Documentary: A Small Act

It is a true fact that we cannot save everyone. There are so many atrocities that have gone on in the wolrd and are still happening today as I write this blog.

In this documentary, the focus was on Kenya. 

The sad reality is that many will be left behind. However, the gift of sponsorship from a woman named Hilde Back from Sweden (who was a holocaust survivor) changed the life for one little boy, Chris Mburu. They share their emotional stories and a reunion neither of them will ever forget.

Without revealing anything more, I will say though that this story has a powerful message of hope. Even a single act of kindness can change the life of one person.

As that momentum keeps going, more lives can change too.  

I hope you enjoy this documentary as much as I did!

💜Learn more about the film: https://asmallact.com/

Fashion Week Windsor 2026 - Documentary!

Fashion Week Windsor-Essex debuts a never-before-seen Documentary about the inception and process to the inaugural FWW. The debut also includes the steps of fashion-forward and groundbreaking thinking! 

🎫Your ticket includes a swag bag courtesy of What's Poppin' Popcorn Factory. 

The documentary-style film features exclusive interviews from participants and committee members, as well as footage from the inaugural FWW. The original movie is filmed and produced by videographer Bill Dileva of Nuvo Entertainment Productions and hosted by Fashion Week Windsor-Essex's own Creative Director, Stephen Drouin. 

Q & A with Bill and select committee members to follow the screening. Movie screening starts promptly at 6:30 pm.

👉Grab them early! Tickets on sale here!

All the events happening:

Sponsors!

💜 ALL ACCESS! Pret a Porter 7-Day Pass

💜3-Day Pass and More to Explore: Tickets

💜Follow along the journey: Fashion Week Windsor

Don't Stop Make-Believing: Mr. Dressup Documentary Review

The Magic of Make-Believe is a documentary by Robert McCallum and was a special one-night screening event at WIFF, here in Windsor, Ontario, celebrating the life of beloved children's entertainer, Mr. Dressup.  

This one is for all the kids (especially the Canadian ones eh!) growing up who remember making toilet paper roll crafts and couldn’t wait for Mr. Dressup (Ernie Coombs) to open his colourful Tickle Trunk that was filled with treasures and would ultimately spark our imaginations for decades to come.              

There are some heart-felt interviews sputtered throughout the film, including Andrew Phung (actor/comedian), Eric McCormack  (best known on Will & Grace), Scott Thompson (from the brilliant sketch comedy series, Kids in the Hall) and countless other celebrities who recall special moments from their own lives, watching Mr. Dressup. As well, we get to hear from Ernie’s children who share fond memories of their dad from early ages, up to the final goodbye.

Not surprising, the kind, thoughtful, and welcoming character of Mr. Dressup didn’t just translate on screen, but was actually Ernie’s natural demeanor in his regular life outside of TV land. He was the kind of man who embraced everyone with an open heart. Ernie loved his family and never failed to acknowledge friends in the industry who supported him throughout his life, especially long-time pal, Fred Rogers (well-known as Mr. Rogers, another beloved TV show entertainer from the era), who jump-started Ernie's career by simply believing in him.

This iconic children’s tv program ran for almost 30 years, with more than 4000 episodes on CBC.  One of many interesting facts shared in the documentary shows quite a progressive representation in media. Mr. Dressup’s interaction with two puppets known as Casey and Finnegan were both played by Australian puppeteer, Judith Lawrence. Casey was always considered non-gendered, which made it easy for any child to identify with the character.

When remembering Ernie’s life and all the joy he brought to others, there is a level of gratitude that is unspoken from our lips but remains deeply in our hearts.  From the wise words of Ernie, “keep your crayons sharp, your sticky tape untangled, and always put the top back on your markers."

STILL: A Moving Documentary

Canadian-born actor, Michael J. Fox  has a story to tell, and no matter how many times he falls down or breaks another bone, he’s going to tell it.  Parkinson’s Disease stands no chance against Michael’s sheer determination to continue living life, with no short supply of love and laughter.

