“23 Walks”: British Geezer Romance on Film!

“23 Walks” is a rare refreshing romantic film. You see so many romance films focus on the young as if only the young can fall in love. You might say there is streak of ageism in the romantic genre so much so that a younger viewer of “23 Walks” may flatly say we aren’t interested in watching a romance film with 70-year-old geezers. Well, if that’s the case good-bye.

“23 Walks” presents us with a slow and rocky romance between 70’s types Dave and Fern. They meet by chance walking their dogs. Dave has a German Shepherd Tillie and Fern a Yorkshire Terrier called Henry. They completely open up to each other after the 23rd walk but there is much occurring between the 23 walks. Lots of cups of tea and chats.

There is sadness, jealousy, pain, loneliness, suffering, withholding of facts, forgiveness, compassion and secrets. So to say this is a hollow formalistic romance movie is giving is short shrift. Could it be that falling in love is far more complicated in your 70’s than it is in your twenties? It seems so and the road to love is paved with landmines that occasionally explode and cause hurt.

In this case can Fern and Dave take it all the way once the secrets are out of the way? Although the road is rocky I suppose you can guess the ending which is not without requiring some intellectual effort on the part of the viewer.

Dave Johns as Dave and Alison Steadman as Fern give honest and steady performances., Tillie played by Sheila and Henry played by Dennis add a bit of both comedy and tragedy and are the reasons for Dave and Fern meeting and falling in love.

Very enchanting views of some of London’s parks.

Dog owners and lovers get your Kleenex ready!

The film starts off in such a way as to lead to a conclusion of a simplistic plot but its 142 minutes gives it time to develop into a more nuanced film. The film was written and directed by Paul Morrison and Vertical Entertainment will release it in select theatres and On Demand on September 17,2021.

You can see the trailer here https://vert-ent.app.box.com/s/kdlptd95mwwipyfzwxp459ldb5ho3rk6

“Mutantism on the March” : Chapter 96 : Aliens Fighting Nationalism in Quebec

So it came to pass that Frizzy, Squid and Montenez, all aliens, were deep in the nationalistic swindle Jiber (aka Hecklevesque) was propagating. They all convened at a new restaurant called Eno’s Place owned by yet another alien Eno Ergot. Squid was the first to arrive hungrily eyeing a plate of Kalamata olives. Once Montenez and Frizzy arrived a cold pitcher of Martinis followed.

Frizzy was well versed in the exploits of Squid and asked Squid about the strategy he had used to drive the Americans out of Colombia. All Zortixians found it difficult to fathom the barbarity of humankind. However there was still shit on the Zortixian’s history books with the antics of Jiber Sr. and his blackbooters that had exiled Montenez’s father and murdered thousands. Frizzy made it quite clear the Zortixians were aware of Squid’s struggle in Quebec and supported him. Too bad it was not a case of simply taking out Hecklevesque as the backlash would be far worse than Hecklevesque tripping over his political shoes.

Eno arrived after securing supplies for the restaurant and introduced himself as a former evil Zorollian who had originally planned to meet up with Jiber and conquer the galaxy but had reformed after realizing just how decent humankind could be. He was surprised to learn that Frizzy was the Minister of the Interior of Zortixia and rightfully could have zapped him on the spot for his failed attack on the Zortixian missile base years ago. He shocked them further by telling them he was the nephew of Redbeard and his attack on Zortixia was under the orders of Redbeard. Frizzy replied, “That the only reason you weren’t blasted to pieces as you entered the Zortixian atmosphere was that the air controllers were on strike. Your uncle’s attack orders were an attempt to wipe you out! There was no missile base that you were attacking but rather a mental hospital with aliens from different planets masquerading as doctors. In reality they were in the process of converting mental patients throughout Zortixia into an attacking zombie army. You foiled their devious plot. You are a hero in this story.”

Ergot was dumbfounded at the pure evil of his uncle and his crew, all staff at the restaurant, were shaken about how they had been set-up to die!  Ergot then dropped a bombshell telling the group by telling them he knew where and who Jiber was. He had assumed the identity of Rene Hecklevesque.

