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Reviews
Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter (2024)
Superb storytelling, gut-wrenching story.
After finishing this compelling documentary, I was left utterly speechless-my thoughts only echoing "WTF! WTF!"
Cathy's anger radiated through the screen, and I could feel it boiling within me too. Her motherly intuition and sheer determination were awe-inspiring, showing just how far a parent's love can go in the pursuit of justice.
The twists and turns in this story are nothing short of incredible. What starts as one woman's relentless fight transforms into a series of astonishing discoveries that feel almost miraculous. The interconnectedness of these events, and the role of chance in bringing people together, leaves you wondering how such things could even be possible.
One thing that stood out to me was how powerful modern forensic science, particularly DNA testing, has become. It's amazing to think how such advancements can finally provide answers and closure in cases that seemed unsolvable for so long.
Though the journey is full of shocking revelations, the heart of this documentary remains with the victims and their families, especially Aundria and Kathleen. Their stories deserve to be remembered, and it's important to keep the focus on them.
I sincerely wish healing and peace for Cathy. Her bravery, persistence, and love for her child are nothing short of inspiring. She fought with everything she had, and for that, she is truly remarkable.
Testament: The Story of Moses (2024)
Different theological perspectives give the story of Moses more depth
"This is a fantastic documentary on the story of Moses as told through Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. One factor that disturbed me about this story is how the Israelites seem to have forgotten their history.
What they are doing to Palestine is parallel to what their ancestors went through during their years of enslavement in Egypt.
I don't believe true Israelites support the bloodshed perpetuated by their fanatical government, but the silence of the majority doesn't halt the massacre and apartheid of Palestinians.
The story of Moses shows how the Israelites in their exodus from Egypt were clearly instructed by Yahweh to avoid Philistine territory, which in those ancient times consisted of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron. Moses obeyed and took the Israelites through a longer route, even though there was a shorter route to the Promised Land. God said, "If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." We know that the journey to the Promised Land would have taken 10 days, but because the Israelites disobeyed God, the journey took 40 years, and Moses never made it to Canaan himself. The journey, according to the Testament, was more psychological than physical. God wanted to change the minds and hearts of Israelites before they could set foot into their new nation.
My point of wonder is, what changed along the course of history?
Granted, various factors such as political, cultural, and religious developments have likely influenced the perspectives and actions of different groups, including the Israelites. But the cognitive dissonance given what Israelites have experienced in the history of their existence is a puzzle.
Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway (2023)
A good example of how Immigrant families are being targeted by the Norwegian government
Cosleeping and handing feeding a child is a sign of love and care in our cultures, but the Norwegian child services deemed this act a sign of a mother's inability to parent. Ten weeks of daily supervision, feigned as friendly welfare checks, only for the social workers forcibly remove the children. The cultural superiority of Norwegians was used as a yardstick against the cultural norms of a well-functioning Indian family. It is deeply maddening and saddening when immigrant families cannot parent their children peacefully because they are constantly afraid. Child welfare is breaking up families when they use their culture as a judgment against cultural norms. The injustice and trauma witnessed are inexcusable. Personal remarks used by social workers shouldn't be allowed - every decision needs to be argued on a professional and legal basis. Saying that this is Norway and not India, and as such, children should be raised as a Norwegian dismisses the nuances of cultural diversity. Such is assimilation-forcing immigrants to negate their cultural norms in the guise of integration.
Also, if you live in Scandinavia (Denmark or Norway), and you ever have to deal with child welfare, ensure you have a non-government representative (bissider) present. Have someone that you trust in these meetings, someone who can have your back and support you when emotions get the best of you.
Sometimes these well-meaning emotions can be used against you in your case.
Remember, taking away a five-month-old baby based on cultural differences is unethical. But when fighting a wealthy government, you stand to lose if you don't tap into your courage and resources.
Nafsi (2021)
Raw emotions
I love to watch Kenyan films on Netflix. I happened upon Nafsi this evening, and boy, hasn't the film dragged my emotions.😭😭 The storyline is well done, and the acting is impeccable. @mumbi_maina's acting got me crying buckets. A trigger warning should have been issued. Mumbi's and @kate_actress deliverance in this film has taken my emotions through the five stages of grief. The issues tackled in this film are real...especially when we consider infertility and the countless men/women who are still living in the closet while carrying on heterosexual relationships or even marriages. 😔
The ending is a cliffhanger that will leave you with more questions than answers.
