Movies/Videos We Love - A place to share our movie/film/video interests

[Guest]

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[JohnR]

"The Gods Must Be Crazy" is one of my favorite movies.   I hope everyone's kids can make it past the brief "National Geographic" moment because they'll roll on the floor with laughter as there is a lot of slap stick.  I found this snippet on YouTube that is representative of a lot of the humor, though the movie hits on more levels than just comedy.  Maybe you can time it out and fast forward past NG bit.

[KivanSteven]

yeah thats what I planned on, a brief distraction on cue should do the trick

[Jill]

They saw me coming from a long ways off.  In other words, it was pretty much a sure bet that they’d get me to check out an article if it had a title like this:
Paul Simon And A Moment Of Pure Sobbing Joy.

Anyway, the video at that link is over six minutes long, and the sound on it is not that great (major understatement). Still, the fan guitarist’s facial expressions, every muscle in her face, her body, her being singing joy as joy you want it to be sang, as you want it to be experienced, that’s what makes watching the video worth it, if even only for a moment or 2.  

It’s just SWEET*!  And it’s how you want life to feel for E-V-E-R-Y-body, even if it’s just once or twice in their lives.

*In this different article about the same event, the husband shot the video.  The excitement you can hear in his voice as his wife is up there playing next to Paul Simon is just about as much fun as the wife’s.  It’s all joy.


EDIT: This was the last part of the article:
As the song says:

Oh, oh, what a night
Oh, what a garden of delight
Even now that sweet memory lingers
I was playing my guitar
Lying underneath the stars
Just thanking the Lord
For my fingers,
For my fingers

[Skimmis]

Look here for a great LIVE !  movie from Norway
starting now, duration 5,5 days!

http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,5248.msg90581.html#msg90581

[Jill]

We watched the movie, Budrus, last night.  It was moving, it was powerful, and it put me inside the heads and hearts of (what I’m assuming to be the majority, or, at least, a significant number of) the Palestinian people as nothing I’d read or heard or seen before ever had.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/budrus/



Getting on board with peace in Israel
An Israeli American explains why she will be among many boat passengers trying to break through Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-borer-gaza-blockade-20110626,0,3515948.story


Aspects of the film that especially affected me:

1) How the film made my heart ache as I learned how much the rural Palestinians’ hearts ached upon seeing their beloved olive trees wrenched from the ground in the name of “security.”  The feeling was surprisingly intense.

2) How beautiful and wonderfully brave were the Palestinian girls, and how especially touching was the relationship and shared battle and purpose of the main protagonist in the story and his reflective, charming, courageous daughter.

3) How much this funny little precious 4 year old Palestinian boy in the film reminded me of this nearly 4 year old Mexican American sweet terror of a little boy, improbably named Brian, aka “Spiderman,” who has absolutely stolen my heart over the past year. The love I’ve learned to feel for Brian I immediately felt for the little boy in the film, so uncannily alike were they, it all being so wonderfully affirming of my long-held belief that we all are so very much more alike than we are different.

4) The power and beauty and inherent rightness of nonviolence and of the lessons both offered and learned when at least a small number of Israelis were able to empathize with the plight of the Palestinians in Budrus, and so they banded together with the peace-craving people in the face of the injustices that were being wrought against them.


In case you missed our posts the other day and are interested in learning more about this heartbreaking situation, both Linda (FoxyOxy) and I suggested some more resources beginning here.

EDIT: More articles about the film.  Because the story, itself, gave me pleasure, so, too, then did these articles.  Perhaps they will for one or two of you, as well.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/sep/23/budrus-review
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/28/AR2010102806877.html
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/08/budrus_west_bank_story/

[Jill]

I’ve come across mention of the documentary, “The Interrupters,” a couple of times now.  The word, interrupters, in the title refers to members of the community who have taken it on as their mission in life to be violence-interrupters, or makers of the peace.  After watching the trailer again this morning, I decided I’d post about it.  I think it’s due out next month.  

http://www.mondomix.com/news/1533/the-interrupters.htm




This kind of film is only going to be appealing, probably, to a small segment of you, which is fine.  Our diversity of tastes and experiences is what makes this place especially fun.  Anyway, from the little I’ve seen and can tell about this flick, it looks like my kind of show (just as the 60 Minutes segment, Gospel for Teens, that I posted about yesterday and that showed an entirely different facet of the culture, was also my kind of show).


Quotes from the film I thought worth noting:
“We’ve been taught violence.  Violence is learned behavior.”    (In general, I very much believe that).

“Do you want to be loved?” “Absolutely!”
“Do you deserve to be loved?” “Absolutely!”



NOTE: mondomix.com, the website, where I read about this film this morning, looks really really rich and worth exploring when and if you have the time and inclination.

