Poetry Corner: Prime Minister Trudeau and The Truck Drivers: TTTT

T is for Trudeau our Canadian Prime Minister
T is for backing down and letting unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers to enter Canada but not extending the same courtesy to American truck drivers who bring in so many goods including food to Canada
a stick in the spoke of Canadian American relations and thereby increasing supply chain issues and augmenting inflation
making his decision ill advised and sinister
T is for apparently tough making him free from rebuke
T is for a man who likes to think he is firm and true but the ill advised nature of this decision wants to make me puke

A great chance for O’Toole
of the Conservative Party leader to justifiably make him look like a Fool
and NDP leader Singh
to give him a hearty public relations ding!

Robert K. Stephen

RKS Film: “A Grand Romantic Gesture”: Thank You For Sparing Me From A Cheesy Romantic Film!

You have probably seen too many cheesy romantic films with a perfect and happy ending. I would rather eat two bags of Cheesies than watch a telescreen generated Harlequin Romance Film. Harlequin films are designed for whom? A cholesterol nightmare would be preferable to suffering through a formulistic romantic film.

So with a degree of suspicion, I watched “A Grand Romantic Gesture” which was filmed in Toronto. I recognize the location of many of the shoots!

Although this is a film that may turn you on your head if you are a lover of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet which I have seen at the Stratford Festival in Ontario you just might find a deeper meaning to the film.

Ava is a 50’ish biomedical researcher living in Toronto who has been in polite terms “downsized” so in her perspective has resulted n the average age of an employee being reduced to 12. A very insightful, truthful and cutting comment that won me over early on in the film!

Her husband Matty apparently has mapped out her post corporate career for her and that is to enroll in a cooking class to prepare Ava for minding her soon to be born grandchild. Everything is expected but nothing is consulted!

Ava is no chef and seizes the opportunity at the community college to transfer into a drama workshop not telling husband and daughter lest she upset their selfish and sexist expectations. Initially slotted for a supporting role in Romeo and Juliet along with Simon a “happily unmarried” man of the same age both are slotted to the lead roles of Romeo and Juliet.

A romance develops reluctantly and awkwardly to the point they are sleeping together. Ava has a bit of revenge on her mind as Matty had an affair shortly after she became pregnant. As Shakespeare quilled in the play “Love is a Madness Most Indiscrete!

Simon’s wife Roz sees what is going down but Ava’s husband Matty simply can’t believe it.

Ava decides to end it all. It would appear it is game over. All signs point to an amicable split with Simon and so be it. But does real romance die with convenient thoughts?

I must say on occasion in Toronto I will venture to a Costco in a suburb Vaughn which is north of Toronto and sometimes I will take city streets as opposed to the highway and in the middle of “nowhere” there is a strange motel which I have thought why is this motel here? The film has a couple of scenes at this motel and my suspicions are confirmed!

So if you are looking to view an intelligent rom movie instead of some palaver you will enjoy this film.

BAFTA winner Gina McKee shines as a somewhat rebellious Ava and her foil Simon (Douglas Hodge) matches her muddled confidence.

You can see the trailer here https://vimeo.com/623537747

This 107-minute film will be released on digital platforms on 8Febuary2022.

Travels to a Different Time By a 12 Year Old Boy: June 1970 On Board the TMVK Knossos to Rhodes

We took a taxi from Athens to its port city Piraeus which was somewhat on the raunchy side of things. We had a cold greasy lunch and then boarded our ship the TMVK Knossos bound for several islands including our destination Rhodes. It would be an overnight trip and Mom had purchased second class tickets and cabin. Never being on a passenger ship I suppose I was expecting something fancy but this ship had seen better days. A steward showed us to our berth which had bunk beds and looked more like a Siberian prison camp room than anything fancy. There was not even a porthole. At least there were many interesting people on board. I slept a good deal of the time adjusting myself to the 8-hour time difference while Mom said she met a very interesting South African couple Jenny and Charlie Horse. There is a large Greek population in South Africa. We had a chicken dinner sitting with the South African couple. It as served by a dreamy waiter. Next day for breakfast there was more of the spartan Greek breakfast but the bread was stale and the jam was of poor quality. We met a very nice German doctor from West Berlin called Heidi Boden. We approached an island and I asked the deckhand if this was Rhodes. He said “of course” but he was saying in reality it was the island of Kos. Lucky for us I spoke to a deckhand that spoke some English who said Rhodes would be the next stop. There were hotel representatives at the dock and we followed one man to his hotel but it was too far away from the centre. A representative from another hotel had been tailing us and pounced on us seeing we rejected the hotel so we ended up at a centrally located hotel called The Pearl.

