#SXSW: “THE BLIND MAN WHO DID NOT WANT TO SEE TITANIC”

By David Baldwin

Jaakko (Petri Poikolainen) is blind and suffers from Multiple Sclerosis. He was not always this way, but now spends his days in pain and confined to a wheelchair. He chats daily with his girlfriend Sirpa (Marjana Maijaala), who he has only ever spoken to online and by phone. When she receives some bad news, Jaakko decides he must go to see here – even if the solo trip takes three hours and will involve multiple forms of transportation and relying on the kindness of strangers.

For 82 paralyzing minutes, Writer/Director Teemu Nikki takes us on a harrowing journey that is just as uncomfortably intense as it is charmingly humourous. The entire Film is told in close-ups, mainly of Poikolainen’s face, with every background object obscured or completely out of focus. Save for a few moments, we are with him the entire time and basically everyone around him ends up being a disembodied voice or a total blur, giving us keen insight into the limitations of Jaakko’s field of vision. It gets rather taxing in some moments, and completely heartbreaking in others. It makes for a tough watch for casual viewers, whereas the more invested viewers will hold onto Jaako’s every word and movement, hoping against the odds that he will make it to Sirpa. We know it will not be easy, and Nikki is acutely aware of what the audience’s expectations are. And while I will not spoil the obstacles he faces, I had to look away more than once out of sheer terror and distress.

All of these feelings would be meaningless without a compelling lead, and thankfully Poikolainen is more than up to the task. Much like Jaako, he is disabled, confined to a wheelchair and suffering from MS, which makes his performance especially more authentic and the situations he finds himself in infinitely more unsettling. It makes for a challenging and demanding dynamic, yet Poikolainen is always up to the task making for a performance that demands your attention just as it sears its way into your brain. Coupled with Nikki’s direction, it makes for an unforgettable experience unlike any other.

THE BLIND MAN WHO DID NOT WANT TO SEE TITANIC screens at SXSW ’22 as follows:

In-Person:

Saturday, March 12 at 6:00PM EST – Alamo Lamar C

Tuesday, March 15 at 7:15PM EST – Violet Crown Cinema 2

Tuesday, March 15 at 7:45PM EST – Violet Crown Cinema 4

Friday, March 18 at 12:30PM EST – Alamo Lamar C

Online:

Sunday, March 13 @ 10:00AM EST – Available for 48 Hours

#SXSW: “FIRE OF LOVE”

By Amanda Gilmore

Director Sara Dosa brings us the mesmerizing Documentary Fire of Love at SXSW ’22. It follows real-life couple Katia and Maurice Kraff who were intrepid French Scientists, who spent their lives trying to understand the mystery of volcanoes. Through their work, they captured some of the most spectacular footage of volcanoes ever recorded.

Audiences may flock to Fire of Love for the volcanoes, but they will be swept away by the unexpected love story between Katia and Maurice. Through the use of archived footage, Dosa gifts us with a love story for the ages set against the most stunning recordings of volcanoes. This is what makes the Documentary one to seek out. It’s entirely unique in its storytelling, allowing us to be taken on a journey of love and nature.

Due to the immense knowledge and love the scientists had for volcanoes, we are given a rounded education of them. This information is delivered by footage of the couple and soft-spoken narration from Miranda July. Her narration allows for the information to be understood while never distracting from the mesmerizing archival footage displayed.

Katia and Maurice passed away doing the thing they loved. Fire of Love pays homage to these fearless scientists and their impactful work.

Fire of Love screens at SXSW ’22 as follows:

In-Person:
Friday, March 11 at 7:15 PM EST – Violet Crown Cinema 2

Friday, March 11 at 7:45 PM EST – Violet Crown Cinema 4

Sunday, March 13 at 6:15 PM EST – Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema

Thursday, March 15 at 1:00 PM EST – Paramount Theatre

Online:
Saturday, March 12 at 10:00 AM EST – Available for 48 hours

#SXSW: “SISSY”

By Mr. Will Wong

Writer-Director Duo Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes arrive at SXSW with Australian Horror-Comedy SISSY. The Film which taps into horrors for millennials in some ways echoes some of the tone we saw in Emma Seligman‘s SHIVA BABY, but delivers fully on the violence and gore as much as it does with biting humour.

The Film centers on Cecilia (Aisha Dee), who by chance reunites with her childhood BFF Emma (Barlow). Emma is about to get married and invites Cecilia to her bachelorette in the mountains with her crew. There is a bit of tension though as Cecilia‘s new BFF Alex (Emily De Margheriti) hasn’t quite forgiven Cecilia for a childhood trauma she caused. Years have passed and Cecilia is a popular mental health and wellness influencer and this bachelorette begins to awaken her painful past. While these memories are uncovered, more bodies get buried.

