The Secret of the River

At my age, 76 it seems the world has changed tremendously.  I am reminded of Stephen R.Covey's fifth rule: "Seek first to understand and then to be understood".  Mexico has produced a film series that portrays a mystery involving sex identity.  So there are no surprises it hinges on the third gender.  Certainly there is a plot with a murder/manslaughter, paternity mystery but it revolves around gender issues.

We are first introduced to two young boys  Manuel and Erik who don't share a lot of common interests, but somehow become friends.  This takes part in Oaxcan, Mexico.  Manuel comes across some individuals known as Muex that think of themselves as neither men or women.  In truth they really do exist and have for a long time notably in Zapotec speaking area of Oaxcan.  Some are transgender while others are more transvestites.

Manuel feels "different" and we see him indulging in some activites regarded as feminine.  Nonetheless they remain friends especially bonding after sharing a serious crisis.  A young girl Paulina who father is a police officer also becomes close to both boys and plays a role as an adult.

The second part of the series occurs 20 years later and Manuel has transitioned to a woman who calls herself Sicuru.  

It takes a lot of talent to bring such a series as "The Secret of the River" into being.  Here are some of the key people.  

Alberto Barrera, one of the writers is credited with creating the idea.  He is from Venezuela and started his film career there.  He has 18 credits as a writer and one for directing.

Ernesto Contreras was the main director.   He has won a few awards including one from the Sundance Film Festival.  He has 26 credits as a director, 12 as producer and 8 as an editor including "Where the Tracks End" (2023).  See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/06/where-tracks-end.html

Gus Reyes was responsible for much of the music.  He got an early start with a number of choirs, rising to a soloist.  There are some beautiful choral pieces in the series.  He has 97 composing credits and 12 for the music department including "Where the Tracks End" (2023).

Cesar Gutierrez Miranda was the cinematographer.  He has 44 cinematography credits, 4 for directing and 4 for writing. 

Jorge Macaya helped with the editing.  He has 57 credits for editing, 8 for the editorial department and 1 for directing including "Where the Tracks End" (2023).

Trinidad Gonzales plays the grownup Manuel who is known as Sicuru.  She grew up in Mexico as a boy, but from an early age was attracted to fashion.  Moving to Mexico City Trinidad began modeling and sometime after moved to London and finished transitioning to a female.  Moving back to Mexico modeling assignments were difficult, but shown the script decided to take on an intense acting program and accepted the role of Sicuru.

Diego Calva played the adult Erik.  He has 23 credits as an actor, 2 credits for producing and 1 for assistant director.  He once starred with Brad Pitt and Margo Robbie in "Babylon" (2022).

Mauro Guzman played the youthful Erik in the first four episodes and in flashback for the final four episodes to critical praise. He has 2 film credits.

Frida Sofia Cruz Salinas played the youthful Manuel even though a girl.  She has 3 credits including "Where the Tracks End" (2023).

Mercedes Hernandez played Rafaela, the grandmother of Manuel.  She established herself on stage (25 plas) and as a cabaret performer and for oral story telling.  She has 38 acting credits including "La Gran Seduccion" (2023).

La Bruja de Texcoco, a muex payed Solange, the key muex.  (S)he has 3 acting credits.

Jorge A. Jimenez played Jacinto, a homophobic father of Erik.  He has 46 acting credits, 1 as a producer and 1 as a writer.

Jero Medina played Braulio, the sympathetic father of Paulina.  He has 21 acting credits including "Where the Tracks End" (2023).

Yoshira Escarrega played the adult Paulina.  She has 17 acting credits.

For those who would like to understand a little better a section of misunderstood part of our population.  It is available subtitled and dubbed on Netflix.  If more people could watch such series without getting overly queasy we might not have had to put up with Donald Trump who loves to stir up bigotry

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  They are not necessarily a recommendation, but generally I found them worthy of my time.  If you follow the links you should be able to determine if a particular film is worth following up.

Post Election 2024

As a Canadian I look at the American election as insanity.  The two most heard excuses for their choice were the economy and immigration.

