RKS Film: Ah Biao’s “Border”: Sort of a Zombieland

“Border” is, could we say, a participatory film. The basic plot is not that difficult to pick up but there are gaps where the viewer must make decisions what is transpiring and in what direction the film is heading towards. One could enjoy the participatory ride or suffer from annoyance and frustration. Not a mass market film.

The setting of the film is a drab coal mining town on the Chinese Mongolian border. It is a bleak, barren, grimy and decaying town. The film’s characters are not much different than the town they inhabit almost completely devoid of emotions. Even during a murder both murderer and victim are robotic without fear or anger.

The impression conveyed is both the town and the souls inhabiting it are soulless.

There is minimal dialogue and where you encounter it too has no emotion.

Luo Jia (Zheyan Li) is a young coal miner sharing a flat with an older security guard at the mine. It could be there is a sexual relationship between the two but it is more boredom than passion.

Su Qing (Feng Qi) is a sex worker and she can often be seen in the street wearing bright coloured clothing. An old fashioned “street walker” with a pimp-accountant.

Jia gradually enters a relationship with Qing but again there is no passion. Jia proposes in a most nonchalant way with Qi responding, “Can you afford to keep me?” Early in the film we hear her say on her phone, “Mommy is working”. Qi has dependents.

The mine closes and all the miners are unemployed and try as he may Jia is unsuccessful in finding employment.

Jia has a pistol and he approaches a car parked on an empty rooftop parking lot with a man and a young boy in it. Classic abstract arty moment with a spinning top with the boy watching it. Has Jia committed a murder? Yes, one of the many abstract moments in the film.

Why are the film’s characters soulless? Something you might wish to consider.

The film’s conclusion is extremely abstract with Qi’s young boy crawling on the dusty ground of a farm then standing up. Almost as if it’s the child being symbolic of that bone flipping in the air in “2001 Space Odyssey”. See what I mean the “participatory film genre?”. The thrill of the guess!

Not sufficient emotional content to classify the film as “neo noir”.

A Hong Kong/South Korea/USA production.

The film recently screened at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

RKS Film Rating 65/100.

RKS Literature: Fine Fellows These Cannibals (Joseph Conrad)

I don’t pretend to say that steamboat floated all the time. More than once she had to wade for a bit, with twenty cannibals splashing around and pushing. Fine fellows-these cannibals-in their place. They were men one could work with, and I am grateful to them. And, after all, they did not eat each other before my face: they had brought along a provision of hippo-meat which went rotten, and made the mystery of the wilderness stink in my nostrils. Phoo, I can sniff it now.

Joseph Conrad, “Heart of Darkness”, 1899

Photo: R. Kennedy Stephen

RKS Literature: The Fascination of the Abomination (Joseph Conrad)

Or think of a decent young citizen in a toga-perhaps too much dice, you know-coming out here in the train of some prefect, or tax gatherer, or trader even, to mend his fortunes. Land in a swamp, march through the woods, and in some inland post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed around him-all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forests, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men. There’s no initiation either into such mysteries. He has to live in the midst of the incomprehensible. And it has a fascination, too, that goes to work upon him. The fascination of the abomination-you know. Imagine the growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate.

Joseph Conrad, “Heart of Darkness”, 1899

2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version:11September 2026: Are the clouds behind me now and can I look to bright sunshiny days ahead?: Finally in Thessaloniki!

11September 2026: Are the clouds behind me now and can I look to bright sunshiny days ahead: Finally in Thessaloniki!

Was it a two hour or 4 hour “sleep” at Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel. Having finally crawled into bed at 01:00 and setting the alarm for 04:00 it was 3 hours in bed and it was hardly restful; a tortured sleep. Trudged over to the airport and took the elevator up from the arrivals hall to the departure hall and checked in with Sky Express for a 07:25 43-minute flight to Thessaloniki but not before returning to the hotel for a mediocre breakfast buffet which I had no interest in partaking.

Upon arrival in Thessaloniki the baggage was delivered to the baggage carousel immediately unlike in Athens. A 25 Euro taxi ride to my favourite Greek hotel Daios Luxury Living. Lots of space and huge balconies. On our last visit we had a full sea view but this time a partial one. The hotel is right on the seaside road and promenade and to its side heavily treed streets and upscale shopping. They lay out a smash up breakfast which we enjoyed tremendously just after checking in particularly an excellent latte. I also relished two Euro fried eggs so much better than in Canada. Help yourself to water, beer, soft drinks and water in the minifridge at no charge.

