RKS Film: “Road Trip”: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Panah Panahi has crafted a clever film in the Iranian film “Road Trip”. It is a wonderful film and does not hand feed you. It is delightfully vague and I believe perhaps intentionally so or has Iranian autocracy hardwired Panahi as a matter of survival to be discrete? If you know the repression of Iranian theocracy it is unwise to criticize anything that can be perceived as a political attack. Just ask the political prisoners that have disappeared, been murdered or have been tortured or all three. If you are familiar with Soviet literature during the Stalinist era and possibly in the era of his successor Putin you may know by way of innocent allegory a regime could be lampooned and criticized with a smile. To do so requires skill and as akin to a cat on a hot tin roof not getting paws scorched.  Panahi is the cat on a hot tin roof with this film.

To gain an idea of repression in Iran you can see my review of the documentary “Nasrin” https://setthebarlifestyle.wordpress.com/2020/12/01/nasrin-dirty-rotten-you-know-whats/?fbclid=IwAR1vorUlI_jUqqRI4r-xySbPHa2judXpbQQHxX4FV-2EFjUJnWFtqcvU5N8

Initially I thought this might be a comedy. Father Khorso (Hassan Madjooni), mother (Pantea Panahiha) little brother (Rayan Sarlak) and big brother Farid (Amin Simiar) with their ailing dog Jessy are off on a road trip in Iran. After watching little brother motor mouth in a most precocious fashion to start the film I thought this might be an Iranian Griswoldian trip to Wally World.

Matters start to get off the comedic track when mother in a fearful voice exclaims that they are being followed on the highway. Why the paranoia? Is it simply because this is Iran or is there more than meets the eyes? More comments are made by mom and dad about a summons not yet being served on Farid and having to sell a house and car for bond? Then mention is made that once out of Iran photographer Farid will be successful and we’ll all be reunited? Then father is on the phone with Houshang who appears to be waiting for them. Father says Houshang is a stand-up guy and is to be trusted.

The family heads up from the desert into lush green hills and stops to buy a sheepskin for camouflage. Up they head to a remote meeting point where father says to Farid he should not forget that Houshang is waiting for him “on the other side”. Bingo! Big brother Farid is being smuggled out of Iran into Turkey. Why we don’t find out. But at the hand off point there are other families waiting to hear if their loved one has been successfully smuggled out. Does Farid make it?

This film is no comedy but rather a study in quiet desperation of which little brother has no real clue. Any joy on the trip is fabricated to mask misery. We do not know why Farid is escaping. That is purposely kept vague lest any reason critical to the Iranian regime be apparent. Even any direct reference to human smuggling is never made but rather implied. There is some reason why Farid is escaping. Has he committed a crime? Is he evading military service? Has he criticized the regime? Panahi as writer and director is a cat on a hot tin roof. It is up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions. As in Stalinist and Putinist times censors can’t catch all especially when there is no clear-cut jab criticizing an oppressive regime. Farid could simply be a criminal or trying to escape military service. Right?

Madjooni as father and Panahiha as mother give convincing performances and little brother (Rayan Sarlak) plays both the precocious and obnoxious card beautifully and unforgettably. Beautiful cinematography by Amin Jafari is pulling you to visit Iran.

You can see the trailer here https://vimeo.com/690585703

Currently playing in Canada and when and where see https://www.filmswelike.com/

RKS Film Rating 91/100. The film started its run in Canada on April 22 and will play at several theatres there. You can check out where at https://www.filmswelike.com/

RKS Wine: Inexpensive French Wine: Pays d’Oc

Generally speaking Southern France, particularly Pays d’Oc, can be a good region for inexpensive wine with quality a bit of a hit and miss but isn’t that the case for just about all wine regions?

The Gayda Syrah 2020 retails for $14.95 in Ontario. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s description in its April 16, 2022 catalogue says this wine is an astonishing value making it a can’t miss option. Forget the marketing hype and investigate on your own.

As for aromas the wine has a presence. Expect blackberry, black cherry and some spice. On the palate expect blackberry to rule hanging in there like a nearly expired monarch. The palate is coated pleasantly with richness that might be better defined but the sourness I am registering with so many red wines is thankfully not lurking in this wine. Short finish. Not a complex wine but there are no flaws. It can be quaffed on its own but as there is summer on my mind try with a Swedish Lindstrom burger.

Recipe: Beef Lindström Burgers

RKS Wine Rating 88/100. If you are comfortable with a simple but well-made wine well then this is a “can’t miss option”.

(Gayda Syrah 2020, IGP Pays d’Oc, Domaine Gayda, Brugairolles, France, $14.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 392977, 750 mL, 13.5%, RKS Wine Rating 88/100).

“Travels to a Different Time” : 27June1975: Finally in Stockholm: This Country is Too Expensive!

Up early for a barely edible breakfast and hit the highway after yet another gruelling walk. Got a lift quickly with a fat and jolly truck driver from Germany who was driving in Sweden making good money at $120 a day. Finally a series of lifts to get me into Stockholm and found a dive for the absurdly expensive price of $4.50. This country is so expensive I think a job might help build up the cash. In bed exhausted at 11:30. Too tired to eat. My smoking career has ended as I lost my tobacco on the road.

