell again.”

Honoré de Balzac, “Lost Illusions”

RKS 2023 Film: “A Song Film by Kishi Bashi”: ‘Omoiyari’: American “Concentration Camps” for Japanese Americans

Internationally acclaimed Japanese American composer and songwriter Karou Ishibashi with his stage name of Kishi Bashi takes us on a journey of history and self discovery and offers a glimpse of a less than logical and reasoned United States President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066  to designate exclusionary zones where in Goebbelistic fashion anyone of Japanese ancestry was prohibited from residing in. Omoiyari in Japanese means empathy and compassion for others.

Shortly after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941 American paranoia about its West Coast Japanese population went to the boil and some 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent were imprisoned in 10 “concentration camps” in remote American locations. Poor accommodation, food and medical care.

Bashi takes us on a historical journey concerning the rise of Japanese immigration to the United States and their fate after Pearl Harbor with footage of “survivors” of the “concentration camps” discussing their internment and old news reel footage. Loyal Japanese Americans trapped by emotional pollical reactions and plenty of American racism. By the way Canadian readers here in Canada we had such “camps”: so no holier than thou please.

Bashi sings his songs often on the sites of the “concentration camps” and unlike several German concentration camps there has been no serious effort to rebuild them as remembrances. There are some rationally weak comparisons of Japanese American “concentration camps” to detention facilities trying to cope with thousands of undocumented migrants seeking to escape to the perceived land of milk and honey. Japanese Americans were legal citizens of the United States unlike thousands of Central American and Mexican economic migrants.

I take objection to the term of “concentration camp” being used in the documentary. Japanese Americans were not systematically liquidated like Jews, Romas, Russians and political dissidents in German concentration camps. No real mention made of the Japanese term of “Omoiyari” surfacing in Japanese conquered areas in World War 2…sex slaves for the Japanese army in the Philippines, starvation and beating of prisoners of war and so forth and so on. Plenty of documentaries on these atrocities so perhaps we are watching a retribution documentary? Two wrongs do not make a right.

“A Song Film by Kishi Bashi”: ‘Omoiyari’ was directed by Justin Taylor Smith and Karou Ishibashi. The film is being released by MTV Documentary Films. It opens in New York and Los Angeles on October 6 with a national release in select cities. The film will be streaming on Paramount later this fall.

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

RKS 2023 Film Rating 72/100.

RKS 2023 Film: “A Thousand Pines”: Mexploitation, Mexmisery but Mexsalvation?

So here I go again with yet another documentary about Mexicans working in the United States. There have been a range of Mexemotions from entitlement, outrage, gratitude and perhaps a combination of all these elements.

The previous Mexmigration films I have reviewed have focused on illegals from Mexico working in the United States without proper documentation but in the documentary “A Thousand Pines” the Mexicans in the United States are welcomed with a temporary work visa where they plant tree seedlings for commercial timber farmers. Follow their life in the United States for three seasons and then to their return to Mexico for a few months break.

The work is dirty and exhausting but in a week $500-$600 dollars can be earned which would take them two to three months to earn in Mexico. Up early in winter, spring and summer away from their families for up to 9 months but their complaints are few as Mexico is not kind to the villagers from Oaxaca. But they can buy land, trucks and educate their children and pay medical bills. Mexico has failed millions of its citizens and as unfashionable as it may seem to Mexicrusaders the United States has rescued them.

Thanks documentary for giving a picture of the rough life Mexicans life in the United States on temporary work visas but they are there legally perhaps not good fodder for many documentarians revelling in Meximisery!

Isn’t it time for documentaries about Mexican workers in the United States to focus on why Mexico has failed so many of its citizens that are compelled to abandon their families for months so they can survive? And what is the effect on the children and family members with these absentee Mexicans? Yankee bashing abounds but what about Mexibashing?

“A Thousand Pines” had its world premiere at the New York Latino Film Festival (15-24September) and will migrate to many other film festivals after that. It will be showing on the United States Public Broadcasting System’s Independent Lens early in 2024. Directed and produced by Noam Osband and Sebastian Díaz.

Time to move on from individual Meximisery to societal implications of the Mexi labour drain. These Meximentaries are beginning to be awfully repetitive and boring.

RKS Film Rating 86/100.

RKS 2023 Wine:  2019 Boya Syrah From Chile: Conquering the Barnyard!

The Boya 2019 Syrah is from Chile’s Leyda Valley. It was aged in neutral oak for 16 months.

Aroma: Black cherry, blackberry and a bit too much barnyard leaning toward funky. Brett? Some like that “perfumed earth” smell believing it gives some charm to a red wine. A bit of a snake charmer so one can hope it does not lose control and bite you on the palate.

Palate: Thank goodness the barnyard has not embarrassed the palate. A pleasing blueberry streak with a hint of dark chocolate. Full bodied and as smooth as you might expect from a full-bodied wine. Moderately long finish. On the nose I thought there was raging acidity somehow held back by the fruit and the barnyard but no trace of ill managed acidity here.

