Watch This: To Walk Invisible

To Walk Invisible: The Lives of the Brontë Sisters

Look, I'm not going to mince words here. To Walk Invisible is a surprisingly beautiful, yet painfully authentic look at the real life experiences of these three remarkable women. And it's that "real life" aspect that was so important to capture, since that was precisely what they wrote about, and what caused their novels to be so controversial at the time.

The brilliant Sally Wainwright wrote and directed this television film, bringing the same passion for the story and compassion for her characters that she has given two of my favorite female-centric British dramas, Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax. In fact, Wainwright has made a career out of telling the stories of women, both from history and from modern times. And it looks like she's going to continue this trend with her next project Shibden Hall, a series about the life of Anne Lister, who was an adventurer, mountaineer, traveler, and who has been called "the first modern lesbian."

I am certainly no expert on the lives or works of the Brontë Sisters, having only read Charlotte's Jane Eyre. In fact, I remember being somewhat overwhelmed with the bleakness of the story when I first read it as a teen, and subsequently refused to even consider reading Emily's Wuthering Heights. Reading Jane Eyre again a few years ago when I was quite a bit more mature, I was better able to appreciate the story's brutal honesty about the lives of its characters and place the story into its historical context.

I am a bit ashamed to admit that Wuthering Heights is still on my to-read list. After watching To Walk Invisible I am inspired to move it closer to the top, along with The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne.

If you know even a little about the lives of these three sisters, you may be a bit worried this film will be filled with tragedy. And rightly so. The level of misfortune this poor family experienced in one generation is heartbreaking to read about with nearly 200 years distance. Fortunately, while the deaths of their mother and older sisters are briefly mentioned, this film picks up the story when they are all adults and those deaths are well behind them.

It takes place over the short period where the three sisters and their brother Branwell were all living at home again with their father. After a short introduction to the imaginary childhood adventures the four of them dreamed up, we quickly learn that Branwell is struggling to adjust to the demands of adult life and unable to stay sober long enough to pursue his passion for writing or painting. The three sisters, feeling trapped in the constricting gender roles of the 1840s, devise a plan to become published authors themselves, keeping it a secret from everyone else, including their father, and especially their brother. Together, they conspire to write a collection of poems to be published under pseudonyms, and then use that as a means to launch their careers as novelists. And, remarkably, it works.

The story has plenty of drama and sadness. And while the film ends on a sad note, what lingers in my mind is the earlier triumph when the three sisters finally share their secret with their father, who is absolutely thrilled to learn his three living daughters are all successful authors. The scene where Charlotte reveals to him that she is the author of Jane Eyre in one of my favorites. He is initially surprised and maybe even a bit skeptical, but then he is overcome with pride. And I was overcome with emotion as well.

More than anything, though, what I love the most about this film is its depiction of the relationships between these women. The tender and loving bond between Anne and Emily is so refreshing and actually quite moving. We so rarely see that level of physical contact between two people on screen that isn't sexual. And the genuine respect and support each sister gives the others makes this film one I will watch again and again. To Walk Invisible earns the Self-Rescuing Princess Society seal of approval for many reasons, but especially for its representation of female friendships.

If you have not watched it yet, I highly recommend To Walk Invisible. I was able to stream it through PBS Masterpiece because I am a member of my local PBS station. Otherwise, if it is no longer being broadcast by your local station, you may have to purchase it through iTunes or Amazon. It is worth the cost, trust me.

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An American Girl Story - Melody 1963: Love Has to Win

A couple of months ago I saw an article or two about the newest American Girl doll, Melody, and the excitement over a second African American girl in the series. Honestly, I didn't think too much about it other than it seemed like a positive step toward inclusivity, which is always cause to celebrate, and to be happy that her story was set in the 1960s in Detroit -- an era and location I've long been interested in. I only knew about the American Girl phenomenon by hearing people talk about getting things for their kids or grandkids. Part of me was curious to know more about what attracted girls to the dolls and their stories. But I hadn't had an opportunity to really explore it myself.

So when An American Girl Story - Melody 1963: Love Has to Win came up as a recommendation after I finished watching Just Add Magic, I was intrigued. I added it to my queue for some rainy day when watching my usual shows wouldn't quite cut it. I'd never seen or read any of the American Girl stories, but figured if they're geared for the same audience they market their dolls to, it might be a nice change of pace. One day last week, when it was cold and gray and I needed something optimistic, I decided to give it a try. I snuggled up with a comfy blanket, a cup of tea, and some delicious cookies and let this be my introduction to the whole American Girl phenomenon.