Prey (2022)
A strong female lead
Not every day we see a strong female lead, and Naru took this lead with grace and courage. Her Native American roots made the film feel more authentic in its depiction of early Native American life. I would have loved to hear less English and more Native American words, but I also understand that this is Hollywood.
The movie shows that predators and prey come in various forms, and perhaps human predators- here depicted as the early French colonisers who were more dangerous and ruthless than an out-of-planet predator.
We also see how women, though just as talented or more skilled than their male counterparts, have always had to work twice as hard for the same recognition and respect.
The more some things change, the more others stay the same.
Great movie overall.
Country Queen (2022)
keep an open mind
Loved loved this series for its depiction of social issues in Kenya. I enjoyed listening to a dichotomy of Kenyan languages (Kamba, Swahili and English); Nini also brings in some Chinese.
The authentic storytelling and cinematography are captivating.
Seeing Nairobi and Kambaland made me homesick.
All in all, this isn't your run-on-the-mill series; there is a lot of work that's been put into every scene, every actor/actress and storyline. Watch it with an open mind, and allow your mind to see deep into each perspective.
I loved seeing veteran and newbie actors bringing in their A-game to the series.
Rating 9/10.
The Photograph (2020)
Let's normalise mature black-on-black love on our screens
A quick review of this beautiful movie:
This is my first time watching Issa Rae's performance, and I loved it. Her and LaKeith have such great chemistry on this film, I almost felt voyeuristic when it came to the intimate scenes.
Also, I'm deeply committed to watching black stories, as a way of taking control back from the white supremacists narratives of Hollywood, so this film and its gentle storytelling was a great relief.
It was great to see a black-on-black love story, that was mature, drama-free (no ghetto baby mama's), and wholesome.
Representation matters, and in matters of love, it is important to see that black love is beautiful, mature and doesn't adhere to the stereotypical storylines of Hollywood.
The Tinder Swindler (2022)
Let there be justice!
Great documentary. I hope it will bring some long-overdue justice to the victims. Anyone can be a victim of love. It is pretty heartbreaking to watch how . He deserved a longer prison sentence. I don't know which is worse, seeing his get out of prison before his sentence was over, or the fact that he is back to his deceiving ways while the women he conned are stuck with lifelong debts.
😔
Nobody (2021)
If you always wondered what or how John Wick would look like after settling down, this film will be fun to watch.
I loved the dark mood and humour in this film as well as the unexpected action. I always wondered how John Wick life's would pan out if he ever setttled, and this film gave a believable perspective.
Coming 2 America (2021)
Worth the 30 year wait!
Coming to America 2 is a beautiful display of black excellence, the kind of movie that puts on show unmatched talent, beautiful costumes and a soul soothing soundtrack.
Totally worth the 30+ years wait!
Designated Survivor: Outbreak (2017)
Coronavirus?
This particular episode is eerily similar to the current coronavirus pandemic as well as the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement.
TIME: The Kalief Browder Story (2017)
The greatest travesty of justice ever seen
Yesterday I finally plucked up enough courage to watch The Kalief Browder documentary.
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To understand how systemic racism works in the USA, and other countries where black people are treated as less than equal, you must read or watch the tragic stories of people like Kalief. To understand why Black Lives Matter, you must be willing to see how cruel and reckless a judicial and police system could be used to send a 16 year old boy to a notorious prison, for three years, for a crime he didn't commit.
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Kalief was only 16 years old when he was accused of stealing a backpack and was sent to Rikers Island prison, a hell on Earth where he suffered starvation, torture, and solitary confinement.
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What broke my heart about this docu-series was not only that Kalief seemed to have a streak of bad luck from birth, but that the purveyors of injustice and cruelty were actually black!! That's how messed up and twisted a system of racial injustice can become; not that blacks should be nepotistic, but one could at least expect better...
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As Jay-Z aptly states, Kalief was a prophet and a hero. He had a chance to take a plea deal, but decided to suffer for the sake of his integrity. He was not going to confess to a crime he didn't commit. He wanted to expose the injustices that took his childhood away, and he paid a hefty price with his life.
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Watching this documentary took me through a range of emotions. But mostly what I felt was a profound sadness and anger.
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For the people who think or believe that black lives don't matter, because all lives matter, please consider this, would the justice system done the same to a white 16 year old boy falsely accused of stealing a backpack?
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#blm #thekaliefbrowderstory
Homeland: Designated Driver (2020)
Edge of your seat adrenaline
This episode is like many other Homeland episodes that have in the past left me feeling breathless. Intense, action packed. You know it won't end well, but you somehow how hope for a surprise.
