Philomena

Friends of the Hyland -Philomena:

The film viewed on January 12 was Philomena. Nineteen members met at the Wortley Roadhouse afterwards for refreshments and lively discussion. There were two tables. One gave it about 4 out of 5 and the other gave it about 8 out of 10. About the same and all agreeing that it was a film not to be missed.

 It is based on a true story of Philomema Lee (Judi Dench) who, at the age of 14, gave birth to a baby boy and was forced by the Catholic authorities to give him up for adoption. She has spent 50 years trying to find him. Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan), a cynical journalist, helps her. The search takes them to North America and back. Martin Sixsmith wrote the book on which the film is based, in 2009.

The film is about the relationship that develops between these two as the story is gradually revealed. It brings laughter and tears to the audience. Philomena, the simple, Irish-Catholic woman, reveals depths of understanding and humour. Her training as a nurse gives her practical knowledge of the world that startles people who think her old and out of touch. The journalist Martin Sixmith, by contrast, is highly educated, cosmopolitan and feeling depressed, but is determined to solve the mystery of her son's whereabouts. The commonsense, warmth and compassion displayed by Philomena contrast sharply with the reserve and occasional rudeness displayed by Martin.   Her capacity to forgive is inspiring. We agreed that Judi Dench played her flawlessly and predicted an Academy Award nomination.

For some, the story brought back memories of education by the nuns and the harsh discipline sometimes imposed.  Others remembered the huge stigma attached to unwed pregnant girls, and friends who had dropped out of sight after becoming pregnant.  Everyone agreed that the inspiring cinematography enhanced the story being told.  It was a moving film - even for those seeing it for the second time.

                                            Anne Hutchinson, Ros Moorhead

There was a great turn-out for Philomena and I was sorry to have missed it. The following dates are when the SLR Friends of the Hyland will meet in coming months.

Febrary 9
March 9
April 13
May 4 (to avoid Mother's Day)

Thank you.
Hope to see you there!!
Joanne.

Captain Phillips

Though the attendance was minimal for the film Captain Phillips, the discussion was lively. When questioned about a rating for the film, the responses ranged from 2 to 5 (out of 5). The rationale offered for the lower rating was because there was no “suspension of disbelief” – no intense involvement in the action of the film. Interestingly, the reason offered for giving the high rating of 5, was because the viewers did experience an intense involvement in the action of the film. This disparity of opinion led to a further discussion concerning why the film appealed to some, but not others. 

Tom Hanks portrays the captain of a commercial ship taken over by pirates off the coast of Africa. It is based on a true story, and therefore provides interesting information about the plight of crews traveling in ships in dangerous waters. While pirates are a threat to the safety of commercial ships, the ships are only equipped with minimal defensive capability -- and no fire power. Jet-streams of water, used to sink the small pirate ships as the men try to board, is their only defense. 

When the American navy comes to the rescue of Tom Hanks (aka Captain Phillips), one wonders if it wouldn’t be better to provide a couple of armed guards for every ship, rather than spend millions of dollars to recover ships and crew held ransom by pirates. The American navy coming to the rescue, creates a situation akin to using a bomb to kill a mosquito. An amazing amount of firepower utilized by the US to fix a problem which should never have occurred in the first place. 

Since I have a friend who travels the open seas in commercial ships, I was drawn to this film to try to understand the life and the dangers he must face daily. However, I personally found the acting, directing, photography and screenplay lacking in this production. The film just wasn’t as good as it could have been, considering the main actor of the film (Tom Hanks). However, this is my opinion, not that of my companions. 

When all is said and done…. it is an interesting film which provides information about a problematic situation experience by crews on commercial ships worldwide. Ships and their crew are vulnerable to being boarded by pirates. Which begs the question… shouldn’t there be safeguards in place to protect the crew on commercial ships? Shouldn’t there be a plan in place to prevent this life threatening situation? Instead we are shown how the Navy is called in after the crisis has occurred; a situation akin to shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted!

Blue Jasmine

                                                                          

It was generally agreed, by the members of SLR Friends of the Hyland, that “Blue Jasmine” deserves a rating of 4 to 5 (out of 5) for acting, directing, photography, and music. Cate Blanchett does a wonderful job (some mentioned an academy winning performance) of portraying an emotionally unstable woman who is dealing with a crisis in her life. She is floundering, and she finds herself in a vulnerable position in life –one of her own making. 

We learn Jasmine was raised as a favorite child. The preferential treatment she received early in life engendering in her the notion she is entitled to the “good things in life”. She feels she should not have to work at anything “menial”, but rather, she sees herself in the role of the pampered, wealthy socialite. 

Jasmine’s personality and behavior is the catalyst for creating her present situation. When rejected by her husband, she destroys her husband by notifying the FBI about his shady financial dealings. As a result of her actions, she destroys the privileged life of her son as well. With his father disgraced and jailed, the son leaves Harvard and cuts off all ties with his mother. Jasmine next moves into her sister’s home and proceeds to dismantle her sisters’ life. Jasmine disapproves of her sister’s boyfriend, her home, and her lifestyle. As a result of Jasmine’s influence, Ginger risks losing the man she loves. Jasmine was responsible for destroying Ginger’s previous marriage. Now, her scorn and advice threaten to destroy her sisters’ present chance for happiness. 

