FNC Blows the Lid Wide Open with Films of Truth, Tears and Trauma

FNC runs from October 9 -20

ADULTS IN THE ROOM (Directed by Costa-Gavras) ****

 

If you really want to know the truth behind Greece’s debt crisis and the world orgs that completely fuel it with animosity and non-compromising stubbornness, including IMF ECU and more,  then just watch this compelling biopic, and witness the horrendous struggles the newly elected Greek government (2015) had to endure at umpteen meetings during which,  finance minister Yanis Varoufakis tried repeatedly to get the head of the MOU to examine his plan for restructuring of debt payment and the austerity program. Grouped together, the three orgs were called Troika, and they were hell-bent on destroying Greece.

No one would heed him, and in the end when the referendum was put to the Greek people who voted to get out of the Euro, the vote came back as leave it, yet betrayals were all around. Greece ended up going with its arch enemy the MOU who threatened to shut down Greek banks if they would not go with them. This  movie reveals  another side of the story - one that turns the notion on its heels that Greece is a greedy, non-compromising “Mediterranean narcissist” (term used by the head of the MOU who blocked any progress) to get Greece back on its financial feet.

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GUEST OF HONOUR (Directed by Atom Egoyan)**

Too slow and too many confusing pot shocks that can’t have you remembering who is who .  It starts out well with Jim, the protagonist who is no one’s friend in the restaurant business. He inspects restaurants and finds all kinds of issues. His daughter, Veronica conducts a school orchestra and tours with them.  One fo the students falls for her, but then again together they simply make a fool of the bus driver who relaly thinks they are having an affair.

Veronica is a vicious hidden jealous lady who is in jail for good reason; inffact she admits she needs ot stay in jail. The other star in this film is Benjamin bunny, a rabbit who father and daughter love.

It seems the father falls apart, the story descends into a rabbit’s den that seems to live in undergrounds shadows that the audience does not quite wish to see.  There isn’t a light moment in the film just a lto fo dark absurd ones.Not my type of film at all. 

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 THE SONG OF NAMES (Directed by François Girard) *****

Like the Red Violin film of the same director, this wonderful moving film sets a great friend on a n international path to track down his old-time friend, the great David Rapaport who disappears on the eve of a concert performance in London. David and Martin grew up together in martin’s house. David was a genius violin prodigy. The loss of his family in Treblinka totally turns him against his Jewish faith and he runs away from the world. Luck has it that he ends up in a ghetto of Jewish men who in a book the names of dead families lost in Treblinka. David was not sure if his family was still alive. A song of memory lists all the dead souls and David does find out their fate. Martin spends his whole life trying to find his childhood friend.  Will he? The editing between past and present really shone through, especially at the end, where it all came together in one violin performance in the meadow of Treblinka.

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VARDA BY AGNÈS (Directed by Agnès Varda) ****

A unique director whose works also include bizarre installations and innovative projects on subjects of everyday people. At the age of 90, she’s still going strong. Her ideas are profoundly intelligent and her humanity is expressed in her work.

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RAINING IN THE MOUNTAIN (Directed by King Hu)****

Made in 1976, this wonderful film sows that monks aren’t as pious as one would think. It’s time to pass over the title of Abbott, and a wrongfully convicted convict receives the honor. He must guard a special scroll that everyone is trying to steal. People even murder for it. Lots of Kung Fu, clandestine plots, clever twists and more. This is a classic.

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CHILDREN OF TH SEA (Directed by Ayumu Watanaba) ***

Fabulous animation about how we are all connected to sky, ocean earth and stars and more. Children show the way here, and thought the film is so utterly implausible; its enchanting message carries us through the two hours. Scenes of space and creation are mesmerizing, but it went on far too long.

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THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (Directed by Mathew Rankin) **

This absurd film certainly rewrites history when it comes to making a story about  the 20^th-century Prime Minister and how he rose to power. We are speaking about Mackenzie King. It’s a madcap romp into every vulgarity and weird perversion possible, but the metropolis-type futurist sets really stole the show. I did not like this film at all, though it was very clever in its use of collage and puppetry.

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SORRY WE MISSED YOU (Directed by ken Loach) *****

cast:

Kris Hitchen as Ricky

Debbie Honeywood as Abby

Rhys Stone as Seb

Katie Proctor as Liza Jane

This brilliantly acted film shows with great authenticity the slow unraveling of a working class family (two parents and two children) in northern Britain.  A father is forced to take a delivery job buying his own van to do it, yet the boss really owns him. If the father fails to deliver each package on time, he pays for it out of his wages. It’s a gig economy and the winner is not the employee.

 His son lands in big trouble with his graffiti, bullying and skipping of school, stealing and more. The woes of this family never cease and eventually, the son leaves. It takes a serious incident that happens to the father to turn his son around.

The film shows the farce of the hospital system, care-giving services, school practices and more. Despite its dour topic, it seems a ray of sunshine peeks through at the end, or does it?