NOTE, TOO: This particular film centers on the African-American community.  The lessons it looks like it offers
I'd suggest very most likely have applicability and meaning for all of us.

[Antonia]

Jill,
A beautiful moving film on the subject is also LEMON TREE from Eran Riklis - if ever you have a chance to watch it.
Take care 

[charity]

Tonight I was supposed to see Staff Benda Bilili (a wonderful band of polio survivors from Kinsasha, Congo who were 'discovered' by French filmmakers in 2004) in concert, but their 2011 US tour was cancelled due to difficulties getting US visas.  They are hoping to tour the US now in 2012.
However, the stage where I was to see the concert received the right from the National Geographic company to prescreen the film "Benda Bilili" for us instead, which apparently opened -for the first time in the US -tonight in Washington DC.  It was an amazing film about amazing people.  They have heart opening and heartwrenching scenes into the daily life in and around Kinsasha.  There are so many scenes that are just hauntingly beautiful, and they show the humor and humanity of the people throughout the whole film.  The film doesn't focus on the hardships as the main focus is making music- getting Staff Benda Bilili recorded and then following them on tour in Europe. 
It was just overall spectacular.   
Here is a trailer: http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/benda-bilili/trailer
To check for theater times/dates near you:  http://movies.nationalgeographic.com/movies/benda-bilili/

[Jill]

It was from the program at the following link that I first learned about Green Porno, which absolutely wonderful and (for me) really funny and fascinating series I posted about here awhile ago.  I just came upon this Sunday Morning segment again by chance a few moments ago, and was super happy to come upon it being offered available for free, online.


(And no, it isn’t at all related to Kiva or to KivaFriends, except to the extent that it’s about sharing and learning and a kind of giving, which one might suggest is commonality enough).

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7362663n&tag=re1.channel


The now several years-long habit of my wanting to share with you and of wishing that you, who are happy enough to read other people’s posts, were wanting and willing to do your own parts of finding and sharing and keeping this community going (and of trying to keep it vibrant and vital and interesting to a whole range of people with happily varying backgrounds and interests) (and that second wish, in spite of way too much evidence to the contrary), well, apparently, those habits die very very hard.





The following, being only one person’s (my) perspective, and so, as one person’s perspective, I’d offer, is neither inherently right but neither/nor is it inherently wrong:

To the KivaFriends Forum and Community That Could Have Been***,  R.I.P.


***The way I saw it, that “could have been” was totally irrespective and could have been, if enough people had cared to nourish and sustain and grow the community, it could and would have been irrespective of and absolutely unrelated to the “evolution” (or devolution) of Kiva, itself, and to the slow but obvious growing away from and sometimes disenchantment with Kiva that too many once faithful members of this community, including myself, have clearly, sadly, and, in many cases, incredibly reluctantly and “resistingly” experienced.

Take care, you guys.
And peace and joy and hope and learning to all.
Jill


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EDIT:  Of course, and
just in case…..

1) People here are going to differ about this as I, sometimes, differ with this human rights writer whom I greatly admire, Nick Kristof.   With the sentiments he expressed in this particular column entitled, “Is Israel Its Own Worst Enemy,”  I find myself very much in sad, worried and actually, very fearful agreement.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/06/opinion/kristof-is-israel-its-own-worst-enemy.html

2) http://www.takepart.com/video/poverty%E2%80%99s-worst-enemy-bunker-roy-and-barefoot-college
http://www.barefootcollege.org/

3) http://www.npr.org/2011/10/05/141083711/rev-fred-shuttlesworth-civil-rights-pioneer-dies
(Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth died on the same day that Steve Jobs did.  I first learned about this man’s almost superhuman courage and conviction to remain nonviolent in one of the most deeply affecting books this inveterate booklover has ever read.  It was called, Freedom’s Children, and I recommended it long ago in the Book thread).

4) http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/the-last-great-plant-hunt-the-story-of-the-millennium-seed-bank/245508/?google_editors_picks=true

http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_drori_why_we_re_storing_billions_of_seeds.html
http://www.ted.com/speakers/jonathan_drori.html

5) http://www.takepart.com/photos/toy-guns-war-zones

6) http://www.uphaa.com/blog/index.php/food-dress-designs/

7) http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/04/why-do-gay-penguins-make-people-so-mad-tango-tops-banned-books-list-again.html
(Thoroughly curious, after reading about all the hoopla surrounding this book about penguins and well, yes, just a little bit more, I ordered it.  I ordered it as I ordered another book I hadn’t known existed, William’s Doll, until I saw it listed on the Amazon page that was advertising Tango.  The reason I ordered William’s Doll was because of this (for me) really great video I’d come across and posted in the “Music That Isn’t” thread, so, I was curious to see it, too). Anyway, fyi, And Tango Makes 3 is a book I can confidently say would be engaging to a whole lot of you, with your sexual persuasion having nothing to do with it).