And you know what? It was quite enjoyable. And educational. I don't know what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was drawn into Melody's story. She is the heroine of the film, as she begins the exciting and sometimes painful process of growing up in troubled times.

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SRPS Movie Night: The Barefoot Artist - the life and work of Lily Yeh

I was visiting my local library a couple of weeks ago to pick up a book I'd ordered through inter-library loan, when I just happened to see the DVD case for The Barefoot Artist on the shelf. I don't know what about it exactly caught my eye, but I knew I was going to be taking it home with me. And I'm so glad I did!

What a beautiful film! This documentary is a loving tribute to a truly remarkable artist, Lily Yeh. After watching this film, I am heartened to know such a woman exists, and also a bit sad that I hadn't heard of her before. I can't help but feel as though I've lost out on so many years of being inspired by her work.

Created by her cinematographer son, Danial Traub, and producer Glenn Holsten, The Barefoot Artist is a thoughtful and moving telling of her life's story and the inspiration behind her magnificent works of art in communities around the globe.

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SRPS Movie Night: Queen of Katwe

It's been a while since I have been able to make it to a new movie on its opening day, but I made it a point to clear my schedule for today. I absolutely had to go see Queen of Katwe today! I even went to the every first showing just so I could come home and tell you all what I thought about it.

Short version: I loved it! Go see it!

Long version: Queen of Katwe is the captivating story of how Phiona Mutesi became the first female chess champion of Uganda. It's the inspirational story about how miraculous things can happen when the right people are in the right place at the right time, as well as the painfully honest accounting of exactly how much hard work and determination is required to make those miracles happen.

I honestly never thought I'd find a film about chess so compelling, but here I am raving about it online. My favorite scenes are those where Phiona is sitting across the table from someone who underestimates her, and the look she gets on her face when she knows she's going to win. It's the look of ultimate secret delight knowing they just walked into her trap, and now all she has to do is squeeze. Before the even know what's happening, she's finished the game in her head and is just waiting for real life to catch up.

Of course, this film is about more than chess. Or, more accurately, it's about how chess is a metaphor for life.

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Movie Night - Ghostbusters: Calling all Ghost Girls!

OMG y'all! All the feels about this movie. I went into it dangerously hopeful, only barely girded against heartbreaking disappointment. I've been hurt by reboots and remakes before, but I just couldn't help myself. I needed this movie to be awesome.

And I gotta say is... bustin' makes me feel good!

Ghostbusters is everything I had hoped it would be, and more. I saw it last night and had to call my mama this morning and share my immense joy with her. You see, the 1984 Ghostbusters is one of those movies our family relies on. We've all watched it so many times we can pretty much turn the sound off and act out the lines ourselves. We saw it in the theater back in the day, taking my Granny with us, and laughed like we'd never laughed before. So, you know, I understand the hesitance from my fellow older geeks. There's a pretty high bar for this new version to clear.

You know what? These ladies did it. With some seriously badass style. Sitting in the theater when the theme music starter I turned into the standard issue squeeing fangirl. I'm not even sure it was a silent squee. And, to be honest, that feeling hasn't worn off yet.

There are so many things about this film I absolutely love. Way too many to share in a spoiler-free blog post. But here are a couple to help sell you on seeing this at the theater if you can.

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Movie Night - REBEL: Loreta Velazquez, Secret Soldier of the American Civil War

I came across REBEL: Loreta Velazquez, Secret Soldier of the American Civil War while perusing the DVD shelves at my local library a couple of weeks ago. Having just finished watching Mercy Street, I was looking for other shows or books about the many different roles women played during the Civil War. The blurb from the back of the case certainly piqued my interest:

In 1861, at the outbreak of the American Civil War, a teenager from New Orleans headed to the front lines. Under the alias Harry T. Buford, he fought at First Bull Run, was wounded at Shiloh, and served as a Confederate spy. But Buford harbored a secret -- he was really Loreta Velazquez, a Cuban immigrant from New Orleans. By 1863, Velazquez was spying for the Union. She scandalized American when she revealed her story in her 1876 memoir, The Woman in Battle. Attacked not only for her criticism of war, but her sexuality and social rule-breaking, Velazquez was dismissed as a hoax for 150 years. But evidence confirms she existed, one of over 1,000 women soldiers who served in the Civil War.