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MONOS (directed by Alejandro Landes) ****

 A small bad of brutal young guerrillas in the Colombian jungle war wild and unpredictable. Their commander who is not with them tells them a cow is coming and that they must guard her. But he cow is killed by one of the young wild ones. This chaotic disloyal band has captured a female engineer and she escapes twice. Eventually each member of this ferocious violent group turns on one another. This is a powerful film. It has far reaching applications beyond Columbia’s terror groups.

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SYNONYMES (directed by Nadov Lopid) bomb

 Yoav is an Israeli soldier who escapes his roots and country by feeling to Paris. Here he meets up with an odd couple who more or less take care of him. The absurd scenes are so inane that one wonders if the director could not find another way to portray madness. We all could have done without the porno scene too. If you want to change your identity, leaning synonyms of vulgarity won't do it for you or for those you wish to befriend.

                                     

An unusual place to stay to heal

Your zen moment is about to begin; you have just arrived at Serenity By the Sea in Galiano Island, British Columbia.  The setting is breathtaking. Perched high on its own wave-worn cyclopean rock, the structure appears as if it all might take its own well designed plunge as it brazenly carves out its own Shangri-la marvel. 

                       Once inside the welcoming reception area, your healing begins. 

                                                               

                                                      
The interior calms your senses in a cocoon of rustic beauty. Cedar beams blend with an assortment of colourful objects: interesting art, musical instruments and hand-made crafts  - each carrying its own magical significance; and despite the dramatic almost dangerous ocean vista in sight, you experience a feeling of safety and well

- being   Even the budgie bird sings continuously as it looks out to the sea. Perhaps it’s responding to it s owner Luannah Livermore - the guiding light behind this wonderful retreat.  She is here to help you find your healing path.

Ying and yang energies are at play here as they harmonize in mysterious ways. Like the setting that is outwardly bold, yet humble and safe inside, Serenity by the Sea inspires you to find your own inner balance and soul path.

Your Own Place of Peace

Serenity by the Sea offers three deluxe cottages - two with their own kitchens that are amply equipped for cooking. 
Sea View Haven is one such cottage. 
Inside or outside your haven is a healing paradise.

Nature has its own healing magic here

Grounds include ponds and nooks for relaxing

                                                                     


 



These ones are free-standing and separated from the main building. Whether you’re overlooking the sea (Sunset Room in the main building) or staying in one of these cottages nestled in the forest -  quietness and privacy is assured; each one is utterly  relaxing. Forget about turning on the TV; there isn’t one, but there is WiFi.
All rooms have wonderful views no matter where you set your hat.

I loved this unique bathtub

Bring on the Breakfast

Marcela, Luannah's assistant and a great cook too; Luannah cooking and healing us through food and more

Luannah's food makes us happy

Never have I enjoyed such a spread of homemade breakfast choices: scrambled eggs with zucchini, granola and honey yogurt, fresh fruit salad, and chicken sausages cut in small rondelles stuffed with spinach and feta. Luannah is a master baker - even had a business, selling her lemon bars, cookies, brownies, muffins and more goodies , so when she served her fresh-from the oven muffins made with roasted walnuts, pine nuts and carrots,  I was more than ready to taste one (which quickly turned into two).  Spiced with coriander and cinnamon, they were addictively tasty.






 One morning, she made strawberry crepes topped with a caramel sauce. 
I saw her making that sauce from scratch.  The crepe melted in my mouth, and the caramel was a divine addition.

Equally satisfying are her raspberry scones. Truth is everything she bakes is heavenly. She told me cooking is her passion; she puts her love into everything she creates in the kitchen. Her presentation and formal service at the table were impressive. 



In fact, she spent a year doing a practicum in a 5-star hotel in the Black Forest, learning the highest level of French Service.      



Juan Carlos her husband, made the most amazing barbecue chicken dinners The seasoning was brilliant. He’s from Peru which is internationally renowned for its cuisine. Perhaps that explains why the meal was superb, or could it be, he’s just a cooking genius like his wife!        
                  






             

Luannah... Serenity by the Sea's Hostess and Healer

Luannah

Amethyst crystal table inside her treatment studio

Gifted and giving, Luannah is trained in a multitude of applied therapies in Traditional Hawaiian Healing. Practising Massage and Healing for 25 years she has integrated her studies with a Kahuna elder  over a course of five years. She shares that when she connected with the Hawaiian Healing Practices and Principles. Integrating various aspects of healing, she now practices her own methodology.

What makes her stand outside the circle of healers is her approach. Her treatments involve a total fusion of the art, combining the many techniques she has learned with Temple style Lomi Lomi, which involves prayer, life coaching,  and singing in Hawaiian with awesome aloha (love), also energy healing and releasing and deep joint body massage. Her approach works with Body, Mind and Spirit. Luannah also works with sound and laser therapies, one which she states is proven  to broadcast 4000 scientifically proven frequencies that support our bodies innate capacity to heal. 