The economy really means the cost of living which certainly merits serious concern.  The big question should be "Why"?  A little overlooked history should have been noted.  Obama took over a financial crisis and over eight years turned it to a rising economy.  Trump's first action was to put in a large tax reduction that not only added to the deficit, but also increased inequality.  Others can argue about how he handled the economy after that, but in general jobs were lost and inflation moderately increased that is until the pandemic crisis that Obama warned was possible.  Not Trump's fault, but he acted almost criminal in his management--mocking experts and discouraging masks and vaccines.  Lots of jobs were lost, businesses closed and critically supply chains were disrupted.   A few businesses were able to take advantage and others went under

There are many ways a government might approach the problem--an important component would be to pump in more money.  Climate change didn't stop and agriculture suffered meaning food prices went up.  Climate instances have increased and have had a negative impact on prices.  Money was borrowed and some was printed, otherwise the job situation would have been pretty bleak.  Trump negotiated a deal with Saudi Arabia designed to increase oil prices.  These last four years of recovery have been difficult times with difficult decisions required.  Compared to the rest of the world it must be said the Biden administration made the better choices, but Americans really didn't care how other nations fared.  Did voters really think the world has fully recovered from the Covid pandemic?

Immigration does bring out emotions.  One question seems to be unasked--why the increase and desperation?  Climate change plays a role, but also so do repressive governments.  Expect more immigration pressure.  Gwynne Dyer in a recent blog pointed out the pressure definitely will increase and anticipates the borders can be sealed by actually shooting violators.  It is past time for greater global co-operation.   Read more:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/10/intervention-earth.html

What should have been unforgiven was Trump's efforts to discard a bi-partisan effort to deal with the immigration crisis.  Trump was pretty open about it--he wanted an issue to campaign on.  As we got closer to the election, both the economy and the border situation markedly improved, but one would not know it from the bombast coming from Trump.

It seems these two issues were so important that voters could overlook character in their assessment of who should make the national decisions for the next four years.  Trump with high priced legal help (much paid by his adoring fans) has evaded courts that he seems to realize have incriminating evidence that could put him in prison.  The fact that he intimidates those who do not cater to him--that he uses excessive bragging and blaming others.  The fact that he has a relationship with Putin that bodes ill for Ukraine (and others) doesn't seem of concern.  He also seems to favor Netanyahu who is avoiding a two state solution (and also prison).

Perhaps the biggest disappointment was that the recent victims of hurricanes for the most part voted for climate change deniers.  They had been lied to and still preferred to believe the misinformation rather than actual facts.   

Some will claim the Democrats should have ditched Biden before and found someone better than Kamala Harris.  My very personal view is that Kamala was the person with the right temperament and ability, but being a woman of mixed racial heritage probably did offend some sensibilities.  The Republicans highlighted by Trump did exert pressure on Biden, so much so that the Democrats felt they had to do something.  Although many would disagree the arrangement with the Biden administration was basically working--Biden made good decisions and took expert advice.  If he doddered around where cameras could catch him and let himself take a cold to a debate that obviously created a problem that Trump was quick to exploit.

I revealed my preference for Kamala more than four years ago.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/the-iowa-caucus.html

Lots of things will happen in the next four years.  Climate change will become more evident.  Foreign powers will take advantage of American isolation.  Chinese leverage will likely be boosted.  Regulations of all sorts will be alleviated with untold effects, not all of which will be good.  Almost for certain inequality will increase.  Will the voters wake up?

College educated voters respond better to the Democrats, but in truth most did not study the facts enough.

A great plan to benefit those at the top has reached another level.  Check  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/05/monopolies.html

Thank you for letting me vent.  

Let Go

"Let Go" (2024) seemed an interesting time filler and for the first while it seemed to match my expectations, but then it shifted to something well worth viewing.  I was very impressed with it and a little concerned that the first part might disappoint those viewers who might be enticed by my strong recommendation. 

Having got that off my chest I do highly recommend this film to those who like family dramas.  In the end the word that comes to mind is "beautiful"!

