As the countdown to spring is nearly here, winter has decided to arrive, in force. We have dodged major snowstorms and severe temperatures all season, so far. Just when the light begins to return, and hopes of seeing February's snowdrop flowers, it is our turn for winter. Keeping in mind that we are the most southerly area in Canada, and that the rest of the country will be hit much harder, here is our Detroit/Windsor forecast up to the 15th. Spring is officially delayed.
It's already been a chilly late January and early February, with temps barely rising above 0 on only two days of the past ten. And now this. Worst of all, we have no snow, though a bit is supposed to arrive tonight. Why is that important? Because snow helps blanket the underground water pipes, and stop them from freezing. When we lived in the town of Essex many moons ago, our water pipes froze in winter for a week. What a disaster that was. Try living with no water, and severe cold temps. Though this incoming weather is far from the most severe cold we can receive, it's about as bad as it gets for this time of year.
In family news, Deb's mom is in the hospital in Lindsay, after a fall. Deb spoke with her this morning and she sounds fine. She has been using a walker at home, and having circulation problems. She lives alone in a seniors condo, but it might be time to think about the next step. She is 92. Besides Deb, she has two more (older) daughters; one lives near North Bay, and the other one in Mexico. No one can visit the hospital.
In local Covid news, the patients keep dying at an alarming rate, but today we are down to 20 new cases. That seems remarkable, considering where we were just a few short weeks ago. And people think lockdowns don't work.
In movie news, we finished up Deb's film festival weekend, and even got to watch one of mine last night. My film choice was the final (5th) segment of Fassbinder's TV series called 8 Hours Don't Make a Day. I am slowly working our way through all the Fassbinder material on Criterion, which is considerable. We both really enjoyed this family series, getting a peek into industrial Germany in the 1970s. The men work in a tool and die factory, while the women are either working (childcare, newspaper add department, bored housewife) or not. The films do a good job of balancing the work day with the private lives of the people involved. There is much humour, plenty of drama, and good storytelling and characters.
Deb's 3 film festival choices were unrelated to one another. We began with Supa Modo, a Germany/Kenya production from 2018. A young girl is dying from cancer. She fantasizes about superheroes, enjoys movies about them, and has a vast poster collection. She is in a hospital, but mom comes and takes her out, so she can die at home. Sad and uplifting, there is lots of humour, and several superhero antics. Recommended.
Now showing on Criterion.
Next up was The Getting of Wisdom, directed by Bruce Beresford from 1977. Based on a popular book in Australia, it tells the sadistic story of a young girl attending a Catholic boarding school. The movie is frustrating to watch, as the girls are continually catty and aggressive, always trying to hurt someone. It doesn't make for great viewing, in my opinion. It is similar in many ways to women in prison movies, with the headmistress a cruel ogre. Anyway, suddenly, halfway through the film this girl can play piano like a master. She never practices, hasn't touched a piano up till now, so the film switches to her as a pianist, amidst all the catfighting. At the end she wins a major award and goes off to study in Leipzig. Much less enjoyable than it could have been. Much of the dialogue is very difficult to understand, as well. It's fine when you can see the faces of the girls when they talk, but otherwise I missed a lot. It's certainly no Picnic At Hanging Rock.
Now showing on Criterion.
Lastly came Gohatto, a 1999 film by Nagisa Oshima. One of the strangest samurai films I have ever seen, it deals with a young, beautiful, but evil homosexual swordsman, who nearly causes the school to have a major crisis. The actor is very strange to look at, but perfect in the role as an obedient and very capable swordsman who enjoys killing. Not sure I would recommend the film, but for samurai movie completists, it will pass the time. Some remarkably beautiful and dream like sections. The sword work is mostly very good.
More news as it happens.
Mapman Mike
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