The more the waves of COVID course the beaches of life
the more power and constraints placed on liberty
all in the name of public good
our elected representatives and their medical lackies turned into sharks
dismembering and attacking those who fail to tow the party line
vilified like the sharks that attack the surfers like the sharks they are?
Robert K. Stephen
Concentration camps under the mustard gas deception of re-education camps
Canada get ready for mandatory re-education camps for health care workers
Former front line medical “heroes” who refuse vaccination will be “re-educated”
Wasn’t “1984” by George Orwell right on point?
If the Chinese totalitarianism can be replicated in Canada
with a generous helping of Pol Pot Cambodia
why bother holding elections in Canada on September 20th
why not just throw the refuseniks in jail
or send them to Winnipeg to see the light
heroes now villains
the hypocrisy of the politico-medico elite reversing their propaganda
Doug Ford the new Pol Pot?
Who are the traitors to democracy?
Robert K. Stephen
It was only a few days after arriving back from Los Angeles when the “Bosco Incident” occurred. Fay had a long Zoom meeting with a book publisher who was interested in discussing her planned book “Our Life With Dillie The Westie” and she required absolute quiet for the call. So Bob took Dillie The Westie and I for a walk at the Wilket Trail near Edwards Gardens, Toronto’s botanical gardens. It was a long walk and Dillie needed a few rests and was limping by the time we returned home. My poor brother has a bit of a problem with arthritis but being a brave trooper and too proud ever to admit to discomfort and pain he tries his best to act years younger than he is. The true spirit of a West Highland Terrier.
Well Fay greets us with a funny smile on her face and says that we have had an incident in the backyard. Bob pulls out his pistol a Glock and is ready for a shootout with the Brothers of Egypt. Not listening to Fay he rushes out to the backyard expecting to see his security detail shredded by a suicide bomber but almost trips over a dog on a leash! He laughs and says what has fate brought us this time!
It is a sad looking King Charles Cavalier that she found outside the gates of Drake’s house. We know Drake and ask his security detail if he can come out and talk with us. And he comes out with a few of his friends from a basketball team called the Toronto Raptors. I am not sure what basketball is but Drake loves it. We ask him if this is a dog he knows and he says no. But he asks us if we want to join him for a BBQ in his backyard that night and we say yes. He says don’t forget to bring Dillie and me. He suggests we check with Gordon Lightfoot next door but Lightfoot did not recognize the dog. He asks us to come over for high tea in a few days and gives us his telephone number.
The dog is a King Charles Cavalier I think or that’s what Bob says. He has no identification tags. One of his legs has been shaved for an intravenous feed as his hind leg has been shaved and there are stitches in it. Bob phones Toronto Animal Control and they have no record of a missing dog. It’s Labour Day so we will take it to Dr. Murray at the animal hospital on Tuesday to see if it has a microchip.
Bosco, as we call this dog, is about the same size as Dillie and I and initially he greets us with joy but when we approach his face for a sniff as all dogs do he emits a low growl. Bob and Fay are not appreciative of that. When Bob takes us for a walk he does that same growl to other dogs that come for a friendly sniff. We will have to wait to take him to Dr. Murray to see if he has a chip and we do so but he has none. A dog without any identity. Foolish owners unless this was an intentional abandonment. Bob leaves his number with Toronto Animal Control but there are no owners looking for this dog.
For the time being we call him Bosco. I give him a serious talking to as we dogs do and warn him to wise up or he will end up in an animal control shelter and based on my experience in Cairo my realism terrifies this little snobby dog thinking he was a purebred and that he was above me. He no longer acts as a King in the house and respects his junior position in the family. He is no Karim and I just can’t feel like we are the rat pack like it was with Karim but I say to Dillie lets give him some time and the wise Westie Dillie agrees.
Bob can’t bear to hand him over to a barren animal shelter a cruel and forbidding place. Bosco soon begins to realize how lucky he is and becomes humbler and more respectful. As far as I am concerned Dillie is the king in this family despite Bosco’s breed says he is a King Charles Cavalier. He is third place here and lucky to be that! He kind of stinks but Dr. Murray says wait a couple of weeks until he heals completely to give him a bath. At least his hair was not matted and covered with fleas like me in Cairo before I was rescued.