As did this quote from the documentary's website:

With the triple digit explosion of Latino immigrants throughout the South, along with a dizzying increase in hate crimes against Latinos, and the increase in numbers of Latino and women service personnel in the nation’s military, I believe this story about a southern woman Civil War soldier who struggled with difficult decisions about nationhood and patriotism in a country racked with the scourge and legacy of slavery will resonate with contemporary audiences. As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War in the 21st century, it behooves us to broaden our understandings of the meaning of this pivotal struggle forged in blood, that sought to establish citizenship for all Americans.

So, yeah. A woman passing as a man so she could fight in the war? A discussion about Cubans living in New Orleans in the 19th century? Scandal, sex, and social impropriety? Yes, please! Sounds like my kind of story.

I have watched the documentary and the "Behind the Scenes" clip (the documentary about the documentary?) a couple of times since bringing it home, and I find that it is so chock full of information that I truly needed to watch it several times to really get a handle on her story.

Filmmaker María Agui Carter does an excellent job addressing the ways race, gender, and ethnicity influenced Loreta's life, and the how she clearly went out of her way to defy many of the social expectations related to these same concepts.

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Movie Night - The Last of the Blonde Bombshells

A couple of weeks ago a friend visited and shared her HBO-Go login with me, which was very kind of her*. Mainly, we spent our time watching Veep, because why wouldn't you? But later I started to explore other shows and movies I wasn't able to see elsewhere. And that's how I found out about The Last of of the Blonde Bombshells starring Dame Judi Dench, whom I adore. It also has Olympia Dukakis and Ian Holm. What's not to love?

We meet Elizabeth at her husband's funeral. She's a woman recently unmoored from the role of wife and mother, and who finally feels free to explore her own interests again, much to the chagrin of her children who've only ever known her as "mum."

Her granddaughter finds her in the attic playing a tenor sax. (And playing it well, I might add.) And thus we learn of Elizabeth's former life. When she was 15, long before marriage and children, she played in the almost-all-girl wartime band The Blonde Bombshells.

Looking for an outlet for her music, she starts playing alongside a busker, where her children discover her one day and try to "talk some sense" into her. They are appalled, and try to appeal to her sense of dignity, asking her "what would the neighbors think?" Of course, she's having none of it. She's quite happy to continue.

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Movie Night - Advantageous: The choices we make

So, yesterday, I read this interview with Jennifer Phang director of Advantageous, and immediately added it to my Netflix queue, and set aside my evening plans to watch it.

I have soooooo many thoughts about this film. It is not an easy film to watch, by any means. But it is beautiful and thought-provoking. After watching it, I started it again, re-watching the many different scenes that touched me, often sitting in my chair with it paused trying to sort out my thoughts. Most of which were about how this movie set in the future felt like an indictment of our present. My high school English teacher Mrs. Knorr always told us "there is more truth in fiction." She was right.

At its most basic level, this film is about choices. In nearly every scene we see someone making a choice of one kind of another. The little choices we make on a daily basis and those that set the course of our lives, and the lives of others.

In this future, as it is in our own present, it is how one goes about making these choices that defines their character. But as it is in our time, this is more an illusion of choice than anything else. Available options are often limited and far outside one's ability to influence. And in many cases, the only choice is no choice at all, with the only options to either accept something terrible or suffer the consequences. While it is true our choices may define us, it is our options that set the parameters of our lives.

The set up for this film is like a mash-up of the worst parts of both Brazil and The Handmaid's Tale. We have an overpopulated future where the elite are painfully oblivious to the suffering of the general public, carrying on with their luncheons and school events and reaffirming their role as the privileged class, while resistance fighters attack public targets, and a religiously motivated social movement directs the fate of women as a kind of backlash for the gains they'd made in the previous century.

This future is a society where there are few jobs to be had, where a woman's appearance is key to her success, and where youth is her main selling point. Once she reaches a certain age, 40 let's say, she is no longer employable. A world where a woman would act in a way that is against her best interest simply to have a place to exist. And where, once that place is threatened, she would willingly sacrifice anything and everything she has to ensure a place for her daughter. A world where a secure life is limited to the elite, and one does whatever is advantageous to ensure success.

Early in the film we see three girls walking home from school, playing a guessing game. At one point, one girl turns to another and says, "Only one of you can be the winner. If you cheat, then nobody wins." This professed need for fairness is in contrast to the world surrounding them where nothing is, in fact, fair. News reports in the background give us details about this seemingly quiet and clean world -- unemployment is rampant and terrorist attacks are a regular occurrence.