“Travels to a Different Time: 26June1975: Almhütt, Sweden: The Home of IKEA!

A wasp buzzed into my tent at 08:30 and that certainly is more effective than an alarm clock. I whipped out to a nearby store for some bread, sliced meat and milk. I ate, packed up and split. A gruelling walk took me to the highway heading to Stockholm. In a moment a lift from a vegetable salesman in a blue SAAB. He drove fast but well. He told me how bad hitching was in Sweden. Thanks for the encouraging news. He dropped me off at a good spot and then a lift with a beautiful Volvo sports car. It is the P-1800 which is what Simon Templar drives in” The Saint”. A short lift took me to Almhütt at about 16:00 and as it looked like bad rain so decided to take refuge in a youth hostel. I got the last bed in a room with 6 beds. I had a long walk into town and mailed two letters at 45 cents each! And the usual heart attack at the grocery store with hefty Swedish prices. Three times more expensive than in Poland. I bought a litre of milk to drink on the return to the youth hostel. A somewhat strange dinner of scrambled eggs, weird meat, canned mandarins, bread and water. Fresh fruit costs an arm and leg. Met two Swedish freaks and had a wide-ranging discussion including the plastic nature of Swedish society and its conservative politics. Pooped off to bed at 22:30. IKEA opened their first store here in the 1950’s.

RKS Real Life: Bizarre Night at the Opera

Sometimes by default I find myself at the opera as I did last night. It was La Traviata staged by the Canadian Opera Company at the Four Seasons Center in Toronto. It is a beautiful venue.

We meet my former doctor in the lobby prior to the performance. I knew that he occasionally acts as the “house doctor” for patrons who may fall ill. In thirty years of doing this he has seen just about everything. We wished him a quiet night.

La Traviata sputtered onto the first intermission. It picked up steam close to the second intermission. It was actually quite riveting after that. And the torrid and tragic finish came with Violetta dying in Alfredo’s arms both in a heart rendering swan song. With four minutes left we hear shouts “Medic” repeatedly. The audience and the performers can scarcely believe what is happening as the drama now is off the stage! The curtains drop. The lights go on. We depart having a senior dog awaiting us at home due for a walk. A bizarre night at the opera. It is often quite a senior crowd so I suppose one shouldn’t be surprised. But with 4 minutes left! How can the performers start all over again after having built up so much momentum!

“Travels to a Different Time” :25June1975: Ystad, Sweden: Burgers with The Boppers

Up at 07:30 for a hot shower. So good! I needed to ask someone how to use it. You set the temperature and press a button and water shoots out of the shower head for about 40 seconds and stops. You keep pressing the button until you are done. It gives you time to soap up and it must keep energy costs low. For breakfast a can of Polish mackerel I brought over from Poland, bread, apple cake and a litre of cold milk. Very satisfying. I walked into town to an optician to get my lens placed back in my glasses. I also stopped in at tourist information to ask about working in Sweden which can be done if you obtain a work permit. It was a beautiful sunny day pleasantly warm. How sweet it is as Jackie Gleason used to say. I came home and sat in my underwear in the sun until 16:00 and then went to the beach. The water was freezing cold and it is understandable why the Swedes head to Greece and Yugoslavia for the beautiful warm water. There are all sorts of cabins on the beach so this must be a tourist site in July and August. Supper was soup, peas, cucumber and bread. When I finished some bored boppers came over and we finished off my small bottle of rum with some coca cola. Liquor is a staggering price over in Sweden so again another reason to head to Greece and Yugoslavia. Had some burgers with the boppers and asleep by 22:00.

RKS Film: “Beautiful Scars”: Tom Wilson’s Journey

As human beings when our time comes to pass into the other world we will have collected a series of life experiences. They will range from horrific to ecstatic.  Canadian musician Tom Wilson seems to have experienced the complete range. It is the unpleasant ones that leave scars. A scar is a healed wound but for some the wound of a life experience never heals.

Tom Wilson was born a child of the 1950’s and was parented by George and “Bunny” Wilson. George was blinded while serving as a rear gunner in a Lancaster bomber in WW2. George never talked about this terrible experience except when he took to liquor and his anger and bitterness came gushing out. Yes George bore a wound that never healed.

Tom grew up like he was in a “witness protection programme” with no non-family members permitted in the house. Tom looked at neighbours having barbeques and living active lives but that was not the life he led. He was a loner without much of an identity as there were so few people that he could identify with.

He always appreciated the visits of his cousin Janie and her attendance at many key events of Tom’s life. Janie was a Mohawk originally from the Kahnawake reservation just off the island of Montreal.

Tom managed to find something of an identity through music initially folk then punk and then rock finding some success with his band Junk House releasing albums with Sony Canada. Then a rock n roll script of too much booze and drugs. He met and married a waitress at a bar his band was playing at and had two children one of which was Madeline who is featured in the documentary. Not being raised in a “normal” family relationship parenting skills eluded him. It was easier simply to escape playing “on the road”.