On a cold winter morning Montrealer’s awoke to the startling news of the kidnapping of the Scottish Trade Commissioner, Mr. James Dentalfloss. He had been abducted by a group calling itself the Far-Out Liberation League of Quebec (FLQ). Previously this group had restricted itself to bombing mailboxes in the tony English suburb of Westmount but obviously with a kidnapping they were expanding their techniques of terrorism. The FLQ left messages with radio and television stations that Dentalfloss would only be released when all non-Quebecois in Quebec be deported an obviously far out demand. Their demand seemed like a mere political statement more than a genuine ransom demand.
The Jiber sat in his MSQ offices snickering. His men had done well. No clues were discovered by Montreal police, Quebec Provincial Police or the RCMP about the kidnapping. Here was the glorious opportunity he had been waiting for. By planning the kidnapping his goal was to polarize Quebec society forcing people to take sides. Traitors could then be identified. Now all he could hope for was to incite mobs to attack American factories and offices of American corporations in Quebec that were doing business in the province. Manufacture a rampage so that American enterprises were convinced they faced expropriation and nationalization. Then hope the Marines would be called in to protect American interests. His agreement with a very prominent American politician still stood. Sooner or later a conquering army would be his. The entire galaxy would be his.
The governing Quebec Liberal Party was flapping wildly in the wind to catch the “political criminals” responsible for the kidnapping. They had underestimated the resolve of the nationalists. Having to hunt down the radicals who represented what many Quebecers secretly espoused was a risky affair. The Liberals had started the ball rolling on a Francization programme steeped in petit bourgeoisie mysticism and heroism. Metro stations and streets were changed to Riel, Papineau, Cartier and Henri Bourassa but this token strategy failed to appease the flock. The Premier Bob Poorassa had a cabinet full of respectable gentlemen in league with both Canadian and American corporations hence they were infused with the spirit of national unity with many sitting on the boards of Canadian and American companies and hoping to continue that position if and when booted out of politics. They had large share positions in the companies they sat on the boards of and to acquiesce to the demands of rabid nationalists might threaten their little kitty. The Montreal Bourse had already plummeted!
The Quebec Minister of Justice Jerome Porkchopette and Premier Poorassa thundered about the need for law and order and for strict measure to hunt down the terrorists. A no bargain policy was established. The democratic strongmen must show the population they weren’t to be pressured by murderous communists. By God do not antagonize the Americans. Who wanted the Marines in town?
Jiber’s FLQ plants were encouraged to use Marxist language in their FLQ communiques as this would be a perfect frame up of the leftist nationalists and discredit the left. Jiber realized that his followers would support an independent Quebec but not a Marxist one. Jiber sat in an excellent position as he could criticize the ruling Liberal government for not being strict enough with these rebels and he warned the public of the dangers of these violent Marxist elements. In the midst of all this confusion Jiber as Hecklevesque would emerge as a saviour. He would lead the province out of the political quagmire. Once he had the province in is sweaty hands after a nice little coup he would arrange for the torching of a few American manufacturing concerns, assault a few American citizens then ask for American military intervention to quell the anti-American revolution!
Bob is no longer an unknown writer. He is in high demand. At least twice a week he is on North America talk shows with me and Dillie the Westie at his side. His previous books “Virus # 26,”, “Mutantism on the March” and “Life at Up Up and Away Investment Management International”, which were published in a serialized format on the internet, have been published by Big House Publishers in New York and are1,2 and 3 on the New York Times best seller list. He is writing a screenplay for ABC about “Bosco the Rescue Dog” based on the pitch for a series ABC wanted about me. Disney had entered a merchandising contract with Turner Classic Movies for a series of wines called “Reggie and the Tramp” and Bob receives a 10% cut of gross revenues.
Bob has said to Fay we have more money than we know how to deal with so they have decided to donate 25% of all net revenues received from the Disney Film to the rescue society that brought me from Cairo to Toronto provided Fay gets a seat on their Board of Directors.
