A rare apocalyptic holiday movie, ‘Silent Night’ is a philosophical and spirited dark comedy that manages to be equal parts charming and horrifying, but without the gruesome visuals that typify the horror genre.
Solidarity, Motherhood and Immigration: Poet Divya Victor Shares Her South Asian Experience
Born into a Tamil, Catholic family, poet Divya Victor spent her childhood in India, her teen years in Singapore, and now lives and works in the United States. Her latest poetry collection, ‘Curb,’ is an unflinching exploration of the inequities that the South Asian community face in the United States.
In Indigenous Thriller “Night Raiders,” Danis Goulet Blends History, Sci-Fi, Legend and Reality
An Indigenous sci-fi thriller, “Night Raiders” brings the painful history of Canada’s residential school system into a war-torn, eerily conceivable future. (This is one in a series of reviews from the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, during which I focused on films directed by women.)
Debut Films “Aloners” and “Violet” Immerse Us in the Lives of Women on the Brink of Change
“Aloners” is an intensely quiet, atmospheric exploration of self-imposed isolation and loneliness requiring both focus and patience from the audience. “Violet,” by contrast, is intrusively loud, allowing neither its protagonist nor its viewers a moment of peace from the insistence of its narrative interruptions.
Examined together, these films present two distinct views on modern life, professional achievement and personal struggle.
Céline Sciamma’s “Petite Maman”: A Unique Meditation on the Bond Between Mothers and Daughters
In Céline Sciamma’s newest feature, “Petite Maman,” for the first time, mother and daughter speak the same language and play the same games—perhaps discovering that they understood each other all along.
[This is one in a series of reviews from the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), during which I focused on films directed by women.]
‘The Suffrage Road Trip’: A Tribute to Two Middle-Aged, Lesbian, Immigrant Suffragists
In “We Demand: The Suffrage Road Trip”, middle-aged lesbian Swedish immigrants Ingeborg Kindstedt and Maria Kindberg advocate for women’s suffrage in 1915.
I fell in love with Ingeborg and Maria when I retraced their route in 2015, and was astonished to find they’d gotten so little recognition for all they did—likely because they were older, working class women who spoke accented English.
The Story of Iconic Feminist Dorothy Pitman Hughes: “With Her Fist Raised”
Laura Lovett’s new biography of Dorothy Pitman Hughes is a fascinating read for anyone wanting to know more about the iconic feminist, as well as Black feminist organizing and interracial feminist collaboration in the U.S. women’s movement—a history we should know.
Media Repeat Junk Science Behind Abortion Ban Laws: Check the Science—There is No Heartbeat at Six Weeks
The inaccuracies of the Texas law, repeated by media across the country, are part of a larger anti-abortion movement strategy to spread misinformation about abortion.
When media uncritically repeat the factually inaccurate and politically charged language of the anti-abortion movement, they create confusion, spread misleading information about abortion, and perpetuate stigma and bias against abortion, endangering women’s health and lives.
Black Feminist in Public: Myriam Chancy Gives Voice to the Voiceless Among Survivors of Haiti’s 2010 Earthquake
Award-winning Haitian-American/Canadian writer and scholar Myriam Chancy’s newest novel, “What Storm, What Thunder,” commemorates the devastating January 12, 2010, earthquake that struck Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince, killing 250,000. The book has taken on new relevancy with the recent August 14 earthquake on the island.
Chancy discusses her new novel, the fate of her birth island, and why more people need to listen to Haiti’s women.
In “Respect,” Jennifer Hudson Goes Beyond Singing and Into Aretha Franklin’s Extraordinary Life
Famously private, Aretha Franklin handpicked singer Jennifer Hudson to portray her in the compelling release by debut film director Liesl Tommy. “Respect,” its flaws notwithstanding, underscores Franklin’s genius.