Tom started painting in 1997 with his works having an indigenous influence but why? He had frequent dreams of crossing a bridge over water being caried by his uncle who transformed into a turtle. It took Tom years to finally understand this dream.

Then a huge bomb is dropped on him out of the blue that would send anyone reeling. I wish I could tell you what that bomb was but then it wouldn’t be a bomb for you. But you begin to pick up clues along the way and they snap together when the bomb is dropped.

His wife found out about his drugs and extra-curricular affairs and the marriage ended and Tom hit a downward spiral to the extent his band broke up. His Junk House drummer laments the fact he never tried to reign in Tom.

After the bomb is dropped Tom pieces his life together slowly discovering his identity and discovers the deep scar running through Cousin Janie’s life. Tom finally understands his identity and becomes part of a community honestly and with joy. If the scars are beautiful, it is because it signifies Tom’s wounds have healed.

A poignant story is woven by Tom Wilson reminding that while life dishes out many wounds it also may give back the tools to heal. It may also beg a wider question of what scars you have and can they heal? It may also remind Canadians of just another set of atrocities suffered by our First Nation’s people.

The world premiere is on May 2 in theatre and then on May 5. It can be streamed as of May 3rd for 5 days.

Part of the Toronto Hot Docs Festival.

Directed by Métis director Shane Belcourt.

RKS Film Rating 91/100.

“Travels to a Different Time” : 24June1975: Ystad, Sweden: Milk and Cookie Bliss!

Up for last day in Poland. Raced to the washroom to beat the rush and take advantage of the hot water. Went into town but the stores would not be open until 09:00 so I sat on some steps and updated my diary. There were soldiers and police all over the place. The soldiers had machine guns and stopped a few people to look at their identity papers. They gave me dirty looks. They may be here to prevent defection to Sweden. I was at the ferry at 10:00 and whizzed through Polish customs. I bought a bottle of rum and vodka for $3.00 at duty free plus a pouch of Dutch tobacco. The clerk made a mistake in my favour of $1.60. We left at noon and the Baltic is cold and grey looking. At 17:00 had leftover bread, fish and orange juice. We landed exactly on time and I breezed through customs. The land of beautiful blond women! The youth hostel was full so I ended up at a campground. Expensive at $3.00 a night but hot showers and immaculate washrooms with the biggest rolls of toilet paper I have ever seen. The campground is a pleasant surprise. I have stayed in some primitive dumps in Eastern Europe. My eyes bulged when I saw milk! Haven’t had any good milk in close to a month.  What bliss having cold and high-quality milk with cookies. The simple pleasures of life! One of my lenses popped out but I am sure there are good opticians in Sweden. Had a rum and coke and was off to bed at 21:15 happy as a clam with the delicious milk. Saying for the day: “Poland’s national sport is waiting in line”.

“Travels to a Different Time ” : 23June1975: Gdansk and Swinoujście, Poland  

The radio alarm clock blasted me out of bed a 04:00 with some good jazz! I ended up running all the way to the local train station arriving in a sweat just making my train. I slept for a couple of hours on the train and by the time I arrived in Szczecin I was in no mood for exploring it. I had 3 hours to wait for the train to the ferry departure town so I walked around the town. I took the train and it was a horrible milk run like there was a conspiracy I never leave Poland! Stop after stop and wait after wait. I finally ended up in Swinoujście and headed to the campground. The poor Polish lady had to fill out paper after paper to process a foreigner. One form for a receipt, one for bank exchange and one for foreign campers and all this for a $1.20 a night camp stay. So absurd all this fucking bureaucracy. Am I going to topple the Polish government? Why can’t I travel without all this idiotic bureaucracy? I was in a very surly mood with fatigue and impatience. I set up my tent and had something that looked like a pancake but it was so gross I had to spit it out. I then found a stand selling fries and fish and two shitty Polish beers for 65 cents. My goodness that fish was superb, better than in England. When on the Baltic coast eat fish! Walked back to campsite and thought perhaps a saying for the day might be in order. “Bureaucracy soon consumes its creators.”

RKS Wine: Entirely Consistent and Reliable: Trius Red

Year after year Trius Red maintains its consistency and remains an enjoyable quaff. Can it continue on a roll with its 2019?

It is Cabernet Franc with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. While Ontario Cabernet Franc is just about a winner every time Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot can be problematic. Aged 12 months in French oak.

On the nose Cabernet Franc keeps the wine anchored. On the nose black cherry, blackberry, strawberry with a hint of milk chocolate. On the palate moderate tannins with a less than forceful Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon struggling to impart some of their identity. There are notes of cherry, cranberry, rhubarb and guava. Will hold until 2025. I think best consumed with food such as prime rib, loin of pork and summer Greek stuffed eggplant. Short finish.

I said a good quaff but I did not say an outstanding wine. If I can be a rebel I wonder if the elimination of Ontario Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon could make this wine an Ontario icon? The wine reinforces my opinion that Ontario Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon might consider retirement. It has taken me several years to conbfidently make this comment about Ontario Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

(Trius Red The Icon 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Trius Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 303800, $22.75, 750 mL, 13.1%, RKS Wine Rating 87/100).