Art Gallery of Ontario’s Virtual Programs Celebrating the Carribean

For Immediate Release: Jan. 12, 2022
The AGO rings in the new year artfully with online programs celebrating the sounds and tastes of the Caribbean
Free live Virtual School Programs return with music and history
courtesy of the Canadian Opera Company, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
and Toronto History Museums
TORONTO — This winter, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) invites everyone to spark their senses, as it presents an exciting line up of online programs and courses exploring the intersection of art, sound and taste.  Bringing together educators, musicians, chefs, curators, singers, artists and writers from across North America and the Caribbean, the AGO’s winter 2022 public programming is heavily inspired by the original AGO exhibitions, Fragments of Epic Memory and Matthew Wong: Blue View. The AGO is temporarily closed, but through its robust online programs, continues to connect with artists, students, educators and families across Ontario.

“The demand for our Virtual School Programs and its success in bringing art education to classrooms and living rooms across Ontario, all free of charge, reminds us how important art is to the wellbeing of our community,” said Audrey Hudson, the AGO’s Richard & Elizabeth Currie Chief, Education & Programming. “This winter we are thrilled to debut two new original video series – our first food-focused conversation series, and an exciting series of studio tours curated by youth – and present our first Mandarin and Mohawk language programs. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the Museum when allowed, and in the meantime, are pleased to continue sharing art with our public.”  

Highlights from AGO’s winter programming season are listed below. Registration is now open for all events, including Virtual School Programs and Adult courses. For more details, visit ago.ca/events  and ago.ca/learn.
 AGO WINTER 2022 PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTSAGO Virtual School Programs
Free of charge to students, parents, educators and caregivers everywhere, the AGO’s Virtual School Program returns this winter, delivering live 30-minute field trips, Monday to Friday, via Zoom. Led by AGO Art Educators, three sessions are presented every morning, each designed especially for students in JK to Grade 3, Grade 4 to 8 and Grade 9 to 12. Sessions are organized thematically and draw on artworks and objects from the AGO Collection. The AGO Virtual School Program is excited to welcome educators from the following cultural organizations this winter:  On January 13, 20 and 27, artworks from the AGO exhibition Fragments of Epic Memory, inspire a series of sessions about music, movement and cultural identity. Two of these sessions will be co-led by artist educators from the Canadian Opera Company, and another co-led by an artist of The National Ballet of Canada.  
 On February 3, 17 and 24, educators from three Toronto History Museums (Montgomery’s Inn, Fort York and Mackenzie House) will invite students to explore moments in history through sound.
 On March 10, 24 and 31, artists and educators from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will guide students through the connections between visual art and music.To see the schedule of sessions, learn more about the thematic topics and to register for one or all of these free sessions, visit ago.ca/visit/group-visits/virtual-school-programs.

