‘Death always feels imminent’: a moving Netflix documentary on prison, music and forgiveness

-
In Songs from the Hole, a man convicted of murder when he was a teenager finds healing in music during his sentence In 2014, a sergeant at a California state prison sent James “JJ’88” Jacobs, who was 25 at the time, to “the hole” – solitary confinement in a 6-by-6 cell. One bunk, one strip of a window. Jacobs had already been incarcerated for a decade by then; at 15, he was given a double life sentence for second-degree murder. Alone in the hole, Jacobs thought, as he always did, about the most devastating month of his life, April 2004: on the 16th, he shot and killed a fellow teenager outside a nightclub in his home town of Long Beach, California. Three days later, another young man shot and killed his beloved older brother Victor. For years, Jacobs was caught in a terrible cycle of grief – for what he had done, for what had been done to him. In the hole, Jacobs would lie on the floor, eyes closed, and imagine his life outside prison. He’d make beats by pounding on his bunk or chest...
Post a Comment

Heidi: Rescue of the Lynx review – baby lynx is extra ingredient in new version of classic Alpine yarn

-

Also adding an evil land developer to the well-loved children’s story of a kindly girl in the Swiss mountains is ultimately uninspiring

In a picturesque mountain village in the Swiss Alps, a property developer named Schnaittinger is working away to convince the naive local inhabitants that his proposal for a new sawmill is just what they need to get their economy humming. In this inoffensive and ultimately uninspiring children’s animation, peppy little tomboy Heidi realises pretty quickly that this self-styled entrepreneur – sample line: “Machines can help us live a better life” – really only cares about his own profit margins.

Heidi and her friend Peter are given an added incentive to foil the bad guy’s dastardly schemes in the form of an adorable baby lynx that would be imperilled by the development of the area. The lynx is cute in that standard no-brainer kid’s animation way, with big eyes and a stumbling gait guaranteed to tap directly into the “preserve and protect” part of your brain. Unfortunately, watching Heidi unravel Schnaittinger’s evil plot is an exercise in well-intentioned narrative predictability. Various narrative curlicues such as Heidi’s outcast grandfather’s redemption in the eyes of the villagers and Heidi’s pen pal Clara showing up in the third act don’t add much jeopardy to matters.

Continue reading...

from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/LRkBpmw
via IFTTT

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BREAKING: Interstellar back in cinemas due to public demand; Dune: Part Two to also re-release on March 14 in IMAX

-
A lot of Bollywood films have re-released off late but when it comes to Hollywood, a handful of classics have had a re-run in cinemas. Last month, Interstellar re-released and received a rocking response. However, it just had a one-week run. If you missed watching the cult film in cinemas, here’s a reason for you to rejoice. The film will be back on the big screen on March 14, that too in IMAX. Moreover, Warner Bros will also bring back Dune: Part Two on the same day in theatres. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Interstellar has a huge demand as it’s a film worth watching in theatres, that too IMAX. However, it re-released on February 7 and had to discontinued from February 14 to accommodate the new releases, Chhaava and Captain America: Brand New World. Both these films got a release in IMAX as well.” The source continued, “Many were aware that Interstellar had just a one week run. Hence, it held very well in the weekdays, collecting Rs. 2 crore plus. Yet, there was a section of mo...
Read more

EXCLUSIVE: Mona Singh gears up for an intense role in an upcoming web series; Deets inside!

-
Mona Singh has long been admired for her exceptional performances on screen. Known for her distinct charm, she consistently brings depth and authenticity to every role, captivating audiences with her flawless portrayals. Her on-screen presence is magnetic, exuding a unique appeal that resonates with her fans. Now, Mona is set to take on a new challenge, preparing for a powerful and intense performance in an upcoming series. A source close to the actress shared that Mona is leaving no stone unturned in her preparation. “Mona is really preparing for an intense and power-packed performance,” the source revealed. “She’s changed her perfume to something strong and intense, and her music playlist has shifted from soft melodies to loud, bass-heavy tracks! She’s going to create magic!” With this new approach, Mona is set to create magic on screen, and fans can expect yet another memorable performance from the talented actress. As she is set to appear in an action-packed avatar. She is givin...
Read more

The Sound of Music rights acquired for Paparao Biyyala's film Music School starring Shriya Saran, Sharman Joshi

-
58 years after the iconic, Oscar award-winning and only official film adaptation of the classic musical play The Sound of Music, an Indian IAS officer turned filmmaker Paparao Biyyala is gearing up for the release of his debut film ‘Music School, which marks to be the first Indian film to obtain the rights of the classical play. The timeless classic Broadway production The Sound of Music written and composed by Rodgers, and Hammerstein in 1959, has been etched in the history of popular culture ever since. Over a decade later, Robert Wise presented the first film adaptation of the musical with the same name in 1965 and won five academy awards. Almost six decades later, writer- Director Paparao Biyyala has obtained the official rights of the music for the broadway musical for his debut film “Music School’. Recreating three songs from the musical- 'Do Re Mi', 'So Long Farewell' and 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen' beautifully woven for different situations in the fil...
Read more