But Bob’s success with the Reggie story has caused problems. Due to his wealth, popularity and the death threat by the Brothers of Egypt we have had to move to a swanky new house in the exclusive Bridle Path neighbourhood of Toronto and have become neighbours to a singer called Drake and Gordon Lightfoot. We have high walls around our house and a security detail outside the entrance gate. When Dillie and I go for walks there is a security guard armed to the teeth that walks with us. We kind of get used to it but I think we have lost some of our freedom. For the time being I am not allowed off leash. Dillie and I feel we are in a bit of a medium security prison but this may be the price we paid for being famous. Bob and Fay gave their house to their son Drew on the condition he take care of me and Dillie when Bob and Fay go on vacation which may not be for awhile considering the death threat on Bob’s head. The Muslim Association of Canada has issued a press release saying there is no blasphemy in a dog praying to Allah saying that all creatures big and small have a spiritual side to their being. They also welcomed the movie saying it was an opportune time to have a Muslim dog the hero of a story and an inspiration to all children irrespective of their religion. Even the hardline clerical government of Iran has permitted the film to be distributed in Iran hoping that the film will bring about better understanding and reactions amongst Iran and the United States. This movie is far bigger than anyone thought. There are rumours that Bob may receive the Nobel Peace Prize for literature! I am supposed to not say anything to anyone but Bob will be receiving the Order of Canada in a few months for his book “Reggie The Egyptian Rescue Dog” for fostering a better understanding between Canadian Muslims and the rest of the population of Canada. Bob and Fay have also made sizeable contributions to Canadian First Nations groups to improve water quality in their communities.
What has not changed is the love and care Dillie the Westie and I receive from Bob and Fay. What more could any dog want except perhaps for chunks of cheese that “accidentally” fall on the floor or pieces of meat that mysteriously end up in our bowls from time to time! We dogs are food centric!
This is quite an achievement for a lowly street dog on the edge of a miserable death on the streets of Cairo. And I say proudly and without reservation in my nightly prayers a sincere thanks to Allah for all that he has done for me so there Brothers of Egypt stick THAT UP YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT! You dare touch Bob and I will return to Egypt and lead a pack of street dogs and hunt you down. I may have a comfortable life but you will see I have not lost my street fighting spirit!
Off we all fly to Los Angeles for the world premiere of “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”. We are staying in a huge Beverly Hills mansion but all the interviews will be at the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles. And security is heavy as Bob has received death threats from an Egyptian terrorist group “Bothers of Egypt” upset at the portrayal of Egyptian society and furious as the fact that I, as a lowly dog, pray to Allah which they call blasphemy. These are the type of small minded men that arrested and executed my original master Anwar for writing articles critical of the Egyptian government for betrayers of the Arab Spring. Hateful. Narrow minded and fanatical they are dangerous scum. Dogs are seen as playthings of the infidels. Most street dogs in Cairo have more morals and decency than these self-appointed guardians of the faith. In this world crazy politics and ideologies make me proud to be a dog but then again there are so many kind humans that helped me Egypt I must not forget that and Bob made that very clear when helping to write the screenplay.
In fact Bob and Fay have had to sell their house and move to the Bridle Path area in Toronto. Our new house is massive and well fortified and will be manned by private security. We have a famous musician on our new street called Drake who I have heard much about in the BBC show “Entertainment” and another older musician called Gordon Lightfoot who I know nothing about other than he his loved by many Canadian Boomers.
Bob, Fay, Dillie the Westie and I attend the interviews along with the crew that worked on the film and the actors that are doing the voice overs. Cameras are popping and questions galore? Then we move to a small suite for interviews with leading networks and publications. I recognize the anchor from BBC America News and romp up to her and give a friendly bark and she pats me. Reggie the former street dog, on the head and gives me a little hug! Then that news anchor from ABC news I see after the BBC news every night and he also gives my head a firm ruffle! Dillie has a big smile on his face like when he goes off-leash. He gets lots of comments how cute and sweet he is and boy he is all groomed and looks like the sharpest and coolest Westie.
The interviewers ask Bob if he has some fear about his safety after the death threats from the Brothers of Egypt. He replies that he is but no one could have foreseen the idiocy of such a group. Bob says the film is really meant for children but it has a deeper meaning of the plight of street dogs of Egypt and the special people there and in Canada that are doing all they can to stop the poisoning and killing of so many dogs in governmentally encouraged culls. Bob says he means no disrespect to Egyptians and Islam by his story but that it has changed his life and the life of me, Fay and Dillie the Westie. So it has been a very long day and dinner is brought to us at our temporary home. We sit and eat by the television and there is yet another story of a black person being gunned down by a white policeman. There is not only madness on the streets of Cairo but on the streets of the United States!
Bob takes Dillie and I for a walk on the grounds of the gated mansion and we are so tired we all head back to bed as tomorrow night is the world premiere of “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”!
Morning comes strangely to both dogs and humans who are bound by circadian rhythms. We are up at 7 a.m. in Toronto as Dillie the Westie barks to go out and pee and tired Bob lumbers down to take my ageing pal out and me too to keep Dillie company. But 7 a.m. in Toronto time is 4 a.m. here in Los Angeles or “LA” as they call it. Bladders and brains are all mixed up! But we do our business and every human and dog sleeps until 10 a.m. and we are wide awake.