Still, directed by Davis Guggenheim, is a documentary filmed with Michael narrating, along with a creative tool of using clips from many of his tv/film characters. These are meshed in to reflect what he was actually going through at the time and works brilliantly. Featured were two key roles in his career; Michael as Alex P. Keaton in the tv series Family Ties and his portrayal as Marty McFly in the iconic Back to the Future movies.  Oh and who couldn’t forget his hairiest role, the campy 80's flick, Teen Wolf (a personal fav!). There was also archival moments of Michael's real life sprinkled in with his family which were very touching. 

While early in his career, eating jelly packets to survive as a Hollywood actor was common.  It was really evident though that Michael had a real uniqueness that would send him skyrocketing to success. Of course, it came at a price as there are the in-between moments in the film where he shares his battles with addiction and the not so glamourous moments of hiding his battle with Parkinson's. That is until one day, the heavy weight was lifted off his shoulders, and Michael J. Fox revealed his diagnosis to the world.

Although we can see the deterioration of his body as the tremors take over in some scenes, there is an overpouring of love for this man who refuses to pity his circumstances. 

Using his celebrity status for good, Michael has advocated for Parkinson's research funding and has raised over 1 billion dollars through his non-profit foundation; The Michael J. Fox Foundation .  

He wants to find a cure and we really want there to be one.

💜Trailer: Still

Get Lit: Hello, Bookstore Documentary Review

Hello, Bookstore is directed by A.B Zax and where you’ll find owner, Matt Tannenbaum, organizing books by colour, size, front cover, or whatever he feels like at any given time. “The Bookstore” is a little hidden gem in Lenox, Massachusetts and in this documentary, we are like flies on the wall in his shop.

From the works of Henry Miller to modern-day books like Harry Potter and everything in-between, you’ll find a huge selection here. It’s like a treasure hunt once you step inside, but Matt can be your guide, who is eager to share his wisdom, his stories, and has quite a knack for finding you the perfect book(s) that will have you coming back for more.

Then the pandemic hit... Hello, Bookstore becomes more like Hello Computer! Instead of enjoying the presence of his long-time customers, and the delight of meeting new faces that walk-by and enter into the bookstore, Matt makes the hard decision to not let anyone inside. The store is closed for browsing. Visit the website or talk to him through a glass door – this is now the protocol.  It’s impersonal and heart-breaking to experience after you feel the warmth with every interaction that Matt seems to make effortlessly, and that is captured delicately in this film with the simple static shots. 

Once a thriving bookstore, sales begin to plummet, as the joy of searching online for a book never has the same feel of taking it off a shelf.  Like many, we feel the distress of Matt being knee-high in bill payments. Answering the phone since the very beginning with “Hello, Bookstore” could very well be the last time.

"Fiction is the filter through which I see the world” Matt says, and we are all waiting on bated breath to find out the fate of The Bookstore.

A beautiful documentary, full of connection, story-telling and humanity that will be continued for many chapters to come. 

💜Hello, Bookstore

DISPENSE-tion of Belief: The Pez Outlaw Doc Review

 

The Pez Outlaw feels like it could be an espionage story on its own, but instead of loading up weapons, collector-extraordinaire, Steve Glew and his rival “The Pezident” embark in a long battle of wits until the final pez-down.

Directed by Bryan Storkel and Amy Bandlien Storkel, the style and pace of this documentary is really engaging. There's plenty of laughs as Steve is quite an eccentric character, but the film does carry a lot of sadness too.

Underneath what some may consider nefarious activities, Steve Glew’s obsession with Pez had other personal layers that get explored in this documentary; his own mental health battles and the need to take care of his family.  This is something that is a constant struggle for many of us who still hold onto  the unrealistic societal expectations that we are told we must adhere to in order to feel worthy and loved by others.  

When you are showered with millions of dollars (clearly not all Pez collectors acquire this level of wealth - Steve was a lucky or unlucky duck depending on how you see it), life feels wonderful and you’re untouchable. But it doesn’t last forever, and we are sped through many of the highs and lows from Steve’s perspective, as well as hearing other views, including other Pez collectors from around the world (shout out to our friend, Becky Mathers from Windsor, Ontario who is a pez collector and appears in the doc!).

Steve’s rise and fall from being coined as "The Pez Outlaw" to spending years afterwards in isolation holds valuable lessons that will be personal to each of us and the stories we share.  While the art of collecting may fill your shelves or even an emotional and nostalgic void, with every purchase comes at a price so be cautious: handle with care. 