Personality: I thought RKS Wine was to compare my barnyardy nose with a rough childhood like I was some sort of delinquent. Ok I may be a weird on the nose but just try me and pat me on the back for the barnyard pedigree I strut! It worked out in the end.

Cellarbility: Not a long-term ager but will cruise into 2027 with ease.

Food Match: Miami ribs. Steak Florentine.

Price: $19.95 CDN.

RKS 2023 Rating: 89/100. Joaquín Hidalgo 92.

(Boya Syrah 2019, D.O. Leyda Valley, Viña Garcés Silva, San Antonio, Chile, 750 mL, 14%).

RKS 2023 Film: “Retirement Plan”: Bang Bang, Garroting and a Few Broken and Slashed Necks

Ashley’s husband Jimmy double-crosses his crime boss Donny by stealing a hard drive from him in Miami but Donny (Jackie Earle Hailey) and his thugs manage in the robbery attempt to blast Jimmy’s companion who dies with shots to the gut in the robbery getaway car driven by Ashley. Jimmy correctly suspecting his goose is cooked urges Ashley and their 12-year-old daughter Sarah (Thalia Campbell) to go to Ashley’s (Ashley Greene) father’s shack on the beach in the Caymans. Ashley has not seen father Matt (Nicolas Cage) in a decade. Matt is more or less a beach bum. Unbeknown to Sarah she is carrying the hard drive in her knapsack when she arrives to meet her grandfather.

Bobo (Ron Perlman) and The Grandfather (Donny’s brother) are dispatched to the Caymans. Matt caves in The General’s head with a barbel and Bobo escapes without knowing Sarah is in the escape car. Bobo is a likeable thug looking and sounding none too bright but he reads Shakespeare and is more intelligent than his looks and demeanor suggest. Bobo has the ultimate bargaining chip in his possession….Sarah.

A virtual army is dispatched by Donny to the Caymans searching for the valuable hard drive after the death of The General. But old guy Matt efficiently slaughters most of them. He tells Sarah he is a retired adjudicator retired from working for Uncle Sam. But his killing skills reveal he is more than a retired bureaucrat.

In addition to Donny and his gang there is the brutal Hector (Grace Beyers) who is Donny’s boss. Hector is brutal but elegant. Pure evil but still no match for Matt who must have “retired’ some 30 thugs in all manners possible in the movie. Good triumphs over evil but the “good boss” at “the Agency” perhaps is not so good after all as with the hard drive captured by the Agency he has his eyes on a political career. Message is that goodness is not always pristine!

Nothing very complicated here. Cage certainly has a talent for acting and in the first 30 minutes of the film it is his tone of voice that suggests his recognition of overly lengthy and weak dialogue between himself and Campbell. Perlman in his supporting role is the likeable Bobo and has a fabulous last exit! Jackie Earle Hailey as Donny shines as a frustrated thug. Grace Beyers as Hector exudes vileness.

If you like a simple good guys bad guys action movie without much of a connection to reality you’ll like this one. The “Retirement Plan” has been released theatrically in Canada. It is directed and written by Tim Brown.

RKS 2023 Film Rating 76/100.

RKS 2023 Film: Toronto International Film Festival Winner “KANAVAL”

“KANAVAL” a feature film written and directed by Henri Pardo was honored with the Amplify Voices Award for Best BIPOC Canadian Feature also picking up an Honourable Mention for Best Canadian Feature Film at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

Nine-year-old Rico (Rayan Dieudonné) and his mother Erzulie (Penande Estime) flee 1975 Haiti after his dissident mother was tortured and beaten by Papa Doc Duvalier’s Tonton Macoute a group of violent thugs quashing any challenge to dictator Papa Doc. Haiti then and even now is dirt poor and politically violent. Erzulie is a suspected “communist”.

Erzulie was apprehended and savaged by the Tonton Macoute on the last day of Kanaval (Haitian version of Carnival) so Rico is left with dreams and vision of the voodoo inspired costumes of Kanaval and his alter ego taunter and protector Kana.

Erzulie and Rico are accepted into Quebec and live in the countryside with farmer Albert (Martin Dubreuil) and Cécile (Claire Jacques) Cyr. The Cyr’s are suffering a great misfortune of losing their infant children so they have a soft spot for Rico. Erzulie teaches at a local school. Rico experiences racism from both adults and children. Racism emanating from children is unpleasant but from adults even more intolerable.

Rico, traumatized by this mother’s pain and suffering has his alter ego Kana continually barbing him his mother will abandon him and those rural Quebecois are all monsters. One fault with the film is the portrayal of Quebecois as either saintly or malicious racists. Incorrect extremism? Neither is there any gratitude expressed by Erzulie about Canada accepting her, presumably as a refugee.