Bob and Fay head downstairs and give us dogs a hug and kind words. And Carmela an older Mexican lady has prepared Mexican homemade dog food for Dillie and I with pork and black beans and it is like nothing we have eaten before. We wag our tails and ask for more with a gentle bark and Carmela obliges. OMG so good and different. The black beans give us some gas but not the runs….thank goodness. Bob and Fay have Huevos Rancheros and tortillas and a big pot of coffee, Dillie and I love the smell of coffee but we only have it when our cleaning lady in Toronto, Paula, comes every second Wednesday. Bob and Fay are green tea drinkers. Dillie bit Paula early on and was banished to the crate every time she comes. But I am good with Paula. These West Highland Terriers can be so possessive and territorial. I am not making any judgement on my brother Dillie a I love him and respect his territoriality.
We spend the morning by the pool with Bob throwing us balls until we are panting and too tired to continue. At 2 p.m. Carmela prepares a Mexican feast of epic proportions. And we get a special homemade Mexican dogfood feast with Pork and Chicken without any beans. Bob and Fay have a drink called Marguerites.
At 4 p.m. we get ready to go to the premiere. As dogs running and playing we are smelling very doggy and receive a quick bath by “dog trainers”. We are primed and ready to go and we head off to a big theatre in LA. There is a red carpet and for security reasons we appear for 15 minutes and go back to the “green Room” to get ready for the film.
We are backstage and ready to go. We meet many big Hollywood stars. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson pick me up and as Rita and Tom are Greek Orthodox like Fay they say come visit us in Greece on our island. Our jet is at our disposal.
There are famous people all over. The film runs and there is quiet then standing ovations for half an hour. Dillie and I are picked up and the crowd goes wild.
Indications are as we read the critic’s reviews in the L.A. papers next morning this is the Disney hit of the century.
The cast party was a dream for anyone in the Hollywood National Enquirer sphere. We should mention who played our characters in this animated production;
Reggie: Rick Mercer
Karim: Riz Ahmed
Bob: Rylan Gosling
Fay: Jennifer Aniston
Dillie the Westie: Peter Mansbridge
Anwar: Eduardo San Juan Breña
Narrator: Mahershala Ali
The party finished at 4 a.m. and on the way home in the limo Bob receives a call from the CEO of Disney that Reggie is charting as a monstrous hit. I am glad for this. But I can digest what this means. As for immediate realities Dillie and I are exhausted and have no energy for a walk but to be put outside for a long pee and bed is all we want!
The contracts have been signed. Bob as co-producer and screen writer is in Los Angeles Monday-Friday working on the animated production. Dillie the Westie and I miss him and the walks he took us on in the neighbourhood. Fay is more likely to put us out in the backyard which we enjoy but we love catching up with our circle of canine friends and leaving our pea mail to mark our territory.
But Bob is back for the week-ends very tired from the 5 hour flight from Los Angeles and the three hour time difference. But we get a guaranteed walk at the local golf course! It is late autumn and the golf course is closed so we can walk off leash. Many rescue dogs are bolters as they specialize in escaping from humans who have treated them so badly. In fact some 90% of dogs reported missing in Toronto are rescue dogs. I could be mean and say what stupid dogs they are not knowing how lucky they are to be under the care of masters and mistresses but often many of us dogs are guided by instinct and the instinct of a street dog in Egypt is to escape from humans who cause so much suffering.
Bob has written my story but wanted to go to Cairo to speak with rescue societies and animal activists about the life of street dogs in Cairo. He spent some two weeks there learning how close his fictional portrayal of some of my life was accurate. He was quite accurate they say in Egypt but his time there allowed him to fine tune the screenplay. When he returned I could smell the stink of Cairo on him and this terrified me. My mind has been scarred by my time there but I know my story is about the story of many street dogs in Cairo and Alexandria. My story must be told!
Bob told Fay about what he thought were the nightly firecrackers and cheering in Cairo. In a shaky voice he explained that these were not firecrackers but rather soldiers shooting street dogs and those barbaric Egyptians celebrating the death of each animal. I would like to say I hate these barbaric Egyptians but Bob reminds me I survived and came to Canada because of a small group of Egyptians that care about dogs like the policeman that brought me to the animal hospital after the Rottenwhiler took a chunk out of my leg. And the dedicated animal doctors that rely on medicine sent to them from Canada so dogs can be cured of diseases.
