Dear Comrades! Directed by Andrey Konchalovskiy ****

This intense black-and-white film redramatizes the horrific 1962 massacre in Novocherkassk, in the southeastern corner of Russia, at which between 26 and 80 persons were killed for peacefully protesting hikes in food costs.

Wages were lowered. Hunger was killing people.

A staunch defender of Stalin, protagonist passionate totes the party line, but knows socialism is a disaster. Yuliya Vysotskaya  stars as this Lyuda who actually has a high-up position in the party. She feels all instigators against the regime must be killed, but it all comes back to backfire on her and when her daughter who marched in the protest goes missing, she sets out to find her. However, she seems to be a little less naive about the goodness of the party. A really great film about a dark moment - largely forgotten and those implied swore to secrecy. Though people thought it was the army that shot upon the crowd, it was in fact the KGB. The tragic event comes to live again in this film - a town massacre in Russia’s brutal past that is largely forgotten.

 

 

MAX CLOUD, directed by Martin Owen **

In this crazy film, reality collides with science fiction space ship fun. It’s s a throw-back to the era of video game mania.  Is this film a spoof or number to put on a kids’ must-have list? I would say both. The futuristic pink set is scene -stealer because the characters are corny and childish. The story is about a video game being played by rebellions Sarah who is catapulted into the game itself. Now she joins the macho captain with some of his crew – all stuck inside their pretty-in-pink space ship on the planet Heinous. The young man in the film becomes Sarah. Confusing yet entertaining, this light-hearted film will be laughed at by Star Trek fans, while novices will watch it in wonder. We aren’t exactly biting our nails in fear during the fight scenes; rather biting into popcorn is more fitting for this absurdly spacey film.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                    

PREPARATIONS TO BE TOGETHER FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME

Lili Horvat

Set in Budapest, this slow love reveal is both intriguing and confounding for viewer and protagonists. The romance features Marta (Natasa Stork) and Janos (Viktor Bodo) two neurosurgeons who can’t find one another literally and figuratively - even though a place to meet has been set. Marta is obsessively in love with Janos; she even stalks him - but he is as elusive as she is quietly persistent.  Obsessive love is the root here. Even Marta has an obsessive suitor. The plot plays out like a sensuous dance of catch me if you can in ever the most subtle and beguiling way. Never has the understated spoken so loudly in a film. The effect is ethereal, seeming to echo the hearts of both of these adults in search of themselves and one another. Is Marta’s pursuit of Janos all imaginary or is it really happening.  Did they really arrange during a conference in New jersey to meet again in the future on the bridge in Budapest?

This is the most original love story I have ever seen in a film, and it’s beautifully crafted. Cinematically resonating the inner turmoil of both protagonists, darkness weaves its own feelings where suspense hangs in the obscurely lit air, like the big loud speaker does dangling on a wire high up in the sky as it is being moved into an apartment – a dwelling where (I won’t give away the spoiler).

TAILOR, directed by Sonia Liza Kenterman****

 

If ever there was a charming movie made that reflects a time in Greece when small businesses were eaten up by the economic crisis, this adorable movie is the one to watch. A father and his almost mute handsome son whose face nonetheless has such a comedic quality to it, are struggling with their tailor shop for men’s clothes in Athens. The father falls ill, and his son has to find a way to keep the shop going. The bank is about to repossess it. He begins selling on the street and soon he’s making wedding dresses at a steal of a price. 

His upstairs neighbor and darling child soon get involved in his sewing business and a quiet romance seems to be stirring among the chiffon and teal. I could not help but think of Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) every time the close up of our hero showed his big eyes and poised manner hiding a bit of humiliation.  Comedic and touching, The Tailor is a made-to measure classic. Dimitris Imellos as Nikos, the sweet humble son, was impeccable in creating a character of such originality.  His subtle expressions tore at our hearts. A gem of a Greek film - with comedic tragic elements.

Psycho Goreman, directed by Steven Kostanski ***

A cute yet gutsy spill of a horror film that has an evil monster visiting two kids who take control of him through this magic token type beamer light they find in the ground.