SISSY is as much a Psychological Horror it is as it is a Physical one. Cecilia finds herself being scrutinized for her career choice and lifestyle by Emma’s circle of friends, sending her spiraling. Despite presenting to the world composure and strength, she finds her world crumbling as one fatal catastrophe after the other occurs at this bachelorette. Uniquely, Senes and Barlow strike that fine balance taking awkward moments and finding the humour in them.

Dee is effective in the leading role, exuding calm and serenity as her influencer self, but as her world unravels, she becomes a crumbling mess. We wonder how she is going to make it out of this, and if she ever will grow and take accountability for herself. SISSY is tons of fun and shot beautifully, but most of all saying something about the things we place value in the Social Media age, and how catastrophic trauma in our younger years can be on our lives.

SISSY screens at SXSW ’22 as follows:

Favorited

Sissy at Alamo Lamar D

Mar 11, 202210:00pm—11:42pm

Sissy at Online Screening

Mar 12, 9:00am CST – Mar 14, 9:00am CDT 9:00am—10:42am

Sissy at Alamo Lamar A

Mar 13, 202211:45am—1:27pm

Sissy at Alamo Lamar D

Mar 16, 20224:00pm—5:42pm

#SXSW: “WECRASHED”

By Mr. Will Wong

Eight-part Mini-Series WECRASHED recounts the rapid rise and fall of WeWork, which started in 2010 under Adam Neumann (Jared Leto) and Miguel McKelvey (Kyle Marvin). The Company gave new startup technology companies, among other new enterprises, the ability to acquire flexible workspaces. We get a glimpse of the egos that governed the WeWork, namely Adam and his wife Rebekah (Anne Hathaway), which led the company to face great scrutiny in its unconventional business practices and future outlook, failing in its initial offering of company stock. The directing duo of John Requa and Glenn Ficarra manage to take this spectacular failure which just now in 2021 is finally recovering from near-fatality, succeeding in being a publicly-shared company, making incredible entertainment of it all.

At the center of the story is Adam, just a fledgling entrepreneur who thinks and talks big. His way of working lands him not only the gig of his dreams, but also the woman of his dreams in Rebekah. We meet the latter as a struggling Yoga Instructor (making $1 per student) and Actress (she’s legitimately a first cousin to Gwyneth Paltrow). He swings big and has that magical ability to persuade getting others and more often than not, they buy into his infectious charisma. We’re taking notes, trust me.

The Series works on two levels. On the surface it is a study of how a company which had a valuation of $47 billion at one point, saw several missteps that led to its value plummeting. And just when you think it’s over, it isn’t. It also is a love story between a pair of narcissists and their commitment to making WeWork thrive because it keeps giving them each their own platform to be noticed and heard. This is a thing of marvel.

Leto nails the Comedy of this and is cast well, convincing in Adam‘s delusion of grandeur. We wished we got a bit more nuance though as it feels as though this is a portrayal of Adam (don’t get us wrong, he is great) more so when he’s “on”. What we would’ve wanted more of was a balancing of some of the dramatic elements, giving us an understanding of the drive behind the man who deceived and manipulated his way to a payout in the billions. Hathaway also gets the humour behind all this, but we are able to get a bit further under the surface with Rebekah and what makes her tick. Whether it be her failed attempt at acting, dealing relentlessly with people using her as an “in” with her famous cousin, or her relationship with her father Bob Paltrow (Peter Jacobson), who was jailed for tax evasion, Hathaway gets Rebekah‘s darkest vulnerabilities and why defeat for her just isn’t an option. America Ferrera joins the story as Elishia Kennedy, a bright entrepreneur grappling with her own separation from her husband, lured into the shimmer of what Adam and Rebekah are selling. She is fantastic and like her, we wonder “Is Adam for real?”.

It’s all like watching an accident and its aftermath unfold, which is exactly what we signed-up for.

The first three episodes of WECRASHED premiere March 18, 2022 on Apple TV+, with new episodes arriving weekly.

WECRASHED screens at SXSW ’22 as follows:

WeCrashed at Paramount Theatre

Mar 12, 20223:30pm—4:30pm

WeCrashed at Online Screening

Mar 13, 9:00am CDT – Mar 15, 9:00am CDT 9:00am—10:00am

#SXSW: “SHINING GIRLS”

By Mr. Will Wong

Based on Lauren Beukes‘ acclaimed Novel THE SHINING GIRLS, Apple TV+’s SHINING GIRLS delivers on the twisty thrills of its source material. The genre-bending Sci-Fi-Thriller series stars Elisabeth Moss as Kirby Mazrachi, who falls victim to a vicious attacker. Just avoiding death, she survives to hunt her assailant down. While this is a premise we’ve heard before, what makes this story interesting is that the time-travelling attacker, Harper Curtis (Jamie Bell) has a purpose. He must murder bright, successful women to be able to continue further in his time travels.

