Bunuel

Turning first to dental news (always popular with my readers), Deb has had a tooth bothering her for many months now, an upper rear molar.  It really began to make itself noticed last Friday.  It was a long weekend, so she had to suffer until Tuesday morning, when she was able to call for an appointment.  She got one for today--Thursday--at 3 pm.  She was back out at the car by 3:45 pm.  She has been referred to an oral surgeon, who will remove the tooth, someday soon she hopes.  Her consultation with that doctor is next Wednesday.  Our family dentist took some pressure off the upper tooth by filing down the lower one, which has helped considerably.  The area is infected, so she is on antibiotics for 9 days, 4x daily.  Except for the drugs, this is all out of pocket expense for us, as we have no dental plan.  It's been a weird month for unexpected expenses, including our faulty garage door spring.  Our eave troughs also were installed, to the tune of $2700.  I am paying a small fortune to have my book translated into French, and we are trying to enter Deb's newest film into a major festival each month.  On it goes.  Good thing we are extremely rich, on our half pensions.

It has been raining lately, and we got caught in a major downpour returning from Windsor this afternoon.  The Homestead grass is growing much faster than bamboo, and the humidity feels tropical.  Next comes the extreme heat, due to last for a while.

A group of high speed cyclists zooms past the Homestead.  I was sitting on our front steps awaiting a ship to pass by on the Detroit River.  As can be seen in the photo, once things are leafed out our view is somewhat obstructed.

The Federal Bering is one of five ships I watch constantly on my marine traffic website page.  Flagged from the Marshall Islands, this ocean going ship is an occasional visitor to the upper Great Lakes.  Making its first pass of the new season, it is heading for Windsor, where it will load up with salt.  It came most recently from northern Scotland, and I was able to follow its journey day by day.  It was last seen passing downstream on October 30th, 2021. 

Turning to film (next week I'll discuss books read), we have watched 3 good films since my last report.  First from Mexico came Danzon, a harmless and very charming film from 1991, by female director Maria Novarro.  It's about a woman who leaves her job and teenage daughter in Mexico City to search for her older male dancing partner, whom she believes might be in Vera Cruz.  There isn't very much plot, but the lead actress has great charisma and is a natural in front of the camera, making the film easy and fun to watch.  Recommended for fun and relaxing viewing.

Now showing on Criterion. 

I chose Viridiana, the 1961 film by Bunuel.  Filmed in Spain, it was never allowed to be screened there, after the church complained about it.  It won the main prize at Cannes, however, and today is regarded as his masterpiece.  There are 4 extras that come with it on Criterion, including an interview with the actress who played Viridiana, the virgin who inherits her uncle's estate (along with his son), and tries to convert a part of it to a place to house and feed the extremely poor.  The film is easy to watch, very funny in places, and totally devastating in others.  The uncle (played by Fernando Rey) dies early on by suicide, after attempting to seduce the extremely religious Viridiana, his niece.  She is expressionless and without much emotion throughout the film, seeing herself as a mother figure to the poor and downtrodden.  Rich with symbolism (The Last Supper) and filled with scenes that cannot be forgotten once seen, this b & w film still packs a punch over 60 years later.

Now showing on Criterion, in a pristine print. 

Lastly comes The Bandit, from 1946, from the same director that brought forth the 1949 Italian film The Mill on the Po.  This story takes place immediately after the war, when Italian prisoners are returning to their homes by train.  It is winter and very dismal.  Two army buddies bid adieu to one another.  One returns to his farm and his young daughter, but Ernesto is soon embroiled with a violent outlaw gang that robs and kills, just managing to stay one step ahead of the law.  This film is a classic sleeper, seen by hardly anyone but worth viewing both because of its fine story, and its stark view of post war Italy.  Starring Anna Magnani as a woman not to be crossed.

Showing on Criterion until May 31st. 

We've also being watching various lecture courses on Wondrium.  I am nearly done with the SF course, and we are about half way through the archeology of North America.  Deb is also watching a botany course.  And we are into the second season of Undone, showing on Amazon, an amazing animated fantasy series we started watching just before the pandemic struck.  Season 2 finally made it, and it's quite as good as the first season.

Now showing on Prime. 

Later.

Mapman Mike