Foodways: Caribbean Flavours
Hosted by AGO’s Executive Chef Renée Bellefeuille, Foodways is a new conversation series that brings together chefs to explore the intersection of culinary practices, memory and art. This January the AGO is excited to present Foodways: Caribbean Flavours, a three-part talk series bringing together three chefs with ties to the Caribbean and its Diaspora to reflect on their own foodways, inspired by the AGO exhibition Fragments of Epic Memory. Participating chefs are Roger Mooking, La-toya Fagon and Selwyn Richards.On January 14, join Chef Roger Mooking at 4 p.m. on Facebook Live for part one of Foodways: Caribbean Flavours, as he discusses his Trinidadian background, love of travel and many influences with series host Renée Bellefeuille and Fragments of Epic Memory curator Julie Crooks.  Mooking is best known as the host of grilling and barbecue show “Man Fire Food” and his restaurant Twist by Roger Mooking located at Toronto Pearson Airport. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/foodways-caribbean-flavours-chef-roger-mooking.On January 21, join Chef La-toya Fagon at 4 p.m. on Facebook Live for part two of Foodways: Caribbean Flavours, as she talks about growing up eating island foods and her creative blending of traditional Caribbean cooking styles with Mediterranean flavours. Fagon was the first food expert on The Marilyn Denis Show in Toronto and is a personal chef to the Toronto Raptors. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/foodways-caribbean-flavours-chef-la-toya-fagon.
 On January 28, join Chef Selwyn Richards at 4 p.m. on Facebook Live for part three of Foodways: Caribbean Flavours, as he discusses his love for soul food from the Caribbean and his experience as a food stylist. Richards is the President and Executive Chef of The Art of Catering, former owner of an upscale Caribbean restaurant and is the author of the book The Art of Cooking – Soul of the Caribbean. For more details, visit ago.ca/events/foodways-caribbean-flavours-chef-selwyn-richards.
 AGO x RBC Artist-in-Residence
Following a nationwide call for proposals, the AGO is pleased to announce, thanks to the generous support of RBC, its three AGO x RBC Artists-in-Residence for 2022. Each selected artist or duo will engage in a three-month virtual residency and will present details of their project publicly upon completion. Responding to the theme of Friendship Near and Far, the AGO welcomes Eric Chengyang & Mariam Magsi, Ivetta Sunyoung Kang and Shion Skye Carter. For more details, including bios of the artists, visit ago.ca/emerging-artists-program.

Talks
Committed to leading global conversations from Toronto, the AGO welcomes distinguished and emerging artists, curators and authors this winter. Upcoming talks include:On Thursday, January 13 at 4 p.m., American painter Ali Banisadr joins Kenneth Brummel, AGO’s Associate Curator of Modern Art, in conversation about Pablo Picasso’s Blue Period paintings of 1901-1904. To register to this free Zoom talk, visit ago.ca/events/ali-banisadr-contemporary-thoughts-picasso.
 On Wednesday, January 19 at 1 p.m., join speaker Maurice Switzer for a discussion on how Treaties have impacted the lives of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada. This free talk is presented via AGO’s Facebook Live. For more details, visit https://ago.ca/events/we-are-all-treaty-people-maurice-switzer. 
 On Tuesday, March 1 at 4 p.m., poet and critic John Yau discusses the paintings and writing of Chinese-Canadian artist Matthew Wong, in conjunction with the ongoing exhibition Matthew Wong: Blue View. To register for this free Zoom talk, visit ago.ca/events/matthew-wong-john-yau.
 Art in the Spotlight, the AGO’s free series of conversations with emerging and established artists continues this winter. 
 On January 27 at 4 p.m., Toronto-based filmmaker Esery Mondesir discusses his new exhibition and ongoing exploration of the Haitian global diaspora. This program is held in conjunction with the exhibition Esery Mondesir: We Have Found Each Other. To register to this free Zoom talk, visit ago.ca/events/art-spotlight-esery-mondesir.Close Looking, a bi-weekly series of art talks highlighting works from the AGO collection, continues this winter with a focus on new acquisitions and current events. Talks are posted bi-weekly on the AGO Facebook page.
 On Monday, January 24, Erin Rutherford, AGO’s Collection Development Librarian, will take a closer look at Toronto-based artist Annie S. MacDonald’s bookbinding techniques.
 Pop-up Studio in Mandarin
Inspired by the ongoing exhibition Matthew Wong: Blue View, the AGO invites artists of all ages to join a weekly series of free artmaking sessions focused on the colour blue. Participants will be guided in a drawing and colouring exercise led in Mandarin by artist instructor, Jenny Chen. Sessions are free via Zoom every Wednesday at 7 p.m. from January 12 to February 2, 2022. For more details and to register, visit ago.ca/events/pop-art-making-mandarin-inspired-matthew-wongs-landscapes.

