Category: Movies Page 3 of 59

Connie has been reviewing film uninterruptedly since 1970 (47 years) and routinely covers the Chicago International Film Festival (14 years), SXSW, the Austin Film Festival, and others, sharing detailed looks in advance at upcoming entertainment. She has taught a class on film and is the author of the book “Training the Teacher As A Champion; From The Godfather to Apocalypse Now, published by the Merry Blacksmith Press of Rhode Island.

“Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” at Sundance 2025

By Connie Wilson

On January 30, 2025

In Movies, Pop Culture, Reviews

(Deaf actress Marlee Matlin appears at Sundance 2025. (Photo courtesy of Sundance Institute).

Deaf actress and activist Marlee Matlin was born 58 years ago in Morton Grove, Illinois. When asked to do a PBS Masters biography of her life, she requested a deaf director. Shoshanna Stern became the guiding force behind this autobiographical recounting of Matlin’s life and career.

She lost her hearing at 18 months of age for reasons never completely determined. As she shares, her parents never got over the guilt. She describes a childhood feeling of being cut off, dismissed and ignored, saying, “That’s just how it was as the deaf girl.”

Although she had always loved to perform, she was often not allowed to audition because of her handicap.

MARLEE & WILLIAM HURT

However, when the play “Children of a Lesser God” was being made into a movie, the search for a deaf actress to play the lead led to casting the then 19-year-old Matlin in the part, opposite William Hurt, who was then 35. Sparks flew. The two became a couple for a brief period, which led to charges of abuse on Matlin’s part and denials on Hurt’s. She has said, “Bill Hurt was threatened by my youth and the sudden change in my success from just one movie.” Her autobiographical recounting of their romance in “I’ll Scream Later,” written in 2009, also described sexual molestation at ages 11 and 15.

Matlin’s impassioned performance in “Children of a Lesser God” won her the Oscar as Best Actress of the Year in 1987, but also contributed to the break-up of her romance with the much older Hurt. One thing that Marlee has acknowledged that was a positive from her time with Hurt was that he convinced her to get clean from a dependence on drugs and alcohol and to go to rehab, as he had done. She checked into the Betty Ford Center. She remains married to her husband Kevin Grandalski after four children and 32 years, which may be as major an accomplishment as being the youngest woman (and only deaf actress) to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.

MARLEE & HENRY WINKLER

When Marlee was twelve years old, a chance meeting with Henry Winkler in Chicago—then riding high as the Fonz on “Happy Days”—led to a lifetime friendship with the actor and his wife. In fact, Marlee lived with the Winklers for two years and was married to her current husband, a Burbank police officer, in the Winklers’ back yard in 1993.

ACTIVISM

Marlee has leaned into activism on behalf of the deaf, although she claims, in the documentary, to have been uninformed about deaf issues when she achieved prominence for her Oscar win in 1987. As she said, “I was thrust into it, but nobody explained it to me.” One of her projects, (undertaken with the help of Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, who had a deaf brother) was to make all television sets captioning capable, to aid with language deprivation that the deaf encounter.

Matlin’s involvement with the 2022 film “Coda” is included, which won three Oscars for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor for Troy Kotsure, who said, “What kept me inspired was Marlee Matlin.”

Matlin’s words at that time were “Let’s move forward. Let there be other firsts.”

Matlin is shown in her car with Billy Joel’s song “My Life” playing, mouthing the words, “I never said I was the victim of circumstances.”

CONCLUSION

The look at Matlin’s career was interesting. I know from my 20 years of teaching next door to the hearing impaired room at the junior high school level (as well as from having deaf students in my classrooms) that a deaf student who is doing well in school is often a truly brilliant individual. The hurdles for deaf students who are often “left alone to solve it on their own” are huge. She admits in the documentary that, “I have no idea how I survived.”

Matlin has a production company and has several projects in the works, including a desire to work again with Director Shoshanna Stern.

“Sally” & “Marlee Matlin” Screen at Sundance, 2025

By Connie Wilson

On January 29, 2025

In Movies, News, Pop Culture, Reviews, Science and Medicine

Sally Ride, first American female astronaut in space

Sally Ride appears in SALLY by Cristina Costantini, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by NASA.

The first two Sundance 2025 offerings I watched turned out to have very similar themes, although focused on two very different people.

“Sally,” was a 103 minute documentary helmed by Cristina Costa, which screened at the Ray Theatre in Park City at Sundance 2025 on January 28^th, 2025.

The second 97-minute documentary, directed by deaf director Shoshanna Stern, “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore,” helped open the Sundance Festival and profiled Marlee Matlin, the first deaf actress to win an Academy Award and the youngest at 21 to win in the Best Actress category. [My review of her story will follow “Sally.”]

While the films seemed, on the surface, as though they would have little in common, they both highlighted extremely dedicated individuals rising to the top of their respective fields despite the hurdles of culture, society and, in Matlin’s case, biology. Matlin’s two tattoos that read “Perseverance” and “Warrior” seemed relevant to each.