I will be sad to watch this exceptional series come to an end, but I hope the ending will be good to us, loyal fans.
Bad Moms (2016)
I saw myself in these bad moms - must watch!
Bad moms is a filled with laugh out loud moments. The movie is lighthearted and unpretentious. Of course I'd have loved to see more racial variety in the main characters, but Mia, Kristen and Kathryn did a pretty good job, more so because their characters balanced each other out.
I'm so glad that I got the opportunity to watch bad mom. It is a feel good film for a mom like me who is tired of feeling overworked and under appreciated. :)
Victoria & Abdul (2017)
This film shows the worst of British class snobbery!
This is a story of a tender yet improbable friendship. The greed and two-facedness of those within Queen Victoria's inner circle is toxic. She has nothing to live for and knows that the vultures are circling around her, waiting for her to catch her last breath. Everyone around her is fake. They dare not look her in the eye; she will see through the window to each soul. It isn't surprising that Queen Victoria dresses like one who is mourning. I don't blame her. She lives in a world of indifference, and skulduggery
But all that changes when by, happenstance, a lowly Indian, Muslim man kisses her feet in utter adoration. The two lock eyes; hell freezes over.
Victoria and Abdul is a story of friendship, vulnerability, class, and undeniably, racism.
Coming from a former British colony, I could empathize with Abdul's character. His genuine devotion to the Queen comes from a place of dignity in service. He doesn't understand the English snobbery, nor does he want to be part of their world. He and Queen Victoria connect on a human level, something that no one else can understand unless they aren't driven by the ego.
Watching this movie has been a treat. I love Dame Judy's acting, with how it compliments Ali's. Watching these two connect was like being in the front row seat of a beautiful dance.
Sadly, English class snobbery continues to date.
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)
Be prepared for 2.30 hours of solid action
I'm an action movie fan, and a John Wick one too. This movie went beyond my expectations; John doesn't say much, other than the usual grunts, but his actions speak for themselves. I love the combination of various fight techniques - gunfire and hand to hand combat - these give the film a brutal but adrenaline pumped tempo!
Mortal Engines (2018)
Draws hilarious parallels with Brexit
Mortal engines is a brilliant movie which you need to watch with an open mind. If you go into it looking for a typical post-apocalyptic story, you will miss the whole plot.
I thoroughly enjoyed the film, the dialogue was in many places dull, but wasw complemented by great visual and endearing characters.
Once again, keep Brexit in mind while you are watching this film, and you will have a good ride at the irony of London's move to leave Europe.
London, fasten your seatbelts, the ride is going to bumpy.
Glass (2019)
Keep an open-mind.
I watched this movie at the Cinema and went home feeling irritated I felt that storyline was all over the place and the finale, (the last scene) as predicted by Mr Glass, had fallen short.
Then I got home and started thinking through the characters and their dialogue. It hit me then that I had understood the whole story wrong.
I had been trying to connect Unbreakable and Shift to the storyline of Glass, but there was a key point missing. But that's the thing. Don't watch the movies with the prequels in mind, more so Shift. You will be confused and feel cheated by how Glass will seem to fall short of its potential.
I had expected there to be more action in Glass because each character had previously had intense action in the previous movies.
Later on, I understood that Glass is a unique story best understood from the ending to the start of the story.
In short, keep an open mind and don't think you know until you really understand what each character's position is in the entire narrative.
Leap Year (2010)
Such a treat!
This is my 2nd time watching this film and it still has the same heartwarming charm. It is a Beautiful romantic film without the usual cliches.
Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)
Confusing plot
I've just finished watching Sicario and I'm as confused as ever. There are so many plot lines in the film that leave unnecessary cliffhangers. I expected the movie to develop gradually into an action packed climax but all it seemed to achieve where halfway there plot lines. I'm really disappointed. It would have made more sense if the conclusion of the film gave a good backstory other than a totally useless cliffhanger.
The Equalizer 2 (2018)
Denzel never disappoints
I just came from watching this movie, we were 3 people in the cinema, well it was noon on a Friday.
The whole film is packed with adrenaline and emotions. The ending is beautiful and tearing.
Equalizer and John Wick are two of my favorite action films.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Do believe the hype. This film will leave searching for more answers or clues.
I have never felt so emotionally exhausted after watching a Marvel movie, but Avengers: Infinity War had me experiencing all sorts of emotions. Sadness, hope, despair.
Everyone left the cinema, spellbound, each reaching for the phone to find out if there was an explanation for anything that happens to the movie characters, and most importantly what the ending means.