Community Programs
The AGO works with numerous community partners to provide art education and make art accessible for people with diverse abilities. That commitment continues this winter with the return of Multisensory Moments, Seniors Social and Art Enables Workshops, and the continuation of the AGO’s partnership with Workman Arts.Continuing its exploration of mental health awareness and advocacy, the AGO presents two new videos in the ongoing Workman Arts video series titled Talking Back and Together. Debuting on the AGO Facebook Page on January 21 and February 18 at 11 a.m. respectively, each episode features a different artist sharing their practice and artwork.
 The AGO’s popular Seniors Social program returns on January 14, February 11, March 11 and April 8 at 2 p.m. with free conversation and artmaking activities for older adults. Pre-registration is recommended and each session is unique. To register for one or all of these sessions, visit ago.ca/learn/ago-makes/virtual-seniors-social.
 Students from OCAD U’s Inclusive Design Multisensory Museum Course have translated artworks in the AGO Collection into multisensory objects and will present their projects on January 24, February 28, March 21, April 25 and May 20 at 11 a.m. For more details about the students and their artworks visit ago.ca/events/multisensory-moments-christi-belcourts-wisdom-universe.
 Family Programs
Songs and stories are an important part of artful play this winter at the AGO. Family Programs are free and open to parents, children and caregivers of all ages.On Sunday, January 16, February 20 and March 20 at 2 p.m., the AGO is partnering with Story Planet for Family Fireside Chats, a free fun family experience. Mixing story-making and play time inspired by works from the AGO Collection, each 45 minute session will be Zoomed live from the Dr. Mariano Elia Hands-On Centre. For more details and to register, visit ago.ca/events/fireside-family-chat.
 Beginning on Tuesday, March 1 at 11 a.m., and continuing each week, the AGO presents its first ever Mohawk song circle. Indigenous Early Childhood Educator Miss Kristi Talbot will present classic nursery rhymes and children’s songs in the Mohawk language. Parents, guardians and educators are encouraged to participate. For more details and to register for the Zoom link, visit ago.ca/events/mohawk-language-nursery-songs.
 Youth Programs
In addition to providing free admission to all visitors aged 25 and under, the AGO continues to support dynamic programming by and for youth.Launching January 26 comes Inner Space, an original series of videos curated by the AGO Youth Advisory for Inner Space and AGO staff. In each episode, an artist will provide viewers with an intimate look at their studio and practice. A new video, featuring a different artist, will be presented each month on ago.ca/innerspace, where you can also find more details about the participating artists and the AGO Youth Advisory for Inner Space.
 On February 23, March 2 and March 9 at 4 p.m., Toronto-based writer Fan Wu presents a series of free writing workshops for youth about the resonances of the colour blue, inspired by the ongoing exhibition Matthew Wong: Blue View. To register for these free Zoom workshops series, visit ago.ca/events/ink-pin-writing-workshop-fan-wu.
Courses
Online studio art courses for the entire family continue this winter. Challenge yourself with new courses and workshops inspired by Robert Houle: Red is Beautiful, Fragments of Epic Memory and Matthew Wong: Blue View.  For full course listings, fees and materials, visit ago.ca/Learn. 
AGO Members receive a discount on courses. For more information on how to become a Member, visit ago.ca/membership today. Highlights from the 2022 winter online course schedule include: New this season is Online Art and Ideas: Fallon Simard. Inspired by the ongoing exhibition Robert Houle: Red is Beautiful and beginning February 2, this four-week adult online course discusses many of themes present in Houle’s artwork. Led by artist instructor Fallon Simard, students will use digital photography to create new colourful abstract, modern and conceptual images.
 Online Painting Explorations: Landscapes, led by artist and writer Gomo George, begins February 3. This four-week online course will introduce adults to the art of Landscape painting using subject matter inspired by artworks in the exhibition Fragments of Epic Memory.
 Beginning February 6, join Online Painting Explorations: Inspired by Matthew Wong, a four-week online course for adults inspired by the imaginary nocturnal landscape drawings of Chinese-Canadian artist Matthew Wong. Learn painting elements such as gesture, composition and colour and experiment with a range of materials like gouache.  

RKS Wine: Peter Lehmann’s 2020 Layers

So can you recall the last time you had a dainty wine from Barossa? Those wines are known for their power and depth.

Peter Lehmann’s Layers from Adelaide has a very traditional GSM blend (Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre) but it adds to that Tempranillo.

It has a black cherry colour. On the nose it has a great density of blackberry, cassis, black cherry and cocoa. The tannins are veering toward moderate. On the palate there is brackishness with some bitterness. This bitterness takes one by surprise and is distracting. Just when you think you are picking up some fruit on the palate the bitterness kicks in. Trying to race against the bitterness one can pick up some black cherry and Texas ruby grapefruit.  Overall, I’d also say there is a bit of rawness in what I can call an uncouth wine. I can finesse the bitterness by saying the wine has a bit of almond extract to it. No amount of decanting seems to remove this strange bitterness. Leave this one on the shelf.

