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Oct. 18th, 2004
(no subject)
Oct. 18th, 2004 11:23 amOn the weekend, I watched City of God with [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] and her aunt. This is a Brazilian movie about a kid growing up in a slum of Rio de Janiero. The story goes through several decades, as the child grows up and watches other people in his neighbourhood become drug lords.
This is a brilliant movie, but it's very hard to watch. There's a lot of violence, and you have to watch kids with guns shooting other children, which was one of the most disturbing things I've seen in a while.
However, this film is beautifully shot. The colour is amazing, and there are scenes which reminded me of both "A Clockwork Orange", and "Trainspotting." The manner in which the narrative is set up copies the broken up style of "Pulp Fiction."
Everyone in this movie does an incredible job. However, watching it is akin to suffering several sharp kicks to the stomach, especially when you find out that it's based on actual events.
After the movie, I was sad to say goodbye to [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], since she has now gone back home.
This is a brilliant movie, but it's very hard to watch. There's a lot of violence, and you have to watch kids with guns shooting other children, which was one of the most disturbing things I've seen in a while.
However, this film is beautifully shot. The colour is amazing, and there are scenes which reminded me of both "A Clockwork Orange", and "Trainspotting." The manner in which the narrative is set up copies the broken up style of "Pulp Fiction."
Everyone in this movie does an incredible job. However, watching it is akin to suffering several sharp kicks to the stomach, especially when you find out that it's based on actual events.
After the movie, I was sad to say goodbye to [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], since she has now gone back home.
(no subject)
Oct. 18th, 2004 03:29 pmIs there anyone in Sacramento who can tape this for me?
Those of you who are in the Sacramento area should check out a new documentary about mixed people called “A Beautiful Blend: Mixed Race in America.” It will air on Wednesday, October 27 at 11:30 PM on KVIE Channel 6. Members of Swirl’s Bay Area Chapter were interviewed for the film!
Those of you who are in the Sacramento area should check out a new documentary about mixed people called “A Beautiful Blend: Mixed Race in America.” It will air on Wednesday, October 27 at 11:30 PM on KVIE Channel 6. Members of Swirl’s Bay Area Chapter were interviewed for the film!
(no subject)
Oct. 18th, 2004 05:27 pmI just got burned by an editor.
Ouch.
In other news, I did something very special this weekend. I attended an ancestor memorial with some of my extended family.
My grandfather's Chinese wife has a son who lives in Vancouver. For those who are not familiar, my grandfather had two wives. He was married to a woman in China. But as he was living in Canada, he got together with my grandma (a Caucasian woman) and they had six kids, one of whom was my mother.
Anyway, my grandfather did not want his Chinese wife to be lonely, so he adopted her a son. When the Chinese wife (let's call her Lillian because that was her English name) came to Canada, the son, who was named Joe, came with her.
Joe lives in Vancouver with his wife and two sons. Yesterday, it was an ancestor worship day at the cemetery. Two of my aunts and I got together with Joe and his family for the memorial. We met up with them, and then drove to the graveyard. We burned incense and put flowers near the graves of my grandfather and his Chinese wife. Then we poured three glasses of whiskey on the ground, and ate some chicken, pork and eggs. It was a surprisingly moving event. The number three symbolized heaven, earth and below, which is why it was used so often. There were lots of Chinese families in the graveyard, and it was interesting to watch them. Some of them had even erected a tent.
Afterwards, we all went to dim sum. I was seated next to Joe's son, Ken, who is actually my cousin. He's my age. This is the first time I have met him. He didn't know anything about my extended family, and wanted to know about all the cousins and my family. He has a wonderful girlfriend named Susan, who he has been with forever. She was very sweet and kept on asking me questions. They brought their little dog Doobie to the cemetery and even into the restaurant!!
So I got to see my grandfather's grave for the first time, and I got to meet a cousin who is curious to know more about my family.
It was a very moving experience.
My aunt has documented the experience and pictures on her webpage here. (She refers to me as "Lexi" on the page)
Edited to add- You can also see some very recent photos of me on this page.
Ouch.
In other news, I did something very special this weekend. I attended an ancestor memorial with some of my extended family.
My grandfather's Chinese wife has a son who lives in Vancouver. For those who are not familiar, my grandfather had two wives. He was married to a woman in China. But as he was living in Canada, he got together with my grandma (a Caucasian woman) and they had six kids, one of whom was my mother.
Anyway, my grandfather did not want his Chinese wife to be lonely, so he adopted her a son. When the Chinese wife (let's call her Lillian because that was her English name) came to Canada, the son, who was named Joe, came with her.
Joe lives in Vancouver with his wife and two sons. Yesterday, it was an ancestor worship day at the cemetery. Two of my aunts and I got together with Joe and his family for the memorial. We met up with them, and then drove to the graveyard. We burned incense and put flowers near the graves of my grandfather and his Chinese wife. Then we poured three glasses of whiskey on the ground, and ate some chicken, pork and eggs. It was a surprisingly moving event. The number three symbolized heaven, earth and below, which is why it was used so often. There were lots of Chinese families in the graveyard, and it was interesting to watch them. Some of them had even erected a tent.
Afterwards, we all went to dim sum. I was seated next to Joe's son, Ken, who is actually my cousin. He's my age. This is the first time I have met him. He didn't know anything about my extended family, and wanted to know about all the cousins and my family. He has a wonderful girlfriend named Susan, who he has been with forever. She was very sweet and kept on asking me questions. They brought their little dog Doobie to the cemetery and even into the restaurant!!
So I got to see my grandfather's grave for the first time, and I got to meet a cousin who is curious to know more about my family.
It was a very moving experience.
My aunt has documented the experience and pictures on her webpage here. (She refers to me as "Lexi" on the page)
Edited to add- You can also see some very recent photos of me on this page.