Both documentaries were helmed by talented female directors and each was at the height of their fame as U.S. cultural icons 35 years ago, in 1986-1987.

“SALLY”

Sally Ride appears in SALLY by Cristina Costantini, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by NASA.

“Sally” is the story of a woman who spent 27 years hiding the fact that, although she was briefly married to fellow astronaut Steve Hawley and had sexual relationships with other men, she spent 27 years of her life concealing her relationship with another woman. Her love for Tam O’Shaughnessy, a fellow tennis player she met at age 13 when Tam was 12, was something that Sally Ride didn’t come to accept about herself until later in her life.

MALE CHAUVINIST PIG

When women were first being allowed to become NASA astronauts, a fellow astronaut, Mike Mullane, a West Point graduate who served in Viet Nam, is heard articulating the same point-of-view of the newly-confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Mullane says on camera that he was a product of his upbringing and the times and that when women were being introduced to the space program, he thought, “I just couldn’t see what they were going to be bringing to the table.” By the end of the documentary, the very same Mike Mullane writes the most heartfelt sympathy note to Sally’s life partner Tam, apologizing for his earlier views and extolling Sally’s expertise and excellence as a role model for his granddaughters.

Describing his earlier self as “a male sexist pig” Mike Mullane said he hoped that Sally’s life example would give his own granddaughters “a future in which women won’t be constrained from pursuing their own dreams.” “They can do the job as well as anyone else.” (One hopes that someone passes that message on to Pete Hegsoeth, who has articulated the exact opposite attitude towards women in the military.)

Billy Jean King, a gay icon who lost everything when her sexuality became public knowledge, was a good friend of Sally’s. She felt that what happened to her when she was “outed” served as an object lesson to Sally Ride. She lost everything and had to start over. As for Sally Ride’s competence in her job, Billy Jean says, on camera, “I think it’s time that women in this country realized that they can do any job that they want to do.. Sally proved it. Done.”

SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS in the 50a, 60s, 70s, 80s

As the documentary emphasizes through Tam’s words, “I just feel bad that someone the world respected and admired felt they had to hide themselves from the world.”

RIDE’S FAMILY OF ORIGIN

Astronaut Sally Ride (Photo from Wikipedia.org).

When the documentary dives into early influences on Ride, some clues can be gleaned from the brief interview with Sally’s biological mother, a Norwegian woman who spent time as a volunteer prison counselor. She seemed very uncommunicative, very self-contained, very icy as a personality. My own mother was a first-generation Norwegian/Dutch child of immigrants. This stereotype is based on truth. Tam says, “Sally couldn’t share with the people closest to her, even her sister Bear. Sally never talked about it. I didn’t understand why Sally couldn’t or wouldn’t talk to her sister about being gay…“Sally was afraid about how her colleagues and friends felt about her, and how it would affect her work…The fear factor of being gay, of being who you are affected our work and our company. The world is not always kind.”

TAM O’SHAUGHNESSY

Tam, said, “I wanted the relationship validated. It took more of a toll on me than it did on Sally. It just ate at me.” She was gratified to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor from President Obama on Sally’s behalf, posthumously after Sally died of pancreatic cancer in 2012 at the age of 61. The two had filed and became certified domestic partners shortly before Ride’s death in 2012.

Said O’Shaughnessy, “Sally just couldn’t or wouldn’t talk about emotions, even with her sister, Bear, who also left a traditional marital relationship to live with a woman. Bear and her female partner both lost their jobs as Presbyterian ministers when they came out… “I just realized that I loved Sally and we had to find a way to work this out. We couldn’t change the way the world saw us, but we loved each other so much and we wanted to be together, come hell or high water.”

Following Sally’s death, Tam acknowledged their longstanding relationship in her obituary: “I’m just sick of hiding, I’m an honest person and Sally was an honest person. If somebody doesn’t like it, tough.” After Sally’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, the two shared 17 months during which “Every week she’d lose something…the ability to go up and down the stairs…In one second our lives totally changed. We were like zombies. It was such a shock.” Sally got the diagnosis one day after delivering a speech at the National Science Teachers Association Conference on March 11, 2011.

THE CHALLENGER EXPLOSION & INVESTIGATION

One of the areas in the film that was somewhat glossed over was the key role that Sally Ride played in discovering what had caused the Challenger to explode on January 28, 1986. Wikipedia has this explanation of the Rogers Commission findings: “After her death in 2012, Major General Donald J. Kutyna revealed that she had discreetly provided him with key information about O-rings, namely that they become stiff at low temperatures. This led to discovery of the cause of the explosion. The temperature at the time of the launch was 36. O-Rings were not safe below 50. To protect her source, this information was fed to Richard Feynman. Ride was even more disturbed by revelations of NASA dysfunctional management decision-making and risk-assessment processes. According to Roger Boisjoly, who was one of the engineers that warned of the technical problems that led to the Challenger disaster, after the entire work force of Morton-Thiokol shunned him, Ride was the only public figure to show support for him when he went public with his pre-disaster warnings. Ride hugged him publicly to show her support for his efforts.”

