Hello Google Wave

Some of Google Wave‘s features look pretty cool.

Here is Google Wave Developer Preview at Google I/O 2009

Polanski & US Judicial System

Let me be clear, Polanski had sex with a 13 years old was wrong and criminal.

Now, I don’t plan to turn this blog entry into an in-depth commentary of the US Judicial System at the time of the case of Roman Polanski 30 years ago. But I believe one can and should consider some of the facts and information presented in the HBO documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired. A doc that I watched and found insightful in many places because of the people the filmmaker interviewed (e.g. lawyers from both sides). Here is the trailer,

Sometimes it is easy for us to feel that we can confidently decide on the “innocent” or “guilt” of a person simply by reading a few “facts” and headlines in news media. Unfortunately, in real life, things are a lot more complicated.

As both the prosecuting attorney and defence lawyer pointed out, some actions of Judge Rittenband was clearly inappropriate and likely illegal (guiding and telling both prosecuting attorney and defence lawyer what to say in front of the cameras, holding press conference to discuss a case before it was decided, etc), which later lead to the dismissal of Judge Rittenband from the Polanski case.

Finally, let me be clear AGAIN, the fact that Polanski had sex with a 13 years old was wrong and criminal. But then even a criminal (or suspected criminal) should be given a fair hearing and treated fairly and impartially by the judicial system and sentenced in a fair manner.

When you had a judge soliciting legal advice from reporters and coaching lawyers from both sides what to say and how to say things like a mock-trial, how can one still think the case had been decided in a fair and equitable manner?

Let us take this as a reminder for us to learn about the powers and limits of the judicial systems in our own countries and ensure our own judicial systems are as fair and equitable as they can.

Eric Howell Ana’s Playground (2009 CIFF) – Best Short & Best Film at Norwich Film Festival

Eric Howell Ana’s Playground, a short film I love at 2009 CIFF, has just won Best Short & Best Film at Norwich Film Festival. Congrats Eric!

Here is my Skype interview with Eric after the screening where we talked about some of the issues related to how children are affected by war (child solider, effects and harm of girls).

Here is my first Skype video interview with Eric before the screening.

Kempton’s CIFF picks for Wed, Sept 30

The following five screenings are my Calgary International Film Festival CIFF pick for Wed, Sept 30,

Cyborg She, Wed, Sep. 30, 7:00 pm, Plaza

Here is the Variety movie review. And here is the CIFF synopsis,

On his twentieth birthday, a university student named Jiro meets the girl of his dreams and spends an unforgettable day with her. That same night, she disappears. A year later, on his birthday, Jiro meets her again. She looks like the same girl, but somehow a little different. She confesses a shocking truth – she is a cyborg that has been sent from the future to change the past! This life-changing encounter between the two brings difficulties, and they are forced to conquer fate as the universe pulls Jiro toward death. The promise at the end of their fight is that 100 years of love between them will begin. The astonishing last scene proves that love has the power to change time and destiny.

The latest film from Kwak Jae-young (MY SASSY GIRL, WINDSTRUCK) is the story of a powerful girl and a sweet boy meeting and falling in love. It is a pure, bittersweet, original love story with a time travel twist.

Winner Nikkan Sports Film Award Best Actress 2008

Karaoke, Wed, Sep. 30, 9:30 pm, Plaza (Director Chris Chong Chan Fui attending the screening)

CIFF synopsis,

Set in a karaoke bar, against the backdrop of a Malaysian palm oil plantation, Chris Chong Chan Fui’s remarkable KARAOKE moves at a wandering pace similar to international sensations Tsai Ming-Liang and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. From the opening jarring sounds of bar patrons cut against non-synch moments of social interaction, the story eventually unfurls as contexts widen and scenes breathe. As time stretches and moments emerge, the director’s hand is played.

Betik has returned to his home in the village from a long painful hiatus and expects

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (Sundance’08 Q&A)

Sept 30 Update: Henry Champ’s Special report for CBC “Writing The End to the Roman Polanski affair” is a worthwhile read and add another voice to this story.

*******

Roman Polanski has been in the news lately. It may help us to understand the complexity and the background of the case a bit better by watching the 2008 HBO documentary Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired. Here is the Q&A session of the director of the documentary at Sundance ’08.

P.S. Laws don’t exist in a vacuum. And a judicial system is sometimes not as clear and clean as we hope.

Miao Miao @ 2009 CIFF

Just watched Miao Miao. It is one of the best 2009 Calgary International Film Festival films that I have seen. It will be screening again this Sunday Oct 4.

P.S. Lots of spoilers in this Variety review.

Ingrid Betancourt interviewed by Mellissa Fung

CBC News Mellissa Fung‘s exclusive interview with the former hostage Ingrid Betancourt. (September 28, 2009)

One of the best interviews that I have EVER watched (and I have seen a lot of interviews (and conducted a few myself)). The special sharing between Mellissa and Ingrid was amazing and very special.

South China Mall – The World’s Largest Shopping Mall

Watched the documentary ”The World’s Largest Shopping Mall” at the Calgary International Film Festival and it just made me feel terribly shocked and sad.

South China Mall is probably the largest shopping mall in the world with the least number of “customers”. The terrible waste and the political, “legal”, and “business” environment that kept this up and running!

