The Chinese film “King of Masks,” followed by a concert of Chinese women performing on traditional Chinese instruments, demonstrated China’s new synthesis, liberated women reclaiming ancient arts that the Communists had tried to erase and from which women had been excluded.
Tag Archives: Film
An Inhumane Immigration System
A Hollywood ending to “The Visitor” would shield the viewer from a tragedy that is re-enacted hundreds of times daily in detention centers around this country. Instead, we are given the stark reality.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged illegal immigrants, Immigration, Thomas McCarthy, Visitor Comments closed
Palin, Bachmann, and All about Eve
The rivalry between Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann about who will be Tea Party queen reminds me of the 1950 Betty Davis film All about Eve. The parallels are so delicious that I have to share them with you.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged All about Eve, Michel Bachmann, politics, Presidential race, Sarah Palin Comments closed
Goodbye, Lenin. Goodbye, Wall.
Unlike the other “Films about Fences” I showed, Goodbye Lenin involves the trauma of a fence coming down. The fence in this case is the Berlin Wall and the trauma is the shock to East German sensibilities when they have to negotiate the chaotic complexities of life under capitalism.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Berlin Wall, Capitalism, Communism, Goodbye Lenin Comments closed
Vote for My Budget or I’ll Shoot Myself
Threats by Congressional Republicans to vote against raising the debt ceiling limit—which would result in the United States defaulting on what it owes–reminds me of the scene in Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles where the black sheriff (Cleavon Little) threatens to shoot himself.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Blazing Saddles, debt ceiling, Economics, Mel Brooks, politics Comments closed
American Hollywood Had Its Own Princess
I’m not a Royal Wedding enthusiast, but as a cultural historian I’m interested in it as a social phenomenon: why are so many Americans are fixated by British royalty? The Hollywood star system can be seen as an American version of the British monarchy. This gives me an excuse to talk about Aubrey Hepburn, whose signature film “Breakfast at Tiffany” celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Faith in the Face of Terrorism
Today I recommend Of Gods and Men (2010), an extraordinary French film that I saw last month. It is about a small community of Cistercian monks in rural Algeria who must decide whether to stay or leave in face of rising terrorism. Good Friday is a good day to write about it since it deals with Lenten themes.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Christianity, Islam, Of Gods and Men, Religion, Terrorism Comments closed