Bob tells Fay he is always debating with the other screenplay writers and producers who want to make the story line sweet and childlike but the story is not so sweet. Bob has had to compromise so as not to frighten the audience many who will be children but he swears this will not be a “Lady and the Tramp” syrupy feature but one with a cutting edge that will educate its viewers of the rough life street dogs face in Egypt. After 8 weeks of being in Los Angeles and two weeks in Cairo Bob has taken it as far as it can go and agrees to have his story transformed into a Disney animated film. This is so good as he is at home with us although he is back a few days a week to supervise the animation and ensure the script is as agreed upon by the producers and writers. And he is also involved with the musical score to sure it sets the right tone and the voice overs are true to the tone oof the film.
In 16 weeks the final version is ready for distribution which means me Bob, Fay and Dillie the Westie are going on a promotional tours. Bob is clearly so very tired but wants to ensure the success of the film not for the money but to accurately portray my life in Cairo and the life of street dogs that live there and to show the dedication of kind souls in Egypt and Canada that work to rescue me and my bothers and sisters. All of us in this household are going to Los Angeles for the film premiere.
The Bordeaux region of France produces some of the most expensive wines in the world but there are many “value priced” Bordeaux’s. And you just may find a gem. So let’s try a couple.
The first is a $12.95 Château Les Sablonnets. In colour it is a very dark red almost purple. On the nose very lush notes of blackberry, black cherry with a twist of black licorice. The lushness indicates a high percentage of Merlot. The intensity and color is courtesy of the Malbec. There is also some Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
On the palate there is no doubt this is full bodied wine. The tannins are light and dusty. There are notes of cassis, blackberry, black cherry with a bit of chalkiness and dark cholate. As our weather here in Southern Ontario starts chilling down a bit you might appreciate the full-bodied nature of the wine. It has a short finish. I would pair with Turkish Swiss Chard or roast lamb. Here is a recipe for the Swiss Chard https://www.saveur.com/skillet-braised-swiss-chard-recipe/. Only the freshest local Swiss Chard will do.
Is this a gem. I think not but it is highly drinkable. Drink before the end of 2021.
(Chateau Les Sablonnets 2019, AOP Bordeaux, JMVB, Sauvterre-de-Guyene, France, $12.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 18780, 750 mL, 14%, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 89/100).
We move to a $15.95 2017 Chateau de Ribebon hoping for a Bordeaux low priced miracle. It is garnet in colour and a bit earthy on the nose. Loads of blueberry, black cherry in a slightly smoky framework. On the palate light tannins with an uplift of smoke, ripe cherry and dark chocolate. Short finish. I think this might improve with a couple of years in the bottle. I think the blueberry is a result of Cabernet Sauvignon and the smoke and chocolate a result of Cabernet Franc in the blend which unfortunately is not described on the label. With a bit of research, I see in addition to the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc there is some Merlot but I can’t pick much of it out.
How can I sum this wine up? At moments it is intriguing and quirky. It is of good quality and well made but will it take you to the moon? I think not. But it will be a worthy match for most grilled meats and spicy poultry including beer can chicken which s politically incorrect it seems. Give me a break. James Suckling gives it a 90 which historically indicates I would give it an 88. However give me a moment while I score it. It gets an 89. I seem to be caught on the treadmill of 89-point wines. Is the result of globalization of production methods and travelling winemakers?
(Château de Ribebon 2017, AC Bordeaux Supérieur, Alain Aubert Propietaire, Saint Mange de Castillon, France, $15.95, 750 mL, 13.5%, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 12281, Robert K. Stephen A Little Birdie Told Me So Rating 89/100).
Meet Abbie Rose. She is a top “social influencer” meaning a person who uses their personality or good looks to be a travelling salesperson for any Tom Dick and Harry entity wanting to peddle their goods on social media. They are a slippery group focusing on imagery for the short attention span of those social media lapper uppers. Sell, sell and sell and the more hits, likes and views your personage earns or often buys the higher income your image pulls in.
Yes I have seen them all over Europe some with a make-up crew and photographers to be that perfect image holding a purse or wearing a dress of a sponsor. The more views and likes the more goods the social influencer sells. A form of crude capitalism adapting to modern social media. Who cares about a view past the influencer into the ocean or canyon behind them as the backdrop exists to sell, sell and sell more. The influencers I have seen have a self-satisfied vacant look on their face. They rather emphasize the twit in Twitter.