💜The Pez Outlaw Trailer

No Late Fees: The Last Blockbuster

The Last Blockbuster is a wonderful documentary, directed by Taylor Morden and written by Zeke Kamm, with charming narration by actress/comedian, Lauren Lapkus  all about the history of Blockbuster video. Included are loads of nostalgic memories from some celebrity faces like comedians Kevin Smith, Jamie Kennedy, and Doug Benson.

So what would happen if Netflix and chill never existed, and we never became accustomed to streaming tv shows and movies?  The old saying “you don’t really know what you’ve got till it’s gone” definitely has some truth here.

Blockbuster went from an outstanding 9000 video rental stores to 1.  Yes, 1 store in the whole world!  Spoiler, as of writing this blog in 2022, only ONE Blockbuster store remains, headed by manager, Sandi Harding in Bend, Oregon, who is well-known as the “blockbuster mom”.  Throughout the doc, we see Sandy's dedication to Blockbuster and the countless hours of personal sacrifices that she makes for the company. It's all really quite remarkable.

A single Blockbuster card was the ticket to watching old favourites, new releases, and anything your heart desired. I know that I could spend a good hour there or more, just going up and down the aisles.  It wasn’t just another trip to the video store. It was an experience. 

Of course, after choosing a few videos and piling them on the counter, you awaited the employee to scan your card. There was excitement mixed with a bit of dread each time, maybe a bit of sweat too, as you didn’t want them to utter those four words “you have late fees.”  I never had any, but that sigh of relief always felt good hearing it straight from the Blockbuster staff. 

If we’re going to rewind here, I remember a lot of fond memories going to Blockbuster here in Windsor, Ontario.  I was only a few blocks away from one when I was living at home, so many weekends would be spent renting movies. There was something cool about whipping out that little plastic card out of your wallet and flashing it to the employee before they could ask you whether you were part of the membership club. It held much responsibility.  

Did anyone collect movie posters that Blockbuster intended to throw out?  If you asked, ye shall receive. They were always more than willing to give out a few after they didn’t have any use for them in the store anymore, including some of the cardboard cut-outs.  Our basement was filled with them! 

Although we have really evolved with technology and soon enough I’m sure we’ll be able to just think of a movie and it will randomly appear on our devices to watch, heading out for that weekly trip to the movie store to find what treasures await me will never go out of style.

💜Do you have any memories of Blockbuster video? I'd love to hear them! Leave me a comment below or send me an e-mail via my contact form. 

Pass The Borscht: Science Friction Documentary Review

From quote-mining to sensationalized headlines, it is difficult for people to figure out what is real and what is not. It’s become even harder to sleuth through media news of any kind, especially in 2022.

Science Friction is a fascinating documentary, directed by Emery Emery and executive produced by Brian Dunning, that gives many examples of how we are deceived time and time again. Critical thinking is a skill that is not always used when it is something very personal. We often rely on the integrity of news journalists to tell us true information, but are there any of those even left? 

Scientists like Dr. Steven Novella (Neurologist), Dr. Ken Feder (Professor of Archaeology) Dr. Janine Krippner (Volcanologist), Jonathan Davis (Marine Biologist), and other experts,  delve into their own personal experiences and frustrations, especially being on tv shows like Dr Oz, Discovery and the History Channel that have edited, misrepresented or completely taken out of context what they’ve said. 

There are despicable people who prey on the vulnerable for their own greedy pockets and that is not something new. It can be devastating outcomes. Not just financial, but emotional too. 

Celebrities are notorious for promoting questionable practices.   A perfect example clip shows Oprah bringing on a psychic and allowing them to do what is called a cold-reading on an audience member. A little trickery and no one watching the show actually knew what had happened the previous day to facilitate the “wow that was amazing!” look on everyone’s faces. 

Quite a shocking revelation for some, but all too common of a practice for those who know the tricks, especially magicians, like Jamy Ian Swiss, who appears in the doc and talks about deception in the realm of magic. Magicians are skilled performers who are upfront telling their audience that what they do is in no way real, it is an illusion and trickery. They have spent many years of life perfecting the art of being 'honest liars' - I should know, I'm married to one! :)  

Some people are skeptical of certain things yet hold strong beliefs in other aspects of their life even when all evidence points to the contrary.  One area that often has feverish debates is: Medicine vs alternative medicine. Does holistic medicine offer any insight into curing chronic disease or is Big Pharma (often quoted as such) just trying to keep us sick? Depending on who you ask, you are going to get very different responses.  As an example, Tim Minchin a ridiculously talented and outspoken Aussie comedian, composer, and science advocate states 'You know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? - Medicine.’