By the way we lost a night here because of our forced stay in Athens.

Crashed out for two hours awakening in that groggy discombobulated state.

We were picked up around 19:00 by Dearest F’s cousin and her husband. It was their 15th wedding anniversary, and we were there for the wedding. I was under the impression we were heading over to their house for dinner but we kept on driving out of the city proper stopping to pick up an anniversary cake. Our destination was Peraia which is a 35-minute drive from Thessaloniki city centre. You can also take a ferry there from the port. I wouldn’t venture to swim on its beaches. Peraia used to be a small seaside retreat but has transformed into a suburb of Thessaloniki. Its boardwalk has a multitude of seafood restaurants. Every dish was astounding. The fried octopus melted in your mouth and the lightly battered zucchini flowers heavenly. Even the Muscat wine, dry of course, was enjoyable. There was live music on the boardwalk and patrons were dancing with joy in their faces. No tourists that I could see. Back in the hotel at 02:00. I have been in effect sleepless for two days but with a meal and conversation outdoors I think I can see the clouds behind me.

You simply must visit Peraia for seaside casual dining if you are in Thessaloniki!

Photo: R. Kennedy Stephen

THE PENNY PENSIONER’S VIEW OF CHEAP WINES: A GERMAN PINOT NOIR

A Pinot Noir for $13.95. OK it’s a Spätburgunder that’s the reason?

I don’t care what a $13.95 Pinot Noir tastes like but rather is the wine pleasantly drinkable. While I lead a most comfortable life it might be you are a poor pensioner even more likely if your only source of income is a measly “state pension”. So we go cheap and hope for the best. In this case a measly (for me) $13.95 a price at which you should be more concerned about not going blind after drinking it!

Amberish red in colour and a bit brownish on the edges.

It has a nose of bright red cherry, cranberry and melted chocolate.

Now for taste expect fine tannins. raspberry and a hint of cranberry. None of the elements of a Pinot Noir shine here but damn quaffable with whatever you pensioners are slogging down your gullets these days.

A delightfully low alcohol level at 12%! The Penny Pensioner warns any alcohol may make you faint resulting in death or serious injury. Consume with caution. May interact with over 463 medications 26 of which could cause death. Download our APP for a list of deadly drug interactions. By consuming this wine you agree you shall hold harmless The Penny Pensioner against any and all liability he may suffer as the result of the consumption of this wine. By clicking on my website including this article you agree to all that is contained in the APP which you have religiously opened and is for clarity half in Mandarin Chinese.

Great with mildly spiced chicken wings or perfectly prepared Sweet Potato Fries. Boy, chill a bit more than you usually do and serve with Tom Yum Soup.

OVERALL: Delightfully drinkable red wine. Do you really need to know anymore? As I have a Masters in Wine Baloney, I could wax on for 6 more paragraphs.

Ninja Kicks Pinot Noir 2024, Qualitätswein, Rheinhessen, Schmitt Soehne, Germany

RKS Literature: Conquerors and Buccaneer Colonialism (Joseph Conrad)

This devoted band called itself the Eldorado Exploring Expedition, and I believe they were sworn to secrecy. Their talk, however, was the talk of sordid buccaneers: it was reckless without hardihood, greedy without audacity, and cruel without courage; there was not an atom of serious intention in the whole batch of them, and they did not seem aware of these things are wanted for the work of the world. To tear treasure out of the bowels of the land was their desire, with no more moral purpose at the back of it than there is in burglars breaking into a safe.

Joseph Conrad, “Heart of Darkness”, 1899

RKS Literature: Conquerors, Colonists and Aggravated Murder on a Grand Scale (Joseph Conrad)

What saves us is efficiency-the devotion to efficiency. But these chaps were not much account, really. They were no colonists; their administration was merely a squeeze, and nothing more, I suspect. They were conquerors, and for that you want brute force-nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others. They grabbed what they could take and for the sake of what was to be got.  It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind-as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness. The conquest of earth, which mostly means taking it away from those who have different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.