Mimi, the sister of Luke is a sassy, kick-ass brat, magnificently played by Nita-Josee Hanna. However, unlucky Luke is constantly bullied by her. So, this campy horror flick, packed with conflicts needs no pithy plot explanation; rather it is the relationships in this family that cause the malice with household moments of huge dysfunction – so despite all the ugly monsters unleashed in the film, the real earthly monsters are embodied in the human species.

The special effects, fabulous costumes and whacky humorous scenes with clever schtick are quite above the usual horror stuff.

The guy who plays the cop turned into a zombie is the scene stealer. His movements are utterly entertaining and imaginative – putting  new twists to the zombie walk.

OVEN-BAKED TRADITION IS THE PERFECT FOOD FOR YOUR PET

Oven-baked Tradition is fantastic in every way

This is the only food you should be feeding your pet!

 

Oven-Baked Tradition is a Canadian family-owned business that prides itself on providing your pet outstanding organically baked food, made exclusively at Bio Biscuit company, in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec.  Since 2006, the Lemieux family has worked prodigiously to create the highest standards in dog and cat food. In fact, the company even has an R & D department with specialists, a quality control laboratory, impeccable equipment with stellar standards.

 

Zak, my Maltese lhasa apso dog is the pickiest of eaters, and has had several ailments from the get-go.  I was feeding him vet-recommended hard food that really was difficult for him to eat, and he hated the taste. It became very discouraging to see his bowl full of kibbles; nothing was touched. Sometimes, he wouldn't eat the stuff for two days, and that is when I knew I had to find a food that he would gobble up - a food that contained every healthy, nonchemical bio-based ingredient possible without compromising on taste appeal, I wanted 100% purity - excluding all that dangerous stuff that most of us can’t even read - let alone feel good about putting it in our pet’s stomach. 

                                                     The Happiness Factor

I set out to discover a nutritious food that he would like. I chanced upon Oven-Baked Tradition at a local Mondou store in Montreal, and took home a few samples. It was like night and day. He loved it! His tail wagged; he had more energy, and best of all, he seemed to revert to puppy playfulness, even at the age of 14 years and nine months! Judging by how fast he ate it up - no coaxing needed now - he obviously found it all delicious.  And when I introduced him to the wet food which is also 100% organic – a pate made with quail and the other - a pate made with rabbit, he was in gourmet heaven. organic.  In fact, they are enlarging their line of wet food. Nice for dogs with teeth issues.

Heaps of Health Packed into its Flavorful Food

Why is my dog responding to this food with such eagerness? Why does he love it so much? Each bag contains palette-pleasing real food, and each morsel is made without wheat, corn, soy, bovine products, artificial flavors and GMD. The Lemieux family who owns the business stresses that the manufacturing process is unique as it uses slow baking at low temperatures which allows for nutrients not to be lost, nor natural flavors. Its fresh fish recipe is prepared with fruits and vegetables, and like its crunchy companions, it’s completely holistic, devoid of hormones or antibiotics. This slow baking process is their modus operandi for all their pet food products and as the Lemieux family explains, this process increases nutrition ingredient density – a super food that tackles allergy and digestion issues, strengthens the immune system and joints.  

Another attractive aspect to Oven-Baked Tradition, is the variety of food it offers for both dogs and cast. For dogs, it considers all breeds and its kibbles cater to five different sizes of dogs. You’ve got lamb, fish and their chicken has been especially created for puppies as well as adults to address weight control. They have also put out a grain-free line for dogs of all sizes in different flavors as well.

 

 The Total Package

Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, glucosamine, chondroitin, fruits and vegetables come in all bite sizes baked for small, medium and large dogs. My dog Zak won’t go to sleep without oven baked packages surrounding him, because he knows he’s going to wake up to them in the morning.

                                                        Terrific treats

Most of the treats we buy for our pets are not uber-healthy, but we still feed our pet with them, whether it be for training or simply as a snack, or even for doing nothing.  The awesome assortment of 19 treats at Oven-Baked Traditions lives by the motto: variety is the spice of life. They include: dental for good breath care, chicken with pumpkin, liver, duck, meatballs, sweet potato and yummy bacon flavor – that is really popular for training. These goodies are organically concocted and baked with no additives or preservatives of any kind.  I enjoy changing treats, and I can with this company. It spoils our dogs with beef treats, even meatballs, sweet potato goodies and liver – to name a few.

