Life of Emile Zola

The film about the life of French writer is a definite must see for all. Why? You learn so much!! He was a man that stood his ground on portraying the world as he saw it. He was a naturalist writer (?). He lived in poverty - he wrote about - without any romanticism - about society from the perspective of the poor. He questioned the society around them by exposing the hypocrisies of daily life. He stood up against the government and demanded he have the rights entitled to him. He fought with his pen and words against the entire French army during a time that the people could see no flaws in the army and its government.

It is an inspiring film - makes you get off your bum and affect a change in the world around you.

I am reading his first book - Nana - its provocative story about the life of a Parisian prostitute pre WWII. It was considered blasphemous and disgusting during its time. The story is an analogy to so much more - a social commentary. If you have a chance - pick it up.

Nana: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nana_(novel)
Emile Zola: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Zola

Mistress of Spices

On our weekly date - C and I usually pic up 5-6 dvds - split between what each of us wants to watch. Usually a sprinkling of sci-fi, bollywood, asian, documentary and action. I wanted to pick up Mistress of Spices last time but the book wasn't that good and C gave me one of his "r u serious!?" looks that I retracted from it. I was just curious what the movie was like with Aishwarya Rai and Dylann McDermott. Lo' and behold - the very next day on Star Movies - what do i see when i flip through - aha! "Mistress of Spices"!

The movie is terrible in my opinion. It was just poorly written script. There were elements in the book that made it a fantasy but those elements were removed in the movie. First and foremost - the main character, Tilo comes to us in guise of an old woman, wrinkly and all. But, inside she is a young woman. As mistress of spices, that is the mask she must wear and give up all personal lust/needs. In the film - Ash is her regular Ash self - albeit they kept her in fashionable cotton saris with a single plait an a supposed look of indian conservatism.

There is a point in the book that she uses the spices power for herself to turn her into a young woman - and the love of Doug (McDermott) is supposed to recognize (and love her) despite her physical change. In the film - she has a friend help her transform into a bollywood Ash - with halter top red blouse and sheer red sari, fancy make-up and hair open. Ugh! The whole mystical, magical and fantasy of the book is completely lost!!

Don't bother to see it - unless you are just curious to see a bad film. Another attempt by Ash to do a Hollywood-y flick!

SiCKO

C and I finally watched Michael Moore's "Sicko" the other day and it just made us go "hmmm.."
If you haven't watched it - well, you should. It points out how most of the nations in the world can manage to have universal healthcare but US being one of the richest nations cannot have healthcare to take care of its poor, elderly and sick. There are many arguments against socialized medical - one of them being that one will not receive the best medical treatment if its government run. Hmmm - maybe thats only an issue in the US. Our firefighter, police, libraries are government run and we still receive adequate service (depending on your demographics).

In UK there is even doctors that are on call to come to the sick at home! That would be unheard of nowadays. I remember when my little brother was struck with chicken pox and my father was away with the car and my mother had no means of transportation. It would have been a great service to be able to call a doctor at home to check on his high temperature, don't you think? Instead of calling an ambulance (which cost a pretty penny once u get the bill) and having him stay at the hospital (which, at the time even with insurance, practically was impossible for us to pay).

I haven't had medical insurance since - well, college where it was included as part of our tuition. Why? I have been working as a consultant and the agency I work for offered benefits, but it covered so little and my deductible was so much that it just wasn't worth it. It was better for me to pay cash to see the doctors just to avoid all the headaches and hassles of paperwork! But heck - I still paid a lot of taxes. Now - if I had universal healthcare - then add another tax and take out of paycheck if that means if I am sick i don't have to be tense about seeing the doctor and worrying about bills.

I am babbling yes - but its an issue the US really needs to fix - why can other nations provide free education and healthcare but the US claims to not be able to do it - but instead spend zillions in a war that most of the nation is against? Is that democracy?

Interesting fact that my little brother (well he is 16) relayed to me - How many countries allow/is it legal for pharmaceuticals to directly advertise to consumers? Answer: 2 (US & New Zealand). I found that interesting. I detest the ads. Only doctors should recommend any medications. A person without medical background is illiterate to diagnose themselves for an illness! Symptoms can be the same for many different diagnosis.

There is one ad that I detest - its an otc painkiller - the ad shows a person exhausted - muscle aches from playing with their kids, headaches from work stress, backaches from working - the answer - take this pain killer and resume your life! WHAT!! If the body is in pain - that means - slow down! Give it a break, rest! Be a healthy human being rather than drugging your body and pushing it beyond its capabilities!! Shouldn't the government be taking care of its citizens, making sure they are healthy?

I can go on and on with the gripes I have - When I remember these things - that my education debt will take forever to pay off, my credit sucks cause I haven't been able to pay off some medical bills, that having debt is a part of life in the US - it just makes me happy that C and I moved out. Medical care here is really just as good if not better cause doctors listen and then take care of you. The treatments I have received so far has cost far less ($500 vs. $50) with the same equipment and better service. I was able to take care of a dental problem - a root canal and cap - here in Dhaka for far less ($5,000 vs, $500).

C and I are debating - once we are done in Dhaka, maybe we will move to France. Hmmm - according to "SiCKO" the french gov't sends a nanny to help new moms!

Time to start learning some French with my free time!!

Follow/click the badge below to learn more about the film and how you can "get involved"