Moss has a hand in producing, directing and starring in this suspenseful Series and if you loved her in The Invisible Man, tonally there are some echoes of the quiet, vulnerable brilliance we saw in that Film. Her Kirby is confused, shaken and traumatized and it is up to us to uncover what happened exactly to her as she makes amends too these painful memories she’s suppressed. Bell is haunting, disarming at first, but just that little bit too eager to get to know his victims, before launching his attack. Also featured prominently is Wagner Moura as Dan who works at the newspaper which Kirby is employed. Dan had written about Kirby‘s attack years prior, but never followed-up on it and together they form multi-layer alliance to help her understand her present and her past.

Canadian Director and Producer Michelle MacLaren (Breaking Bad, The Morning Show) has a hand in directing the Series’ first two episodes, which leaves us wanting more.

SHINING GIRLS arrives on Apple TV+ April 29, 2022. It screens at SXSW ’22 as follows:

Shining Girls at ZACH Theatre

Mar 13, 2022 2:45pm—3:39pm

Shining Girls at Online Screening

Mar 14, 9:00am CDT – Mar 16, 9:00am CDT 9:00am—9:54am

#FIRSTLOOK: TEASER TRAILER FOR “THE BOYS” SEASON 3

This is The Boys Season 3 Official Teaser Trailer, featuring the new single “Bones” by Imagine Dragons. Rated D for DIABOLICAL. Season 3 arrives June 3rd, 2022 only on Prime Video.

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video)

#SXSW: “YOUR FRIEND, MEMPHIS”

By Mr. Will Wong

Memphis is a young man living with Cerebral Palsy. He dreams of being an Actor after landing a few roles in smaller independent films. Senenca, his best friend, whom he has feelings for, worked on one of these films with him, is an aspiring Opera Singer. She realizes she must leave Texas to make her dreams come true. He struggles to get any government support from the state, while also at a crossroads in his life to pursue his dreams and leave Texas for the first time ever. David Zucker‘s debut Documentary YOUR FRIEND MEMPHIS explores life from our central subject’s eyes over a span of five years in his life.

The Film is an exploration of the struggles Memphis is dealing with in wanting to break-free as a young adult and be financially independent, followings his dreams and positive messages that we are inundated with in our day to day, which can contribute to our delusions. The reality however, is that the system is set-up so that someone disabled should be grouped together with others and collectively be placed on the fringes of society. And Memphis doesn’t want that.

We also meet Memphis‘ parents in the Documentary. His mother who left him at an young age, while battling with her own mental illness. She worries about him being able to take care of himself if he were to go out on his own, and she wants him to take-on a steady job so he can support himself, reminding him that his dreams aren’t going to pay his bills. His father has been there consistently throughout his life and loves him very much. When we see him deliver Memphis some reality checks, we see very quickly how uncomfortable things can get.

Zucker offers an insightful and empathetic look into the uphill battles Memphis faces and it isn’t tough being drawn-in by his optimism to life. When others around him doubt him, we believe in him still. That’s how intimate the Director allows us to get with his subject. It can be so heartbreaking seeing life deal its cards to him as he comes of age. And at once, he is making a compassionate statement about how we treat those with disabilities and the support they receive.

YOUR FRIEND, MEMPHIS screens at SXSW ’22 as follows:

Your Friend, Memphis at Alamo Lamar E

Mar 11, 2022 7:15pm—8:48pm

Your Friend, Memphis at Online Screening

Mar 12, 9:00am CST – Mar 14, 9:00am CDT9:00am—10:33am

Your Friend, Memphis at Satellite Venue: AFS Cinema

Mar 13, 2022 11:30am—1:03pm

Your Friend, Memphis at Rollins Theatre at The Long Center

Mar 16, 2022 1:00pm—2:33pm

#SXSW: “WOMEN DO CRY”

By Amanda Gilmore

When Sonja (Maria Bakalova) finds out she is HIV-positive she turns to her sister Lora (Ralitsa Stoyanova) and her family for support. Each member in her predominantly female family is struggling with their own issues in their modern Bulgarian society. However, when the stress of her diagnosis pushes Sonja to reject therapy and spiral her family rallies to help her.

