RKS Film: “Corrupto” (Corrupted)

“Corrupto” is a short Chilean documentary showing at Toronto Hot Docs 2022.

A young woman undergoes multiple electro convulsive therapy in August 2018 and the doctor proclaims the treatment was successful. It is quite apparent that is not the case as the woman suffers from loneliness, alienation, memory loss, panic attacks, confusion, incomplete memories and a struggle to connect with her surroundings. This is where the camera work and sound brilliantly conveys to the viewer what words can’t express completely. There is static, images of a brain undergoing ECT and faces scratched out by markers so they are unrecognizable. There is even a clip albeit blurry of a demonstration against ECT where a speaker talks of ECT as electrocution.

The woman says it is her mission to reconnect with her deceased mother but how likely can that be if she can’t reconnect with herself?

It shows in theatre with “Desert Space” on 7May and can be streamed (geoblocked to Canada) on May 3 for 5 days.

Director Juan Cifuentes Mera.

RKS Film Rating 86/100.
Photo Fantasy Films

RKS Film: “The Killing of a Journalist”: A Filthy Stinking and Deadly Web of Slovakian Corruption (Toronto Hot Docs 2022)

“The Killing of a Journalist” is a documentary chronicling the 2018 murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancé Martina Kašnírová in Slovakia. Kuciak was in the midst of preparing an investigative report on corruption in Slovakia focusing on VAT and tax fraud centering on Slovakian Mafiaosa Marían Kocner a.k.a. “prominent businessman”. Kocner was knee deep in corruption but miraculously was never convicted nor charged with any offences. Not so much of a miracle of God but of blackmail and bribery.

The crime scene was a bloody mess and the head of police stated Slovakia was not a Mafia state despite a pack of reporters thinking otherwise. Slovakians, infuriated with the murders and rife corruption, exploded into the streets protesting and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Robert Fico who fought back claiming the demonstrators were trying to destabilize the state. It so happened Fico had somewhat embarrassed himself by hiring Alena Zsuzsová, a topless model with connections to the Italian Mafia as his aide. 11 days after the murders the President of Slovakia expressed his dismay with the evils gnawing away at the state and publicly distanced himself from Prime Minister Fico. The Minister of the Interior resigned followed by Fico but the head of the police says he would not resign and “would fight to the end”. The end came 55 days later when he resigned.

A massive investigation by the police reviewing CCTV camera footage and thousands of text messages uncovers the murderers one of whom spills his guts naming accomplices and brokers of the murder fingering Zsuzsová as the person ordering the hit as directed by Kocner. Text messages between Kocner and Zsuzsová appear to substantiate that. An anonymous deep throat gives access to police investigation results to a team of investigative journalists who uncover how pervasive and deep the corruption was. The Slovakian police leadership was the main arm of the Mafia and politicians, judges and prosecutors were in Kocner’s hands as they were put in “compromising situations” by Zsuzsová. And there is taped conversation between Kuciak and Kocner where Kocner stated he would pay “special attention” to Kuciak and his family.

The end result is that Kocner and Zsuzsová were found not guilty of the murders however a higher court has overturned that verdict and ordered a retrial which started in February 2022. Kocner did receive a 19-year sentence for financial fraud and Zsuzsová 21 years for arranging the assassination of a Slovak mayor.

The killings of journalists like Kuciak are nothing new as we have seen in Russia, El Salvador and Turkey just to name a few guilty countries. This documentary is a well documented example of how corruption if unchecked can become particularly violent when the judiciary and police are in the pockets of the criminals where can there be no justice unless the population can mobilize and topple the pyramid of corruption.

The director of the documentary is Matt Sarnecki who treats us to an example of how corruption made Slovakia a failed state. It is where the unbelievable becomes reality.

“The Killing of a Journalist” is in theatre on 5May and is streaming at Hot Docs at Home starting May 2 for 5 days but is geoblocked to Canada.

RKS Film Rating 92/100.

RKS Film: “Sexual Healing”: A Tale of Courage and Curiosity

Evelien is a 53-year-old Dutch woman confined to a wheelchair due to spastic scoliosis. She was born premature and the hospital authorities advised her parents not to name her as she would not live long. It became a theme for her life that she shouldn’t exist. She retreated to a state of unhappiness which was so prevalent it actually offered her comfort to retreat to that world.