We follow Erzulie and Rico throughout 1975. They finally reach the Haitian Mecca of Montreal where Rico connects with Haitian immigrants at his school.

A compelling recounting of the trials and tribulations of immigration particularly from a child’s perception. Solid performances from all involved. Yes bravo for the awards but should the film have catapulted over the categories it distinguished itself in or should it have been less marginalized by these awards and won greater distinction? Could it be that film genres pigeonhole great cinema?

You may have missed TIFF but rest assured this Canadian film will circulate globally.

RKS 2023 Film Rating: 92/100.

RKS 2023 Film: “Dreamin’ Wild”: Rock n Roll “Back to the Future”!

How many serious and penetrative rock n roll films have you seen? Probably few if any. Good times, booze, dope, sex and often destruction. Joplin, Moon, Hendrix, Prince or Michael Jackson.

“Dreamin’ Wild” probes the link between past and future and ends up solidly in the present. Minus drugs, booze and sex! Unrealistic you may say but the writing and the acting is so solid let’s ignore the puritanical streak in the film.

Donnie (Casey Afleck) and Joe Emerson (Walton Gogins) are Washington State farm boys who reached momentary and fleeting fame with their teen album “Dreamin’ Wild” which never reached even the lowlife “one hit wonder” status. Then some 30 years later the album roars back into prominence in social media circles. What was so desperately sought for by the Emerson boys in the past now surfaces in the present. Their teen album is remastered and issued to critical acclaim. They are a media sensation as figments of the past tower in the present.

Dad (Beau Bridges) had to sacrifice most of his farmland to assist Donnie in his dreams as he is transported to Hollywood by a money sucking producer. It is a dud as his career goes nowhere.

Fast forward 30 years and new fame emerges and the Emerson boys do a few shows. Donnie is a selfish egotistical musician with a production studio on the verge of bankruptcy while he performs at “Holiday Inn” venues.

Are the boys going to work matters out and be famous in the future?

Intense and emotional scenes between Donnie and Joe raise the film above a mundane rock n roll film. Affleck and Goggins shine rendering authenticity to the film. Dad (Beau Bridges) is a calm and believable oasis both in the past and present and in the positive future direction of his sons.

“Dreamin’ Wild” is a film that is a pantheon that dreams can come true although it may take some time and sacrifice.

Finally a sensitive and emotionally challenging rock n roll film. Sid Vicious must be pissing all over himself!

The present and the past are intermixed leaving the question of the future a question for the future.

“Dreamin’ Wild” will be released on VOD/Digital on September 19th.

RKS 2023 Film Rating: 89/100.

RKS 2023 Wine: A Seinfeld Stop Short Divergence Twenty Mile Bench Gamay Noir

As far as red wine pours there is no doubt Ontario Cabernet Franc can stand up to the best. Ontario Gamay Noir has that potential. The Divergence 2021 Gamay Noir from Divergence Wines in the Niagara region of Ontario is made from grapes grown on the Wismer Wingfield Vineyard. Divergence Wines appeared on the scene in 2022. New guys on the block.

Aroma: The first characteristic you note is smokiness but in that there is black cherry and blackberry. Once the wine opens up after 15 minutes in the glass and with some movement the smokiness is shifted to the background and some gruff raspberry makes its presence known.

Palate: Tannins are laid back however they are certainly not hiding. The wine is smooth with light red cherry predominating with delicate smokiness. The fruit noted on the nose fails to fully materialize on the palate leaving a tart finish. The fruit seems “Lost in Space”.

Personality: Remember that Seinfeld episode where George’s father “stops short”! Well this wine “stops short” on the palate. Please decant me at least 45 minutes prior to serving.

Food Match: Corn beef pasta sauce served over bucatini pasta. Easy peasy and terribly tasty. Sautee onion then throw in field Sheppard peppers in strips and then splash some red wine then Ontario field tomatoes and lastly a tin or two or corned beef. I used Beamsville Bench Sheppards and tomatoes so how much more Niagara can you get? No herbs required just some fresh ground pepper.

Cellarbility: Drink in 2023

Price: $28.

RKS 2023 Wine Rating: 86/100. Rick VanSickle 91/100.

(Divergence 2021 Gamay Noir, Wismer Wingfield Vineyard, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Divergence Wines, Ontario, 750 mL, 12.2%).

RKS Literature: The Cold Blade of a Journalist (Balzac)

“He savoured one of the secret and the keenest pleasures known to the journalist- that of sharpening his epigrams, whetting the cold blade that will find its mark in the heart of the victim, and decorating the pommel for the benefit of the reader. The public admires the clever workmanship of that sword and has no conception of its malice; the reader does not know what havoc is wrought by the steel of an epigram, barbed with revenge and plunged with deadly aim into the victim’s self respect that wounds it in a thousand ways.”

Honoré de Balzac, “Lost Illusions”