Joseph Conrad, “Heart of Darkness”, 1899

2026 GREEK TRAVEL ADVENTURE: Short Attention Span Version:10September2026: Frustration With Sky Express and the $815 Four-Hour Hotel Bill

Plans that went askew! I was to meet up with dearest F at Athens E Venizelos International Airport when her ITA Airways flight from Rome arrived at 18:35 and then take a Sky Express flight at 20:35 to Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city. The arrivals board simply said her flight was “Late” with no estimated arrival time. Time marches on, no, it stomped all over me with her flight arriving at 23:30 apparently due to a thunderstorm in Rome but a five-hour delay sounds somewhat suspicious given a previous “delay” with ITA Airways a couple of years ago from Catania, Sicily to Rome for which they wrongly denied me compensation under EU passenger rights rules.

Did I enjoy my 11 hours at the Athens airport? A decaf latte and as hunger mounted a warm beer and a spinach pie that had been sitting around for too long.

When dearest F arrived, we went to the Sky Express ticket office in the departure area and they insisted upon charging us full fare for a 06:35 flight the next morning. Not only that these misguided incompetents at Sky Express said as we missed our flight the other two tickets we booked with them were invalid! A lie.

The third party I had booked the flights with Sky Express, Flight Network, was of no help saying in garbled English basically it is your problem we can’t help. Flight Network is located in Toronto but its representative on the line I called for help had such a heavy Indian accent I basically understood nothing. Happened to you previously? I betcha it has!

The result is walking across the street to Sofitel Athens Airport Hotel for a 4-hour tortured sleep and a breakfast I had no stomach to consume. $815 for a mundane but functional hotel room. Dearest F has been on the time zone (off by one hour) in Italy for 8 days and poor me having just arrived with a 7-hour time difference from Toronto.

Oh that wonderful ITA Airways had left dearest F’s suitcase uncovered on the tarmac. The water had seeped into her suitcase. A most professional airline.

So wipe that smirk off your face as that 4-hour hotel sleep was not what you were thinking!

RKS EURO FILM: “Saints”: Sacrilegious Pilfering’s and a Heist

What a fascinating plot line in this Spanish-Italian film set in Barcelona and recently screened at the St. Sebastian Film Festival. Rosario (Eulàlia Ramón), a former missionary nun, leads a gang of do gooder thieves stealing religious statues of saints from churches, convents and monasteries. Barcelona itself is protected by two patron saints. And Director Mikel Gurrea lives in the Sants neighbourhood of Barcelona.

Do gooders? The money earned from selling statutes is used to assist those in need so there is a Robin Hood element to the film. After all, as Rosario says, the relevance of Roman Catholic churches is fading in Spanish society so her rationale for thievery may be to put the wealth of the church to better use than simply passive admiration.

Petty thief, gambler cheat and wanderer Lali (Victoria Luengo) is summoned back to Barcelona by a terminally ill Gloria, her mother. She eventually joins Rosario’s gang thoroughly enjoying the plundering. Unfortunately we do not know why which is reflective of lack of character development in the film.

Gang members do a remarkable job of caring for Gloria and it is evident they do in fact assist those in need including an injured labourer.

A suave middleman handsomely rewards Rosario for a planned major heist of statutes to be sold to international buyers. Then suddenly we are enmeshed in the caper not knowing where it is occurring or as common in heist movies “the plan”. A weird scene with a nun, during the heist desperately craving chocolate “for my body” and when given consumes with near orgasmic delight. The inner corruption of the holiest? The sheer thin veneer of the Catholic religion?  Gurrea playing with us!

As for the success of the heist God indeed must have been paying close attention.

Near the conclusion of the film a television report notes the heist as carried out by an international criminal organization linked to an international network. Not that news reports have it right but is Rosario no more than a clever criminal with a fascinating alias. A Robin Hood not of the oppressed but a hood for personal gain? Director Gurrea if you are playing with us again I love it.

Speaking of love and admiration tremendous performances by Luengo and Rosario.

I only wish we knew what if anything Lali learnt from this. Moral enrichment or paganistic thrills.

RKS EURO FILM RATING 68/100.

RKS IRISH American Literature: The Irish View of Children (J.P. Donleavy)

The Irish feel that children are brought down on them by the wrath of God for screwing. All you hear is that if it weren’t for you kids life would be rosy and we could have a good time. But we worked and slaved ourselves to the bone to give you a little more than we had and now look at you, won’t bring a penny into the house. No-good loafer wasting your time with these books when there are good jobs on the railroad.

J.P. Donleavy, “The Ginger Man”, 1955