Afganistan, Kabul – Four persons together with the prayer leader were killed and some others hors de combat as a blast ripped through a musjid in Police District three of Kabul town on 12th June, Afghan Interior Ministry interpreter Tareq Arian aforesaid. “Explosives placed within the Shir Shah-E-Suri musjid exploded throughout prayers,” aforesaid a Ministry of Interior statement. Violence has spiked in recent weeks in the Asian nation with most of the attacks claimed by the Moslem State cluster affiliate.
Earlier this month, Associate in Nursing IS terrorist attacked a musjid in Kabul killing the prayer leader and wounding eight others.
Exclusive Footage from Kabul Mosque Blast !
At least four people have been killed, including the imam of Sher Shah Suri Mosque and his two sons, in an IED explosion during Friday prayers at the mosque in the west of Kabul, Interior Ministry confirms. pic.twitter.com/qxX9hZqoax
The US blamed the IS affiliate for a horrific attack last month on an infirmary within the capital that killed twenty-four folks, together with 2 infants and several other new mothers.
Washington’s peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was within the region earlier in the week making an attempt to resuscitate a U.S. peace contend with the Taliban that it’s expected would eventually enlist the insurgent cluster within the fight against the IS affiliate.
Kenya – The year has been rough, We can all agree on that. Kenya isn’t as different as the rest of the world with the common flow of ‘bad news happening’. The early parts of the year had us shocked by the sudden invasion of Locusts. The insects were said to be traveling across the Horn of Africa. Quite common, our measures to combat natural disasters was put to test. The locusts caused a lot of uneasiness among the country’s citizen, and just when everyone was trying to get interested in finding the solution to that, boom, a new pandemic hits the country once again. Corona Virus! All of a sudden glances changed and everyone brought in their attention to the foreign disease, as little was known about it.
13th March 2020, will forever be remembered in our hearts. The day in which we all received the first Corona Virus confirmed case in the country. Three months later and still we succumb to the Frightening diseases. With reports of 12 June 2020, there are 3215 confirmed Corona Virus cases with the number of recoveries at 1,092 and fatalities recorded at 92. Well, compared to the other countries in the world, Coronavirus numbers are low, though, is that something to be proud of, as a country?
When we all look at the implementation of laws and justice, that’s when we as citizens should be proud of The country. During the Coronavirus Pandemic, the President of Kenya initiated dawn to dusk Curfew that was supposed to help fight and reduce the spread of the virus. During this time, we all witnessed police brutality. Instances when Police beat citizens who were found in the outside, past the curfew time. The event is guilty of a certain number of deaths and pain caused to several Kenyans, something which is quite opposite to the Police objective which is to ‘Maintain law and order‘.
A few weeks ago, ( First week of June ) there was a row between the Chief Justice of Kenya and the President of The country. It is alleged that the Two had a misunderstanding on ‘failure of duty’ The Chief Justice held a press briefing and claimed that The Commander of Chief was not obeying orders given by the court. He later said that it Is the responsibility of the President to obey the law of the constitution as it is expected of every citizen of the country..’ No one is above the law’ goes the saying. Just days later, we have had one of the Kenyan Governors being impeached on grounds of abuse of power and mismanagement of County Funds. The governor will know her fate when the senate gives the case a hearing to know whether she will remain in power or bow off.
There has been quite a flow of bad governance news to an extent where the citizens do not expect anything good to come out of it. Instances like this, bring development such a rare topic to even think about. All of a sudden, we all have ‘accepted’ that we are indeed ‘faulty’ and somehow the efforts to look for a clean government do not excite us anymore. In layman’s language ‘This is Kenya’. I read an anonymous text which said ‘ Africa is not poor, because it has fewer resources. But it is, because of mismanagement and bad governance!’ Never been more precise!
The pandemic has already taken away hundreds of thousands of lives and affected millions around the world and is now spreading like a forest fire around the globe. In India, people were now shifting to the Community Spread Phase and the concerns are mounting.
Capital markets that were heading south are now trying to recuperate, the employment sector is still looking miserable, and news of community spread from Delhi is making me restless. Our salaries for the last months have been paid but hope for June and new opportunities are dying out.