Kempton’s CIFF picks for Mon, Sept 28

The following five screenings are my Calgary International Film Festival CIFF pick for Mon, Sept 28,

The Philosopher Kings (Documentary), Monday, Sep. 28, 7:15 pm, Globe Theatre

CIFF Synopsis excerpt,

THE PHILOSOPHER KINGS is a documentary film about the kind of wisdom that gets you through the day – the wisdom that comes from surviving hard times, lost loves, shattered dreams, and bad choices. The film goes deep into the most well-respected and prestigious universities to seek wisdom from the people who see it all and have been through it all – the janitors. [...]

45365 (Documentary), Monday, Sep. 28, 9:00 pm, The Plaza

CIFF Film Synopsis excerpt,

Shot over the course of nine months, 45365 (pronounced: four, five, three, six, five) captures small town American life in striking cinema-verité style, peeling away the layers of Sidney, Ohio – population 20,000 – to reveal a deeper shared experience. The film follows the lives of the town’s residents as their storylines coalesce into a mosaic of faces, places, and events. [...]

Grand Jury Award Documentary Feature SXSW 2009, Special Documentary Feature Jury Prize Newport International Film Festival 2009

Capturing Reality – The Art of Documentary

Capturing Reality – The Art of Documentary from National Film Board.

May be it is finally time for doc #2?

Gap co-founder Donald Fisher dead at 81

Gap co-founder Donald Fisher dead at 81

Post-It Love

Works great to advertise Post It too! :) I can’t imagine the time we don’t have these little (or big) Post-its! The wonder of a glue that doesn’t stick.

[via plainfaceangel]

Lovers in a Dangerous Time – Mark & May interview @ 2009 Calgary International Film Festival

I had wonderful time watching May Charters & Mark Hug’s film Lovers in a Dangerous Time, a Canadian film set and shot in the beautiful Creston, BC 6 years in the making. The story speaks me and I care about what will happen to the characters as I watch the film. I hope you will enjoy the film as much as I did.

You can read more about the film in a previous blog entry here. Here is my interview with May and Mark after the screening.

Kempton’s CIFF picks for Sun, Sept 27

The following five screenings are my Calgary International Film Festival CIFF pick for Sun, Sept 27,

The Clone Returns to Homeland, 12:00 pm, Globe Theatre

Invisible City, 3:00 pm, Globe Theatre

Tulku, 5:15 pm, Globe Theatre

The Last Lullaby, 7:15 pm, Globe Theatre

If I am not too exhausted, I will check out “Victoria Day”, at 9:30 pm, Globe Theatre

The Herd – 2009 CIFF

“The Herd” is a wonderfully made short documentary, just 4 minutes 19 seconds long. Enjoy.

Love Child – 2009 CIFF

The short film “Love Child” is at 2009 Calgary International Film Festival. It is just so adorable and cute. Enjoy.

What’s Virgin Mean? – 2009 CIFF

“What’s Virgin Mean?” is a 2 minutes 33 seconds 2009 Calgary International Film Festival selection that is short and sweet. A nice job well done.

Roman Polanski Arrested in Switzerland

• Movie-Maker Polanski Arrested in Switzerland (ABC News)
• Polanski arrested in connection with sex charge (CNN)
• Swiss detain Polanski on US arrest request (AP)

*******

Sept 30 Update: I’ve posted another blog entry on this with further comments.

Kempton’s CIFF pick for Sat, Sept 26

The following five screenings are my Calgary International Film Festival CIFF pick for Sat, Sept 26,

SHORTS – Documentary Style, 12:15 pm, Globe Theatre

Tetro, 2:00 pm, Eau Claire Market – Cineplex

Lovers In A Dangerous Time, 4:45 pm, Eau Claire Market – Cineplex (read more here)

SHORTS – Director’s Perspective: The Animator, 7:15 pm, Globe Theatre

Breaking Upwards, 9:45 pm, Eau Claire Market – Cineplex

Lovers in a Dangerous Time @ 2009 Calgary International Film Festival

I am planning to watch Lovers in a Dangerous Time, a Canadian film set and shot in the beautiful Creston BC. Lovers is screening at 4:45pm Sat Sept 26, at Eau Claire. Some of the images and themes in the trailer draws me into the film and I hope the film delivers what the trailer promises.

Lovers’ Facebook group, Twitter. Have a read of the wonderfully told production story in the EPK if you are into the process of filmmaking itself.

Here is the film synopsis from CIFF,

LOVERS IN A DANGEROUS TIME is romantic Canadiana, centering around two former childhood friends – Todd, a small town could-have-been, and Allison, an overly nostalgic children’s book illustrator – who are reunited at their ten-year high school reunion and embark on a childish yet romantic adventure recapturing the life they use to live.

The film’s characters eventually spiral into delinquent behavior, where scorching campfire antics, teenage bush parties, and childhood memories only delay their impending return to adulthood. Directors Mark Hug and May Charters build a story that shows what occurs when we try and revisit the folly of youth, and the results of trying to hold on to the past.

P.S. If I could split myself into two and watch two films at the same time, I would also be watching the documentary Tibet in Song (a film that I had originally planned to watch at this time slot).