Squid was not overly surprised having a queasy and suspicious feeling about this Hecklevesque as both the styles of Jiber and Hecklevesque were similar especially the use of subtle deception. Frizzy grabbed his attaché case and pulled out a top-secret file on Jiber and compared a picture of Jiber to that of Hecklevesque. There was no doubt that Hecklevesque and the Jiber were the same! The fox was here in Montreal and ready for the taking! He could return home the conquering hero and become premayor and the leader of Zortixia! Squid and Montenez were more cautious and abducting Hecklevesque and returning him to Zortixia could only cause a nationalistic furor. The situation was very delicate. The last thing needed was to create a martyr and possible bloodshed. It was best to defeat him on earth and then return him to Zortixia when he was broken and out of the spotlight. It was essential no news of this reach Zortixia. This was not the time to settle scores.

“Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog” : Reggie Has a Screen Test With ABC and Bob Meets With Big House Publishers

Bob, Fay and I head to New York City to meet with ABC studio executives and Bob will check in with Big House Publishers about publishing his “Reggie” book. ABC has sent us first class tickets and I sit in a seat between Fay and Bob instead of under the seat as Bob is using his canine service papers that Disney provided him with so I don’t have to sit under the seat!  I like those Disney people! ABC has also put us up in the Ritz Carlton Central Park South which is great because I can go for walks in Central Park and as we have the top suite in the hotel we can always head down to the Club Room where they let dogs come in. There are flowers, dog treats, all sorts of delicious snacks in our room. We unpack and Bob and Fay who have been in New York many times before tell me get ready for a very special walk in Central Park. We meet many dogs and their owners and some old ladies have their equally old dogs in baby strollers which I find very funny. We walk up to Strawberry Fields which I remember seeing in a BBC documentary about a famous musician John Lennon. This is a huge park and there is even a lake with ducks in it but I like the golf course near us in the winter and early spring more as I can go off leash. Dillie the Westie would have loved it here. We have already seen four Westies on our walk. Dillie is with Bob and Fay’s son Drew in Toronto.

On the way home Fay runs into a lady called Kelly and her husband Marc in Central Park with their little dog and we wag our tails and get along with each other. Kelley has a television show on some channel called “Kelly and Ryan” that Fay watches. Fay explains that we are in discussions with Disney, ABC and Big House Publishers about me. Kelly asks Fay if I would like to be on her show they are producing and gives her a card with her number on it and wants to know how things go with my movie career!

We get home to the hotel and the doorman gives us a big smile and knows my name and says hello! At the Ritz Carlton they call guests ladies and gentlemen of the Ritz but for dogs they have no such title so the doorman calls me “cool pooch”.

In the room there is a chilled bottle of that wine that goes pop when you open the bottle like on New Year’s Eve. A dinner of chopped roasted chicken, carrots and rice is awaiting me with Ioli spring water from Greece.

For Bob and Fay’s dinner they are meeting Bob’s sister Babs who lives 20 minutes away and we are going to a small French restaurant called Les Deux Amis and since they have a patio I can sit outside with them. So many people pass by and what a strange smell the city has! There are so many taxis and the whole city seems to be eating out at a restaurant! So much activity! I am not a downtown dog so this is very new to me. Bob has a Bucky Burger with fries and I get a little of each and it is yummy. Babs has an omelette and Fay the Onion Soup. I have a little nap under the table until it is time to go. We take a taxi back to the hotel and a special bed with the Ritz Carlton logo is ready for me. There is a note for me from the manager welcoming me Reginald as a distinguished guest and saying if here is anything I want just phone him. Bob has a good chuckle after he reads the note and says we should go to bed as we all have a big day ahead of us tomorrow.

Breakfast is brought in at 9 a.m. by men with white gloves. Bob has asked for simple chicken kibble for me and it is called “free range and organic” and it is very delicious but a bit rich. On the taxi ride to ABC I admit I farted a few times not being used to this different food. My tummy is a bit off today.