You are soon introduced to a rowdy family with two children behaving somewhat obnoxiously with the mother, Stella trying to gain control.  The husband, Gustav seems a bit unconcerned.  After dinner with the daughter not co-operating the husband tells his wife he wants a divorce.  She doesn't respond in any of the ways your might expect.  She says she would be willing to discuss a divorce, but not until they do a family trip so their daughter can participate in a pole dancing contest.  He protests, but she is very insistent.

Shortly after we learn part of his motivation when we meet his girlfriend, Angela and afterwards they indulge in some sex.  Angela discusses his situation and recommends he go through with the trip and then divorce his wife so they can live together.  She is actually very likeable.

The 9 hour trip proves to be challenging.  The strain in the marriage is very evident as the wife accuses her husband of being "useless" as he is forgetting things and seems to avoid his children.  In fact he forgets the bag with Anna, his competing daughter's costumes.  She is furious, but her father calmly offers to take her shopping.  Gustav stands up to his wife pointing out that she is too controlling and has pushed him away from his children.

The trip involves a few difficulties and the couple act awkwardly.  You might be able to guess how their relationships works, but the ending is more difficult to figure out.  An unexpected scene was when they finally got to the pole dancing performance.  Throughout the film there are some English language songs of different tempos that added to my enjoyment.

You can be assured if you like family dramas this will be remembered.  Of course without a talented cast and crew it might have been just an okay time filler, but it is more than that and here are some of the people responsible.

The director, writer and lead actress is Josephine Bornebusch who plays Stella.  She has  9 director credits, 8 for writing and 36 for acting including 3 director episodes of "Baby Reindeer" (2024).

Uno Helmersson composed the music.  He has 89 composing credits and 25 for the music department including "The Lion Woman" (2016), "The Bridge" (2011-2018) and "The Painter and the Thief" (2020).

Ragna Jorming was the cinematographer.  She has 37 cinematography credits and 11 for the camera and electrical department.

Sarah Patient Nicastro was the editor.  She has 12 credits for editor, 19 for the editorial department and 19 for the Sound Department.  

Pal Sverre Hagen plays Gustav.  He has 42 acting credits including "Troubled Waters" (2009), "Kon Tiki" (2012), "In Order of Disappearance" (2014) and "The Girl in the Spider's Web" (2018).  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2019/08/guilty-pleasure-lisa-salander-and.html

Sigrid Johnson plays Anna, the daughter.  She has 15 acting credits.

Tone Danielsen plays Astrid the mother of Stella.  Most of her career was in Norway with 38 acting credits including "Reprise" (2006) with her son Anders Danielsen Lie and "The King's Choice" (2016).

Lola Sackow played Angela, the girlfriend.  She has 14 acting credits.

Irma Jamhammar plays the competition organizer.  Born in Georgia she speaks 5 languages; Swedish, English, Georgian, Russian and Armenian.  She has 13 acting credits including in Georgia and Sweden.

Leon Mentori played Gabriel who did a pole dancing routine with Anna.  He has 2 acting credits.

"Let Go" is available on Netflix subtitled or dubbed.  Again, highly recommend.  

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  They are not necessarily a recommendation, but generally I found them worthy of my time.

Justice

Poland is a nation that had been under Communism after WW II and only freed of that burden in 1989.  Inevitably there were awkward adjustments for many.  With "Justice (in Polish, "Napad")) the lead character is a former police detective who lost his job for some politically offensive action.  After the change in government a superior officer decided to give him a chance to prove himself with a difficult case, but included a deadline.  Tadeusz was also given an assistant who a jealous fellow officer forced to spy on him.

Compared to an old tv. favorite Columbo, the Polish detective Tadeusz is more disheveled and morose.  Nonetheless is methodical.  We get a taste of what police work was like before 1989 when Tadeusz tries to force a confession out of the suspect.

We know who is the guilty person and Tadeusz has identified the prime suspect.  Proof is elusive.  The suspect is defiant. 

Netflix has carried a few other engaging Polish movies.

