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Gasland – Sundance Winning Documentary

Amy — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:12:12 +0000

GASLAND – (2010) Directed by Josh Fox. Winner of Special Jury Prize – Best US Documentary Feature – Sundance 2010. Screening at Cannes 2010.

It is happening all across America and now in Europe and Africa as well – rural landowners wake up one day to find a lucrative offer from a multinational energy conglomerate wanting to lease their property. The Reason? In America, the company hopes to tap into a huge natural gas reservoir dubbed the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. Halliburton developed a way to get the gas out of the ground—a hydraulic drilling process called fracking—and suddenly America finds itself on the precipice of becoming an energy superpower.

But what comes out of the ground with that natural gas? How does it affect our air and drinking water? GASLAND is a powerful personal documentary that confronts these questions with spirit, strength, and a sense of humor. When filmmaker Josh Fox receives his cash offer in the mail, he travels across 32 states to meet other rural residents on the front lines of fracking. He discovers toxic streams, ruined aquifers, dying livestock, brutal illnesses, and kitchen sinks that burst into flame. He learns that all water is connected and perhaps some things are more valuable than money.

Private screening in Vancouver July 22. Message me for details.
Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8

Slumdog Millionaire – film directed by Danny Boyle

Amy — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:09:11 +0000

Slumdog Millionaire is a movie that centers around the destiny of Jamal Malik - a poor “slumdog” from the streets of Mumbai. The film begins with Jamal in present day – as a finalist on the renowned television show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Answering all the questions correctly, he is accused of cheating. As he is beaten and questioned by the police, this is where his tale of adventure, survival and truth is revealed. Each answer to the questions asked on the show was learned through specific incidents encoutered while growing up – many of them painful and traumatizing. Here is where we see in flashbacks the history of Jamal’s life – with many of his memories shared with his older brother. From witnessesing the brutal killing of his mother, working as a creative beggar, to working as an obedient call center assistant…there is one theme that persists throughout – his belief and relentless pursuit to find his lost childhood love.

There are scenes that are so grim and saddening you will be shocked. But along with the millions of viewers watching Jamal Malik on the tv show, who for a moment can escape their reality and believe in hope - as part of the audience you too, are at the edge of your seat rooting for him. Incredible, touching and a film so intense that you can’t help but feel you are almost a part of.

Captain Abu Raed – film directed by Amin Matalqa

Amy — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:08:23 +0000

A touching, beautiful and bittersweet story of Abu Raed – an old airport janitor who seems to have lost purpose in his life. Upon finding a captain’s hat in the garbage, Abu Raed transcends into the lives of a group of children living his poor neighborhood. Through his imaginary tales of travel and adventure, the group of children, who have never seen outside of the poor neighborhood of Amman, are filled with a sense of hope. As he develops a friendship with one of the boys, he realizes he can no longer be an innocent bystander to the traumatic events of the boy’s life.

Abu touches the lives of the different characters of the story and themes of class, violence, and friendship all intertwine to create a symbolic and thought provoking film.

What makes this film even more unique is the cast. The children in the story are not professional actors, but chosen from numerous refugee camps in the middle east.

Directed by Amin Matalqa

I Wish you Love – by Rachael Yamagata

Amy — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:01:44 +0000

http://www.imeem.com/people/t15qo/music/Pwo3R9gP/rachael_yamagata_i_wish_you_love/

I wish you bluebirds in the spring

To give your heart a song to sing

And then a kiss, but more than this

I wish you love

And in July a lemonade

To cool you in some leafy glade

I wish you health

But more than wealth

I wish you love

My breaking heart and I agree

That you and I could never be

So with my best

My very best

I set you free

I wish you shelter from the storm

A cozy fire to keep you warm

But most of all when snowflakes fall

I wish you love

But most of all when snowflakes fall

I wish you love

I wish you love, love, love, love, love

I wish you love

The Lives of Others – film review

Amy — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:42:52 +0000

Film: The Lives of Others – Written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

A captivating view of the unjust surveillance and intimidation systems deployed by the East German secret police in 1984. While the storyline was gripping and suspenseful, the themes of loneliness, thirst for power and the price to pay for selling your pride and integrity were thought provoking and emotional.

The movie shows one of the greatest tortures of all – the theft of hope.

Another point I found interesting about the film was the protagonist’s conviction that people have the ability to change. However, his naiveté almost costs him everything. In this film, the consistency in one’s actions in one realm definitely blurs into all other realms.

For more info, check out Rotten Tomatoes Review – The Lives of Others

Also – check out Broken Social Scene’s latest album – absolutely beautiful.