The Help

From Geri Sundermier author: Stockett, Kathryn  The Help A great book that gives the perspective of what it might have felt like to be the hired help, down south in the 1950′s.  There are so many great lessons about courage and acceptance.  This was an amazing book!!

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Four Films of Woody Allen

From Raymond Cantwell author: Allen, Woody Four Films of Woody Allen Of the four, the film I was most interested in was Annie Hall.  Surprisingly, Mr. Allen only co-wrote this with a Marshall Brickman.  The character development was well conceived and executed.  Readers might find many of the characters intimidating – extremely successful Hollywood and [...]

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Shutter

From Rosemarie Jerome Shutter [videorecording]  This is one creepy, scary movie.  I watched the original Thai movie which was made in 2004 and one of the U.S. remakes  from 2008. The Thai  version is much darker but they are both edge of your seat psychological thrillers similar to “The Grudge.” A young couple is driving [...]

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Millions

From Chris Garland titl: Millions [videorecording] Millions is an uplifting tale about a nine year old boy whose mother has died and is moving with his father and brother to a new home and a new school. Damian is fascinated by the saints, who inspire him to do good deeds. One day, the heavens provide [...]

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Full Frame Documentary Film Festival

From Ellen Druda Full Frame Documentary Film Festival A brilliant collection of short documentaries, this latest anthology covers an eclectic mix of subjects. “Afloat” visits a senior village in Florida, where 90-year-olds reflect on the good times while they swim in the center’s pool. “The Angelmakers” tells the tale of a group of isolated and [...]

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Awakening

From Ellen Druda Awakening The new story of hope is the awakening of the poor to the opportunity of microloans. This film focuses on two particular groups of women. In Bihar, India, Sister Mary Lobo has given the poorest of the poor, the Outcasts, empowerment by teaching them the basics of personal economics. The women [...]

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Departures

from Chris Garland Departures, Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film 2008 ‘Departures’ is a deeply moving film about death, a subject we don’t like to confront,  but this film does it with grace, dignity, humility and beauty.  It is about saying goodbye to loved ones for the last time and thereby evoking [...]

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