Michael Gazda was the director.  He has 12 directing credits including "Forgotten Love" (2023).  See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/10/forgotten-love-polish-gem.html  This previous movie involvement of other cast and crew members is the prime reason I decided to watch this film and found if worth a blog post. 

Bartosz Staszczyszyn was the writer.  He has 3 credits for writing, 1 for script and Continuity Department and 1 for Addional Crew. 

Magdalena Szwedkowicz was the producer.  She has 9 producing credits including "Forgotten Love" (2023).

Tomasz Augustynek was the cinematographer.  He has 30 cinematographer credits and 10 for camera and electrical deparment including "Forgotten Love" (2023).

Piotr Miecik was the editor.  He has 48 editing credits including 'Forgotten Love" (2023).

Olaf Lubaszenko played Tadeusz, the detecitve gien a second chance.  He has 105 acting credits and 10 directing credits including "Schindler's List" (1993).

Jedrzej Hycnar played Kacper who actually did the robbery and murder.  He has 31 acting credits.

Wiktoria Gorodecka played Aleksandra, the police detective assigned to help (and spy on) Tadeusz.  Born in Lithuania he has 60 acting credits including "Hold Tight" (2022).

Magdalena Boczarska played Prokuratorka, the police woman who ordered Tadeusz to be spied on.  She has performed in German films as well.  She has 65 acting credits and 1 for producing including "Hold Tight" (2022).

"Justice" is available subtitled on Netflix.

Meiyazhagan

 "Meiyazhagan" is a family story with no sex or violence.  Unfortunately families sometimes fall out and hard feelings sometimes last a long time.  

At the beginning we see a younger version of Aural  leaving his home after some sort of dispute which he felt he had lost.  We know it had something to do with house ownership and he felt he had unfairly lost.  Soon we are sent forward 22 years and we see an older Aural in another city with his wife and explaining why he feels he should attend a wedding, but doesn't intend to stick around.  

Then he is greeted by an unknown man.  This unknown man claims to know Aural from childhood, but Aural cannot not name or place him.  A lot of conversations, but Aural keeps trying to break away.  The unknown man is persistent and tricks Aural into staying overnight.  Aural does change, but you will have to wait until the end to learn the identity of the unknown man

Attitudes gained from harsh experiences are not easily changed.  The process is not particularly noticed.

The title, Meiyazhagan means man with truth as beauty in Tamil.

C. Prem  Kumar was the director and writer.  He started his film career as a cinematographer where he earned 6 credits and he now has 3 credits for directing and 3 credits for writing (the 3 same films).  His credits included " 96" (2018) and "Jaanu" (2020).   A film critic Baradwaj Rangan noted an encouraging similarity between the two Tamil films.  He felt both stories had a traumatized lead character who met the other lead character and after long conversations the trauma was resolved.  Baradwaj felt the plots were therapeutic.

 Jyotika and her husband Suriya were the producers.  Jyotika has performed in Tamil, Telegu, Malayalam and Hindi films.  She has 50 acting credits including "Raatchasi" (2019), "Thambi" (2019) "Ponmagal Vandhal" (2020) and "Srikanth" (2024).  She has been a producer for 6 films.  For her acting check http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/04/raatchasi.html  For her producing check where she was heavily involved with my top overall film for 2021, "Jai Bhim"   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/11/jai-bhim.html

Govind Vasantha composed the music.  He also sings and plays the violin.  He was a founder of the band Thaikkum Bridge.  He has 41 credits for composing and 14 for the music department including "Solo" (2017), "Thambi" (2019), "Ponmagal Vandhal" (2020),  "Jaanu" (2020) and "Soorari Pottru" (2020)

Mahedran Jayaraju was the cinematographer.  He has 6 cinematography credits including "Jaanu" (2020).

 R. Govindaraj was the editor with 9 editing credits.

Karthi played the unknown man.  He earned a Master of Engineering degree and then went to the University  Binghampton in the U.S. to earn a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering where he also attended some lectures on film.  Soon he used family connections to get into film back in India.  He has 30 acting credits, 2 for the Music Department and 1 for Assistant Directing including "Thambi" (2019), "Ponnlyn Selvan, Part 1" (2022) and "Ponnlyn Selvan, Part 2" (2024) and "Annapoormi" (2023).