In India, people are not badly affected as rest of the world till now. Yes, the numbers are rising and with a total number of COVID-19 patients as on 8th June stand at 256,611, claiming 7,135 lives, India is now the fifth worst-affected country by the deadly disease. But the numbers don’t speak the true story as the population is gigantic in India when compared to other countries like Spain, the US, Brazil, Russia and the UK, and others.
It should be noted here that the only metric worth considering here is number of deaths per million – and for Spain it is 575 per million, whereas for India it is only 4 per million. And the ranking as per this criterion is rank 4 for Spain and rank 120 for India.
The other solace is the best rate of recovery among Coronavirus patients, which is over 50 percent in India. The numbers of cases that have recovered from the virus now outnumber the active cases. That’s a great win.
With the Unlock 1.0 phase, most of the regions in India are witnessing the onset of the third stage, i.e. the Community spread of the virus. And surely, with this COVID-19 will once again be testing the feeling of community and safety that existed in the close-knit families of India.
Life once again will be on a Knife-edge. It is by now clear that while the ticking bomb has not gone off, it hasn’t been diffused either. And people have a long fight ahead of them.
It is necessary now to cast an eye towards planning for the next stage. The coming days and weeks will be critical. Difficult decisions to lift lockdowns, curfews and other restrictions have already been taken, but people still cannot overlook the economic, social, demographic and geographic aspects, because even if people do not die due to the COVID-19, they will certainly die of hunger.
Indian positivity
India and her citizens standing with the govt. are fighting the virus-like true warriors. And the world is applauding us; applauding the way India is fighting with the only topic trending in recent times on social media and intellectual circles is how India is maturely fighting with Corona. India has been able to take timely steps in the initial stages itself whereas most of the European countries, despite a steep rise in the number of cases ignored the issues, and India sees the consequences. India considered a third world country until now is quickly gaining respect and recognition at the world stage.
India is one of the very few nations where govt. has taken action at the root levels itself. Lockdown and other timely pro-active actions gave flexibility to people in breaking the corona chain. A happy human is 100 time stronger than a unwell person, and to lift the moods of citizens during the lockdown times, pro-active activities like mass applauding of efforts of the health workers on March 22, and lighting up of candles/diyas/torch lights on April 5th boosted the morale of Indians highly and re-ignited the spirit to fight Corona with full vigour.
People stayed calm, didn’t resort to hoarding of essentials, and people made arrangements of feeding the poor irrespective of their caste and religion and also fed the other inhabitants of mother earth- the stray animals and birds.
People followed social distancing through innovative methods of drawing circles and boxes. People used Jugaads (unconventional options) to turn discarded train coaches into ICU wards, creating 10,000 bed mobile hospitals on these coaches, quickly acted in making low coast masks, industrial houses helped through monetary support, made ventilators, and devised innovative and affordable solutions for corona warriors, etc.
Above all the huge public participation is something which was totally unexpected of us, in spite of the world thinking that India still is a snake charmer’s country where people don’t care for others.
People showed that they are a powerhouse and know how to tackle issues which hurt them, and the world has started cheering our efforts in tackling the grave issue seriously when China behaved like a cheat by supplying defective health supplies; Europe is still down on in knees, the USA is behaving like a headless chicken, many people are confidently tackling the situation and showing the world how to be patient and guiding others to follow suit.
Indians are fighting it out and assuring the world that mankind will once again emerge winner and everything will be all right.
Bangladesh, Chittagong – When people all across the world are suffering amid the Coronavirus pandemic, people in Bangladesh have become victims of cruelty.
The patients whether infected by the virus or not are being denied treatment by doctors at various hospitals without negative test reports. Meanwhile, the hospitals designated for COVID-19 treatment are not admitting patients without positive test results. This has resulted in increased deaths in Bangladesh on a whole as people suffering from other diseases are losing their lives even before being tested for COVID-19.
It is widely believed that being tested for the virus is a chaotic and complex process. People face issues like standing in line for a long time and then being told that it won’t happen today. And, even if someone gets tested, it takes around 6 days to get the reports while the person continues to suffer and in some cases, dies eventually.
The first case of Coronavirus was detected in Bangladesh on March 8, since then, the number of active cases and deaths are on rise. Currently, over 78,000 people have been infected with the virus in the country, nearly 1000 have died and approximately 16, 740 have recovered.