The Rogers Commission submitted the report on June 6, 1986. I remember how a good friend of ours who was roommates with “Smitty” (the Challenger commander, Michael Smith) at the United States Naval Academy, was shocked and saddened to learn of his good friend’s death, especially when it was preventable. I was then working for Performance Learning Systems, Inc. of Emerson, N.J., one of the nation’s largest teacher-training firms, and I had been assigned to interview Christa McAuliff, the teacher in space, upon her return. I had just spoken to her husband the night before the launch to confirm the various procedures I was to follow to send her the interview questions. I still remember coming out of the college class I was teaching at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, and turning on the radio to learn of the deaths of McAuliff and all seven of the crew members.

Sally Ride quit NASA in 1987, saying, “I am not ready to fly again now. I think there are very few astronauts who are ready to fly again now.” She commented on how astronauts have to have a real trust in NASA.

CONCLUSION: SIMILARITIES

Interestingly enough, Marlee Matlin (whose documentary I will review next) won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1987 for the 1986 film “Children of a Lesser God.” This is the same timeline, the same backdrop of historical events then affecting Sally Ride’s life, including her work with the Rogers Commission investigating the Challenger explosion. That investigation triggered Ride’s resignation from NASA and she spent the latter part of her life as a Professor of Physics at the University of California in San Diego, when Stanford snubbed her. (Sidney Drell, who had recruited her to come to Stanford, resigned from CISAC in protest when no department at Stanford was willing to offer Sally Ride a position.) Sally also remained a director of Cal Space until 1996, retiring as a Professor Emeritus from San Diego in 2007. Ride and O’Shaughnessy formed a company to encourage young girls to enter careers in math and science.

Another interesting 35-year-old fact is that the director of Marlee Matlin’s Oscar-winning performance in 1986-1987 was Rainda Haines. Haines was the first female director to have her film (“Children of a Lesser God”) nominated for Best Picture at the 1987 Oscars.

Australian Short “Stranger, Brother” Screens at Sundance on September 25, 2025

By Connie Wilson

On January 26, 2025

In Movies, Pop Culture, Reviews

Tiaki Teremoana in Stranger, Brother. (2025)

Tiaki Teremoana of “Stranger, Brother” (Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival).

The opening sequence at Sundance Film Festival on Saturday, January 25^th, 2025, for “Stranger, Brother,” an Australian short directed by Tongan/Australian director Annelise Hickey, is a beautiful ocean scene, silhouetting charismatic lead Tiaki Teremoanna who plays Adam. The music (Will Morrissey composed) is good. The gorgeous horizon quickly morphs into a street scene, shot with jerky hand-held strobe-like effects by Director of Photography Matthew Chuang Acs.

The camera work was very effective to illustrate Adam’s recent dissolute lifestyle, including time spent distracting himself from his real life and his original family of origin. Costa-Gavras used the jerky hand-held camera technique way back in 1969’s “Z” and critics internationally swooned. It has since become a cinema staple. It is used effectively in the scenes that depict Adam’s attempts to run away from his real life and family by living life in the fast lane in night-time Australia.

It is a surprise when—after a night spent partying—Adam’s half-brother Moses (called Moss) turns up unexpectedly on Adam’s doorstep. The younger boy (Moses) has a different mother than Adam. Their Aboriginal father has provided no advance warning about Moses’ arrival or why he might be visiting. Adam does ask (“So, are you gonna’ tell me why you’re really here?”) but the younger brother does not immediately answer.

The two make a trip to the grocery store and exchange normal conversational banter about the relative “hotness” of Laura (Charly Thorn), but it isn’t until they are together on the beach that there Is a real break-through in communicating, as Adam finally succeeds in contacting their mutual father by phone and learns that Moses’ mother, Mary, is dying in hospice. Moss is upset and tense and the brothers nearly come to blows on the beach. Adam seems to realize, in that moment, that he has an obligation as Moses’ older half-brother, to provide some stability and a haven for a young boy in distress. It is fitting that the end of the short film takes place where it began, on the shore of the same beautiful beach where it began.

The film was shot on the unceded lands of the Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, which is sacred Aboriginal land.

The lead (Tiaki Teremoana) as Adam is particularly charismatic and the message about accepting and supporting one’s family, no matter how fractured that family may be, is clear. The sound, music, and cinematography help drive home that point. Director Annelise Hickey, who earned an award as the emerging Australian filmmaker at the 2023 Melbourne Film Awards has supervised an interesting and meaningful 14’ 31” short film that premiered at the Egyptian Theater at Sundance on Saturday night, January 25^,2025.

The film’s short synopsis read:

“Two estranged half-brothers are thrust together when 10-year-old Mose unexpectedly appears on millennial Adam’s doorstep. Annoyed by the disruption to his care-free life, Adam struggles to contact their elusive father for answers but is met with silence. Tensions rise as Mose begins to suspect that Adam is ashamed of him, while Adam discovers the poignant truth: Mose’s mother is dying. The brothers clash in a heated confrontation that ultimately reveals their unspoken need for each other.