Those who tend to benefit from advantages tend to see their placement in society as what is fair. We see it time and again in discussions around privilege -- those who benefit from it often don't see it. They are convinced that everyone is faced with the same options, and instead believe they have simply achieved more because they made better choices. Or, even worse, they know very well the privilege they carry, and choose to use it to promote their own well being at the expense of others.

In this world we meet single mother Gwen and her daughter Jules. Gwen works as the spokeswoman for the benign-sounding Center for Advanced Health and Living. As part of her job she writes eloquent statements to sell her company's products. And much like in our own world, the marketers of this world use the lingo of the oppressed for their own purposes.

"In fact, the decisions we make in life define us. So shouldn't every woman be defined by the totality of her choices, rather than her race, height, or health. These are things she often cannot control. Here at the Center for Advanced Health and Living, we are working to offer you the safest alternatives to invasive cosmetic surgery so you'll have every chance to be the you you were meant to be."

I wonder, when Gwen wrote and then delivered that line, whether she had any kind of inkling how it would eventually impact her own life? How could she have known it would turn around, all twisted and gnarled, to cut her down once it was too late to change her decision? Which, of course, we quickly learn wasn't much of a choice. She's been caught in a trap; led to this point by the machinations of others. Can we judge a raccoon's decision to gnaw off its own leg to save itself? Or, in this case, a mother making the ultimate sacrifice for her daughter?

"This is the only time in your daughter's life where her choices will make a difference."

Tragically, this is truer than anyone would want. And by "her" choices, they mean her family's choices; her mother's. A mother's love and support alone are not enough to make it in this world. "Access costs money." And without access, there is no healthy future. In a world where only the elite can any kind of life worth living, people will give up their very lives to ensure their children become one of them, and those in power will be able to use that to their advantage.

"I have to position Jules now. If I can get her into a good school, she'll have a chance. I can't let her become one of those women, so desperate that they would do anything."

But just as much as this is a movie about the choices a mother will make to protect her daughter, it's also a movie about her decision to become a mother in the first place. Gwen, and Jules, have been living with the fallout from Gwen's choices prior to motherhood. We do not know exactly why she has broken from her parents, but she is adamant that her father will never meet Jules, just as she is adamant that Jules' father will never be a part of their lives. She has been estranged from her "one and only cousin" Lily's life since Jules' birth, which, as we learn later, has been Gwen's decision in order to protect her from a mistake Gwen made when they were younger.

The decision to live as a single mother in this world was a dangerous one, she knew, but she also hoped it would give her life meaning; make it worthwhile. And, in its own way, her ultimate decision simply confirms that. It is her undying love for her daughter that drives everything she does. She cannot change the very system they are both trapped in. So she works within her constraints to give her daughter the very best chance. And then, she goes one step further and gives her something authentic to hold on to as she makes her way in this world.

"Listen to me. It's good to be humble, but you need to know your value. The ideas, the wisdom, and the kindness in you. That's the secret beauty everyone wants."

And this is what I find so beautiful, so touching in this film. Despite the hardship and loneliness and this terrible choice she is forced to make, she does it all with the purest of motivations: love.

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Another Double Hitter: Movie Review & Shout-out
I would have loved to have known about Doris Sams and the other professional womens baseball players when I was a girl! No telling how I would have used that info. I wasn't especially athletically inclined, but it certainly would have been inspirational anyway. I'm sure I would have devoured biographies about women ball players if I had found any, the same way I read through every book I could find on Amelia Earhart.

In case you need a reminder... you are amazing!
I just love this poem. I revisit it whenever I'm feeling a down or frustrated or a little powerless. You are amazing. As.you.are. Stronger than you know. More beautiful than you think. Worthier than you believe. More loved that you can ever imagine. Passionate about making a difference. Fiery when protecting those you love. Learning. Growing. Not alone. ...

Movie Night - The Iron Lady
My more careful thoughts about the movie are a bit more complicated. It's not that I didn't enjoy the movie. I did. I liked the story. I liked the mixing of modern times in with history, and the mix of political with personal. I liked seeing the whole life of such a strong woman who influenced history. We see her as young woman starting out with passion and verve...

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KickStart This!

So very many more great projects to consider this week! Movies, music, and loads of great books!