As per local media reports, a total of 298 people including heart patients, pregnant women, etc. have died without treatment in the last 3 months. 229 have lost their lives being home without treatment while 69 others died on the way to hospital. Some deaths have also not been revealed yet, according to dw.com.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a report by China that was released in April said, 5% of patients who tested positive for the virus require artificial respiration and another 15% require condensed oxygen. This means approximately 20% of the patients who are infected will need to be moved to ICU. Whereas, the country’s ICU system can’t even handle close to 20% of the entire population of Bangladesh. The Department of Health released a report last week which said there are only 399 ICU beds in the country for coronavirus patients. Of these, 218 are in the capital, 48 in Dhaka division, 34 in Chittagong division, 7 in Mymensingh division, 18 in Barisal, 16 in Sylhet, 28 in Rajshahi, 18 in Khulna and 13 in Rangpur. And, there is no ICU in about 16 districts of the country, as per www.Chandpurtimes.com.
Although the government had assured to tackle the situation in an effective manner, the facts and figures show lack of preparedness and mismanagement in the health sector. The hospitals also lack adequate Intense Care Units (ICUs) and only 10,000 people are being tested in a day. There are just 55 PCR labs available for 170 million people as per www.dghs.gov.bd. And this is precisely why the test results get delayed and people are dying in huge numbers.
However, a professor of Chittagong Medical College, who wished to stay anonymous, told Transcontinental Times that “Everyone has the right to get the treatment if they are sick and they don’t need to get tested for COVID-19 ideally.” “The government has directed to admit all the patients, with any kind of disease in the hospitals,” he added. The professor further informed that the sensitivity of PCR test is 77-70% and therefore, 30-33% of the patients may test negative. So, the treatment should only be taken if someone has symptoms. In case of shortness of breath or oxygen saturation falls below 93%, hospitalization is required, he added. While explaining all about the virus, he said, “If the test is done 7-8 days after the sample collection, the report is more likely to be negative.”
Meanwhile, reports from across the country of government officials being harassed by the public for mishandling cases have also emerged amid the ongoing Coronavirus crisis.
Spain, Barcelona – Darwin Reina created his directorial debut with the short film, named Jaska The Killer in 2013. Thereafter, he has continued leading music videos and commercials. He was influenced by administrators like Francis Ford Coppola, Spike Lee, David O. Russell, David Fincher, and Kubrick among others. Darwin Reina a filmmaker primarily based in Europe, Sweden.
Darwin is a film festival Director at the (L’HIFF) L’Hospitalet De Llobregat International Film Festival in the European country, the festival has been schedule for ninth to thirteenth Nov 2020. Film creating could be a good way to gift skills, what sensible framing for you it’d be a foul framing for the opposite filmmaker thus film-making is incredibly singular and he believes that individual must accompany guts and do the film as they assume it happy, there are ton filmmakers out there or critics that continually need distinctive ideas to try to do a movie. He additionally tries to be removed from there or traumatize them, not on a private level. “I assume film-making is running off a story solely that we’ve all the gear and software package to try to nice things however if there’s no story its onerous to form films which what happened currently altogether over the planet, we tend to appear constant story everywhere the place simply camouflage. Indeed, the stories we tend to are lucking in film-making right now”, Darwin aforesaid.
A great Still from "IL VESTITO (THE SUIT)" Director: Maurizio Ravallese —– Official Selection – L'H International Film Festival NOV 9 – 13
Title: IL VESTITO (THE SUIT) Runtime: 15:00 min Country: Italy Director: Maurizio Ravallese pic.twitter.com/8OITqCQw0D
— L'H INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (@lhifilmfestival) June 12, 2020
The mission of the L’Hospitalet De Llobregat International Film Festival is to make a singular platform for brand spanking new filmmakers to showcase the films to a wider audience and recognized old artists.