Like the Disney people the ABC “team” is in a boardroom and Fay and I am escorted for my screentest which is a piece of cake! When I return to the boardroom the ABC executives explain what they have in mind. They already know about my screentest results and they are ready to explain “the deal” as they call it.

The television series will be called “Reggie Rules”. There are two gay men in their mid thirties who live in New York and have been partying for years. They feel their life is empty until Reggie approaches them at a restaurant patio and jumps up on one of their laps and wins their heart. The men are called Tony and Akbar who is of Egyptian descent. 14 episodes are planned and I will be the silent star who will be cute, rambunctious yet very lovable. I change the outlook on life for Tony and Akbar. The money is in the range of $100,000 an episode but there is potential that it will be picked up outside of the United States and the money will increase. ABC says it will put a summary of the deal together and send it to our hotel. Bob notes that in the series some comic relief is provided by the man we met in Hollywood called Larry David who is very suspicious of everything Tony and Akbar do. Bob tells the executives he would like Dillie the Westie to be in the series as David’s dog.  Subject to a screen test they agree.

And then it happened as the runs hit me like a volcano and I make a horrible and stinking mess on a very expensive oriental carpet! Bob and Fay turn bright red but as one executive says “We’ve seen it all before!” A cleaning crew arrives and all is gone! Bob thanks the executives and off we go. But I let another fiery mess fly in the elevator and we hustle out of the building. Bob says with a laugh that I have left a good impression. We see a well-dressed man and an angry one at that trying to wipe my little mistake off his alligator shoes. We pick up our pace.

Fay takes me to Central Park for a walk and to settle my stomach while Bob heads off to Big House Publishers and tells us the results. They love Bob’s book but want him to create a series of very simplistic children’s book and then one geared for adults. He will be paid for every book sold and if he reaches certain best sellers lists there will be a cash bonus. There are possible cartoon and movie spinoffs Bob will be paid for.

When we return to the Ritz Carlton Fay and Bob talk about the options. There are pros and cons to each but they decide give it a few days and we should all wait to hear what Bob’s agent Pilkington has to say.

Bob and Fay order room service with a 1982 Chateau Latour as after all Bob says ABC is paying for it! I am back to my regular chicken kibble and my tummy is back to normal. We pack up for our plane ride home tomorrow. I have had a very exciting time but I miss my own bed, Dillie the Westie and a very green Toronto. It will be good to be back in my territory!

Poetry Corner: “My Life as a Hooker and Election Time in Canada”

“My Life as a Hooker and Election Time in Canada”

Playing golf this year as a righty strangely I am hooking the ball to the left
I query out loud why I am hooking?
Well that draws a few guffaws about hookers
and has caused me to think about the upcoming Canadian federal election
where politicians are obviously not hookers
but they are bribing us to enter the door marked by a red light just like in Amsterdam
giving away the body and flesh of a bankrupt Canada
through billion dollar promises
that are never delivered on
you ordinarily pay a hooker
but this time the hooker politicians are trying to pay you to visit their deceptive dream

Robert K. Stephen

Poetry Corner : “Poetry in the Time of COVID”

Poetry in the Time of COVID

So what is the role of a poet during COVID?
no different than the role of a poet when there is no COVID
it is a role of a bullfighter
jab the reader with lances
not to kill and maim
but to challenge and make the reader think
and get the bull angry
to charge yet again
in different words the role is to make you think
challenge a placid mind to jump beyond the palaver of government propaganda
I can make you love or hate the late Idi Amin of Uganda
or ooh and ah to a Panda bear
from concentration camp China
or drop lines like Burka babes shopping at COSTCO
that cause you to think I am
a lunatic on the run
but if I have raised your ire
you have stopped to think
which might be better than being steamrollered by political stink
you can then stand and sing the national anthem at  a sporting event
and forget the poet pleading with you to THINK !