 

                                                  Zak in blueberry treat heaven

😻 I can’t attest to how happy your cat is going to be feasting on their line for cats, but I bet you’ll have instant success. I truly believe it will contribute kidney health for your cat.

Oven-Baked Tradition distributes its food beyond Canada to over twenty countries all over the world in Europe, Latin America, South America, the United States and nine in Asia. 

Their website is:  ovenbakedtradition.com

 Call: 1-888-224 4140

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Asian Film Festival of Montréal (SAFFMontréal)

  

MONTREAL, December 2020● Kabir Centre for Arts & Culture, is pleased to announce the jury award-winners of the 10th edition of its annual South Asian Film Festival of Montréal (SAFFMontréal), a true Covid-19 success story. The awaited closing film was the Canadian documentary, Because We are Girls.

 

In this triumph over trying times, Festival Director Dushyant Yajnik said: “I think we lived up to our aspirations at the beginning of the year to make 2020 a year of bold and clear-eyed 20/20 vision through the films that we chose. The pandemic demanded a course correction; that of delivering the festival in a virtual format. This constraint extended all the way back to the various elements in its planning and execution from the time the initial programming team was formed and virtual meetings conducted, to and through the myriad other steps needed to keep the contacts going with filmmakers, publicists, funders, financial institutions and jury members. All this culminated in an online closing ceremony in the presence of several filmmakers, special invitees and a worldwide audience. Though we did not gather in person, cinephiles did meet, share their passion for South Asian films and connect from across the world. As a result, our extended family of filmmakers, festival organizers, programmers and viewers has grown considerably.”

 

As in all closing ceremonies for such festivals, the highlight was the announcement of the prestigious jury awards. The jury presented their awards in four categories:

Feature Documentary- Bamboo Stories (Bangladesh, Bengali, Shaheen Dill-Riaz); Short Documentary- Home 1947 (Pakistan, English/Urdu, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy); Feature Fiction- Run Kalyani (India, Malayalam, Geetha J); and Short Fiction- Poet in Two Worlds (India, Marathi, Swapnil Vasant Lata Kapure).

The jury also made special mention as runners-up for the following films: The Accused, Damned or Devoted (Pakistan, Urdu/Punjabi/English, Mo Naqvi), feature documentary; Bulbul (Nepal, Nepali, Binod Paudel), feature fiction; and Dry Leaves (Pakistan, Urdu, Ali Sohail Jaura), short fiction.

 

The Festival, which was presented on Kabir Centre’s specialized video platforms, incorporated elements of high security for the protection of filmmakers’ works with the simplicity of rapid access by the viewing public. Films were offered entirely free of charge, along with post-screening discussions, and were viewed by several thousand spectators from 30 countries around the world. They elicited rave responses, including:

 “I enjoyed all the wonderful films; the Festival really opened my eyes.” (New York)

“I knew nothing about Kabir Centre and your excellent film festival. Now we are enjoying amazing films from the comfort of our home.” (Eastern Canada)

“I have not seen such good films in a long time. Wonderful for the eyes and the heart. Adieux Hollywood movies.” (Morocco)

 

The South Asian Film Festival of Montréal is the only festival of its kind in the province of Quebec which presents films from all countries of the Indian Subcontinent, a region of the world rich in its talent for cinema both commercial and independent. SAFFMontréal takes pride in encouraging independent filmmakers to showcase their films that celebrate the lived experiences of South Asians and their diaspora and in this process enhance intercultural understanding in our host country and build bridges with all other sections of the society we live in. SAFFMontréal is also the only festival in Quebec which offers all its films in original version enhanced by both English and French subtitles, a fact that resulted in a significant 25 percent of views in French among the worldwide audience of several thousands in both languages.

 

Kabir Centre for Arts & Culture  www.facebook.com/saffmtl  www.saffm.centrekabir.com

 

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For any enquiries or interviews, please contact:

Dushyant Yajnik, Director of SAFFMontréal (514) 467-8212 or

TK Raghunathan, President of SAFFMontréal  (514) 926-4182

email: info@centrekabir.com

 

South Asian Film Festival of Montréal is supported by: city of Montreal, city of Saguenay & Heritage Canada, in partnership with Cinémathèque Québecoise