Meet the Artist

Annelise Hickey is a narrative filmmaker from Naarm (Melbourne). Her debut short, Hafekasi (2023 Tribeca Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival), earned a Narrative Short Special Jury Mention. Hickey is the recipient of the 2023 Emerging Australian Filmmaker award at the Melbourne Film Festival. (Photo courtesy of the Sundance Film Festival).

Credits

Director(s)
Annelise Hickey
Screenwriter
Annelise Hickey
Producers
Tessa Mansfield-Hung
Josie Baynes
Director of Photography
Matthew Chuang ACS
Production Designer
Francesca Carey
Edited by
Grace Eyre
Music Composer
Will Morrissey
Sound Designer
Sean Wilkinson
Colorist
CJ Dobson CSI
Executive Producer
Jarred Osborn
Principal Cast
Tiaki Teremoana
Samson Uili
Charly Thorn
Patrick Livesey

Year
2024
Category
Short
Country
Australia
Language
English
Run time
15 min
Company
Wildebeest Films
Contact
annelise@wildebeest.com.au

“Ryan Can’t Read” Is 2025 Oscar-Eligible Short

By Connie Wilson

On December 11, 2024

In Movies, Of Local (Quad Cities') Interest, Reviews

Lewis Ian Bray as Ryan in “Ryan Can’t Read.”

“Ryan Can’t Read” is a depressing 2025 Oscar-eligible short that tells the story of Ryan, who, as the title suggests, is illiterate. Since there are estimated to be at least 8 million others in the United Kingdom who cannot read, Ryan is not alone. Lewis Ian Bray plays Ryan. Lewis is “neurodivergent” in real life. Another way of categorizing the neurodivergent is to say that they are “on the spectrum.” For nearly 40 years of my life I worked with students who were autistic or on the spectrum in a variety of ways, including ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity), dyslexia, and many other ailments. For several years we were the only entity in a community of half a million residents qualified to work with patients with traumatic brain injury, so this touching and timely short hit close to home.

CAST

Ryan (Lewis Ian-Bray) and his best friend (James Nelson-Joyce).

Ryan (Lewis Ian-Bray) and his best friend Tyrone (James Nelson-Joyce.)

The production rests on the shoulders of Lewis Ian-Bray portraying Ryan and James Nelson-Joyce as his best friend Tyrone. Rhys Chapman directed the short and co-wrote it. Chapman is known for “Wonderkid” and Sir Ian McKellen assisted him in getting this short made. James Nelson-Joyce has appeared in “The Outlaws” with Stephen Merchant and Christopher Walken and in “Time” with Sean Bean and Stephen Graham. He is also set to appear in next season’s “Black Mirror” and in Disney’s “One Thousand Blows.” However, it is Lewis Ian Bray who embodies the title character, who is struggling with daily life because of his disability. Lewis Ian-Bray also co-wrote the film and was awarded the Best Actor award for his performance at the Tokyo Short Shorts Festival.

PLOT

The 19 minute 35 second story takes Ryan through the trying hurdles that anyone would face if unable to read, including an interview for a job and a frustrating and futile attempt to read his own mail. The city is Liverpool; there is a reference to eating scouse. Scouse is a type of stew typically made from chunks of meat with potatoes, carrots, and onion. It is particularly associated with the port of Liverpool; hence, the inhabitants of that city are often referred to as “scousers.” The word “scouse” comes from lobscouse, a stew that was commonly eaten by sailors throughout northern Europe in the past.

Ryan and Tyrone in “Ryan Can’t Read.”

Ryan’s friend Tyrone keeps encouraging him to attempt to learn to read and cheers him on throughout the disquieting departure of his mother, who writes to Ryan, saying, “Never stop being yourself. Don’t be scared. I will always be by your side. Don’t think I’m not watching, because I am. I am so proud of you, my son.”

CONCLUSION

“Ryan Can’t Read’s” music is by Bill Ryder-Jones and K.E.E.M. “Don’t Be Scared; I Love You” plays over (and over and over) the end credits. The cinematography by Borja Lopez Diaz captures the frustration of the subject, well-acted by Lewis Ian Bray. Why Ryan finds himself on his own, battling life with only his friend Tyrone encouraging him in person, is left a bit murky. A longer film might have explored Mom’s absence more thoroughly, but this is a short. It focuses on Ryan the non-reader and Lewis Ian-Braye does a fine job in both writing and acting the title role.

“Marion” Is 2025 Oscar-Eligible Short

By Connie Wilson

On December 8, 2024

In France, Movies, Reviews

Caroline Nogues- Larbere, France’s only female bull-jumper.

“Marion” is a story about the only female bull-jumper in France, Caroline Nogues-Larbere. Who knew that France had a sport called “La Course Landaise” which looks a lot like a bullfight, except that the bullfighters don’t kill the bull but simply jump out of the way of the charging animal?