Robert K. Stephen

Poetry Break: “We’ve got your back”

“We’ve Got Your Back”

Remember those politicos saying during COVID that we’ve got your back?
Now it seems with vaccine passports if you don’t get an inadequately tested vaccine
as ordered by the politico medico elite
the rulers are no longer polite
don’t do as we recommend you’ll be sliced out of society like some malignant growth
you no longer have our back
you have a knife in our back
oh yes it is the practical solution
so forget a bit of political pollution
dare to criticize the obedient masses supported by a weak kneed media
you are deemed conveniently an anti vaxxer
and they’ll kick your asses

Robert K. Stephen

“Mutantism on the March” : Chapter 95 More Fallout from The Slaughter on Parc

Droolpoop, the mayor of Montreal was ulcerating away. Thank goodness this little mess on Avenue du Parc happened after the closing of Expo 67. If only the citizens of Montreal would simply forget about politics and give him their support for his bread and circus projects. Was it really necessary to construct a sewage plant to prevent raw sewage from the city to spew into the St Lawrence River? How boring! Now if he could only divert the Lachine Rapids and create an aquarium in its place! Such projects would have to wait until after the upcoming municipal elections. That little tainted horsemeat issue he was allegedly involved with would hopefully blow over. Numerous opposition parties were sprouting up with a common theme of his corruption and lavish spending..symbiotic issues. In his mind all of them were filthy Marxists. These opposition parties wanted mundane demands such a sewage plants, stricter zoning laws that were routinely bypassed by municipal authorities, free vitamins, free birth control and financial accountability over municipal spending. What did these fools know about politics and creating a supremely glorious international Montreal? His “friends” many of which were waiting in Palermo until the tainted horsemeat issue was silenced by Droolpoop were becoming anxious about the electoral chances of Droolpoop and their fair share of municipal contracts. Adding insult to injury was that the man who had wiped out his restaurant, Eno Ergot, was a big financial supporter of these opposition parties. Ergot’s waiters had formed a rock band “The Crewcumbers” who gave benefit concerts for the opposition parties. They had just recorded a record at the Edgewater Tavern in Vieux Point Claire and all proceeds were directed to these opposition parties. Matters were not looking bright.

Montenez was very upset with the Parc Avenue Slaughter. Although an alien he had lived amongst the Greek Gods for centuries and of course had a strong feeling for their culture. Although a Zortixian by birth his heart was Greek. And to see them victimized here in Montreal brought back memories of the Turkish massacre of Greeks in Smyrna. In his writings and public appearances he had warned of the age old tactics of using immigrants and” foreigners” as scapegoats. Zeus was notified of the attacks on Greeks and hastened from the dimension of Zlano to Montreal. Montenez and Zeus agreed it would be wiser for Zeus and his small band of Greek Gods to remain in the background for their overt assistance could bring claims of foreign hostility in Quebec affairs, something the MSQ direly required to boost its cause. Hercules was at the ready should physical violence be required.

Zeus decided to leave with more pressing Turkish aggression developing against the Greeks in Cyprus. Before leaving he said to Montenez, “I’ve told you many times my son many times before that this Earthling world tires me and that is why we departed and left for the Zlano dimension. Humankind never matured in a logical manner yet I haven’t forgotten it and when I see Greeks being shoved around I get angry and an angry Zeus is a formidable force. Let no one make the Greeks a sacrificial lamb unless they wish the wrath of the Greek Gods!”

Yet another surprise greeted Montenez as his friend Frizzy the Smicket Boy from the Zortixian Defence Academy arrived. What a joyous moment to see such good friends embracing each other.

Blushing Frizzy told Montenez why he had made this visit. “Well everything was going my way in Zortixia as I had been promoted to the position of the Minister of the Interior and there was even speculation I would be the successor to the leader of Zortixia, premayor Algno. Even the party was supporting me but there was this political reception a few days ago and I had a few too many drinks. Algno’s wife, such a beautiful creature, gave me the eye and she became a bit friendly, perhaps a bit too friendly. We slipped out to my house and made wonderful snookie. You know she is a frisky thing perhaps too much so for the ageing Algno. Well she passed out for a few seconds and when coming to she regretted her indiscretion and threatened to tell Algno how I raped her. She ordered me to leave Zortixia or she’d spill the beans until she recovered her “dignity and composure”. Valuing my political career I made a little tale that I had the chance to capture Jiber in Montreal and the government went for the bait so here I am. And perhaps fortuitously considering what I know of the turmoil here in Montreal which I think Jiber must be behind. That is what my intelligence squad has told me. I know Squid is involved in this struggle. Just tell me how I can help.

