Reviews:
This page contains reviews of books, films, stores, restaurants and anything else of interest that can be reviewed.
Films: The following are reviews of documentary films.
Daughter from Danang:
In 1975, 2000 children were removed from Vietnam and relocated to adopted families in the USA during Operation Babylift. Not all of these racially-mixed Amer-Asian children were orphans. Heidi was one of those given up by her mother to protect her from possible harm. This documentary chronicles her journey back to find and reunite with her Vietnamese family. This American Experience production shows that this legacy of the Vietnam War is difficult emotionally, socially and culturally.
Fierce Good-Bye, Living in the Shadow of Suicide
Hosted by folksinger Judy Collins who lost her son to suicide, this documentary follows family survivors of suicide. Some insight is also shared through different religious faiths.
Helpful to anyone who has been affected by the suicide of a family member or friend.
The DVD has helpful resources accessible on personal computers.
Border Cafe
Touching story about a young widow in Iran who is determined to support herself and her two young daughters despite pressure from her dead husband's family for her to marry the older brother.
She had a talent for cooking and through her cooking at her restaurant, a foreign truck driver is beguiled by her.
A wonderful Iranian film that gives outside viewers entertaining education about the challenges of women in a Middle Eastern society.Directed by Kambozia Partovi, it was awarded a number of Film Festival prizes.
Electric Shadows
Don't let the odd beginning of the film throw you off the track of staying through to the end. This film has been called the Chinese Cinema Paradiso and rightly so because of the main characters' love of movies.Ling Ling is a fatherless girl who befriends Mao, an awkward new boy at school. Sharing her love of movies, he becomes her best friend. The viewer really gets a glimpse into Chinese history and the not uncommon cruelty and kindness of people. First feature by Chinese female director Jiang Xiao.
King of California
Charlie (Michael Douglas) is an unstable father, just released from a mental institution. He's come back to live with his independent teen daughter Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood). He has a dream that Miranda eventually starts to believe in too. A funny, touching, quirky, not-so-typical Hollywood-type of film.
Scared Sacred
Canadian filmmaker Velcrow Ripper spent 5 years travelling around the world visiting many different "Ground Zero" sites where he interviewed many of the local people. A fascinating journey of what it is to be scared and to find the sacred.The DVD of the film includes interviews and an amazing guided meditation.
The Pick-Up Artist
Directed by Steffen Weinert, this funny short film is about Olli, a man who only wants to have uncommital sex, until he meets the 6-year-old daughter of his one-night stand.
The Barchester Chronicles
For those of you who are fans of Anthony Trollope's novels here's a series based on his 2 novels The Warden and Barchester Towers. If you enjoy any films based on Jane Austen's books, you'll probably enjoy this series. See the younger, slimmer Alan Rickman (of Harry Potter films) portraying the smarmy Obadiah Slope in his breakthrough role! Donald Pleasence is great as the kind warden of St. Hiram's Hospital. You'll also enjoy Susan Hampshire as the lame Madeline.
Forgiving Dr. Mengele
Directed by Bob Hercules & Cheri Pugh
Eva Mozes Kor was a survivor of Doctor Mengele's twin experiments at the Auschwitz concentration camp. This film is a documentary about her life & her holocaust museum and education center C.A.N.D.L.E.S in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Her decision to forgive Mengele and other Nazis has caused much controversy among other Jewish survivors of Nazi concentration camps.
At 75 years young, she continues to give talks about her experiences to various groups, especially schoolchildren. Overall it's very inspiring to see a survivor doing positive things to educate and to promote the philosophy of forgiveness.
Calle 54
If you love Latin Jazz Music, you'll enjoy this documentary with lots of Latin Jazz Music performed live! Featured artists include Tito Puente ('godfather of Latin music"), barefoot Brazilian pianist Eliane Elias, Argentinina tenor sax great Gato Barbieri, Paquito D'Rivera.
This is an incredible music documentary by director/writer Fernando Trueba. He was the winner of 1993 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language for his film Belle Epoch.
Adams Apples
This is a brilliant Danish film starring Mads Mikkelsen as a minister with a country parish who rehabilitates released prisoners. Adam (played by is a newly-released neo-Nazi skinhead convict who challenges the minister. Saying more than this about he film will spoil it for the viewer.
For more film reviews and info visit:
Stores & Restaurants
Organic Lives
1829 Quebec Street
Vancovuer, BC
Tel: 778-558-7777
As you get off the Skytrain at Main Street walk south on Quebec Street (it's the street that Science World is on) You'll pass fast food restaurants McD & BK. (Frankly, I think they advertise enough without me giving their names!) You'll also pass Mario's Gelati. After you cross 2nd Avenue, finally there's an option that organic, delicious and healthy ---Organic Lives!
Many different delicious options that remind you of the taste and textures of gourmet and exotic foods except they're not cooked on a stove and contain no animal products. The staff are very friendly and helpful and want to know when you like things and how they might improve things you don't like! Please help them to be successful with your helpful suggestions!
I enjoyed the Thai Curry soup finding it so spicy that it had plenty of heat without being on a stove.BTW, you can request items to be warmed in a dehydrator. Tiramisu is rich and delicious. Love the Pizza. I also enjoyed the Caesar Salad.
Silvia Suggestion: come here with a few friends so you can try a few tastes of many different items.
The menu is evolving, so expect new, exciting options in the future.
Below are photos of some of my favorite dishes.
