RKS Film: “Donbass”: Mockumentary? Black Comedy? Absurdity? Chilling?

Sergey Loznitsa’s “Donbass” from 2018 is certainly not dated. Considering the Russian rampage in the Ukraine it is chillingly relevant. A dozen or so vignettes explain what life is like in the Eastern Ukraine where Russian separatists attempt to steal the Donbass for Holy Mother Russia. It is difficult to categorize the film into aContinue reading “RKS Film: “Donbass”: Mockumentary? Black Comedy? Absurdity? Chilling?”

“Travels to a Different Time” :25May1975: Vienna, Austria: Climbing the Muddy Hills with Carmen

Cold and rainy again. How super depressing. I feel like just heading south to Greece or Yugoslavia and drying out but I have a mission to complete my travels to Eastern Europe. I cooked up some breakfast and crawled back into my sleeping bag to keep warm. Carmen, the American girl from New Jersey stoppedContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” :25May1975: Vienna, Austria: Climbing the Muddy Hills with Carmen”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 23May1975: Vienna, Austria: I Curse the Rain

It was raining lightly when I awoke at 08:00. I cursed the rain all the more as I had to go out in it to collect my visa and hopefully my passport. Hopped on the 49 tram into town and picked up my visa and passport at the Hungarian Embassy. I wrote a letter andContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 23May1975: Vienna, Austria: I Curse the Rain”

RKS Film: “Blue Queen”: No Such Thing as an Honest Gangster!

The Hellenic Film Society USA continues its “Greek Films on Demand” which runs from the first to the tenth day of each month. Two Greek films are available for viewing at a nominal charge. One of April’s films is “Blue Queen”. In crime films you have probably encountered the double cross. Well in “Blue Queen”Continue reading “RKS Film: “Blue Queen”: No Such Thing as an Honest Gangster!”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 21May1975: Vienna, Austria: Camping in Suburbia: Austria The Land of Hot Showers and Good Milk!

The flight was smooth and we stopped in Shannon Ireland to refuel. There were some beautiful wool sweaters but I simply can’t lug any more clothes around! We landed around noon and tourist information said all youth hostels were full. So I ended up camping in a beautiful suburb about 5 kms from the cityContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 21May1975: Vienna, Austria: Camping in Suburbia: Austria The Land of Hot Showers and Good Milk!”

RKS Film: “See You Again”: Possibly the Best and Most Honest LGBTQ Ever Made?

I have been reviewing LGBTQ films for a few years now. Lynch me if you wish but my take of this “film genre” is there is a divide between depicting the LGBTQ community as LGBTQ human beings as opposed to LGBTQ human beings being LGBTQ. If we are looking for true diversity and inclusion doContinue reading “RKS Film: “See You Again”: Possibly the Best and Most Honest LGBTQ Ever Made?”

RKS Wine:  Cline Viognier North Coast California

My first choice for Viognier would be France but California produces a fair bit of it. Let’s try a Cline 2020 North Coast Viognier. It has a light cold colour. As for aromatics it is not exactly an effusive Viognier. The first take is a wine that has some cinnamon, eucalyptus, butterscotch and pineapple. ThereContinue reading “RKS Wine:  Cline Viognier North Coast California”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 20May1975: First Haircut in 3 Years Ends My Gypsy Frightening Potential

Instead of the midnight bus to New York from Montreal it will be the midnight DC-10 from New York to Vienna. To avoid being set up for narcotic smuggling and to prevent gypsies from running away from me in terror I went for my first haircut in 3 years. It was not the traumatic experienceContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 20May1975: First Haircut in 3 Years Ends My Gypsy Frightening Potential”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 17/18 May 1975: New York City: Off to Vienna!

Again on the midnight bus from Montreal to New York City. Sitting next to a tubby guy with bad body odour who tried to strike up a conversation to no avail. Through customs was quick and at the Saratoga Springs rest stop I have never seen the restaurant so busy at 3 in the morning.Continue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 17/18 May 1975: New York City: Off to Vienna!”

RKS Film: “Holy Boom”: Intergenerational and Ethnic Explosion in Athens!

The Hellenic Film Society USA continues with its Greek Films on Demand programme where for the first ten days of the month two Greek films are available for streaming at a nominal cost. One of the April films “Holy Boom” is a 2018 production that weaves together ethnic and intergenerational conflicts facing Greece. On PalmContinue reading “RKS Film: “Holy Boom”: Intergenerational and Ethnic Explosion in Athens!”