When all evidence points to the contrary of one’s belief system, should we challenge those thoughts? After watching this documentary, there are a lot of questions to ponder and the dire need that reminds us the importance of teaching critical thinking skills from infancy all the way into our wiser years.

Although in my own life, I would like to say I have evolved towards more of a skeptical mindset, which has helped me navigate the media information/misinformation highway, I know that I can still be caught off guard and bamboozled just as easily as anyone else.  Knowing that is scary yet empowering at the same time.

Stay skeptical my friends. 

💜Check out the trailer and learn more at Science Friction

💜Skeptoid Programming (free, entertaining and educational) 

Crazy Little Things Called Love: Film Reviews

Hello readers! I've compiled another list of films that I've watched recently that I wanted to share. 

Ah yes, Cyrano de Bergerac, a timeless tale that was probably thrusted upon many of my readers, like myself during our high school English class days. Those 5 paragraph essays in full swing and then watching the black and white version from the 50’s on a projection screen for the next few classes. I remember seeing quite a few film adaptations too, the most fond one of Cyrano being played by the comedic genius himself, Steve Martin in the film titled, Roxanne.  

Rolling into 2021, still in the heart of the pandemic, a musical version came out of Cyrano. This time, instead of revolving around a facial feature (his prominent nose), this film directed by Joe Wright, re-imagines the epic character Cyrano dealing with dwarfism, played by the impressive Peter Dinklage, who falls madly in love with Roxanne, played by Haley Bennett. 

Knowing how devastating unrequited love can be, we ache for Cyrano, probably far more than ever before because of Dinklage’s performance. Do we care about his size? No. Do we care about his heart? Oh yes we do! There is a longing for human connection, yet the deep self-loathing of the harsh realities of the world at the same time, which can be extremely relatable.  The costume designs were gorgeous, not to mention many of the picturesque scenes throughout. 

The main highlight of the film is of course the soundtrack. I don’t think there could be enough tears shed after listening to Overcome for the first time, followed by Wherever I Fall.   

You’re invested in the story and the characters, even though there is no swaying away from the ultimate fate of what love can do to us. Unrequited love can be the most torturous.  Roxanne and Cyrano together on-screen though are quite magical as you’re catapulted into their hearts indefinitely as the credits roll.  

The End of Us is a quirky indie-style comedy film by Steven Kanter and Henry Loevner that I think is quite relatable for many going through the pandemic and have questioned their partnerships! Dealing with each other’s “ism’s” might not seem so bad when you’re able to get out into the world, but as the world shuts down, it’s a reminder of a relationship going to hell in a handbasket for the characters, Nick played by Ben Coleman and Leah played by Ali Vingiano. 

Leah is an interesting character. She reminded me a bit of Sarah Silverman with her sarcastic wit. So she’s adulting, has a stressful job, takes care of all the finances and makes sure Nick moisturizes his awfully dry skin. Nick on the other-hand is slacking in all departments, unmotivated and still working on a book that never seems to go anywhere, but reaping all the benefits of the relationship, or is he? 

Making the tough decision to end a long-term relationship is never easy but we can see that the passive-aggressiveness and toxic behaviours are a cry for help.  Leah gets up the courage to tell Nick to leave when the pandemic rears its ugly head and mask-wearing begins, as well as the spiral of job losses, isolation and more.  

We can see how each of these characters deal with change and uncertainties of life. I liked the style and pace of the movie. There is no shortage of emotions as both of them try to navigate how to live with someone who you are not in love with anymore. They still desperately hold onto memories that feel so long gone, along with the gratuitous sex mistakes that shouldn’t have happened, but they do because it feels almost like the norm in movies.

Overall, the movie was enjoyable, it had a lot of introspective moments, humour, quite a bit of vulgarity (warning if that’s not your thing) and without spoiling the ending, you want the best for both Nick and Leah, you really want them to succeed in their dreams, whether they are together or apart.