DIRECTORS

Joe Weiland and Finn Constantine wrote and directed the story of Caroline, here called Marion. Joe Weiland was BAFTA nominated for his first short, “Gorka” and has won the Young Director Awards at Cannes. Constantine is affiliated with the art magazine “Plaster” but is moving into film. The short was executive produced by Sienna Miller and Cate Blanchett.

CAST

Team member who assists Marion in donning her suit of lights.

The attractive Marion is shown dressing for facing down the bull, and is assisted by a male bull-jumper. When her husband shows up with their daughter, she is forced to park the young girl in the locker room with directions not to leave (which, of course, the daughter does.) There is some harrowing footage of Marion being dragged by a bull. The refrain “Protect her; watch over her” echoes throughout the intense face-off with the charging animal.

We also see the other members of Team Nogues in the locker room: Matthew Nogues, Nicolas Vergonzeanne, Romain Beyris, Kevin Ribeiro, Louis Ansolabehere, Gilles Beguery and Frederic Vergonzeanne.

CONCLUSION

The only female bull-jumper in France had never acted before, but she was a strikingly beautiful and courageous athlete facing down an animal easily 5 times her size. I was apprehensive about her wandering daughter and what she might see of her mother in the arena, but to detail that scene would be telling.

It was interesting to learn of this little-known French version of bullfighting and I wondered how Sienna Miller and Cate Blanchett got involved with the production.

“Sister Wives” Is 2025 Oscar-Eligible Short

By Connie Wilson

On December 4, 2024

In Movies, Of Local (Quad Cities') Interest, Pop Culture, Reviews

“Sister Wives.”

“Sister Wives” – Director/Star Louisa Connolly-Burnham plays Kaidence, the wife of a polygamous husband (Mormon) who must welcome a new wife, 19-year-old Galilee, into her home. Galilee is played by Mia McKenna-Bruce. This is actually streaming on Channel 14, which, I assume, is British, as it has qualified for Best British film and Best Actress at the Iris Prize competition and was picked up for distribution. It is eligible for the Oscars and the BAFTA, which makes it the fifth of the five female-directed films I have most recently reviewed to qualify for the 2025 Academy Awards.

There is a plan to develop this story of love emerging between the two sister wives into a full length feature film in summer, 2025, with the Director/Star reprising her role. Connolly-Burnham is known for the HollyShort film “How to Have Sex” and is currently working on the Netflix adaptation of an Agatha Christie work, “The 7 Dial Mystery” with Helena Bonham Carter and Martin Freeman. The series was inspired by Broadchurch Creator Chris Chibnall.

PLOT

We learn that Kaidence was married to their mutual husband Jeremiah (Michael Fox) at age 14. Galilee is only 19, but she has a more adventurous spirit and actually has a cell phone (verboten in the community). Jeremiah is called away to Nevada for four weeks because Brother Amos is sick. While he is away, the sister wives play. Kaidence goes skinny dipping and learns that there is a whole world outside of her marriage, waiting for her.

The film was dark, making some things difficult to precisely determine. Director of photography was Angela Zoe Nei and the film could have beneifted from more light in some of the scenes. We certainly can understand why the girls decide to bolt and strike out for freedom. Galilee, who had said, “I’ll be very happy here” instead makes both downtrodden women happy when she suggests escape. I did find it difficult to understand the ending scene with Galilee, Kaidence and a car. Whose car is it? How did they get it? Is someone assisting them in their desire to flee? Many questions.

“Sister Wives.”

CONCLUSION

I grew up in Amish country in Iowa. This one was not hard to believe or imagine.This was the fifth short directed by a woman. It didn’t involve filming entirely in a car, but there is a scene at the end where the two escaping wives take off in a vehicle. I wish them good fortune!

“Motherland” Is 2025 Oscar-Eligible Short from Jasmin Mozzafari

By Connie Wilson

On December 2, 2024

In Local, Movies, News, Pop Culture, Reviews

"Motherland," a 2025 Oscar-eligible short.

“Motherland,” an Oscar eligible short.

“Motherland” – This 24 minute 21 second short dealt with a couple–an Iranian man and a girl from Iowa— who are meeting the girl’s in-laws for the first time. The Jasmin Mozaffari film is set against the backdrop of the Iranian hostage crisis, which took place in 1979 and lasted for 444 days during the Carter administration. It was inspired by Jasmin’s father who married a woman from Alberta, Canada.

WRITER/DIRECTOR

“Motherland” was named as the Best Canadian Short Film at the Toronto International Film Festival. Mozzafari was named Best Director at the Aspen Shortsfest and her debut film “Firecracker” debuted in 2018 at the Toronto International Film Festival. Her short YASAMIN, based on her mother’s story of immigration, was a Grand Jury Prize Nominee at the 2018 AFI Film Festival. In 2022, she associate produced the short documentary “Longline of Ladies” which world premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and won the grand jury prize at SXSW.