The Massage: An angel voice
with angel hands

Luannah guided me into deep breathing as my body lay atop a massage table of amethyst crystals that benefit healing.  
 Before starting the massage, she did a powerful Hawaiian Healing Chant asking for the highest healing and guidance. Her beautiful singing continued over a Hawaian CD that played in the background; she simultaneously sang along, knowing the melody and words by heart. I found that amazing.  I was astounded by her energy to incant, sing, massage and target trigger points without ever stopping the flow of her manual healing. Her hands traveled over every sinew, muscle and relieved the soreness in my body.
 I entered a zone of transcendence: I seemed to lose consciousness of myself. 
                                               


 

The three-hour massage sent me into a state of transformation both emotionally and physically. Luannah later told me when I cried, it was a release of sadness.

Suffering from a major mistake made during a back operation, I had unexpressed anger about what had happened to my leg and my inability to tame the pain and stop the foot drop along with other abnormalities that really affected my well-being. I had no idea what awaited me or what results, if any, I would experience.

             My massage Benefits – tiny miracles of relief

 I felt a surge of energy in my back after this intense treatment, and my leg felt less heavy; some of its stiffness had been relieved. Although I still had to use my cane for walking, my balance was sturdier, plus my heavy ankle seemed to move more fluidly. I began to cry when I saw this improvement, but this time it was not out of pain; it was from the joy of feeling hardly any pain. 

 The philosophy of healing: Luannah’s quintessential quotes

Luannah’s a keen learner; she’s read innumerable books on brain science, epigenetics (study of DNA) quantum physics, spirituality and more.

“Balancing science and spirit are equally important and equally valid for me. They actually affirm and complement each other when you look close enough.”
She then revealed this: ‘Embrace the Paradox’, a Hawaiian teaching principle

 She spoke eloquently about the duality of life and in ourselves, stating that as long as we are battling it, we suffer.

  “Duality is the nature of our world; that will never change. When we understand that fact we can create a way to use the friction created by the dualities we encounter to grow our understanding of our self and life more. With wisdom and knowledge we can create a better life for ourselves. When we can accept and allow both the shadow and the light to exist we create a path where we can learn and then heal. If we allow anger and sadness to overtake ourselves without balancing these emotions with what brings us joy, we then fall and get lost. We really need to connect to what brings us joy so we can use it to lift us up and grow through the challenges we all face at times.”

Interestingly, she said that positive thinking is actually useless.

 “It is most often used to cover up or avoid those nagging dark emotions and thoughts; whereas with affirmative thinking I am putting my attention and focus towards what is good in my life. This, in return activates my brain in a different way that increases the release of happy healing endorphins to counteract the stress.” 

                                                 
“Breath work, deep self-inquiry, re-framing and re-directing our focus, calming ourselves by learning to quiet the chatter within are ways that can bring us into greater congruity so we can reach our hopes and goals of happiness and well being.

Every thought we have instantly impacts our body chemistry."

She explained that when I perceive the outcome of my operation negatively, it creates agitation in my nervous system.  “This will release stress hormones and adrenaline which in turn increases inflammation. Our body listens to us.  We may not be able to always completely cure what ails us, but we can definitely improve our sense of well-being by raising our consciousness towards what is good, towards love.”
 I knew I had to be mindful and loving in sending my cells those good messages, and to this day I do. I no longer let shadows take control of healing emotional energy.

                 The Journey Ahead

“It’s definitely not easy. It takes a lot of commitment to want to change our relationship to ourselves and others and the world. The important thing is that it’s possible. In essence, we have a certain amount of authority over our body chemistry by choosing how we think and perceive.”

She summed it up in a Hawaiian principle called Makia-Focus:

Where my attention goes, energy flows and that is the reality that grows. 

            Luannah’s Personal Journey from Past to Present

Luannah’s remarkable adventures include traveling all over the world, living in Europe for over a decade. She is a self taught musician who has produced two healing cds. She started studying and practicing healing at the age of 21 which helped her heal from the many traumas she experienced in life. She travelled to Thailand and Nepal all alone at that age toting a small leather back pack which she made, and still has today. She spent part of   her youth, living as a punk the street..  She was a bartender, jewelry maker, dancer and musician. She performed playing her flute and singing  publically to Rumi’s poetry every week for three years at a local Vancouver restaurant to raise money for Children of War for World Vision. She speaks German and Italian.

Luannah ‘s life has had its share of immersive difficulties and challenges  overcoming trauma, so she relates to those who also face similar challenges. In her own quest for a happy soul, she’s journeyed far and wide, and along the way, she’s figured out a lot about love and happiness. She shares what she has learned with those who seek to find their own happiness.

 “As a healer, I merely provide the environment, frequency and support for your own innate light and intelligence to be activated and emerge to heal yourself. Our body is wired to heal. It just needs to do what it was made to do.”  

I learned so much from Luannah about love in all its forms . Luannah  gave me hope and  spiritual guidance about dealing with my own shadows. She willingly gave me immeasurable love and care.

Yes, I live with chronic pain, but now I no longer panic or despair. I have worked out a way to calm it down and if you will – send out good healing vibes.

The author pondering it all

 Note: Juan Carlos whose caring matches Luannah’s counsels men.

Publication date will soon be announced for her book, Resilience, Grace and the Art of Showing Up - A Spiritual Journey of Empowerment Against All Odds (Tom Bird, Publish Now) Visit: www.serenitybythesea.com Email: info@serenitybythesea.com Comment box below: scroll down