“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog” :Reggie Goes to Hollywood!

I know that Bob is a writer just like Anwar my late master was. Little did I know he was writing a book about me Reggie! Who would be interested in a book about a cur like me? Bob thinks it is a children’s book. Fay laughs saying it is yet a nowhere and nothing endeavour by Bob who has written three novels all published in serialized format without any commercial success but despite the constant lack of support and criticism of Fay he keeps writing for his own “creative satisfaction”. Well out of the blue someone at Disney has read about me in one of Bob’s posts about the Egyptian rescue dog. They would like him to come to California to discuss some projects with him about me! They would also like to have me do some screen tests for a possible movie or television series. The television network ABC would also like to meet with him about a possible television series featuring me. Not only that a large American publisher in New York wants to speak to Bob about publishing his book about me.

Something important must be happening at Disney as they send a private jet to pick Bob and I up to fly to Los Angeles. Fay stays at home eating Humble Pie and to take care of Dillie. This is so exciting!

A big black limousine arrives to take us to the private air terminal at Pearson Airport in Toronto. The plane is waiting for us and inside this small aircraft is an executive from Disney called Mr. Fixer and a flight attendant along with a pilot and a co-pilot. There is a big bed with a seatbelt for me with a bowl of Evian water and a big dinner of chopped steak, rice and green beans. My I gobbled that up quickly! The last time I was in an airplane I was in cargo but this time I am more than cargo. I could be a Hollywood star.

The plane takes off and Bob and Mr. Fixer have some champagne and talk about an animated or real live production. They have a wonderful smelling dinner they call Beef Wellington and a pistachio cream cake from one of Los Angeles’ top bakeries where all the movie stars buy their desserts. Mr. Fixer says the pistachio cream cake is Snoop Dog’s favourite? I will admit I never heard of that breed of dog?

We land in Los Angeles and another back limousine comes and picks us up and takes us to The Beverly Hills Luxe hotel. There is a bed for me, a bowl for water and some cans of wet food from Le Pooch an exclusive pet store in Beverly Hills. There are even some squeaky toys. I feel there is something special in the air. Mr. Fixer said he would pick us up at 11 a.m. to meet some studio executives. Both Bob and I have a toss and turn type of night. Breakfast comes at 9:30. Bob enjoys his croissants and jasmine tea. I have a special breakfast of fingered toast and scrambled eggs.

The limousine or “limo” as they call it arrives right on time with Mr. Fixer. He looks very nervous. He has learnt about the call Bob received from ABC and the New York publisher and starts a conversation with Bob about exclusivity whatever that means.

We meet Disney executives in a large boardroom. They all stare at me and photos are taken of me. Having a very good command of English I understand the gist of what the Disney executives are proposing. They are thinking of an animated children’s movie called “Reggie The Rescue Dog” and a spin-off television series of the same name. Imagine me in a Disney movie just like “Lady and the Tramp”. Bob’s character in the television series will be played by Ryan Gosling and Fay’s by Jennifer Aniston. Bob will be a co-producer and co screenplay writer. If it is an animated production it is the same deal for Bob. The Disney executives do not want to talk about money but say it is a guaranteed multi-million dollar deal plus 3% of the global gross whatever these terms mean.

I go to make-up with Bob and get a bath and fluff up and take my screen test and I understand exactly what the Disney people are telling me because my English is so strong. One of them remarks that this dog is so darn smart we won’t need an animal trainer. I just have on walk on a leash, growl and look friendly. This is easy!

We head back to the boardroom and a dinner is brought in. Bob has to excuse himself to take me for a walk outside the offices. Darn it we don’t have poop bags! I leave a little Canadian souvenir near the hedges outside the building. Bob has a big laugh.