Act 53 she realizes that she has never had sex and being told by someone that you are not whole and a person until you have sex she presses ahead with her plan. She contacts DUZ a sex agency that specializes in a clientele of disabled people. They are extremely professional and empathetic at DUZ starting with an intake interview where possible matches for Evelien are discussed. She then choses Thomas a 67-year-old man who is full of charm with an uncanny ability to set Evelien’s mind at rest. The client has complete power to sop at any time if they are uncomfortable. Evelien also consults with clients of Thomas. She is ready to go! She discovers her sexuality and asks what  am I to do with it!

I found a key part of the film was the unconditional love and acceptance of Tori her dog and the horse she grooms. If only humans could be so accepting. I digress a bit here and say I had a friend at work who was diagnosed with ALS a fatal muscular disease. When that diagnosis was made public most people shied away from the man. Several of us made it a point of not fading away from him. I made myself a promise to go on a monthly lunch with him until even life in a wheelchair was impossible. At our first lunch I was really uncomfortable in interacting with a condemned man. But that unease faded rapidly. Were people equally abandoning Evelien?

A story of determination, courage, self doubts, nervous humour and the power of sexual healing. It seems Marvin Gaye’s song of that title finally makes sense.

Perhaps it is time for all of us not to take intimacy for granted.

The documentary is part of Hot Docs Documentary Festival 2022 and plays in theatre 5May and may be streamed as of May 2 for 5 days.

You can see the trailer here https://vimeo.com/693464778

Directed and written by Elsbeth Fraanje. In Dutch with English subtitles.

RKS Film Rating 91/100.

“Travels to a Different Time” 8July1975: Muonio, Finland: 100 Miles North of the Arctic Circle and Freezing Cold

Pelting rain last night but no leakage into my tent. It was raining when I woke up and it looked as if I’d be pinned down in my tent. A wonderful breakfast of tuna fish and rock-hard bread. Finally a bit of sun so I packed up and split. A 2 km walk to the main road with a milk break on the way. It was freezing cold. The fourth lift was with a guy my age and his sister. We stopped at his house and had some coffee. I mentioned I liked milk and he went down to the cold cellar and brought a can of milk fresh from the cow and it was delicious. We continued North to Kolari and I was left off there. It was so cold I wrapped myself in my Greek blanket. I ended up in Muonio which is 100 kms north of the Arctic Circle. $3.00 a night at the youth hostel. There were only two other people there an Aussie and a Swede. We went out to drink some beer. The conversation and the beer were excellent. We returned and continued chatting finishing my bottle of vodka I brought over from Poland.

Photo Tehri Touvinen

RKS Wine: An Odd Bird from Tuscany: Fattoria Le Pupille Poggio Argentato

I say this wine is a bit of a Tuscan odd bird with a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Manseng, Traminer and Semillon. The Petit Manseng constitutes 25% of the blend and has been fermented in oak and the other grapes in stainless steel.

On the nose there is Orri tangerine, marzipan, ruby red grapefruit and pear galette. On the palate initial impressions are that it is a “soft wine” with a faint creaminess to it. Additional notes of musk melon, guava and Bosc pear. Somewhat bland. Grilled white fleshed ocean fish basted with oregano, lemon and olive oil with Swiss Chard as a side drizzled with the basting sauce would be a good match. Drink this year.

(Fattoria Le Pupille Poggio Argentato 2019, IGT Toscana, Poggio del Maiano, Grosetto, Italy, $19.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 23040, 750 mL, 13.5%, RKS Wine Rating 88/100).

RKS Film: “Les bienveillants” (The Benevolents)

“Les bienveillants” is a thoughtful short documentary by Montreal’s Sarah Baril Gaudet. The viewer will have the opportunity to understand the volunteer recruitment process of Tele-Aide a Montreal call centre that specializes in listening to telephone calls from people in mental distress or simply listening to anyone that needs someone to talk to. Tel-Aide was founded in 1971 and since that time has listened to over two million calls.