Arvind Swamy played Arul.  After an education in India he went to Wake Forest University in North Carolina for a Master degree in international business while he was active in overlapping with his film career.  He had a serious injury and took years off from acting, coming back in 2013.  He has been a playback singer and a dubber (in Tamil).   Arvind has 34 acting credits including "Roja" (1992), "Bombay" (1995) "Kadal" (2013) and "IC 814:  Kandahar Hijack" (2024).  "Kadal" has a song by A.R. Rahman that is number one in my collection.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/09/ic-814-kandahar-hijack.html

Sri  Divya  plays Nandhini, the wife of the unknown man.  Her first experience in films was as a 3 year old on a children's movie.  She has 24 acting credits including "Jana Gana Mana" ((2022).  see                http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/06/jana-gana-muna.html

Devadarshini plays Hema, the wife of Arul.  While in college she anchored some television shows.  She has 82 acting credits including "Enthiran" (2010), "Eega" (2012) and "Mersal" (2017).

Available on Netflix with subtitles.  If you appreciate family dynamics this is a must.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  They are not necessarily a recommendation, but generally I found them worthy of my time.  If you follow the links you should be able to determine if a particular film is worth following up.

Perfect Days

"Perfect Days" (2024) doesn't have much of a plot and focuses on a very lowly regarded job, toilet cleaning.  Nonetheless it has attracted a lot of favorable attention.  The lead character has an unusual joy of life (most of the time) and encounters minor problems very calmly.

Cleaning toilets is not only mundane, but also repulsive.  The kernel of the idea came from conversations between Wim Wenders, Koji Yanai and Takuma Takasaki.  Wim was a well established film maker who had come to admire Japanese cinema, particularly Yusujiro Ozu.  Koji was in charge of the Tokyo Toilet Project and met with Wim who thought a public toilet was like a sacred place.  Takuma was at an advertising agency and felt the project could be made into a film.  Originally it was thought the film should contain four short stories, but Wim pushed for a full length feature. 

Check how important toilets are:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/11/world-toilet-day.html

We meet Hirayama as he gets out of bed and get set to work.  He is very methodical, scrubbing, spraying and gathering trash.  The toilets are the same, but the buildings are minor architectural master pieces.  He is interrupted by patrons including business men in a hurry, young kids (some of whom need help) and the homeless.  He allows each some privacy and resumes his work. 

His routine is broken by a lunch break where he eats a sandwich and uses his camera to take a photo of the trees and plants in a park where he eats his lunch.  Other times we see him at a bar where he often watches baseball games.  At one time a co-worker asks to borrow his car so he can impress his girl friend and we soon see all three in his car listening to a music tape.  Later the girl friend asks to listen to the tape without the boyfriend.  

On another occasion Hirayama is greeted by a young girl he doesn't at first recognize, but then knows it is a niece, Niko who has grown up since he last saw her.  She claims to want to live with him, but shortly he meets the mother, his estranged sister.   

All through these experiences Hirayama very occasionally frowns, but almost right away smiles like he is enjoying what he does and who he meets.

Part of his enjoyment comes from a lot of music usually of American hits of the time with a few Japanese versions.  The film ends perfectly with Nina Simone singing"Feeling Good".

The film leaves a very good feeling and an appreciation how a humble job can be of service to mankind and fulfilling.  A lot of effort went into the impression.  Here are some of those responsible. 

Wim Wenders  was the director, writer and producer.  Born in Germany he went through a number of transitions before making films.  He studied  medicine and philosophy, tried painting, engraving, was a film critic and eventually studied film in Germany.  After a few films in Germany he got the attention of Francis Ford Coppola, in 1978, but after awhile they quarreled.  Even so, Wim established his international credentials.  He went onto to earn 89 directing credits, 76 producing credits and 54 for writing including "King of the Road" (1976).  He received many nominations and awards and with $5,000 from Cannes he gave it all to Canadian, Atom Egoyan. 

