Film: Question of Silence (1982)

This Dutch film is about three ordinary women who are arrested for the murder of a male shop owner of a women’s clothing store. The man catches one of the women shop-lifting and the two other women, all complete strangers to each other, take a stand against the protesting man. Together they beat him to death, especially targeting the victim’s abdomen and genitalia. Bystanders in the shop, also female, look on and do nothing to stop the crime. While the male prosecutor and judges assume these women to be insane, a female psychiatrist determines the crime was an expression of rage and reaction to female suppression in a patriarchal society.  

The film depicts the atmosphere leading to the shop owner’s murder: repression and sexual harassment of women in the workplace, women being excluded or silenced during intellectual conversations, and the emphasis society places on marriage and a woman’s role as wife and mother. Question of Silence also explores female sexuality and prostitution. The end scene portrays a poignant moment of female solidarity.

This overtly feminist film lacks finesse and subtlety. Although it offers an intelligent and intriguing analysis of society, Question of Silence is somewhat boring to watch. The cinematography is poor, the shots uncreative and far too long, and the eerie electronic music laughable. The film’s message is its most impressive element.

Kate Nash à Lyon

© G. Chomet

The Kate Nash concert at Ninkasi Kao in Lyon was a fun shiny celebration. Her throaty voice was unfalteringly on key, and her signature yells and flourishes were unfailingly charming. Her stream-of-consciousness lyrics and catchy music are enchanting, and so is she; short red hair and bright red lips give birth to strings of wacky words. You can't stop listening--they charm you with their humour, simplicity, and rawness.

She makes admissions (from the song Mouthwash): "This is my FACE (she screams), covered in freckles, with the occasional spot and some veins....(she trails off)." She makes you turn a little smile (from the song Foundations): "Well, I'll leave you there 'til the mornin', and I purposely won't turn the heating on and dear God, I hope I'm not stuck with this one."

The lights flashed softly, then wildly, turning colours and changing with the rhythm and feel of the music. Pillows acting as clouds hung in clusters from the ceiling, and cut-out lightening bolts and light bulbs dangled below, creating a dream-like atmosphere.

The encore was the most exciting--flashy costumes, hoola hoops, and a loud fast-paced rhythm. Supercute, the opening band, reappeared to demonstrate their funky dance moves and exhilarate the crowd.

Supercute certainly lives up to its name. Composed of three teenage girls, a guitar, ukalalee, keyboard, three sweet voices, fun quirky lyrics, and plenty of strangeness, Supercute is a delight to experience. Listen here.

(Unfortunately I was not allowed to take photos so the one posted above is not mine.)

Would you say "yes" to "Marry me!"?

"Marry me!", the new perfume by Lanvin, is certainly turning heads. I was confronted by this innocent looking little bottle while walking through a department store. My initial reaction was: "I would never buy this perfume!" I find this advertising tactic befitting the era of the hit TV show "Mad Men", in which an advertising company in the 60s plays upon the concept that the pinnacle of a woman's life is marriage. Can we apply this seemingly outmoded concept to the modern woman? Would you say "yes" to "Marry me!"?

Many women would. I see it all around me--in the media, in Hollywood chick flicks, and in real-life. I have friends who have had their entire weddings planned out, from the flower arrangements to the dress, since they were 12 years old. I have seen women fawn with delight over their newly acquired engagement rings, and others who obsess over finding Mr. Right. Even feminists like Naomi Wolf admit to being attracted by the pomp and circumstance of marriage. It seems to me that many women continue to place a lot of emphasis on marriage and the elements of ceremony surrounding it.

So yes, the "Marry me!" line is still relevant for the contemporary woman. In the least, this somewhat controversial advertising campaign is eye-catching and buzz-worthy.

Watch the commercial here.

A Sunday in Vieux Lyon

Sundays can still be exciting in Vieux Lyon. A young couple dances playfully to lively classical music at Place Saint-Jean. Using balls as props for ice-cream scoops, they chase and tease each other across the Cathedral steps overlooking the square. In the square below, the Arts and Antiques Market bustles with people. Down the narrow cobblestone street, good restaurants, interesting shops, various museums, and delightful impromptu performances await. Amusez-vous bien!
Stay informed about Lyon's cultural events: http://www.culture.lyon.fr/culture/

Teresa Garcia (Buena Vista Social Club) y Cubismo

Teresa Garcia, perhaps better known as Omara Portuondo from her projects with Buena Vista Social Club, is currently on tour in Croatia. She is singing alongside the Croatian creation Cubismo, an energetic salsa and latin-jazz band. This beautiful woman still moves and sings with all the confidence and grace of her earlier years. She urges people to forget their inhibitions and dance: "Baila baila" she yells into the microphone. And it's impossible not to. Fixated on getting some good photos I had pushed my way to the front and was fiddling with my camera settings. She smiled at me, paused as I snapped several shots, and then: "Bailemos!!!" I gave up on taking pictures and decided to live the moment instead of capture it. A dizzying mix of instruments, musicians, and rhythms!
Listen to Cubismo: http://www.myspace.com/cubismomusic.

Surfacing by Margaret Atwood, 1972

An absorbing read--pregnant with meaning and exploratory of themes particular to Canadian literature, such as nature vs. civilization. A woman returns to her childhood home, a remote island in Quebec, to look for her missing father. Readers find themselves immersed in images of intertwining lakes, bristling trees, blueberry bushes sidling lakeshores, herons, and natives’ cultural remnants--all characteristic of Northern Canadian landscapes. Atwood depicts the ever-encroaching American threat to the Canadian wilderness and way of life. The novel also explores language: the French language versus the English language (and thereby the complicated relationship that exists between Quebec and Ontario), the language of animals and nature, and the central character’s failure to communicate. The protagonist, despite her fledgling efforts, has never been able to fit into a girl or woman’s typical role as defined by society. In response to the losses she suffers, her inability to cultivate a nuclear family and the death of her parents, she rejects society and civilization for nature. She becomes one with the land, preferring to view herself as an animal rather than a civilized human, in search of simplicity and meaning. In the end she must choose whether to remain a recluse, submerged in nature, or to surface, swiping aside her fears and blending in with society in order to survive. A sublime piece of Canadian literature. 10/10