(Peter Lehman Layers 2020, Adelaide, Peter Lehmann Wines, Tanuda, South Australia, $16.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 138883, 750 mL, 14.5%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 77/100).

Travels to a Different Time: Three Days in 1970 Athens

June 13-16, 1970, Athens: Our Three Day Stay in Athens

Upon arriving at our hotel called Omiros we both had a shower. Very strange shower with a handheld nozzle. I have never seen something that before. Is this common in Greece? We found a nearby restaurant and Mom had a souvlaki which is meat on a skewer which I think they call “souvlaki” and it was very tasty. I had fish. After paying the bill we headed back to our hotel and just in time as I was so exhausted I began to have flashbacks to some of the questions on my examinations I had just completed. I rather thought I was in Egypt instead of Greece. I think we were so tired we felt like crawling somewhere in the street and sleep. Unfortunately we got lost. Two exhausted travellers and being unable to understand the Greek alphabet compounded the feeling of being lost. After three horrible hours we found a taxi and ended up at the Omiros and collapsed in sheer exhaustion. I have never seen a place like Athens. When flying over here I knew we were in for an adventure but already the pieces of what that adventure are fitting in.

The next morning we were awoken by some arguing Athenians down on the street below and the noisy three wheeled mini trucks called Zanussi’s. We went downstairs for a breakfast. What no bacon, eggs and toast! Bread and jam and something called yogurt? Speaking of yogurt there is a yogurt bar in front of the hotel and fresh yogurt is delivered every morning. The customers eat it on tables outside. These Greeks must be hungry to start the day. Hopefully we’ll encounter a real breakfast soon. I am going to starve! We discovered a flea market where I bought a letter opener for 35 drachmas which is a little over a Canadian dollar and Mom bought a belt which she bargained down the vendor to half price. We found a restaurant and ate some grilled meat. Is this a Greek hamburger? But there is no bun? The French fries were delicious but no ketchup. Everything here is so different than in Canada.

We returned home and had a siesta after lunch for a few hours. Greeks have siestas just like Mexicans! All shops and businesses are closed and open up late in the afternoon. It gets so hot in the afternoon I can see why! This time it was supper down the street and we did not get lost!

The next day after breakfast we headed to a beach called Astir which was near the airport and you could see the planes overhead coming in to land. We took the bus to the beach and what a rude mob pushing and shoving to get on the bus except if there is a priest they let him go in first and they also give up their seats in a standing room only bus to a priest. I find it strange Greek grandmothers can be so aggressive!

The next day it was to the beach again and a bit of a sunburn. Mom believes in the healing power of the sun and salt water and she warned me about this hot Greek sun. As a former nurse I think she knows what she is talking about. This was my first time in the ocean and when I opened my eyes they stung and if you get water in your mouth it tastes awful. I am used to swimming in lakes and it is going to take time to get used to! Yes and don’t worry we saw the Acropolis.

We packed up and went to Piraeus which is Athens’s port and boarded the TMVK Knossos for our next destination being Rhodes!

RKS Film: “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers”: A Very Welcoming Film

“The Fabulous Filipino Brothers” concludes with the narrator welcoming us to the Abasta Filipino American family. The Basco clan has succeeded in welcoming us viewers as part of their family right at the onset of the film. It is a warm film that brings you into the heart of a Filipino American family as if you are part of the family. It has the effect of tearing down the walls to leapfrog over ethnic stereotypes and telegraph that in North America while Filipinos aren’t exactly completely assimilated melting pot Americans we viewers can enjoy the story in a welcoming way. Its theme of love, family and culture are something all audiences should be able to identify with.

It is a story that delves into the relationship four brothers have with each other and despite big differences in character they love and support each other.

Right from the start the narrator says Filipino Americans are Americans but they retain a Filipino identity cemented by the narrator remarking is a tribal mentality. The narrator refers to this as a “jungle mentality” which sounds racist but as the narrator is Filipino it is depreciating more than racist and in fact there may be some subtle humour involved.  The narrator remarks that Filipinos are Asian but they are also not quite Asian.