8- http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/07/entertainment/la-et-thunder-soul-20111007
   http://thundersoulmovie.com/

9) More on El Sistema:
El Sistema: Changing Lives Through Music – 60 Minutes –
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4011959n

Gustavo Dudamel’s Musical Mission – 60 Minutes – Beautiful Kids – YOLA  
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6490456n

José Antonio Abreu’s TED Talk On Kids Transformed By Music
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/jose_abreu_on_kids_transformed_by_music.html
(I don’t know how anyone could watch this talk, learn about this giant heart, and not fall absolutely in awe and inexpressible admiration for José Antonio Abreu).

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/11/60minutes/main4009335.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody
(This one has the same video as the first of the two “60 Minutes” videos, just above,  but it also has the transcription of what was said in the program.  If you don’t go to this particular link for any other reason, think about going for the purpose of reading some of the comments that were posted to the story.  It truly sounds like a revolution, at least a would-be revolution, is in the making for how many people seem to have responded to the concept and story of El Sistema, heart-and-hope-and-having-it-resonate-in-one’s-being-wise, similarly to the way that I did).


10) I suppose I’d better stop.  Maybe needless to say, I had these and a whole bunch of other things stockpiled in the event I might sometime come back here.  

And….
just in case I finally am successful in finding someone who will either tie me down or lock me in a closet or do whatever it might take to keep me from returning here where I’m thinking more people than not may well be either yawning, growling or just ignoring, completely, I’m giving you advanced warning, either way, that if I end up taking a trip I’m seriously thinking of taking next year to visit Irene and Florence, there’s some fair possibility I’ll come back here, after.  

That is, there’s a fair possibility but no promise (or threat that) I’d stop by if even it’s only to post a link to a some trip blog or something.   If I did, it would only be out of my feeling of what’s been terrific gratefulness and respect for those (for me, rather surprisingly few) who remained steadfast and caring toward these two African women whom, thanks to Kiva and KivaFriends, I learned to consider as my friends and to care very very much about.

That’s it.
Take care.

[Jill]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-oregon-marriage-proposal-20120527,0,5995954.story



EDIT: On a day when some of us are still internally reeling from the continuing coverage of the unthinkable barbarity demonstrated by al-Assad and his henchmen in Syria, very very much needing a bit of balance, (or hope? I don’t know, something), I found a little of it, or what felt like it was approaching (but still, not anywhere close to) an antidote, in the story, below.  It’s apparently been around for a few days but I only just came across it, myself, early this morning.  You may think that watching one video clip on this story should be enough.  Well, you might be wrong.  There’s enough pleasure in the two* I’m giving you as there is in the write-ups at the third and fourth links, below, that you may want to check ‘em all out.
http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/18597572/2012/05/22/marvel-comics-creates-superhero-in-honor-of-nh-boy

When I read the letter at the next link that was written by the little boy’s real-life super hero, I couldn’t help but think of a couple of other superheroes that we know and some of us very much care about, Jed and Tia.
http://kryptonradio.com/2012/05/25/marvel-comics-creates-new-hero-to-inspire-young-boy-with-hearing-problems/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57441863-10391704/marvel-team-creates-deaf-superhero-called-blue-ear-in-honor-of-boy/

Super-tangentially related….
The other day, I went over to some 60-something friends’ house for the first time since I’d gotten back from our trip.  Without wanting to take the time to go into detail, I wanted to tell you that more than three years after the husband friend had had a stroke, it looks like music, sort of beyond miraculously,  is working to help him talk when, for almost that entire time, he’s been close to completely deprived of the ability to communicate.  

I’m choosing to mention it only because the older we get and/or the more we get out and about in the world, the more likely it is, sadly, that we are going to know people who will either suffer a stroke or who will be stricken by some other brain-damaging ailment or event.  Of course, there are no panaceas or surefire deals out there, anywhere, but before either you or your family or their families give up total hope, keep in mind that this is three years later, and they (we) feel very close to certain that it’s music, at least, in large part, that is working this wonder.


*Well, actually, so far, I’m only giving you the one video clip (I can’t help it if it’s from Fox!).  The video that I’d thought was especially good, that I saw in its original on TV earlier this morning, CNN has not yet gotten around to posting online, as I’d hoped they would.  (It's probably obvious that I drafted this early this morning thinking that CNN would cooperate, but so far, they haven't).  If they do get around to posting it, and I see that they did, and if I get a chance to add the link here before my 24 hours is up, I will.  Maybe a bigger build-up than it’s worth? Probably.  But maybe not.