RKS 2024 Film: “Inay” (Mama): The Mutual Pain of the Filipina Absent Mother

“Inay” is a Canadian documentary probing the pain of Filipina mothers leaving the Philippines to work as domestic workers in Canada primarily as child and elder minders. I knew several work colleagues that hired Filipina nannies to mind their children. Some of these nannies had left children and husbands behind and had not returned forContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Inay” (Mama): The Mutual Pain of the Filipina Absent Mother”

The 4th Annual Greek Film Festival Tour (Canada): “Operation Star”

“Operation Star” is a WW II film set in Northern Greece. British planned Operation Star mission fails. Eight men, 5 Greek and 3 British, are sent to blow up a mountain railway bridge but are ambushed by the Germans leaving two survivors Major Vasilis Kostakis (Konstantinos Lagos) and Seargent Pavlos Linos (Lefteris Dimiropoulos). They mustContinue reading “The 4th Annual Greek Film Festival Tour (Canada): “Operation Star””

The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “Murderess” (Fonissa)

One of the very special films showing at the upcoming 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada) (GIFFT) showing in 11 Canadian cities 1-31October2024, Fonissa, had the highest box office sales in Greece for 2023. It is based on an Alexandros Papadiamantis novel of the same name published in 1912. Set in a small villageContinue reading “The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “Murderess” (Fonissa)”

RKS 2024 Film: “Kryptic”: No Horror but You’ll Be Caught in The Gordian Knot!

Kay (Chloe Pirrie) joins a newly formed walking ladies club and with their guide they hike up Kryptic Peak. Kay separates from the group and encounters a hairy brute creature called a Sook as it is referred to in local lore. As the guide explains thousands of hikers disappear in the mountains each year withoutContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Kryptic”: No Horror but You’ll Be Caught in The Gordian Knot!”

RKS 2024 Film: “In a Violent Nature”: Horror on the Screen and in the Screening Room

As a journalist I have learnt over the years that you never know when your next story can jump out at you while in the midst of working on your target story. Years ago I was doing a sociology project which took me to a large theatre on St. Catherine Street in Montreal by theContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “In a Violent Nature”: Horror on the Screen and in the Screening Room”

RKS 2024 Film: Inside Out 2LGBTQ+ Film Festival: “All Shall Be Well”

Angie Wang (Patra Au) and Pat Wu have been in a lesbian relationship for some thirty years. They live together in a spacious upscale Hong Kong condo. They do what many couples do, eating together, shopping together and entertaining. Both are in their sixties and retired although Pat has dreams of opening a Senior FashionContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: Inside Out 2LGBTQ+ Film Festival: “All Shall Be Well””

RKS 2024 Film: “Accidental Texan”: Zorba the Greek Meets Good Old American Values

“Accidental Texan” is one of those feel-good movies and we all require one of those every once in awhile. Erwin Vandemeer (Rudy Pankow) is an aspiring actor on his first substantial role filming in New Orleans but he destroys the opening scene and is promptly fired. His agent drops him. His acting career may beContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Accidental Texan”: Zorba the Greek Meets Good Old American Values”

RKS 2024 Film: HOT DOCS 2024: “7 Beats per Minute”: Misery and Success

Jessea Lu is a freediving champion who arrived in the United States from China on a student visa not knowing anyone nor having much money. Through rigorous training and great drive she became a freediving champion quite remarkable for both a woman and an Asian. Freediving champion I am not but I have done myContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: HOT DOCS 2024: “7 Beats per Minute”: Misery and Success”

RKS 2024 Film: “The Beast” (La Bête): Nagasaki Love

Clocking in around two and a half hours this French film is long but fascinating and not readily understood with one viewing. I am tempted to state it could be a great love story of a couple spanning three lifetimes but that is shattered Nagasaki style in the dying seconds of the movie. Alternatively, andContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “The Beast” (La Bête): Nagasaki Love”

RKS 2024 Film: “East Bay”: A Parade of the Mostly Lost

“East Bay” opens with 39-year-old Jack Lee (Daniel Yoon) lamenting his lack of life and filmmaking success from his childhood to the present day. As a child he desperately prayed to God to make him successful. We watch God, an elder bearded Caucasian, throughout the film snickering at the misguided humans and at one pointContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “East Bay”: A Parade of the Mostly Lost”