The publicist for the film refers to the film as a “rousing comedy” but I see it being slightly comedic and mostly in a low key way except for the hilarious and sensual food scene involving cherished Filipino lumpia, sausages, grapes and food molds. The rooster fight scene is also notably funny.

The film is more of a probe into the mentality of the four Abasta brothers with differing characteristics yet the brothers stick together. There are stretches of the movie that are completely serious discovering the nature of love, lust, guilt, depression and familial piety and love. The excuse of this interaction and exploration is the wedding of one of the brothers. I see elements of “Lumpia with a Vengeance” a classic series of films about Filipino Americans, “Parasite” and “Crazy Rich Asians”.

While the HBO series “Succession” is about a highly dysfunctional family ripping each other apart “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers” is more a celebration of family.

The film stars the four Basco brothers who are well experienced in the entertainment industry in the United States. This is Dante Basco’s directorial debut. It was co-written by Dante and his brother Darion.

It opened in several US theatres on January 7th assuming of course such theatres are actually open considering Omicron. It is available on Netflix now and is scheduled for wider VOD release on February 8th.

Travels to a Different Time: Onboard to Athens!

June 12, 1970, New York City, Frankfurt and Athens: Onboard to Athens

Mom and I were the last passengers aboard our New York to Athens on our Overseas National Airways flight. We found the last two seats together but the stewardess said later that the seats were occupied so we split up with Mom sitting in the back and me in the middle. Unfortunately, I had the bad luck to be sitting next to (initially) a sleeping baby. My sister Barbara had said these Athens flights were full of happy Greeks many with wailing babies returning home for a long vacation. Yes they were so happy to be returning to the land of their birth!

The stewardesses explained the safety equipment and the location emergency exits and life rafts. New York City looked beautiful as we passed over it on our way to the Atlantic Ocean. Drinks were served about an hour after takeoff. I had a Coke. I looked out the window a few times but all I could see was the black Atlantic Ocean. Three hours after takeoff the baby next to me started crying in an out-of-control way. The cry increased to a hysterical scream! Breakfast was served and the contorted baby spilt 7 Up all over my pants. Finally after 7 hours we stopped to refuel in Frankfurt but unfortunately we could not leave the airplane. The baby was getting out of control and grabbed my glasses and almost broke them! The Greeks all seemed to know each other and were jamming the aisles talking to each other. We finally arrived in Athens and took a taxi to our Hotel Omiros. So tired but very happy.

Photo of plane is by Alex Bidini

Travels to A Different Time: Getting to Athens From Toronto: June 10th 1971

June 10, 1971, Montreal and New York City: All this adventure started on June 10th, 1971. I finished writing my last examination which was in science and rushed home on my bicycle. I arrived home at 11:30 and my mom and I finished our last bit of packing which at this point was looking as if our destination would be Athens. But we aren’t sure as my sister Barbara is a stewardess for Overseas National Airways and although family travels for free we are considered as “non-revenue” passengers and can only board the airplane if there are empty seats. A neighbour took us to Dorval Airport for our 1:30 flight to New York City where we would be staying with my sister Barbara. We took off some 15 minutes late and starved as an announcement on the PA system said they forgot to load the food. No lunch!

It was 70 degrees when we arrived at LaGuardia Airport. We took a cab to Barbara’s apartment and had trouble with the lock so her weird neighbour, a doctor, helped us get into her apartment. My mom always concerned that her children need more food to avoid starvation had us go out shopping where we loaded up on chicken. My Mom always said that meat prices in the United States were far cheaper than they were in Montreal.

We had a massive chicken dinner that night with my sister and her fellow stewardess friend Marx. We slept soundly that night very tired and very happy.

June 11 and 12, 1971 New York, Frankfurt and Athens: We were up bright and early but well rested. We went to a nearby store to buy the bathing suit I forgot to pack! Mom went to get her hair cut and Barb and I went to Blimpy’s to have a sandwich and root beer. Mom went to buy yet more chicken which were chicken wings. We had yet another chicken feast. Barb and I cleaned the dishes.

