December Sunset

 Another lovely sunset tonight, as our temps finally rise to more normal levels.  It's been a cold two weeks, with more to come mid-week.  But for now things are thawing here at the Homestead.  We have no snow, unlike most of Ontario.

Taken from our front porch Saturday evening.  No ice on the river yet. And no snow.

 

While outdoor plants have finally gone to their winter resting places, our indoor plants are doing well.  During the late summer of 2023 Deb saw a flowerpot on the road with red flowers.  It had fallen off someone's truck or trailer.  She went out and rescued it and we kept it outside, where it blossomed all autumn.  It continued blooming over the winter, and we put it out again last summer.  It nearly died, but one part of it managed to survive.  I planned to leave it out and let it die when the cold came.  However, when we returned from our trip in late October, the thing was blooming again.  So it's inside with us for the winter yet again, and is full of flowers.

From near death to this, the plant that keeps on blooming.  This shot is using natural light.

 

This is using flash.  It's heartening to see this every day when it is so cold and dark outside. 

 

In movie news, we just finished watching Case For A Rookie Hangman, an obscure but restored Czech film from 1970, directed by Pavel Juracek.  Try to imagine a Kafka version of Gulliver's Travels.  No luck?  Then I can't really help you much more.  A very strange film.  A man has a car crash and seems to awaken in another dimension or reality.  He is a stranger and the people all have different customs, such as being silent on Mondays.  The film reads much like a bad dream, or series of them, as the man visits not one but two strange worlds.  He is off to see the third one as the film ends.  It sort of reminds me of Iain Banks' novel "The Bridge."  Not for everyone, but its strangeness makes it quite watchable.  Once.  No need for a special gummy for this film; it seems to provide its own.

Now showing on Criterion.

Deb's leaving choice was Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence from 1993.  Based tightly on Edith Wharton's novel, the film might be the director's best.  Filled with beautiful costumes, sumptuous sets, flawless acting and endless minute detail, the story concerns 19th C. New York society.  At the time it was doing its best to mimic high European and British society.  With its strict moral codes, a man finds it impossible to pursue the woman he loves, after he has erred by marrying a lovely but vapid society girl.  No matter how the story might have ended, either by going with the woman he loves or not going with her, the end result would be a tragedy.  The scandal would have ruined the family if he had succeeded, but by not succeeding he has ruined his chance for a happy life.  Filled with cynicism and sharp criticism of the rules of the game, the film is a breathtaking achievement.  Only people who read novels would likely enjoy the film; it is long and fairly slow moving.  This is a good thing, as there is so much to see and take in.  A cinema triumph.  Watch for the remarkable men in bowler hats scene, as a strong wind blows.

Leaving Criterion Dec. 31st. 

 

As a practicing animated filmmaker, Deb has access to a special channel that sometimes shows just released films.  We watched Memoir of a Snail, a gut-wrenching story (definitely not for kids) from Australia.  Released in 2024, it is all done using stop motion.  The story concerns two emotionally bonded twins, a boy and a girl, who are separated when both parents die and placed in foster homes on either side of Australia.  Though they write to one another, they seem destined to never see each other again.  Both their lives are living hell, moreso the boy.  There are many funny parts in the film, but the dramatic parts are quite devastating.  The animation and sets are totally brilliant.  The film often sparkles with wit, but when it has something to say (for instance, against religious fanatics), it pulls no punches.  Highly recommended.  I loved the film festival scene near the very end.  Should be winning a lot of awards soon.  Directed by Adam Elliot.

 

Streaming on the privately run Animation Showcase channel. 