L'HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – BARCELONA SPAIN#LHIFF2020#lhiff2020#lhiff#darwinreina NOVEMBER 9 – 13 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat International Film Festival #LHIFF2020 is looking forward to showcasing films from around the globe. Barcelona – Spain pic.twitter.com/RZHkrG8QlU
On being asked ‘What would he prefer to communicate to imminent filmmakers? he adds, “Be inventive and be perfervid, don’t get confused with all those massive productions that they need the cash for that, try and do your film the method you’ll be able to and learn however doing it, there’s no immediate result issue or person to follow, you’ve got to own the center to mention I prefer my work whether or not alternative find it irresistible or not! simply couple and revel in it, there’s no 100% good film.”
Actor Nalneesh Neel who was previously seen in Fukrey Returns, Chhichhore, and III Smoking Barrels will be seen in the film Gulabo Sitaboo, alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, Gulabo Sitabo will be streaming on Amazon Prime Video on 12th June.
On sharing his experience of working with Ayushmann, actor Nalneesh Neel said, “I have seen his films and he has doing a great job. So I was very much excited to learn that Ayushmann would be working with us on Gulabo Sitabo. We used to have lots of fun on sets off screen. He used to mimic my gestures. He always gives comfortable space to his actors. I got to learn a lot from him. I hope I get to work more with him in future as well.”
Talking about his working experience on the film, Nalneesh told, “The whole experience of working on the film was a memorable one for me. The reading sessions and our shoots in Lucknow proved to be a great experience. There are many interesting scenes in film which you will get to see and I cherish them so much. Even with Shoojit Sircar it was a really wonderful experience. I feel fortunate to work have worked him.”
INDIA. Pune, Maharashtra. The musical team of Saiprasad Nimbalkar and Piysuh Kulkarni, professionally known as Sai-Piyush, launched their first music video on 4 June. The duo has been impressing fans and critics alike with their film and television scores for a decade. With more than 15 screen credits to their name, Sai and Piyush produced their debut music video in 2019 and decided to release it during the Covid-19 lockdown, wanting to give enjoyment while people were isolated in their homes.
Facing the Camera for the First Time. Usually providing background tracks and vocals, Sai, the 31-year-old musician, fulfilled a lifelong dream and stepped in front of the camera for this exquisite cinematic experience. “Ye Punha is about two people who are deeply in love but not together. They are in love with the memories and the past…it’s been so long, the touch is fading away.” The video is “Emotional and bright…a soulful melody.” The release of this song during a pandemic for which “social distance” became the norm, was timed very well.
Fate Intervenes for 16-Year-Old. After completing his 10th standard in Pune, India, Sai was faced with the dilemma that so many school-age children in India and across the world confront: What to do with my life? A friend who worked in film shared that there was a local youth audition, so he showed up, only to discover they were auditioning for a much younger child. Rather than leave, Sai followed the assistant director, asking questions and finding himself completely at home with the “vibe” of the people and the set. His curiosity was rewarded.
Sai-Piyush Debut Music Video
The following day, the assistant director introduced him to “another director” also filming at that location. Sai found himself side by side with Amir Khan, one of the most beloved and award-winning actors, directors, and producers known world-wide. Khan graciously allowed Sai to shadow him for the entire day, and it was then that the 16-year-old knew the arts were in his destiny.
Making His Parents Proud. “Life manifested exactly as I had dreamed…the universe unfolded for me,” Sai shared. “[It’s really important] to be receptive and open to the many small things that happen [in your life]…to pay attention to being in the right place at the right time.” He shared that he had been in plays during his school days, and those times in front of an audience really built his confidence. When his parents were doubtful that he should focus on the arts, he voluntarily took an extensive aptitude test. The results were clear: he should focus on the arts. His parents gave cautious support until they attended the first movie screening for which he was a composer in 2010. Since then, they have naturally become his biggest fans.
Recognized for Their Talents. Among several prestigious honors, Sai-Piyush has been awarded The Pune Journalist Association Music Director’s award and The Maharashtra State Government Best Music in a Theater Production award.
Staying Fresh. Passing the decade mark in their musical partnership, Sai and Piyush keep things fresh by performing live with their band RudraXsha, a Hindi rock/classical fusion band; producing commercial jingles; and now releasing their debut music video. Extending their reach across the globe, they are currently in collaboration with artists from Nigeria and San Diego on a music single. They are also working on a new Marathi film project with a well-known director. Sai is deeply motivated by the arts’ ability to heal the world. “Art has the power to bring the whole world together…it’s a dimension which when introduced to someone cannot be ignored. It’s a beautiful addiction.”
