The film discussion goes without saying, but I begin with Season One of Picard, the three-season 30 episode series starring Patrick Stewart. I will begin by saying that he is old; very old. The first season is one large story. It concerns non-human life and its right to exist. The Romulans wish to destroy the final outpost of AI creation, because of a legend they believe in that says destruction of other intelligent lifeforms will follow. Captain Picard, however, believes otherwise. The best thing about this series is that it actually wraps up at the end; there is no cliffhanger demanding that we run out and watch Season Two to find out what happens. Many of the major characters from Next Generation (most of them) are back, including 7 of 9, Data (who is dead), and Will Riker (now married to Deanna Troy). But new characters are also introduced, and we end up with a very motley but fun crew by the end of the season. Without saying too much about the story, it is Star Trek through and through, with Picard getting to order Earl Grey tea, and to say "Engage," and things like that. There is also closure relating back to Data's death in the original series. Despite the many tropes, it was fun to watch. I cannot think of another TV series where the lead character is so old. Nice to see. We will most certainly watch Season Two, after we watch the rest of Season One Discovery (15 episodes).
One of the toys I really wanted as an older child but never got was a Spirograph set. There are now many different kinds and sizes of them, but I recently bought myself the original set. Though there is not an infinite number of designs available in it, there is nearly an infinite number of designs. So far I have barely managed to figure how to use it, and I am experimenting with single wheel designs. One uses a tooth smaller wheel inside (or outside) a larger wheel, also toothed. It takes a bit of practice to ensure smooth movement so the lines don't mess up. My set includes two larger wheels, called rings, 15 wheels to use with them, 4 non-round shaped wheels (haven't got to those yet), 8 coloured markers, paper, and putty to hold down the larger rings. Here are my earliest successes, very simple designs done with a single wheel. Each wheel has several holes which change the design slightly when used.
In other Homestead news, we had a visitor to our front door this afternoon. Deb went to see if an expected package had arrived yet, and instead found this critter looking for some shade (it is very warm and sunny today).
We were visited by an Eastern Fox Snake today. Gorgeous critter!
In film news, it was a Latin American Festival, of sorts. Two Cuban films and one from Mexico ended up in our watch list, all of them leaving Mubi soon. But let us begin with a Czech fantasy film called The Cassandra Cat, a colour film from 1963 and directed by Voytech Jasny. A small town (Telc, a very famous town now) is visited by a travelling road show. It contains a magical cat that reveals to all a person's true colour when it is not wearing its protective glasses. Suddenly people are exposed as their true selves, and it mostly does not go down well with the locals. This is a pretty strange film, starring a class of third graders (so cute!) who end up saving the cat from being destroyed by impinged humans. Red people are in love; yellow and purple people are liars, unfaithful to their spouses, envious, or otherwise flawed. Part of the Czech New Wave, it is certainly worth seeking out. There are some fun classroom art scenes, and some very funny lines. Children should definitely like the film, if they can sit still anymore.
And now to Japan. The Black Report is from 1963, and was directed by Yasuzo Masumru. It is a depressing crime film where a guilty man is set free, thanks to the craftiness of his defense attorney, and a rather inept and unskilled prosecutor. It is as bit like an intense episode of Law and Order. A bit unbelievable, as every single witness suddenly changes their testimony when they get on the stand (they were bribed and threatened by the defense lawyer). The three sitting judges don't seem to think anything is amiss, and the prosecutor doesn't even do much about it except scratch his head. The film goes out of its way to show that evidence doesn't matter (they had hair and fingerprints from the scene that matched the suspect), and signed and witnessed statements don't matter; only what is said on the stand matters. And everyone knows that people don't lie. A good ending, anyway, as the prosecutor loses his promotion and is sent to the boonies to learn something about prosecuting.
Finally, on to Cuba. Stronger Than Love is from 1955, directed by Tulio Demicheli and filmed entirely in Cuba. It's a distinctly Latino version of The Taming of the Shrew, and in some ways quite an interesting look at machismo culture, which is still going nowhere today. Despite this, it's still a fun film, with doses of humour and passion, the kind of melodrama not seen anymore. It's well acted, and the settings in the local tavern are fun to watch. A totally forgotten film, back in the circuit. Miroslava, the female lead, is quite a knock out, and suitably grouchy and passionate, alternately.
Lastly comes a Mexican melodrama directed by a female! Streetwalker is from 1951, directed by Matilde Landeta. I'm sure that (male) audiences in 1951 expected some kind of sleazy look at the underbelly of Mexico City, and those that trod there. Instead we are given a feminist film that not only shows the reality of life on the streets as a single woman, but sympathizes entirely with them. It is by no means a great film, and there are several quite terrible songs. But it certainly is different in its outlook! Try to find another film like it from the 1950s. The ending turned out differently than expected, but the story does come to an interesting conclusion. Sadly, viewers are left wondering if the woman who is not in love with her rich husband should have stayed with him. In this case, I think yes. But love is a strange little thing, and can make people do all sorts of illogical deeds. Another rarity back on screen, and with Miroslava!
Mapman Mike
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