Takuma Takasaki was another producer and co-writer.  He has been an international award winning creative advertising director as well as a novelist.  He has 4 credits for writing and 3 for producing.

Koji Yanai was a producer.  In 2012 he joined Fast Retailing and given responsibility for sports marketing.  As part of that he talked to a Paralympian tennis players who brought up the problem of accessibility for disabled people in Tokyo.  Koji at first focused on dealing with that, but soon expanded concept to making the big city more accessible for all people.  He was in charge of the Tokyo Toilet Project and he searched among producers, creative architects and product designers.   He, Wim and Takuma formed the team that pushed the film through.

Franz Lustig was the cinematographer.  German born he has 35 cinematographer credits, 3 for camera and electrical department and 2 for editing.

Toni Froschhammer did the editing.  He has 19 editing credits, 1 for directing and 1 for composing.

Koji Yakusha played the lead, Hirayama  with very little dialogue, but his subtle nuanced facial expressions earned him the best actor award at Cannes (his second such award).  He has 117 acting credits including "Tampopoo" (1985), "Shall We Dance?" (1997), "The Eel" (1997), "Cure" (1997), "Memoirs of a Geisha" (2005), "Babel" (2006) and "The Third Murder" (2017).   See the third paragraph http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/03/japanese-movies-are-more-than-godzilla.html  and also about other Japanese movies.  Plus check for another of his triumphs:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/06/cure-scary-masterpiece-from-japan.html

Tokio Emoto played Takashi, a co-worker.  He has 138 acting credits including "Norwegian Wood" (2010).

Aoi Yamada plays Ayla, Takashi's girl friend.  She has been a model and a dancer.  As a dancer she performed a solo at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Closing Ceremony.  She has 5 acting credits including "First Love" (2022)  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2022/12/first-love.html

Anisa Nakano played Niko, the niece.  She has 4 acting credits.

I watched this film on  a DVD from the library.  It will calm you and make you feel good.

Yintah

Documentaries can often help us recognize reality.  "Yintah" (2024) is an example.  Climate change is easy to argue for, but not so easy to fight.  

This film covers over 10 years of activity and admittedly gives a particular perspective.  The natives of Wet'suwet'en in British Columbia,  wanted to stop a pipeline construction that would have negative impacts on their lifestyle.  The RCMP does the bidding of the corporate bosses and the government and after much wrangling they succeeded.  We see confrontations between natives and authority (RCMP, pipeline staff).  Eventually we see some of the natives being manhandled and arrested.

This film is an answer to the abuse they have received.

Here are some of the people responsible. 

Michael Toledano was a director, producer and cinematographer.  His parents were combat partisans in WWII.  His background was as a  journalist for the Jewish press.   he felt Jews should be concerned about indigenous rights.  He got embedded with the Wet'suwet'en people and subsequently was arrested by the RCMP

Molly Wickham (likes to be called Skeyda') was one of the chief spokespeople.  She was a residential survival.  She has also spoken in support of Palestine feeling oppressed people need to support each other.  She is shown confronting the RCMP.

Freda Huson (also known as Howihkot) was the other main spokesperson telling the RCMP they were trespassing on unceded land.  She has spoken on behalf of indigenous rights at a United Nations agency.

Original music was written by Olivier Alary who was born in France and now based in Montreal.  He has been involved with music albums by Bjork among others.  He has 22 composing credits.

Ryan Mullins was the editor.  He has 17 credits as editor, 4 for cinematographer and 4 as a director.  

Naomi Klein in one of her books pointed out it would be advantageous for environmentalists to align with native groups wanting to protect their land.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2018/05/naomi-klein-writes-another-insightful.html 

 The pipeline and fossil fuels have played a role in my being able to retire and spend more time on blogs.   See my post from 2015 explaining.struggling with a lot of corporate monsters.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/11/when-public-that-means-you-are-lied-to.html  

It is one battle between the environment and corporate interests.  Available on Netflix.