We have a dinner of seafood from one of LA’s best seafood restaurants. Bob has asked for chicken kibble as he does not want me to get gout from all the rich food I have been eating. As far as I can understand it the screen test is successful and the Disney executives propose an animated feature and a television series but need to prepare the contracts. The money will be set forth in these contracts. Disney wants Bob to sign an exclusivity agreement and Bob says he needs time to review it and retain an agent. Bob has been a smart lawyer for 30 years before he retired but entertainment law is new to him.

Disney asks us to stay around for 3 days and gives us the use of a limousine and $5,000 in cash. Our first “day-off” is spent in finding an agent and Bob’s movie contacts in Philadelphia whom he has reviewed movies for in the past recommends Harvey Pilkington as an agent. Pilkington handles some of the biggest names in Hollywood and as we enter his office we meet someone Bob loves called Larry David! I think he is a big television star. Pilkington sems to know his stuff and Bob gets along with this easy-going man as he is also a lawyer. He says flatly to Bob that he is a gold mine and do not sign an exclusivity contract until “they sweeten the pot”.

On the second day it is off to Santa Monica and the third day off to Santa Barbara where we walk on a big beach and I get salt water and sand all over me as I run in and out of the waves. Bob does not want to leave me alone in the evening so he picks up some Thai food one night and some incredible Mexican street food the next night. I don’t like Los Angeles as much as Toronto as there is too much cement and too little green space. I miss Dillie and Fay. I miss our long walks.

On our last day it is back to meet the Disney executives whose legal team has produced a contract which they give to Bob but they also give an oral outline. There will be an animated movie produced by Disney with global distribution. Bob will be co-producer and co-screenplay writer. There will be a $14,000,000 up front payment. Bob will receive 3% cut of net revenues and 5% of net themed merchandise sales. For the television series Bob receives $8,000,000 up front cash. Bob is asked to sign an exclusivity agreement with Disney meaning he only gets paid if he lets Disney run with the Reggie character and no other media company can be involved with “Reggie”. Bob refuses to sign at this point as he has not yet had talks with the book publisher and ABC. The Disney executives look in disbelief at Bob and say, “No deal”. Bob, a very skilled lawyer, knows this game well and says, “Thank you gentleman and ladies.” We walk out of the boardroom. I remember seeing open mouths and with my super hearing I hear a few voices say they can’t lose this deal as the “Muslim angle” would have taken them to the stratosphere.

We have a nice flight back first-class on-Air Canada and as Disney had provided Bob with false service dog papers, I sit beside Bob instead in a mesh bag under the seat. I have seen another part of the world remembering I thought I would live and die a short life in Cairo.

RKS Wine: Penniless Pensioner’s Engagement Party: A Very Special Dessert Brought to the Guests from The Douro in Portugal!

After the oysters the guests are to retire to listen to an hour concert put on by the Toronto Medieval Consort with wine glasses a fill. For those who have not nodded off a grand dessert awaits that I personally advised Celine Serpent would be unique and rarely ever tried in Canada.

I have used my contacts in Portugal’s Douro Valley to bring in the “kitchen ladies” that are local ladies who cook traditional Portuguese foods for both guests and field workers who eat the same as us guests eat. This food is in a league equal to Michelin starred restaurants. Years ago at a media tour on a hazy and cool November afternoon deep in the Douro after a Port tasting at a well known Port producer I met a couple of these ladies beaming with pride making us a very special and time consuming dessert of crepes in Port Wine Sauce a delicacy unique to the Douro. This very special dessert is called ,. It is best served with a Vintage Port but as that starts at least $90 a bottle PP stomps his foot and says, “Absolutely Not”. Serpent will send her private jet to pick up two of these kitchen ladies to prepare the dessert and they will arrive to the delight of the guests and if they do not obtain a standing ovation I’ll be surprised.

Almost embarrassed at the penny-pinching PP I have selected a cheapo Tawny Port but cheap in price Port in no way demeans its quality! It’s more a question of suitability. This Portuguese dessert is a rarity and can it suit a Tawny? There has been so much wine consumed I hold my breath and think back to PP’s comments about the lushes PP has noticed in Serpent’s friends. Their tastebuds will be so slammed a Vintage Port on them might be a criminal waste!