Volunteers attend an initial screening interview which is followed by some training sessions with actual and simulated calls. What are the most important skills? Good listening skills and being non judgemental are key.

Want to be a fly on the wall at a call centre taking a range of calls from suicidals, callers dealing with drug addiction and loneliness. Perhaps their skills are all what we need in our everyday life.

You can see the trailer here for “Les bienveillants” https://www.sarahbgaudet.com/les-bienveillants

Showing at Toronto Hot Docs Festival 2022 as part of “The Canadian Spectrum Shorts: Stronger Together”. The shorts may be streamed but are geoblocked to Canada.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 7July1975: Pello, Finland: Good Riddance to the Annoying Germans: Finnish Motorcycle Mania

I woke up today and loved my hot shower. The Germans split without saying good-bye. A case of mutual annoyance? Good riddance. It was nice to have a 700 km ride though. But I was fed up with them. On the road on my own again. First some great Finnish milk. After 15 minutes trying to snag a lift it began to rain and just then a lift in a Ford Taurus for 70 kms heading North. Then a short lift with a Mercedes then three guys in a Volvo. All had poor complexions. We stopped at one of their friend’s place for coffee cake. Then a lift in a motorcycle. There are so many motorcycles in Finland. Three hours waiting for a lift which was with another bad complexioned Finn. He virtually begged me to stay so he dropped me off at the campground and said he would pick me up in an hour. We went to a disco and I stayed for a couple of hours and his cousin drive me back to the campground.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 5July1975: Haparanda, Sweden: Air Traffic Controller Goes Nutso: Walking into Finland from Sweden

I talked to a former air traffic controller who quit because it was too stressful. This morning he woke up at 07:00 and was ready to depart but the front door was locked making me think what would happen if there was ever a fire. We’d fry to death. The poor guy was yelling and bashing against the door waking everyone up. Finally someone came and let him out. I am glad he is not landing my flight! Out with the Germans who were snaping their cameras like crazy. They are a bit older than me but very conservative. They’ll get married in three years, live in the suburbs having beer belles and each summer they will load up and take their children to Yugoslavia. After breakfast on the move again but the German was tailgating and we bashed into the car ahead of us busting our headlight and damaging the other car’s fender. We had to go to the police station and fill out an accident report. We reached Haparanda after lunch. Cool as there is a Haparanda just over the bridge in Finland. We checked into a youth hostel. I did a big wash and had a glorious hot shower. After dinner I walked into Finland to a disco and entered with my press pass and had a couple of beers on the house. I talked with a Dane and a Frenchman. I stayed until the club closed and in the midnight sun walked back to the youth hostel.

RKS Film: “Box of Rain”: Rock n Roll Salvation Thanks to Deadheads

Lonnie Frazier as a 17-year-old accepted a lift from two high school boys that she knew but a lift to her car turned into a violent rape. Not having a trusting and loving home environment to heal in she accepted free tickets to a Grateful Dead concert in Colorado and headed off there with two friends on a journey that transformed her life in a Deadhead family from a life of fear into an accepting and trusting community.

She found salvation in the Deadhead community a travelling community of Grateful Dead fans that had their own lifestyle and community that resembled a caravan of gypsies following the band on their tour which became their own blueprint for life.

The documentary gives a perspective of the Deadheads as a trusting and safe community that saved Lonnie from a possible tragic end. Blind faith? Desperation? Hey if it isn’t broke no need to fix it.

Hear from Deadheads about how it was a unique community.

From a personal perspective I saw the Grateful Dead in I think 1973 at the PNE in Vancouver. I had a press pass so was invited to a backstage barbeque but I can’t recall much about that other than groupies, roadies and radio personalities. The concert was opened by Captain Beefheart and then the Grateful Dead for a nonstop awesome three-hour concert. The best live rock performance I have seen.

The question I ask was there real magic to this Deadhead community or was Lonnie at the right place at the right time? I suppose you as the viewer will have to decide that. But her involvement with the Deadheads was her salvation so who are we to criticize that?

A fascinating journey into the Deadhead community. You might call it a travelling Woodstock or Watkins Glen. An unconventional part of American history. An obsessive journey of a wounded soul or a movement with broader implications? Your choice.