 

Before that came my leaving choice from last week.  I chose three short films, two of which were watchable, whereas the third, alas, was not. What If is a 2012 film (they all were, actually), based on Kipling's poem of the same name.  Aimed at trying to save a few boys from being in gangs, it stars Noel Clarke as a kind of guardian angel to a boy going through a difficult time on and around his estate housing.  The second one was Mike Leigh's A Running Jump, a funny film about a man who hustles goods for a living, such as junk cars.  He is a good character for a short film; in a feature film he couldn't be tolerated for any length of time.  The third film is called Big In Vietnam.  It is a film about absolutely nothing, and seems to wander from scene to scene with no plan in mind.  Somehow we managed to sit through it (28'), I guess assuming that at some point it might make sense.  Nope.

Sunday is scheduled to be a Detroit day, so I may be writing again soon.

Mapman Mike

 

 

 

 

The End Is Near

 The end of Covid restrictions, that is.  Things slowly begin to reopen again on Friday, a Phase 1 of 3.  Out door patios will reopen, for one thing.  I'm still not sure about getting a haircut, but I hope that comes up soon.  As of today I am considered fully vaccinated, it being 14 days since my 2nd shot.  Deb's turn comes up on Friday.

In Homestead Nature news, we have had some interesting avian visitors lately, besides the usual hordes of free loaders.  A great blue heron came by to dine.  He caught a tiny vole that was snitching bird seed and gobbled him down.  That was a new one for us!  And yesterday we were visited by a vocal Baltimore Oriole, demanding that I refill the sunflower seed holder.

This heron came onto our lawn to hunt for voles.  It caught one, too, and devoured it.

 A Baltimore oriole sits on our window ledge.  

Our two small rose bushes are now bursting with red roses.  We have more roses on them right now that we have had altogether over the past 20 years.  It's been that kind of Spring around here; everything seems to have contributed to a perfect growing season.  Photos of those later.

 

 In movie news, here's the latest.  Les Saignantes was my choice for leaving Criterion June 30th.  From 2005, this experimental film from Cameroon defies description.  It stars two very beautiful and talented actresses who attempt to use an ancient traditional power to gain advantage over the men who rule everyone's lives.  As much a statement on the corrupt political scene in Cameroon at the time as it is a wild adventure into the unknown and bizarre, this is definitely a film that will capture the viewer's attention.  Filmed in beautiful colour, and featuring camera techniques that visually enhance the action, be prepared for some laugh out loud moments, as well as several MTV ones.  The way the lead women move they are obviously good dancers, and possibly fashion models.  Definitely worth a look.

 

 

Scene from Les Saignantes.

Showing on Criterion until June 30th. 

 

And now, on to Deb's two choices from last weekend.  Her first film, chosen from the main list, was Topsy Turvy, from 1995 and directed by Mike Leigh.  Gilbert and Sullivan are at the height of their fame, but are beginning to repeat themselves in their musical offerings.  Along comes a Japanese exhibition to London, and Gilbert is dragged along to see it by his wife.  And then along comes The Mikado, one of their biggest hits.  The newest hit musical is so over the top that even today it can be enjoyed on a certain level.  Cultural appropriation?  Racism?  What's that?  No doubt a younger audience would shrink at watching the film, or run out of the theatre screaming.  But a few of us old timers can still get a chuckle or two out of the outrageousness of it all.  Great acting and singing, and the costumes are simply stunning.  The scene with Andy Serkis and the three actual Japanese ladies is totally hilarious.  And the scene with Sullivan rehearsing his orchestra is also too funny.  Recommended.

 

Scene from The Mikado, from Topsy-Turvy.

Now showing on Criterion. 

 

Her going away June 30th film choice was a Blake Edwards noir from 1962 called Experiment in Terror.  Using audience manipulation at every turn, this predictable but enjoyable film stars Lee Remick as a bank teller who is forced to do the bidding of a murderous, psychopathic bank robber.  She happens to live in Twin Peaks, San Francisco.  Working with her is Glenn Ford, as FBI agent Ripley.  Ross Martin plays the heavy breathing (asthmatic) criminal.  Lee's kid sister is played by Stephanie Powers.  Emulating Hitchcock whenever possible, the film is great viewing for single females alone in their apartment (just kidding).

