Monthly Archives: January 2019

Spiral: Anti-Semitism in France

documentary, drama, foreign films, ,

Directed by Laura Fairrie, Spiral is a documentary exposing the fact that over the last two decades, a rise in physical attacks and verbal assaults on Jews documented in many countries across Europe. Particularly, Jews in France are forced into a ghetto living condition, while some, are driven to leave France and immigrate to Israel.

At the same time an increasingly fractured world has exposed deep political, social, and racial division, especially in France. The documentary is about how a cycle of fear, hatred, and violence has taken hold.

I am not a fan of documentaries because they easily create an image or vision that twists or skews the facts or truth of a situation. Spiral seems to be a movie about bigotry with an anti-religious (anti-Semitism) happening in France. Apparently, the government is doing nothing about it.

According to a conversation with Fairrie, she was approach by John Battsek, produced One Day In September, with the idea of investigating widespread reports of rising attacks and abuse against Jewish people in Europe.

“After an intensive research period I wrote a detailed document outlining my creative vision and the ournalism at the heart of the film. Once Cohen Media committed to financing the film,” says Fairrie.

The documentary is about the resurgence of anti-Semitism in France. The feel throughout the movie is fear with undercurrents of dread and distrust.  Yet, the scenes with the teacher, François, changed the rhythm of the documentary. He understood the tensions on all sides. Like he was an insider and knew the cause and effect of anti-Semitism.

Fairrie, somehow, obtained access to Dieudonné, who is a French anti-Semitist comedian. He is well-known entertainer of African descent, disreputable for mockery of the Holocaust while jabbing with anti-Semitism in general. Fairrie got him to talk about his point of view in the matter.  I was happy to hear in the movie that a legal team is prosecuting him.

Some of the stories of hatred are hard to believe, and it’s hard to confront such a situation in beautiful France. If one religion is being attacked, then all religions are being attacked. Religious freedom!

The documentary is primarily in French with English subtitles. The cinematography by Jean-Louis Schuller is beautiful at times and works with the story of Jewish people in terrible situations. The movie is not entertaining. The information is disheartening and without a sound resolution.

The Dark: Horror Movie With Substance

horror, ,

Written and directed by Justin P. Lange, The Dark is about a killer ghost who meets a lost soul. The movie is Lange’s debut as a director, and he hit the scary ringer. The movie is the production company’s biggest hit in 2018 and their most liked as a horror DVD. Horror fans pay attention because you want to see this movie.

The story unravels just outside a small town in a dense forest called Devil’s Den. The den is known as a mysterious area of woods. Many enter the woods, but no one ever leaves the woods.

Like all mysteries, the home-grown legend is about the spirit of a girl, played by Nadia Alexander. Murdered in the Devil’s Den, she haunts and hunts for victims. She brutally slays anyone who risks walking in her terrain.

A young man, played by Toby Nichols, with a dark past enters Devil’s Den. A series of events are set in motion that may lead to redemption for two tragically tortured souls.

The movie is a part gothic fairytale and part chilling horror. Lange methodically poises rich imagery with brutal and bloody storytelling. The two unlikely kindred spirits must defend themselves against the so-called normal world.

Both Alexander and Nichols performances are truthful and heartfelt. Lange’s script moves along and kept me interested and caring for the characters.  In general, the movie is receiving accolades from LA Times, Variety, and Horror Society.

“A moving and poetic tale about how neglect and abuse can turn people into freaky beasts, and how love can bring them back.” – LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Writer and director Justin P. Lange created and conquered one of the best horror films of the year. It’s emotional, slightly artistic and so disturbing and frightening. A true master-class in film-making. I am so blown away” – HORROR SOCIETY

Japanese Artist: Kusama: Infinity Documentary Transcends Imagery

documentary, indie, true story,

Directed by Heather Lenz, I discovered Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama in the documentary Kusama: Infinity. The movie is a spotlight on the celebrated artist, according to the New York Times the documentary is “illuminating access to an artist’s way of thinking and working,” and I agree.

Kusama accounts her journey, the well-crafted documentary encounters her journey into the world of art. It starts with her conservative family in Japan to the milestones and triumphs that evolved her career.

The documentary shows a rare, but emotional, glimpse into Kusama’s six-decade career. Lenz captures the critical moments that led to her success, though some were hard to believe. What I didn’t know was she penned a letter to renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe for guidance. O’Keeffe wrote back and recommended Kusama risk everything to move to New York City.

Kusama decided to make a name for herself in NYC based on O’Keeffe’s letter. The young Kusama hit the streets of the art world by a boom. Captivating art aficionados with her signature polka dots, she brought light to the industry, and at the same time, shook up the conventional norms.

Today, she is the top-selling female artist in the world. The story amazes me how Kusama prevail over terrible odds to bring her radical artistic vision to the art scene. For years and years, she pushed her work, going beyond the boundaries that often alienated her from both her peers and those in power in the art world.

The documentary is about an underdog, who never had a chance, but made it happen despite the trauma of growing up in Japan during World War II.  Her life in a dysfunctional family that discouraged her creative ambitions, sexism, and racism in the art establishment, and emotional turmoil in a culture where that was predominantly shameful. She continued to pursue her career as a full-time artist at the point of her 90s.

In spite of it all, Kusama has endured and has created a legacy of artwork that spans the disciplines of painting, sculpture, installation art, performance art, poetry, and literary fiction. After working as an artist for over six decades, people around the globe are experiencing her installation Infinity Mirrored Rooms in record numbers, as Kusama continues to create new work every day.

I still think about this documentary and hope others are inspired. Her work is spiritual and transcending. One negative aspect about the movie is how quick people like Lenz are to pigeon hole an artist as mentally ill when all they are is being themselves and living life to create their art form.