Jasmine is the quintessential “toxic” personality. And in the end, she’s rejected by everyone -- her husband (who rejects her, then kills himself), her son, her sister, and her fiancé. Jasmine has no self awareness. She has one goal—to be on the arm of a wealthy, powerful and influential man – and she is willing to do anything to achieve the goal. And because of her approach to life we see her cycling down into psychosis. 

One senses Jasmine will never progress emotionally. She will never move forward to understand a better way of living. At the end of the film, she is alone on a bench, talking to herself. We learn this is how she was at the end of her marriage. And we sense it is only a matter of time before the “men in white coats” come to take her away. 

Some SLR members expressed disappointment about the ending of the film. Suggesting it would have been nice to see Jasmine move towards a healthier lifestyle—see her finish her education, get a stable, satisfying job, and so on. However, the film portrays a situation which may be more true to life than would a “happy ending”. Aren’t many of us like Jasmine? How often do we take a long hard look at our behavior and attitudes, and make changes necessary to bring about our own happiness?

Joanne

 

Jeff, Virgil, Joanne, Anne and Susan at the Village Room Aug11, 2013.

"Unfinished Song" is a delightful film about the potential influence of music in our lives, the enlivening effect music can have on the elderly, and how we choose to relate to others. 

Arthur, the main male protagonist, is a grouchy, withdrawn individual. He ridicules his wife's music group, and while he can see the joy she derives from singing with others, he refuses to participate. However, when Arthur's wife dies, Arthur has a change of heart. He experiences how isolated he has become, and he seeks out the very activity he once shunned. Through his participation in music, Arthur begins to open himself to others, and to love. He begins to make connections with his family, such as his son, and he begins to connect with others --  his music teacher and the choir members. 

Our SLR Friends of the Hyland gathering on Aug 11, rated this file 3.5-4.5 (out of 5). It is a light, heart-warming film, and perfect for a Sunday afternoon.

At Any Price

At Any Price is a film which encourages discussion about a variety of topics -- from the condition of our farming communities today to the kind of ethical choices we each have to make throughout our lives. The setting of the film is a farming community in the US where Henry, the main protagonist, is a seed salesman. Henry is also a farmer trying to expand his property holdings and he is willing to acquire land in any way available to him -- sometimes in unscrupulous ways.

The main characters of the film struggle with ethical issues. You get a sense of who they are by the choices they make, particularly the choices made in crisis situations. Holding a position of control over all the main characters is the seed company which provides genetically modified seed to the farmers. The seed company "controls life" in many ways -- genetically and otherwise. One senses the farming communities of the past have been destroyed by these modern seed companies. Communities of farmers no longer work together for their mutual survival, such as helping each other during harvest time, instead farmers are in competition with each other for their very survival.

As we are introduced to each character, we come to know them by the choices they make. Many of the choices they make are disappointing, some choices flout the law. Everyone seems locked into a way of life different from that of the past -- where each individual used to be very much a part of a larger, supportive community. In present times, it's everyone out for him or herself. We are shown how each character survives by controlling others – Henry gains control of his son by helping him commit a crime, Henry’s wife gains control over Henry by learning the details about the death of a young man, and a young farmer who lost his living, gains control over Henry by threatening him with the loss of all his assets.  

One senses only two individuals escape the confining and unscrupulous group of characters depicted in the film: Henry’s son Grant, who is off climbing mountains in South America, and Dean's girlfriend who leaves for "the West." Both of these characters are depicted as having an innate sense of “right” and “wrong”, and they leave the farming community to protect this precious part of themselves. In a postcard home to his parents, Grant writes about his experience of being on a mountain top, “this must be what God feels like!” And Dean’s girlfriend, who has been ill-treated by both her parents, makes it clear she does not deserve to be ill-treated by her boyfriend Dean. She chooses, instead, to seek out another type of life.  

Whether or not one one likes At Any Price, it is a great one for fostering discussion. The SLR Friends of the Hyland had a lively talk after the film, and few laughs as well. Sitting out on the Wortley Roadhouse patio after the film, was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.  Hope you can join us next time.
Joanne.

Love, Marilyn

Love Marilyn is a documentary based on recently discovered diaries and letters of Marilyn Monroe written throughout her career.  Her writings poignantly reflected her personal struggle and growth through adversity, both self made, and those imposed by society and the film industry of the time. 

Many actors do an amazing job reading selections from the documents and bringing them to life.  The readings are interspersed with historical film clips and interviews with surviving colleagues. The result was a sympathetic portrayal and we agreed we learned a great deal about her ambitions, challenges and self-doubts.  She benefited from her sexual image, but was also stereotyped and imprisoned by it.  Directors and producers refused take her dramatic talents or ambitions seriously.   She struggled to move beyond the sexpot image.  We discussed the unjust sexism of that time and how she both developed and was stunted by her public persona. 

We also discussed how an early life of being bounced from one foster home to another contributed to her lack of confidence and insecurities.  Finally, we thought that writing the extensive diaries and notes provided an outlet for her to escape the frustrations of her work and to validate herself.   She seems to have found peace at the end.  She was released from the limitations imposed on her by the film making industry.  The last contract she signed before her death was worth millions; finally, a recognition of her true value, the true worth she so valiantly fought for.

We enjoyed the film and found the technique of having different readers for different portions of the diaries to be effective.  We gave it an average rating of 3.5 (out of 5). 

Roslyn Moorhead