Given the commentary of Deadheads the Deadhead community extends beyond Lonnie’s pain.

If only there was some Grateful Dead music in this documentary!

The film will be released on digital platforms as of May 3, 2022.

You can catch the trailer here https://vimeo.com/698791950/f29570d154

Directed by Lonnie Frazier.

RKS Film Rating 83/100.

RKS Film: “The Quiet Epidemic”: Sadness, Rage and Disgust

Ostensibly the American documentary “The Quiet Epidemic” chronicles the steamrolling Lyme Disease (LD) epidemic in the United States but it is far more than that. It is an exposé on the self-destructive greed and failure of the for-profit underpinnings of the American medical system and the moral and ethical corruption if not gross negligence of medical practitioners tied to Big Pharma. “Gross negligence” is so well described in the Civil Code of France, Quebec and Louisiana as something not even the stupidest man would do.

On a personal level “ The Quiet Epidemic” has been released at precisely the right moment as North America tries to crawl out of the COVID pandemic. It is in COVID times that we see a medical establishment somewhat divided amongst those that tow the party line of the CDC and NHI about vaccines, masking and the majority of the media that obediently props them up and those that dare question the “science”. Do you notice that CNN seems funded by Big Pharma with incessant and mindless pharmaceutical ads? Do you also notice the admonishments from those towing along with vaccine imperialism we must follow the science. Who controls this science that we must follow? If an analogy can be drawn to following the science in Lyme Disease you and I ought to be terrified.

“The Quiet Epidemic” doesn’t proselytize with narration as it lets those with CDC, NIH and the IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America) embarrass themselves to the extent they are not following the science but rather ignoring it. Yes medicine has become politicized long before COVID. And the closed-minded supporters of the status quo are championing iatrogenic behaviour effectively letting thousands suffer and eventually die. It is always interesting to dig into “studies” supporting pharmaceuticals especially when the studies are conducted by those with ties to Big Pharma. Moral corruption.

Perhaps you can see how I think how on point this documentary is? I perhaps should stop here and say watch it now that I have unloaded the COVID medical debacle off my chest? No. Let’s start all over.

It was in 1975 that Lyme Disease (LD) was identified as a result of a huge spike of arthritis cases in Lyme, Connecticut which primarily affected children. LD is a tick-borne disease one of some 16 tick borne diseases. It is found in wooded areas and now it could be in your backyard throughout North America infecting some 500,000 Americans each year. It operates through a spirochete organism that resembles a corkscrew (the same type or organism is found in syphilis) that like a corkscrew bores into organs and destroys them. 80% of victims recover but 20% do not and they face a likelihood of suffering and death.

For many years and in fact still in present days a good part of the medical establishment thought or tried to have the public believe the course of treatment was antibiotics. Prominent medical organizations such as the CDC, NHI and IDSA treated the rise of LD and its physicians who contested their views as Lyme Loonies. They who worship “science” conveniently and hypocritically ignored any science that challenged their treatment guidelines.

Indeed LD is no game as we encounter some of its victims who die and suffer terribly as certain elements of the medical establishment, Big Pharma and insurance companies have so many vested interests, usually profit. Suffering and death should have been eliminated but stubbornness and the profit motive in the American medical system have precedence over the well-being of patients.

The sad fact is that some 50 years after the recognition of LD very little has changed including suffering and death.

Can you say that this documentary makes me sad? You are right but it infuriates me and brings me close to rage that the pig-headed medical establishment is little better than accessory to murder.

As an investigate journalist in the documentary notes why is it that my dogs can take meds for tick borne diseases but no such treatment is available for humans. This is criminal.

On a last note in the course of researching for a book I acted as a golf marshal last year. I was asked many times why I was not wearing shorts. I replied “Lyme Disease”. Little recognition registered.

You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8pBkzUwb88

It will be in theatre at Hot Docs on May 2/6 and can be streamed (geoblocked to Canada) for 5 days from May 3.

The co-directors Lindsay Keys and Winslow Crane-Murdoch met through their Lyme doctor’s office in 2015.

RKS Film Rating 92/100.