  

Welcome to Woop Woop is From the makers of Priscilla Queen of the Desert...” so how could I NOT want to see what this movie had to offer? Priscilla is one of my favourite movies of all time for its beauty, elaborate costumes, humour, bravery and homage to Abba, of course.

Directed by Stephan Elliott, this Australian tale is pretty basic really and then starts going off the rails. Teddy played by Johnathon Schaech, is a New York bird smuggler and after a deal goes wrong, he takes off to Australia to replace a bunch of birds that escaped. Along the way, he ends up rendezvousing with a free-spirited woman named Angie, played by Susie Porter. 

After being knocked out by Angie, Teddy finds himself married,  and stranded as a prisoner in Woop Woop, a forgotten place where they dine on canned pineapple, boat loads of tobacco and dog food (made from road-killed kangaroos). The only entertainment available to the residents is old Rodgers & Hammerstein films and soundtracks. Of course, you can't get married without meeting the whole Aussie family, including the alpha-male dictator father Daddy-O, played by Rod Taylor. 

Make sure to watch out for one character, the oddball Blind Wally, played by Barry Humphries, who you might also recall as the colourful and spunky Dame Edna!

I will say that this movie will definitely leave a lasting impression, what kind of impression is very subjective. You’ll be randomly quoting specific movie lines spontaneously though (ones that are just a bit too vulgar to mention here) and maybe even re-thinking life choices. 

Despite the craziness, offensiveness that some may feel watching this one, grotesque animal scenes (NO animals were actually hurt according to the disclaimer put out!) there is a beauty towards the end that you don’t see coming. It throws you for a loop and is a bit overwhelmed with emotion, but it works. You’ll Never Walk Alone serenades us in a tearful scene, followed by the oddly amazing Junior Vasquez remix of Climb Every Mountain, from none other, The Sound of Music. 

Although deemed as one of the worst Australian films, it’s raging on as a cult classic and rightfully so. 

 

This is actually a two-part review, as these films intertwine with each other. 

Before you watch BlackFish, watch Free Willy, or re-watch it if you remember the film from the 90’s. The whale, Keiko was used in the movie and became the poster-whale for a desperate plea to end orcas in captivity.  

Although meant to be a light family movie with a feel-good vibe of reckless boy meets whale, whale saves kid (or kid saves whale too?) and ultimately defeats the evil amusement park owners,  a darker and sinister story actually is underneath. The connection is beautiful in the movie in the innocence of a child, but still a far cry from what reality looks like for many of these intelligent creatures.  

A huge highlight comes from its soundtrack. After seeing this movie in the theatre back in the 90’s, I rushed out to get the cassette tape and played “Will You Be There?" by Michael Jackson continuously.  I felt a spiritual connection to the song without religious context. 

20+ years later, after hearing it again, the song resonates with me completely different due to seeing the next film I will talk about entitled BlackFish.

Causing a lot of waves, the documentary BlackFish came out in 2013.  A very compelling documentary about marine mammal captivity, highlighting Tilikum, an orca that was held by SeaWorld and the devastating consequences that unfolded.

There is a lot of controversy in this film but there is no doubt that the motivating factor was the all-mighty dollar, not the well-being of the orcas at all. The trainers I felt had really good intentions yet were greatly misled in many ways by being employed at SeaWorld. 

Filled with so many ethical dilemmas to ponder, it was still quite heart-breaking to see what kind of treatment orcas did receive and how their psychological health, not to mention physical health, greatly deteriorated.

SeaWorld has claimed to have changed their focus and use the orcas for "educational" purposes instead of entertainment and no longer have a breeding program. They have a new show called the Orca Encounter, which is currently $100/ticket.  Still, you surely won't be seeing me there anytime soon. 

It all feels like smoke and mirrors to the real issues surrounding orcas that are still to this day not being addressed properly.  It is understood that sometimes sending them back into the wild is not always an option, which makes things even more complicated, but they deserve a better life than being spectacles at money-hungry theme parks. These beautiful creatures were never meant to be caged, only to be free.

💜Have you seen any of these films?  What were your thoughts? Drop me a note in the comments, or send me an email using my webform on the side and also let me know what you've been watching!

