Initially belonging to China, Eastern Siberia became Russian after the defeat of the Middle Kingdom by Nicolas I, in the nineteenth century. Today, as Russia has moved to annex the Crimea will China do the same with Siberia? Some 7 million Russian and 148 million Chinese are living along this border and little by little, the Chinese are crossing over the Amur River to settle on the Russian side. The makings of a peaceful invasion that worries Russian diplomacy.
You can’t talk to my grandpa about The Sopranos. You can’t talk to him about The Godfather either. Merely by bringing up the subject, you’d be treated to a lecture on how movies and TV want you to believe that all Italians are criminals and mobsters. He won’t watch any of it, in protest.
In this short film, writer/director Nikita Hattangady focuses on Jai, a starving artist rooted in the latter category. Though unhoused, he works hard.
I hope that more people will see Joyland, understand the situation, and eventually change themselves and society so we can have a more accommodating world where everyday tragedies like the one depicted in the film do not occur.
The new biopic 'Elvis' highlights the beginning and end of the career of this rock and roll legend. The audience is taken on this journey knowing the tragic ending but not so much about what led him there. A large topic of discussion is the influences on Elvis that made him who he was as a singer, musician, and performer, which were blues, gospel, and country. Many of the songs that rose him to fame were songs by Black artists he heard growing up in primarily Black settings.
Growing up is a challenge for everyone.