When I saw the description for June, Adrift: A Real Indie Feature (No Offense, Zach Braff), my very first thought was, I'd watch the hell out of that! We get so many stories about young men trying to find themselves, but very few about women trying to figure their lives out. When I was in my 20s, it would have been wonderful to have a library filled with stories about women facing the same conflicts I was. Heck, now in my 40s, I'd still like to have that library.

After a series of humiliating encounters with members of her parents' generation, Emma makes the impulsive decision to return to her parents' house, vacant while they are traveling for the summer, in order to complete a boat kit given to her by an uncle fifteen years ago. As her enthusiasm for the project snowballs, she accidentally collects two traveling companions in Liesl and Rachel.

I grew up in a house full of music of all kinds. Some of my most cherished memories are the family car trips where everyone would sing along with the radio, with my musically talented parents singing in beautiful harmony. I think that's where I developed my love of a cappella music. When I played the clip for Beyond All Reason: Raising The BAR I knew I had to have a copy of their album!

Beyond All Reason is Saint Louis University’s only all-female a cappella group. The group was founded in 2002 and has been entertaining the masses ever since. BAR regularly performs on SLU’s campus and hosts two concert extravaganzas a year. With a repertoire that spans all genres and includes songs ranging from "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons to "At Last" by Etta James.

I have to admit I haven't read much from the manga side of the book shelf. But I do know that it has been instrumental in getting many young people back into the habit of reading. So when I see a graphic novel or manga that tells a story of a kickass young woman, I'm going to throw my support behind it! Jade Dragon Book 1 looks like a good story for young people. And it's important to me that Kaida's character is show wearing sensible clothing and acting in a completely normal teenage fashion.

Kaida Suzuki is a fifteen year old orphan who was raised by monks at a secret dojo, hidden away in the mountains. Abandoned on the doorsteps of the dojo as a child, Kaida has grown up with only her Master, Sensei Shin, to call family. Shin has always known there was something special about this girl so he has trained her in combat since Kaida’s first steps. Kaida was living the normal teenage life; going to school, getting teased by other kids, learning martial arts and keeping secret crushes. All was calm until the one night that would change her life forever.

Well, the above sentiment also applies to fantasy books. Like Melissa Drake's Daughter of Mythos: What if all the myths were real? 

15-year-old Nora Salvatore's dream of a normal life and a permanent family are ripped from her as she's thrust into a world where myths and magic are the reality. When an evil wizard plans to unleash an army of demons on Earth, Nora's the only one who can stop him.

OK. Fine. It also applies to every other book out there. I know a couple of school-aged girls (and boys) who will likely getting a copy of Sage Carrington, Eighth-Grade Science Sleuth, Volume #2 in the coming year!

Sage Carrington is a 12-year-old girl who lives in Washington, D.C. She’s a science lover who enjoys exploring the wonders of our natural world. Along with her best friend Isabel Flores, Sage is a confident, curious amateur sleuth who lives in a thriving community that enables and encourages her pursuit of happiness.

What projects are you excited about lately?

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Happy Birthday Geena Davis

I don't know about you, but I love love love Geena Davis. I mean, who couldn't love her for all the great women she's been in her movies and televisions shows?

Dottie Hinson, anyone?

President Mackenzie Allen?

But she's not just an actor. She's a mover and shaker as well. Her organization, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, is working hard to make sure there are better role models in media for children, including better and more roles for girls and women.

We're showing kids a world that is very scantily populated with women and female characters. They should see female characters taking up half the planet, which we do.

The institute not only does important research work, but they have excellent resources for parents and educators, including lesson plans and discussion guides.

When my friends and I would act out movies as kids, we'd play the guys' roles, since they had the most interesting things to do. Decades later, I can hardly believe my sons and daughter are seeing many of the same limited choices in current films. 

Thank you Geena, for all your hard work!

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KickStart this!

Cary Cooper's new album Zuzu's Petals. The video is told from the point of view of her daughter, but features some of her lovely music. And I love the idea of her stretching herself outside her comfort zone.

Learning and becoming competent on an instrument, and learning how to carry whole shows by myself were among the things that terrified me the most. But because I love doing what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else, I made the brave commitment to stretch and see just how far stretching would take me. As it turns out, I’ve stretched pretty far!

Heroine is a role playing game with an adventurous young woman protagonist, by Josh Jordan. I've heard so many great things about this project from my various gamer friends. We don't do a lot of story-telling around here, but I might have to get a copy anyway.