And Abbie Rose (Kasia Szarek) must be one of cinema’s absolutely obnoxious characters not in a mean way but rather in a stupid, artificial, greedy and pompous way. She has escaped an irrelevant college degree that destined her to a life of serving tables and living in a crappy apartment. Instead she has clawed her way near the top of the social influencer pyramid. So one may admire her ambition but not its goals. She also knows what she wants and skillfully negotiates to get it. In this case it’s a social influencer contract with a large cosmetic company Nutrocon known to ravage the Amazonian rain forest for palm oil to be used in cosmetic products, turning a blind eye to sexual harassment in its workforce and to test its products on animals.
4 hackers working for # 1 break into Abbie’s home and force her to make a seemingly innocuous video offering a free box of Nutrocon cosmetics to the first 50 responders. The hackers are mostly a group of bumblers more social outcasts than social activists looking for a payout for their own projects.
They are successful in their devious project driving down the share price of Nutrocon making Number 1! wealthy with her huge put on the stock. Abbie obtains success when she least expects it. We also learn that she is vulnerable and perhaps not such a twit we thought she was. You might call this a satirical comedy but it slams home the vacuous consumerism and obsession with image. Let’s say the Kardashian clan won’t be laughing at this film.
Director Meghan Weinstein is an L.A. based Canadian filmmaker who grew up in Vancouver and San Francisco. Her films capture the absurd and often hilarious complexities of human connection, while featuring carefully casted ensembles and eye-catching imagery. She loves collaborating with actors to create quirky, out of the box characters.
The film is distributed by Breaking Glass Pictures and released on September 14th on DVD and VOD platforms including iTunes/Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu and through local cable and satellite producers.
Catch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eChy46c_Lf8
“Saving Paradise” is a simplistic attempt to explain the raping of the United States by venture capitalists and offer encouragement that the hedge fund and investment bankers can be defeated by American values and spirit. Fantasy?
Having lived through the insatiable corporate greed of an American bank that proudly celebrated to its analysts thousands of job losses to India, China, Canada, Dublin, Poland and Germany the rape of America is no fiction. Strangely it was at one point off shoring was heralded as risk reduction and encouraged by American regulators. Economic theory and humanism at odds!
So the film “Saving Paradise” is a bit of fantasy retaliation to reality. A pencil factory in Paradise Pennsylvania is facing bankruptcy after the death of its owner. It has a huge debt to a local bank and a very short time to repay. Don Peterson is a bit of a fuddly duddy paternalistic capitalist that actually cares about his workers. Does Jeff Bezos or Richard Branson show any of the same decency or is their flirtation with space and their ego more important.
Don Peterson dies and he is highly leveraged to the tune of $10,000,000 quite a sum for a pencil manufacturer in small-town Paradise Pennsylvania.
Michael is the son of the deceased owner and he works for a ruthless investment banker that buys out struggling American companies, pumps them with cash, cleans up their balance sheet and then sells them off to the highest bidder most often China.
Michael returns home to Paradise to take control of the pencil factory and he manages to rally the employees to his side despite he is seen as a New York pariah. He has the help of his teenage love Charlie who is CFO of the pencil factory.
The film suffers initially from a stiff stereotyping of investment bankers and a pencil factory small town workforce to the point they are comical to one who has worked in the world of finance but to those who have not perhaps it is a necessary act of simplicity.
Then get ready for a battle royale with the man with a ruthless streak becoming humanized by his motley crew of workers and his rekindled romance for Charlie.
Michael has a big skeleton in his closet which sems to have little to do with the plot.
Well the little guy wins this battle and that little guy has usually been wiped out by the greed of venture capitalist and the American consumer who wants the cheap Walmart goods perhaps without realizing how this has hammered domestic manufacturing.
Don Peterson and his caring ways end up saving Peterson Pencil.
This is no great movie but a lesson on the lecherous and ignorant destruction of domestic manufacturing in the United States for those who do not already know the lesson. But is the lesson simply too late?
Although the acting is less than stellar William Moseley as Michael and Johanna Braddy as Charlie keep the film from being a meltdown.
The 102-minute film was directed by Jay Silverman and opened in select theatres on September 3 and on On Demand. You can see the trailer here https://vert-ent.app.box.com/s/82em15an80rcuta0iw5ycvjtxeevnyxu/file/841675175072
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