New Year's Day Couch Viewing

Looking for a break from the hectic holidays? Why not try out a couple of these DVDs?

I am very happy to know that Charles Officer's first feature film, NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY. is sometimes not available at my local mainstream video rental store. The fact that is is renting means that more people than the usual art house or Canadian film film lover (like me) are taking a chance on this wonderful love story. See my review.

I'VE LOVED YOU FOR SO LONG(Il y a longtemps que je t'aime) with Kristen Scott Thomas. One of my faves from 2008 about two sisters reuniting after many years. Don't read "chick flick" just because it's about sisters. The movie is paced like a mystery. In French with English subtitles. See my review.

IT'S NOT ME, I SWEAR! Didn't you or a kid you know utter these words when you were a kid? Yes, another French one, but this time from Québec about a young boy dealing with his parents divorce. Heartbreaking and funny at the same time. French with English subtitles. By the way, if your kid likes to get into mischief, I would suggest you don't let them in the room when you watch this--they may get ideas.See my review.

She was overlooked at the Oscars this year, but I think Michelle Williams was simply exquisite in WENDY AND LUCY. This is more than just the story of a woman and her dog--Lassie, it ain't. See my review.

I'm reaching way into the past (1987) for this little gem, but it was time to pull this one out of the cobwebs and dust it off. The film is BAGDAD CAFE. Set in the California desert, the dusty, dry landscape makes you want to cough as you watch the fascinating story about Jasmin (Marianne Sagebrecht), a German tourist who leaves her husband and walks with her suitcase to the cafe. There Jasmin encounters, CCH Pounder's character, Brenda, whose own marital situation is none too bright and whose world is in chaos. Magical, with a haunting refrain, this film will draw you in without you knowing you're being pulled. (I don't know when the film's title was changed to Out of Rosenheim, but the name change makes no sense to me or to the story.)

Images: Batuki Music Society's Africa Meets First Nations Project

THANKS to Nadine McNulty (below left), I have been having a great time at the Lula Lounge lately. If you were there on December 6th to see David West, and heard a loud group of enthusiasts near the front of the stage, that's where I was. No, we weren't friends of the band, we were just enjoying the musical sounds of Batuki Music Society's Africa Meets First Nations project; in this case Africa met Ecuador.



In my boisterous crowd was eight-year old Chrystal L. (above right), the neice of Golan S., a new supporter of TmTm. (You may remember that Golan won my show prize package during CIUT's Fall Fundraising Campaign.) Chrystal was my photographer for the evening taking lots of snaps of David West's ensemble Choclo y la Orgia Cosmica and leaving me lots of opportunity to just dance!







Golan and his sister, Zorah (Chrystal's mother) were not shy about showing their appreciation of the band. Heidy M. (not pictured) was also part of our small but very vocal crowd and pointed out some differences and similarities between Ecuadorian and Guatamalan music.

Photo Credit: band and dancers photos by eight year old Chrystal L.; photos of Nadine, Chrystal, Golan, and Zorah by donna g