Me, Too (Yo, Tamien): a familial perspective

I took a friend with me to see the encore screening of ME, TOO (YO, TAMBIEN), which had to be one of my favorites this year at CIFF. I was really interested in the film myself as I am very close to my friend and her beautiful little boy who has Downs Syndrome. I wanted to take this opportunity to see the film through her eyes, as a relatively new mother.

The film itself was beautifully centered around the theme of love, and the concept of normalcy. What we perceive to be normal is not always the case, and does not necessarily mean that having a disability does not fit into the concept of societal norms. The characters in the film make us look at how we often seem to ignore basic needs of ALL people, when we classify them into specific groups. There are no boundaries when it comes to people, we are all different, some are a little kookier than others, some are smarter, some are reserved, some are more creative, some are more daring. We can not put people into boxes any longer. The newer generations are making this more apparent than ever, that it is about individualism. One glove no longer fits all, and in reality it never did.

We chatted after the film and discussed disabilities and the train of thought around whether it is better to give a child an opportunity to be with and share the experiences of those with similar disabilities, or with those that society would call "normal". I shared my experience with my friend as it related to my younger brother who has Cerebral Palsy. I feel that he should be sharing in both worlds and is also lucky to be sharing in both. He has his friends from school that he hangs out with in the evenings and on the weekends, getting into trouble just like any other 15 year old. However, he also has activities that he participates in with other kids that have Cerebral Palsy as well. For example this year he attended the Easter Seals camp which allowed him the opportunity to engage in activities that he would not be fully able to do on his own at another camp. These activities were no different than at other camps, however there was assistance and support for him to experience the same things. My friend agreed that this was the same principle that she wanted to follow, and is following, allowing both worlds to integrate. It is similar to being from two different ethnic backgrounds, they may be different, but we need to appreciate that we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to learn, and share in both cultures.

My friend really appreciated the film and how it showcased the breadth of Downs and that we are only limited by our own perceptions, and of the perceptions of others that we are led to believe. She said something to me as well, that I had known all along. She said that she felt incredibly lucky and blessed to have her son in her life, and that she could not imagine him any different. She felt "chosen" to be part of his life. I could not agree more, she was meant to be part of his life, and he a part of hers. I personally can not imagine a better person to raise such a beautiful child, someone open and free with the possibilities out there for her son. Just like all the other mothers out there, they want the world for their daughters and sons, there is no difference it is just a matter of love.

A fabulous pick this year at CIFF full of laughter and love!

Nora's Will

A selection in the global series at this years CIFF, Mariana Chenillo's film, NORA'S WILL (CINCO DIAS SIN NORA), will have you laughing at the unacceptable behaviors in this dark yet comical tale of a Jewish family in Mexico. Jose, Nora's husband is not amused when he is left with the tasks of making Nora's final arrangements after her death. Nora who we only meet briefly in the film prior to her death, other than through Jose's memories, has wittingly left a number of tasks, through letters, and post it sticky notes, for Jose and others to take care of after she has passed.

NORA'S WILL is truly an entertaining film, with a simple yet complex concept of relationships. Specifically the most complex relationship illustrated in this film is between a couple after a divorce. The rational between why people behave the way they do in these relationships often makes little sense to the outside observer. With Jose and Nora, who were married for several years prior to their divorce, we are privy to see the tiny things that made and make Jose irritated with their relationship. Although Jose is not pleased with the chain of events and how they have been planned, he can not rid himself of the memories of his ex-wife and the time that they did spend together.

The premise of this film although darkly comical explores the complexity of relationships and how they differ amongst family members that often we see heightened in times of sorrow. We see the unique motives of people, such as the hired help, Nora's son, daughter in-law, relatives, and ex-husband. Jose, Nora's ex husband in the film entertains us with his defiance against the carefully staged events that Nora had arranged prior to her death.

Films about death and dying usually take on a serious tone, however this film is refreshing with simple concepts, yet dealing with complex subject matters such as religious beliefs, and suicide . This is definitely one of my faves this year. Don't miss this dark comical depiction of the loss of ones loved one at Eau Claire on Sunday September 26 at 7:15pm.

Bioscope - Science vs. Divinity

K.M. Madhusudhanan gives us a look into the early enchantment of film in a small village in Kerala, and the aura around the mysterious Bioscope. As for the history of the bioscope, this early device gave rise to silent film, and moving images to later form cinema as we now know it. The bioscope show was known to be one that travelled with fairs in the early 20th century. The film itself looks at the unique parallel in a country such as India where the divine forces were and continue to be one of the supreme forces that people believe rather than the rational reasoning's of science. Diwarkaran the protagonist in this tale becomes fascinated with the science around the bioscope while away from home at a fair. The bioscope belongs to Dupont, a Frenchman who teaches Diwarkaran about it and passes it on to him to continue doing the shows throughout the region. The imagery created by the film allow Diwarkaran an escape from his reality, the reality of his wife Nalini's illness. Nalini suffers from an illness that the family has been unable to find a cure for through the means of regular medicine. The family looks at the divinitive realm, and spiritual healers to help with Nalini's condition. Nalini's condition causes her to re-live a moment in her life via a reel that keeps playing in her mind, driving her deeper into herself while her husband's film reel drives him further and further outside of himself as her travels with the biscope show.

The fascination for me with this film came from my experience as part of the Indian culture. Divinity and science do not meet eye to eye in India, as we see through the village gossip in the film about the bioscope being some sort of haunting magic trick. Although science is prominent in large cities now a days, in villages where there is little education, often it is difficult for people to fathom new ideas. The ideas that are believed by most in the Indian culture are with respect to religion, spirituality, and divinity. Although we can see this more apparently in many eastern cultures, it can be visible in North America as well. In India however you will see the belief in ritual, God, and the divine everywhere you step, and this belief is stronger than any other you will see in the land of beautiful divine chaos. Those that question it often are left wondering why they did as does Diwarkaran's character in this film.

You can get a glimpse into the early introduction of cinema in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and a look into the impact of science on a society that believes predominately in the divine at the Globe on Saturday September 25th, at 12:45 pm.