We select an Offley Tawny Port. On the nose it immediately suggests compatibility with this rich Portuguese dessert. Deep aromas of Quebec raisin pie, blackberry, cassis and damn it the very backbone essence of all Ports which is more instinctual than descriptive ! On the palate a nice burn with enough acidity to meld with the crepes. Perhaps a Vintage Port would be too much power up against the power of the Port Wine sauce in the pancakes. The palate is rich but not enough to dominate the crepes. It is full of plums, blueberries, spice, Christmas cake and a nice burn to complete the feast.

This has been a tiring contract trying to balance my professionalism with the cheapness of PP. But I have done my best and look forward to the wedding hoping that PP can finally access his Panamanian bank accounts and my budget increase to match the blissful marriage of Celine and PP!

(Offley Tawny Porto, Sogrape, Villa Nova Gaia, Portugal, $15.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 18454, 750 mL, 19.5%, Robert K. Stephen Set the Bar Rating 91/100).

This has been a tiring process but a good learning experience. Picking out wines that compliment classic food pairings or that match at least in theory but not pedigree. Do I have to go bargain hunting for the wedding wines or will PP’s gold bars and Panamanian bank accounts be forever frozen?

“Pray Away”: What Would Have Jesus Thought?

If you want an answer about the religious legitimacy of conversion therapy in the American Christian right you might get a taste of it in “Pray Away” a Netflix original documentary released this month on Netflix.

Reparative or “conversion therapy” sprouted up in the 1970’s in right wing America as an attempt to convert the sickness of LGBTQ “perversion” into “normal” Christians the way the Bible and Jesus would have dealt with LGBTQ “afflicted” persons.

Now we have all seen how the Koran has been manipulated by Islamic terrorists who are stuck in a third century conservative interpretation to inflict misery and oppression. Has the Bible been equally manipulated to expose LGBTQ community members as deviants that only Jesus can correct? Given the historical perversions of the Koran and the Bible we never may get an answer to this question. But one can surmise that Jesus would have welcomed LGBTQ members into his community if they were consenting adults.

“Pray Away” is a sad and tragic look at the conversion movement in the United States from its inception in the 1970’s to the present day as 700,000 Americans have gone through this therapy. The documentary chronicles the growth and commercialization of the conversion “industry” as little better than slick and repetitive marketing we currently suffer with the vaccination “conversion therapy” flooding us.

We hear from founders of conversion “businesses”, conversion “survivors”, conversion therapy gurus and of course its many victims struggling to supress their sexuality for many years seeing it drilled into their heads as the sickness of being LGBTQ.

It is both a sad yet a damaging attack on conversion therapy. Whatever it is it has prolonged the suffering of those feeling guilt at being LGBTQ. Guilt can be easy pickings for any religion. The message of the film is that conversion therapy is damaging and destructive and is a big business as so many things are in the United States. Fortunes are made by conversion adherents and organizations and a dog and pony show of psychiatrists and psychologists latching on in a symbiotic relationship with the conversion movement with their half-baked unscientific approach. Its mutually beneficial for their businesses.

A personal and moving documentary about the business of conversion, its well-paid stars and its victims. Remembering documentaries tell a story of those who created it. I can only wish Jesus had watched the documentary and written a review.

Many of the prominent members of Exodus and Living Help leaders in the conversion movement are ashamed of their role in their movements but despite Exodus disbanding in 2013 new right wing Christian American blood has risen to the occasion to make a buck and terrify their simplistic followers like the old blood did despite the fact the old blood has created an anti-conversion movement.

Before we close I reviewed a documentary about conversion therapy in Israel and it was a resounding failure there. The federal government of Canada had almost passed a bill prohibiting conversion therapy but due to an election call it was halted. You can’t stop gayness as it just naturally seeps out.

You can watch on Netflix.

It was directed by Kristine Stolakis.

This American 2021 film runs for 101 minutes and you can catch the trailer right here   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk_CqGVfxEs  

A movement better suited to “Leave it to Beaver”, Sky King (brought to you by Nabisco), and “All in The Family”.