Co-Directors and Writers Mina Mileva and Vesela Kazakova have created an unflinching, honest Feminist critique on modern Bulgarian society. Through the lens of one family, they are able to speak to the inherent misogyny and homophobia present in the characters’ culture.

The Filmmakers have their female characters set in a society that is fixed against them. The beauty of their interactions lay in how they push each other to fight back against their society’s political and social beliefs. The entire ensemble is captivating and has authentic chemistry. Stoyanova is a standout as construction worker Lora who is forced to provide for the household. Her magnetic chemistry with Bakalova makes for powerhouse scenes.

Mileva and Kazakova’s resolute vision in Women Do Cry creates scenes that are as distressing as they are necessary. When Sonja goes to a gynaecologist appointment, she informs the doctor of her diagnosis. He then refuses to help her and calls her a whore. Bakalova delivers a heartbreaking performance as Sonja struggles with her diagnosis. She takes her performance up a notch in the second act as Sonja’s stress pushes her into a state that worries her family.

Women Do Cry screens at SXSW:

In-Person:
Saturday, March 12 at 1:45 PM EST – Violet Crown Cinema 2

Saturday, March 12 at 2:15 PM EST – Violet Crown Cinema 4

Monday, March 14 at 3:00 PM EST – Alamo Lamar C
Friday, March 18 at 8:30 PM EST – Alamo Lamar C

Online:
Sunday, March 13 at 10:00 AM EST – Available for 28 hours

#BOXOFFICE: “THE BATMAN” DOMINATES A SECOND WEEK

For a second straight week, THE BATMAN dominates the Box Office with no new challengers. Disney and Pixar‘s TURNING RED which was to go to theatres, wound-up taking a direct-to-Disney+ route of release. This latest from the DC universe takes $66 million from 4,417 theatres across North America for Warner Bros. Over two weeks, it has grossed an impressive $238.5 million.

In second is UNCHARTED with $9 million from 3,725 theatres for Sony Pictures, a total $113.1 million over two weeks.

Third goes to DOG with $5.1 million from 3,407 theatres for United Artists Releasing/Elevation Pictures, bringing its run to $47.6 million.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME is in fourth $4 million, bringing it closer to the $800 million mark in its domestic run for Sony Pictures.

Bollywood flick RADHE SHYAM caps things off with $3.2 million in fifth, playing at 800 theatres across North America.

#COOKING: PANDAN CHIFFON CAKE RECIPE

PANDAN CHIFFON CAKE. Something green and lucky to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! This delight isn’t very easy to find in these parts, but is a adored in its native Singapore. I’ve adapted this spongey, fluffy cake for the common Baker, using accessible ingredients. For those who don’t know, Pandan is a fragrant tropical green leafy plant with a creamy, vanilla-like essence, found in Southeast Asia. It is irresistible.

The trick with this cake is gentle folding of the stiff egg whites, into your egg yolk, coconut and pandan batter before transferring to the pan. Ensure also you do not grease your pan as there are enough oils in this cake for it not to stick. And if you don’t have the standard Chiffon cake pan, a Bundt pan will do.

This is decadent and indulgent, but also airy, not overly-sweet. Have tried this a few times and finally got the right height and texture. Cannot wait to make this again! Don’t know where to find Pandan Extract or Powder? Try Amazon or your local Asian grocer.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp flour
5 eggs, separated at room temperature
100 ml Coconut Milk
2/3 cup Icing Sugar, divided in two
4 tbsps Vegetable Oil
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Pandan Extract
1 tsp Dried Pandan Powder

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven at 340°F.
2. Sift flour, baking powder and salt and reserve in small bowl.
3. Place egg whites in one bowl, and egg yolks in another bowl.
4. Using Egg Beater, beat yolks and half of icing sugar till thick and creamy.
5. In a small bowl, mix coconut milk, pandan powder and extract, plus oil.
6. Pour coconut and pandan mixture into egg yolk mixture and beat till smooth. Add flour mixture in gradually, beating till smooth. Set aside.
7. Beat egg whites with Egg Beater, mixing-in Cream of Tartar and remaining Icing Sugar. You will be beating for about 5 minutes at medium-high speed minimum, or till egg whites can form stiff peaks.
8. Using spatula, gentle fold-in egg whites into egg yolk/pandan/coconut batter. Do not overmix.
9. Transfer batter into cake pan, gently doing an “S” motion till even. If you see little air bubbles, use a toothpick through the batter to pop these.
10. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or till toothpick is clean.
11. Cool upside-down for about an hour, allow ventilation. Using spatula, gently trace along edges of pan to let cake out of pan. Store at room temperature in air-tight container or bags for up to 3 days.

Gallery:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)