Jasmine’s father, in real life, married a woman from Alberta, Canada. The New York Times compared Mozaffari’s directing style to “a young Andrea Arnold.” For those not familiar with Andrea Arnold, she directed “American Honey” in 2017, which won a BAFTA as Outstanding British Film of the Year. In 2022, Arnold was a nominee for the Best Documentary of the Year for “Cow,” a chilling look at the life (and death) of a cow on a dairy farm in England, with no dialogue and an absolutely chilling end for the cow of the title. Andrea Arnold was named “Most Promising Newcomer” in 2007 for her film “Red Road” and shared a 2010 Bafta for “Fish Tank” for Best British Film. Arnold directed “American Honey” in 2017 with Shia LaBoeuf and Riley Keough. It was a big winner at Cannes and in London at BAFTA, but the film was overlong and meandered.

If Jasmine Mozaffari is being compared to Andrea Arnold, she is in very good company.

PLOT

Babak, an Iranian medical student in school in Iowa, portrayed by Behtash Fazlali, is in love with Katie and they are on their way (in a car, like 3 out of 5 of these shorts) to meet Katie’s parents for Thanksgiving, 1979. As the film opens Babak—who resembles Al Pacino in “Serpico” with the full beard as the film opens—is being harassed by the locals in a confrontation with Americans who are incensed at the invasion of the embassy in Tehran. One of the Americans holds a poster that says: “Nuke ‘em until they glow. It worked in Japan. It’ll work in Iran.”

The couple meets up with, initially, just Katie’s mother at a dance hall type building that would be more at home in Texas or Oklahoma than in Iowa. I grew up in Iowa. Neither the landscape around the dance hall nor the dance hall itself seemed authentically “Iowan.” The surrounding landscape looked much more like Texas, from where I am while writing this.

CAST

"Motherland" is a 2025 Oscar-eligible short from Jasmin Mozaffari.

“Motherland,” a short from Jasmin Mozaffari.

Katie’s mother, Ruth, played by Birgitte Solem, is polite but cool to the young man escorting her daughter. Katie’s (Oriana Leman) father doesn’t show up at all, at first. Later, her father, Werner Summer—extremely well-played by John Ralston—makes it clear to Bobak that “My daughter will not be your effing green card.” Bobak—who has even begun calling himself “Bob”—has, by this point, shaved his beard and is trying very hard to make a good impression. However, much like immigrants from other countries who are demonized, tensions were running high and much of the animosity was not based on reality, but on hearsay or propaganda. Originally, the Iranian students protesting the Shah who took over the Embassy had no intention of occupying it for long periods of time. It is interesting that many of those in positions of power that day went on to become highly-placed governmental figures.

I don’t doubt that there was hostility towards Iranians in the United States during this tense time in history. I lived through it as a teacher; it probably happened more in the cities, whereas I was in a relatively rural area in Illinois. I was teaching 7^th and 8^th grade students and had known one of the Iranian hostages from Jesup, Iowa. My students and I were very aware of the crisis and very concerned for the safety of the hostages.

CONCLUSION

Fourteen months later, on January 20, 1981, the Iranian hostages were released. This was announced by Reagan, although it was negotiated by Jimmy Carter. The protesters were angered that the United States allowed the Shah to enter the U.S. for medical treatment for cancer and that they would not return him for trial. $7.9billion in Iranian assets that had been seized was released to facilitate the release of the 52 hostages, not counting those who escaped posing as a film crew, as depicted in the film “Argo.” Nov. 4, 1979 was the beginning of the Iranian hostage situation; the end was January 20, 1981.

In “Motherland” I could not tell if the romance between Babak and Katie was going to go forward or if her parents’ hostility had killed it. They are (once again) in a car and the Thanksgiving, 1979 meeting with Katie’s parents did not go well. I can only assume that, since Jasmine’s father, IRL, did marry a Canadian woman, they work further on their relationship and rise above her parents’ opposition to it.

“His Mother” Is 2025 Oscar-eligible Short

By Connie Wilson

On December 1, 2024

In Local, Movies, Of Local (Quad Cities') Interest, Pop Culture, Reviews

Bethany Anne Lind in “His Mother.”

“His Mother,” a 13 minute and 39 second short film that is Oscar eligible, stars Jennifer Lawrence look-alike Bethany Anne Lind as the mother of a young man who is threatening violence at his college, Southern Tech. Young Harrison Miller, age 19, 5’ 10”, has left a variety of clues that he is about to explode, saying things like “The end has come” and “None of you ever gave me a chance.”