Heroine is a storytelling game inspired by books and movies like Wizard of Oz, Labyrinth, Alice in Wonderland, and The Chronicles of Narnia. I love these stories about a girl who has serious problems to deal with in her regular life, but who gets whisked away to the Other World, where she has an unusual chance to be heroic.

Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II -- will tell the stories of African American working during World War II -- fighting the war and fighting for their own civil rights. This looks like a great project and well worth funding for the historical value alone!

Keeper of the Stars, by Aubrey Jewel - "A tale of the magic found in the night sky in the form of an animated story." This looks like a lovely book for kids, young and old alike.

Fabulous artist Therese Obergottsberger is looking for some help getting her her work scanned and ready for a showing in New York in December. She's an amazing talent!

Diary of a Champion -- Looks like the kind of sports story I'd love to see. And the cast list is impressive.

When your passion and talent don't seem to be enough, the lengths one will go are detrimental. Following the story of Track & Field star Tahja Dupree, “Diary of a Champion” explores the politics and scandal behind the doors of competition between prominent track athletes and coaches preparing for the 2016 games.

And finally, just in time for the holi-daze, check out Heather "Cloe" Bloss' Spoonful of Cats Holiday Cards. I mean, who doesn't like cute cats in holiday scenes?

What KickStarter projects are you following?

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LunaFest 2012

Ai! It's been a month and a half since I posted last! Gotta catch you all up on what this self-rescuing princess has been up to!

The goodie bag! Filled with lots of great stuff!

A dear friend very generously gave me her extra ticket to LunaFest 2012, and I had a blast (and spent way too much money)! It was wonderful to see so many local businesses out supporting such a wonderful event -- great movies by, for, and about women -- and helping local women!

I really wanted to win this sculpture. Sadly, I didn't.

I wish I could link all the films here for you to watch. They're all so important, so inspirational, so funny and moving. If you see them coming to your area, make it a point to go see them. They really are that good. These, though, were the four that really captured my heart:

Blank Canvas, by Sarah Berkovich

When Kim received a devastating diagnosis for uterine cancer, her world turned upside down. Through her treatment, she has struggled to cope with her changing body image in positive ways. Taking an unconventional route, Kim decides to turn her baldness into a blank canvass for self-expression, and in doing so creates a powerful statement that allows her to share her experience with others.

This one was really amazing. And empowering. I only hope that if I'm ever faced with something as traumatic and terrifying as Kim, I would have the same amount of grace and the same "f*** you" attitude.

Lunch Date, by Sasha Collington

2011 was supposed to be Annabel’s year. So why is she here, sitting in a restaurant, being told by a fourteen-year-old that her boyfriend, Thomas, doesn’t want to see her anymore. The small messenger is Wilbur. He has agreed to break the news as payment for borrowing Thomas’s tent. But dispensing with Annabel proves a bigger challenge than Wilbur had anticipated.

This film was funny and cute. It turns everything on its head, in a really charming way.

Flawed, by Andrea Dorfman

Artist Dorfman's drawings burst colorfully into life as she animates the story of her long-distance relationship with a man whose profession—plastic surgery—gives her plenty of fodder for thought about what makes a person beautiful. Flawed is less about whether girl can get along with boy than whether girl can accept herself, imperfections and all. Animated in timelapse, as an homage to the time-honoured tradition of storyboarding, the plot ofFlawed, unfolds like a storybook, one watercolour painting at a time.

This one was a bit heavy, tackling the tough subject of childhood plastic surgery. But the heaviness is offset by the animation style. It's sweet and thoughtful and really more what relationships really are about -- learning how to love ourselves in the context of the relationship.

Whakatiki - A Spirit Rising, by Louise Leitch

Kiri, an overweight Maori woman, takes a trip to the Whakatiki River where she spent many summers as a girl. With her goes her husband Dan, his friend Seb and beautiful newcomer, Josie. The place awakens powerful memories for Kiri, and as tensions mount she draws on her spiritual connection to the river to rise up and reconnect with her true self.

This got rousing applause. It was painful to watch, but the way it turned out was such a relief. And, frankly, this is the film that has stayed with me the longest.

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Happy Birthday Kristen Bell

You know, I have a guilty pleasure of watching Kristen Bell in pretty much anything she she does, no matter how cheese-ball.

She's just so lively and fun. I especially love it when she appears on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

But, if you haven't seen this video of her on Ellen, you really really should. Just don't eat or drink anything while playing it.

And, just for Kristen, here's a cute little sloth in a birthday hat.

Happy Birthday, Kristen!

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