Our flight to Athens was scheduled to leave at midnight from Kennedy Airport on a DC-8. We went out to Kennedy with two of Barb’s friends who were “stewing” on the flight. We went to the Overseas National Airway’s office at Kennedy to wait for the other stewardesses working on our flight. They arrived and we headed to the terminal. There are 250 passengers booked so that is a full plane which means there is no room for us. However as of 10:30 three passengers from Baltimore had not shown. It was nail biting time and I hoped these three passengers would not show up. The agonizing minutes dragged on made all the worse as the airline decided to wait for the no shows. Great they never showed up so off we go to Athens at 3:30 in the morning. I have never been out of North America so this is going to be a real adventure. I feel like an ignorant 12 year old suburban kid about to discover the world!

Photo of plane is by Aldo Bidini.

RKS Films: “The Jump”: A Man’s Quest For Freedom Reminds Some Americans About How Lucky They Are!

I travelled extensively in the 1970’s to countries behind the “Iron Curtain” namely the USSR and the countries in its captive communist orbit. I have experienced the lack of political freedom, lack of food and consumer goods and of the repression. I also had some political background as the Iron Curtain was the focus of my political science studies at university. So when I had the opportunity to review “The Jump” I was drawn to it as a bee is dawn to a flower or as the hammer is attracted to the sickle!

There are many take aways possible from the Lithuanian documentary but what they are may depend upon your interpretation which is one the strong points of the documentary. You are free of course to enjoy the story and take away nothing more than an inspiring story of a man’s drive to escape the political bullying of the communist regime. One can’t ignore the stupidity of a United States Rear Admiral’s order that took a segment of the American population years to clean up.

Simas Kurdika was a Lithuanian citizen working as a radio operator on a Lithuanian ship of course under the control of both the Communist Party commissar on board and the captain of the ship. The American government had arranged for a meeting with Soviet government officials about Soviet overfishing off the coast of Massachusetts. A meeting took take place on a United States Coastguard ship off Martha’s Vineyard on November 23, 1970. The Coast Guard vessel, “The Vigilant” anchored next to Kurdika’s vessel so Soviet officials could board it for the meeting. Kurdika saw his chance and jumped onto The Vigilant. The captain of The Vigilant reported to his superiors about Kurdika’s jump and his request for asylum and was ordered by United States Rear Admiral Ellis to return Kurdika to the Soviets thinking no harm would come to him and that the failure to return him would jeopardize the fishery negotiations between the Soviets and the United States. Ellis clearly made an inept decision which blew up in the United States government’s face as Kurdika was chased around the Vigilant and was badly beaten on the decks of The Vigilant by the Soviets before being dragged back onto the Soviet ship. Kurdika was tried and convicted of treason and sentenced to 10 years in a prison camp.

On the political side of the incident President Nixon was furious about the order to return Kurdika to the Soviet ship claiming he received no briefing on the issue.  President Ford then took the matter up with USSR’s leader Brezhnev to release Kurdika to the United States. This was after 4 years of American protests about the handing over of Kurdika. Kurdika and his mother, wife and two children were released by the Soviets and arrived in the United States in November of 1974.Wanting to die in his Lithuania he retuned there in 2007 with his wife. His children decided to remain in the United States.

The story is told through rare archival footage and a dramatic first-person re-enactment by would be defector 86-year-old Kurdika.

So what are some of the takeaways?

  • Americans fail to recognize how fortunate they are to live in a democratic society
  • Poor military decisions by the United States were corrected by widespread protests and political lobbying to rectify an inept military decision
  • The Eastern European and Baltic refugees in the United Sates were a crucial part of securing the release of Kurdika
  • How much of this story is applicable to thousands of Mexican, Central Americans, Libyans, Syrians, Afghanis and other “refugees” and migrants attempting to enter the United States as a perceived land of milk and honey? Is the story of these people based on political repression or simply a cover to enter America to better improve their economic conditions?

You are free to take away as much as you want but hopefully there is more to this documentary than a story with a happy ending but kudos to the writers and director for not spoon-feeding you with take aways. I will say there is more than a complicated story to this documentary.

The documentary has been submitted as Lithuania’s entry to the 94th Academy Awards. It is a Lithuanian, Latvian and French production.

The documentary will start its virtual run in Canada on January 14th in Montreal, Sudbury, London and Victoria with more dates to be added soon.

The film is directed by Giedré Žickyt¡e.

You can see the trailer here https://vimeo.com/647052692

RKS film rating 92/100.