Maia Scalia wrote and directed this high tension race to save lives, She is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of Art and has worked on 2022’s “Call Jane” with Director Phyllis Nagy and star Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver in 2022, a film about the fight for abortion rights in pre-Roe days, which would be just as timely right about now. Ms. Scalia’s choice of Bethany Anne Lind to play “His Mother” is fortunate, because she does a believable job as a half-hysterical mother on her way to try to save her son from committing murder

Bethany Anne Lind played Grace Young in “Ozark” and Sandra in “Stranger Things.” It is a tribute to Bethany Anne’s emoting while behind the wheel of her car and racing to the scene of the potential crime that this short works at all. It was the third (of five) that had significant—or all, as in this case—portions shot inside a vehicle. Having written a few screenplays, I understand how tempting it is to use a car or a truck for the setting, as it certainly helps keep expenses down and frees up the set decorator and art decorator and lots of other sorts (not much need for unique costumes, either) and, consequently, helps keep the cost(s) of a production down.

We never actually see her son, Harrison, or his preoccupied father, Jason Miller, whom Bethany Anne talks to on the phone. The voice of father Jason is D.W. Moffett, a Chicago native who has played roles in “Traffic,” “Falling Down,” and “Friday Night Lights.” The voice of Harrison, her son, is Ben Irving, who played Bobby Freeze in Ben Affleck’s 2020 film “The Way Back.” Officer Davis (Evan Hall of “Orange is the New Black”) and the emergency dispatcher (Aleah Guinones; Keisha in 2023’s “Shrinking”) are the only other voices in the piece, and we never see them.

“His Mother” Oscar eligible short.

Sound effects (bullets and sirens, for example) become important in this short piece. The music by Eli Keszler is crucial and the cinematography by Matt Clegg is mostly close-ups of Bethany Anne Lind’s face. I found myself wondering how his mother telling the authorities to look for her son in a blue Accura was viewed by Ms. Miller when the authorities caught up to her son, who had posted videos that led to him being sought as an “active shooter at large.” Phrases like “This is his only choice” are countered by his frazzled mother’s plea “Please help me understand.”

This one was tense and dramatic and takes place completely inside a car. I saw five in one sitting; this was my favorite.

“Buscando Alma” Is 2025 Oscar-Eligible Short

By Connie Wilson

On November 30, 2024

In Movies, Of Local (Quad Cities') Interest, Pop Culture, Reviews

“Buscando Alma,” a short about immigrants’ separation from their children at the border, has qualified for the 2025 Academy Awards.

“Buscando Alma,” a 15 minute 21 second short, has qualified for the 2025 Academy Awards in competition in Atlanta. It is also a timely subject, given the Trump administration’s vow to deport millions of immigrants. It is directed by a woman and stars a trans-gender female, also topics that are current.

“Buscando Alma” was written by Maiv Flores and Melissa Fisher; Fisher directed. It is a heartwarming tearjerker. The synopsis sums up the plot this way: “A Honduran immigrant is given the chance to meet her mother after nearly two decades of separation. As she grapples with the uncertainty of their reunion, she is confronted by tumultuous memories of her past.”

The short film won the 2024 Jury Award for “Best Drama Short” at Out On Film: Atlanta’s LGBTQ Film Festival, qualifying it for the 2025 Oscars®. Having just finished reviewing films at the Chicago International Film Festival where I saw the Errol Morris documentary “Separated,” the story of children separated from their parents at the border during the first Trump administration. I related to this one. Children who lose their connection to their parents are enveloped by a sense of longing and often suffer major psychological trauma. Separation has “left a hole in their hearts.” “Buscando Alma’s” heartfelt message hit home after seeing “Separated,” a sobering revisiting of one of our nation’s most shameful episodes. (The “Separated” crew actually rebuilt the cages the immigrants were placed in at the border to revisit the Tom Holman-supervised incidents of man’s inhumanity to man, infants ripped from their mothers’ arms). After nearly two decades apart, Cristina (Carolina Gutierrez) is finally able to locate her mother with the help of an attorney, but their long-awaited reunion comes with trepidation as she confronts memories of her past.

DIALOGUE

With lines like, “I want to know if she looked for me the way I looked for her” and “I have been searching for you my whole life” from lead actress Gutierrez, you’re in for a sad commentary on today’s headlines, with the Trump administration’s vow to deport millions. More chaos and heartbreak to come. As “Separated” made clear (based on reporting by the New York Times) the Trump administration intentionally kept very poor (if any) records of family members separated at the border. A child of immigrants flew in from Miami to tell us her own personal story. A teenager, she did not see her father again for five years after they were separated at the border. The actress playing the mother in this short (Neher Jacqueline Briceno) says to her daughter upon their reunion, “You are my life. I love you with my whole soul.”

DIRECTOR

Melissa Fisher is a Los Angeles based writer and director. She is also a member of the International Cinematographer’s Guild and has worked on Academy and Emmy Award winning films and television series. Melissa went from camera PA on Michael Bay’s “Pain & Gain,” to camera assist on films like “La La Land.” She headed up the camera department on hit television shows like “GLOW” and “The Dropout.” She is currently working on a new Amazon Prime series, “Ballard,” that is scheduled for release in 2025.

LEAD ACTRESS

Lead actress Carolina Gutierrez.

