When a five-year-old gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, he becomes an archetype of lost children everywhere. His odyssey to find his roots while honoring his adoptive parents is a heart wrenching journey for both him and the audience.
Book – **** Robert Dugoni’s best-selling mystery is a worthy read. Tracy Crosswhite’s obsession with solving her sister’s disappearance and resolving her own guilt captures the reader’s sympathy.
A French philosophy teacher endures the loss of her mother, her husband, and elements of her career in a way that challenges our perceptions of responsibility and happiness.
Amazing documentary of a 13-year-old Mongolian girl taking on a century’s old role of capturing and training wild golden eagles to hunt. Beautifully filmed.
Book – **** Ann Lecke’s Hugo and Nebula award winner that explores a universe ruled by a woman whose mind is linked tthrough a thousand ancillary bodies, and the AI of a Ship composed of similar linked segments opposing the ruler. Fascinatingly complex.
Painful but powerful analysis of pushing talent to achieve “greatness” at any price. Even with the willing participation of the drummer, Miles Teller, the teacher goes beyond what any sane person would condone. J.K. Simmons, gives an Oscar-winning performance as the obsessive, abusive, teacher.
Book – ***+ Charlie N. Holmberg’s creative fantasy of a girl, Ceony, co-opted into “paper folding” for life, the lowest specialty you can bond to as a magician.
Modern musical set in Los Angeles. Lovely acting, sets, and songs. A perfectly entertaining film of two creative people whose careers were in conflict.