Tiny: A Story About Living Small

What would it be like to live in a space that was 100 square feet or less? For many of us, the thought seems absurd because we are accustomed to the mentality of bigger is better. I don’t think anyone goes to work hoping to just bring home a small paycheque, we all want the big bucks, regardless of it is within our reach or not. We want the biggest house, the biggest car and of course, the biggest possible television. However, there is a growing population of people who are happily embracing what is called “the tiny house movement” and this is where the story begins.

Tiny is an eye-opening documentary directed by Christopher Smith and Merete Mueller. Growing up in a military family, and never being able to settle in one place for very long, Christopher decides to embark on challenge to build a tiny house, from the ground up, in Colorado. With help from his slightly hesitant girlfriend who is unsure whether she wants to give up living her dream in New York City, construction takes place and their trials and tribulations throughout the process are filmed. In-between, there are several interviews with content tiny house homeowners who share their experiences and reasons for living this particular lifestyle.

At first, one may not really understand the motivation behind this type of living situation. It is shocking in a way to see people give up what we deem as stability to go and live like a hippy flower child, but it goes way beyond that. Sure there is a prominent desire to maintain eco-consciousness and so building these houses out of recycled materials is at the forefront, as is the purpose to consume less energy and space. However, as revealed in the film, the switch provides a sense of freedom and tranquility that was never fulfilled before in many people’s lives. The resourcefulness is quite unbelievable but then again, when you are given only a small space, you either start thinking outside the box or you end up buried in your own material possessions.

Everyone values different things in life and what may be a necessity for one, is hardly a priority for another. There’s no shame in it, it’s just how we are and the documentary definitely gives you some unique perspectives that if anything, will just make you think. We’re constantly making choices, some good decisions, and other times, ones we might look back upon and realize that we could have done things better. It’s all about evolving.

This documentary really shines a light on finding our strengths, overcoming our weaknesses and doing something extraordinary that will leave our mark in the world. It’s about creating possibilities that didn’t exist before and so the desire for Christopher and Merete wasn't just about building a house, it was about building a home.

Cutting Loose Movie Review: Dyeing To Change

What’s it like to have freedom? Most of us probably don’t even realize how precious it is to be able to wake up maybe a few minutes past our alarm clock in the morning, or to have the luxury of opening the fridge to see what we’re in the mood to eat, at that very moment. We can even make choices of where we want to go and who we want to see, but never really think twice about it.

For prisoners who are faced with many years ahead of them behind bars, or even life sentences, pleasures like this come far and few in between. Life drastically changes, and routine becomes necessary for survival.

In the BBC2 Scottish documentary Cutting Loose, directed by Finlay Pretsell and Adrian McDowall, there is another side to prison that one can actually say is rather uplifting. Showing a new perspective of rehabilitation, in some areas of Scotland, inmates do not have a mundane existence, they come into prison and find a purpose, and that involves cutting the hair of other inmates.

So here we have third time hairdressing champ Francis Duffy who is 33 years old. He’s a struggling heroin addict who has been in and out of jail since 13 years old. However, as much of a danger he is to society and himself, he is allowed to hold onto a pair of sharp scissors that in the right moment could be used to kill someone. He never does though, nor do any of the other inmates who are given razors, scissors and tools.

Excitement fills the air for the upcoming Scottish Prison Service Hairdressing Competition, which involves both male and female inmates showing off their hair-styling skills. For Francis, this would be his fourth win, but also his last competition before he gets out of jail.

As the film plays on, the audience follows a verbal diary of intense emotional feelings of inmates with a main focus of Francis’ life.

On one hand, it’s difficult to feel compassion for a criminal, especially when it involves something like murder of a loved one. We seek out justice and hope that these individuals are severely punished, in even the cruelest ways. Prison is not a walk in the park and for most that you would speak with, they have regrets.

On the contrary, some see their sentence as a way to gain wisdom and to help others heal from trauma and pain. Others even feel it is their way out of struggling through every day life. They are taken care of and given structure in a world of chaos. As Francis openly said that once he is out, he doesn’t even know how to do the simple things in life, like even pay bills. It was heart-breaking to watch because you could sense his sincerity and as much as you want him locked away, a part of you wants to see him thrive, just like the rest of the inmates.