 

Now showing on Criterion.

Turning to art, one of the finest art books we ever had was called The Grand Eccentrics, a hardcover book that featured works by some wonderful and bizarre artists.  Several of the paintings represented in the book were from Detroit, including the following painting by Dewing.  Detroit has six incredible works by this American artist.  One of them used to be in a bank downtown, now in the museum collection.  The Recitation is one of my favourite works in the museum.  With its hazy, filtered appearance, greenish/gray colour scheme, three oddly placed chairs and two characters, it seems to inhabit a fantasy world somewhere beyond time, and beyond strife.  Zimiamvia, perhaps. It is a gentle and very personal world I love to visit when in the American wing of the DIA.

The Recitation, 1891, by Thomas Dewing, American (1851-1938).  Oil on canvas, unframed 30" x 55".  On view at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

 

Central area detail.  

 

Mapman Mike

 

 

Monday Musings

Two of the West's leading countries are currently so messed up and hopelessly adrift (I could use another word, starting with "f", but this is a family friendly blog), that it is almost like living in one of my absurd SF stories.  Britain, thanks to Brexit, and the USA thanks to Trump, have approached and gone way beyond the bottom of their respective barrels.  Canada could soon follow, if our Conservative leader gets in and ousts Trudeau.  Never have two leading countries been so divided.  Yes, lots and lots of people in Britain actually support breaking away from the European Union (mostly based on lies they were told when the vote occured), and yes, lots of American people support Trump.  I really can think of nothing more frightening.  Stephen King is an amateur at horror compared to reality.  It's times like these that make me proud not to have brought any children into the world, to see the unimaginable mess we have created.

And on a similar note, it is so sad and tragic that the biggest hurricane in a long time flattens the Bahamas, but mostly misses the USA.  I'm not wishing for a major hurricane to hit America, but there are so many climate change deniers there that only several great tragedies, such as the one that hit the Bahamas, will give voice to the few who want action.  Trump considers it a "niche" issue, and did not bother attending climate talks at the Paris G7 summit.  Stupid is as stupid does.  None of his party seem to care, either.  At least Boris Johnson is getting some flak by some of his own party for his Brexit tactics.  Not Trump.

Deb's movie choice last weekend was a great one.  Mike Leigh has long been a favourite director, but there are many of his films we have never seen.  Such was Career Girls, a great little film featuring an outstanding performance by Katrin Cartlidge as Hannah ("It's HannAH."  She and Annie (Lynda Steadman) spent four years living together during college, and Annie is returning to London to spend a weekend with her old friend, after six years apart.

Highly recommended.  Mostly a comedy, there is some well-inserted drama, too.  Well worth a watch.  Andy Serkis gets a pretty funny part, too, as he shows the girls his flat, which is coming up for lease, wearing only his bathrobe.  The girls are less than impressed, but highly amused.

 Annie (l) and Hannah (r) are the stars of the movie.  

Today I got my vaccination for shingles.  Shingrex is a two-part injection, so I will return for the next one in December.  It is a newer drug, one that Deb can have (and she also has had part one).  Tonight it has left me with a sore shoulder and some mild aches and pains.  It is 95% effective against shingles, which one in three adults get if they have had the chicken pox.  I had chicken pox when I was 8--on Halloween.  I was not impressed.  The older drug, which is the only one still paid for by the government (for seniors), is only about 60% effective.  That's the government for you.

On the weekend we also played a card game of Middle Earth: The Wizards.  Our main tournaments last for five games, each one longer and more complex, after which we play several mini-games using the same decks, games that I invented.  This was the 2nd game of our mini-tournament, following the big five.  We had hoped to play Teotihuacan, but it is still waiting in the box.  It is a long game.

This weekend is the Shetown film festival in Detroit.  Deb has a film showing there Sunday afternoon.  Nice having a showing locally, with no travel required. 

I think I am all caught up on news.

Mapman Mike