Lead actress Carolina Gutierrez is a Bravo award-nominated Los Angeles based trans-gender actress born in Barranquilla, Colombia. She played the role of Marissa on the TV Show “L Word Generation Q.” She also played the lead role of Sofia on Amazon Prime’s web series “Starlet Diner,” a supporting role in the Web Series “The Good Samaritans,” and appeared on the Amazon Prime hit show “Goliath.” A proud Latina transgender woman, Carolina has utilized her platform to advocate for trans rights. Carolina has also appeared in several television shows, movies and national commercials, including her role as assassin Emma Ruiz on NCIS LA, Sara on La Costilla de Eva in Colombia, and the lead in a national car commercial with Nissan.

OTHER CAST

The sets for “Buscando Alma” particularly impressed me, whether a church, a deck, or a kitchen, Mars Feehery was responsible for the sets. Matt Schwartz also has done a great job on sound design. Music was composed by Simon Franglen and the Cinematographer was by Boa Simon.

Key Considerations When Shipping Motorcycles Across the U.S.

By Connie Wilson

On November 22, 2024

In Local, Movies, News, Of Local (Quad Cities') Interest, travel

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 17: Austin Butler at the Los Angeles Premiere of Focus Features’ “The Bikeriders” at TCL Chinese Theatre on June 17, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Focus Features)

Key Considerations When Shipping Motorcycles Across the U.S.

Shipping a motorcycle across the United States can be a convenient and efficient way to transport your bike, whether you’re relocating, selling a motorcycle to a buyer in another state, or heading to a rally. However, it’s not as simple as loading your bike onto a truck. Proper planning, preparation, and choosing the right shipping method are essential to ensuring your motorcycle arrives safely and without any issues. Here are key considerations to keep in mind when shipping a motorcycle across the U.S.

Choose a Reputable Shipping Company

Selecting the right shipping company is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when shipping a motorcycle. Not all transport companies specialize in motorcycles, and you’ll want one with experience handling bikes. Consider moving your motorcycles with Shiply, a platform that connects you with transport providers. Research companies by reading customer reviews, checking their safety records, and verifying that they have the necessary licenses and insurance. Ensure that the company provides specific motorcycle shipping services and understands how to handle and secure bikes during transit.

Open vs. Enclosed Shipping

When shipping a motorcycle, you typically have two options: open or enclosed transport. Open transport involves shipping your motorcycle on an open trailer, which is more affordable but exposes the bike to weather conditions, road debris, and potential damage. This option might be suitable for shorter distances or if you’re shipping a bike that’s not particularly valuable or vulnerable.

Enclosed transport, on the other hand, involves placing your motorcycle inside a fully enclosed trailer, protecting it from the elements and external hazards. While enclosed shipping tends to be more expensive, it’s the better option for high-value motorcycles, classic bikes, or long-distance trips across the U.S. For those who want peace of mind, especially during cross-country transport, enclosed shipping is often worth the extra cost.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 17: Jodie Comer (L) and Austin Butler at the Los Angeles Premiere of Focus Features’ “The Bikeriders” at TCL Chinese Theatre on June 17, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Focus Features)

Understand the Costs

Shipping costs are influenced by distance sending, the size and weight of your motorcycle, and the choice between open or enclosed transport. Other elements, like the time of year, can also affect the price. For instance, shipping during winter or holidays may be more expensive due to higher demand or more difficult weather conditions.

Make sure to get a detailed quote that outlines all fees. Some companies may offer lower initial quotes but add hidden charges later. Understanding the total cost upfront will help you avoid unexpected expenses. Consider additional insurance costs as well, especially if your motorcycle is particularly valuable.

Insurance Coverage

While most motorcycle shipping companies offer basic insurance as part of their service, it may not be enough to cover the full value of your bike, particularly if it’s a custom or high-end model. Before shipping, review the shipping company’s insurance policy to understand what’s covered in case of damage, loss, or theft during transport.

If the coverage is insufficient, you may want to purchase additional insurance for peace of mind. Also, document the condition of your motorcycle before shipping by taking detailed photos from multiple angles. This evidence can help you file a claim in the event of damage.

Prepare Your Motorcycle for Shipping

Properly preparing your motorcycle before it’s picked up for transport is crucial to ensure it arrives in the best possible condition. Start by cleaning your bike thoroughly so that it’s easier to spot any pre-existing damage. Take detailed photos, as mentioned earlier, to document its condition.

Next, remove any loose items or accessories, such as saddlebags or custom mirrors, that could get damaged during transport. You should also check for fluid leaks and ensure that the gas tank is no more than a quarter full. Lowering the fuel level helps reduce the weight of the motorcycle and mitigates the risk of leaks. Finally, check tire pressure and ensure the battery is fully charged.

Conclusion

Shipping a motorcycle across the U.S. can be a seamless process if you take the time to plan carefully and choose the right service. By considering factors such as the type of transport, cost, insurance, and preparation, you can ensure your motorcycle arrives safely at its destination. Ultimately, working with a reputable shipping company such as Shiply and preparing your bike correctly will give you peace of mind throughout the journey.