Hair cutting, dyeing, highlighting, shaving and all the other aspects that go along with being a hairdresser somehow give an outlet for these prisoners, who really feel like they have nothing to live for, and do demonstrably terrible things to others because they are lashing out at the world, as well as themselves.

This documentary shows another side, dare I say, a human side, to those who we loathe most. They are still shackled when they are going from their prison cell to the hairdressing chair, yet everyone seems content and respectful of one another. Perhaps there is fear of what others are capable of doing but there is also some truth that being with the same people, day in and day out, you do gain respect for each other.

Overall, I thought the film was extremely thought-provoking, even though it was only half an hour long. The fate of some of the inmates seems promising, but for others, the safety blanket that this prison system holds is too scary to ever cut loose.

Documentary Review: Addicted to Energy

I was able to watch an interesting award-winning documentary called Peace Out (written by Charles Wilkinson, produced by Tina Schliessler ) before the premiere launch to the public.

So obviously I’m not an environmental expert. However, I do care about our environment and how it affects not only my daily living, but also the impact it has worldwide. This film had a variety of perspectives about the vast consumption of energy that has now become a great concern from a social, economic and health standpoint. Since it is a documentary, no one was left out to discuss the problems that we’re facing in our society. There were concerned citizens, advocates, activists, academic professors, energy executives and more.

The main focus of the documentary revolved around The Peace River Valley, which is a historic piece of land that is filled with agriculture and beauty. Residents want to preserve this area but a battle is currently going on because whispers have turned into real plans to turn the grounds into a nuclear power plant facility as well as a hydro-electric producing dam. Some believe that destroying these grounds will have a domino effect and create a number of different problems that are somehow being cast aside, including health implications. From the emotional interviews, you could definitely tell that people who live around the Peace River share a deep passion and commitment for keeping industry out of this area and will not go down without a fight.

Aside from that, everyone had something to say about energy. The emissions of transportation for food are a real concern for many, as well as what resources will replace oil. Will it be natural gas? What about coal or nuclear? People are afraid and rightfully so. We’re consumed with so much information, and let me say misinformation as well, so it’s a tough choice without knowing specifics about which is the better choice to use globally. I personally think that all fuels have both positives and negatives, so it will be a question of what is the lesser of all the evils to try to obtain. There will always be problems with any kind of energy that we produce, and I think it is very unrealistic to believe that in our technological world that the amounts we use will decrease in significant ways. As an example given, 2 Google searches can consume the same amount of electricity as a boiling cup of water for tea. Now that’s pretty shocking!

For the proponents of wind, it stated that wind turbines and solar cells are not as “green” as people may think and they do not produce enough wattage to work as effectively as hydro, coal or nuclear power. The facts seem to back up the claims, so it might be good to take this option off the table as a main source of energy.

A couple other things that I thought were food for thought in the documentary:
- 80% of Vancouver Island’s own food supply is down to 7%
-the projected use of increased energy from the IEA is 40% in 20-40 years.
-our addiction to energy is like a heroin addict looking for his/her last hit.

Overall, the documentary was pretty good. It was a little slow-paced but visually quite stunning with a great deal of information to digest. Obviously our society has an insatiable appetite for energy and that’s not really going away any time soon. I don’t feel the documentary was too biased, as they did show perspectives from a wide range of people and experts.

So what’s going to happen? I don’t really know at this point and it doesn’t seem like anyone else does either. Together we need to work on initiatives that will ultimately provide a higher quality of life for all. Until that time comes, we’ll continue to chant NIMBY…not in my backyard!

Young At Heart Movie Review: I Think I Can

Movie Review

Young at Heart is a documentary about a group of energetic and fun-loving seniors who sing together in a choir to fulfill their own dreams and to touch the lives of other people. The film follows the joys and sorrows of several members as well as the tough decisions that choral director Bob Cilman is faced with.

It is inevitable that this enthusiastic bunch might be preparing for their final performances but the strong devotion and support given to perform with Bob's mentorship with any song thrown at them from Coldplay, Talking Heads, to The Ramones, was incredible, as well as their ability to memorize simple to complex lyrics. 

Two outstanding scenes for me occurred as they sung Bob Dylan's Forever Young for inmates in prison and the emotional rendition of Fix You by Coldplay during the finale.

The message is clear in this movie that it is never too late to be young at heart.