List-making is something no movie aficionado can take lightly. And when it comes to movies, there are few things more influential than Hollywood. Not only is it the biggest movie industry in the world in terms of revenue but it is also the oldest. Some of the Hollywood’s best movies were made between 1930s-1960s. It was during the period that Hollywood movies’ best makers like Charles Chaplin, John Ford, Billy Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, John Huston, and Orson Welles were at the heights of their creative powers.
The period that followed also saw master filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick, David Lean, Sidney Lumet, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Altman, Arthur Penn, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, etc. who have made some unforgettable cinematic gems. These gems need to be savored and cherished but most importantly catalogued. For a movie enthusiast, it is really a lifelong job to maintain his/her list of best Hollywood movies. The list of course evolves with exposure and time. A young cinephile’s best Hollywood movie this year is bound to be different than his/her all time Hollywood best movie last year and so on. But as the cinebuff grows, his/her choices tend to acquire an air of rigidity and so the top Hollywood movies list would gradually settle down.
The history of motion pictures can be traced back to the year 1885 when the Lumiere Brothers started conducting private screenings of projected motion pictures in the world’s major cities such as London, Paris, and New York. Since then motion pictures have come a long way. The movies that the Lumieres screened and the movies that we watch today are as one would expect poles apart. If we look at the history of filmmaking we would come across a name called D.W. Griffith. It was Griffith who pretty much established the rules that drive the making of motions pictures. Here, I am basically referring to the rules of continuity and without making it too technical let me put it this way that these are the rules that make the movie watching a nigh seamless process. The rules which mainly deal with editing and cinematography dictate how films should be shot, cut, and arranged. Although, there rules are just the guidelines but the proper execution of these rules give the filmmakers a better control over things and prevent them from going awry. Some of the best known Hollywood classics adhere to these rules and cinephiles would vouch that they still succeed in holding their sway on the viewer.
So, here is the first part of the five part article series highlighting the 50 best films that Hollywood has produced over the last hundred years or so.
This Steven Spielberg-directed classic about the frequent attacks of a man-eating shark on the beach-goers is one of the greatest adventure thriller films ever made. The movie is known for its rather striking visuals and chilling background music. The Oscar-winning score composed by John Williams is ranked the sixth-greatest score by the American Film Institute. Such is the terrifying power of Jaws that anyone who has seen it can never really dare to swim in the open sea again. Jaws is said to have marked the beginning of the blockbuster era that would see films such as Star Wars, Alien, Aliens, the Indiana Jones films, ET, Ghostbusters, and Die Hard, among others.
49. Terminator 2: Judgment Day(1991)
James Cameron-directed Terminator 2: Judgment Day, without doubt, is one of the best Action Sci-Fi films ever made. Here is a rare film that brilliantly blends adrenaline-pumping action with human emotions. Arnold Schwarzenegger is absolutely amazing in the role of the uber-cool human killing machine, T-800. But unlike Terminator (1984), the cyborg is here to protect a human named John Connor. He is of course send from the future by Connor himself. Terminator 2 helped Schwarzenegger win millions of hearts. The film also immortalized him. Linda Hamilton is simply superb (and in perfect shape) in the role of a single mother desperate to protect his only child. Also menacingly brilliant is Robert Patrick in the role of Schwarzenegger’s nemesis, T – 1000, the shape shifting cyborg sent to kill Connor by Skynet. Terminator 2 was a critical and commercial success and has had a tremendous influence on the popular culture. The film also paved the way for further advancements in the field of CGI and VFX.
48. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford(2007)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is one of the best films of 2007 (what a year it was for Hollywood) and unfortunately also the most underrated. One of the greatest Revisionist Westerns, the Andrew Dominik film tells the story of the murder of the legendary outlaw by Robert Ford. The characters are superbly essayed by Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, respectively. Both the actors deserved Oscar and sadly both weren’t obliged. Pitt won the best actor award at the 2007 Venice Film Festival for his mesmerizing portrayal of a ferocious outlaw humbled by the changing times. Here is a gem of a film (featuring arguably the best work of ace cinematographer Roger Deakins) that demands patience to begin with but those who invest in it are thoroughly rewarded.
47. There Will Be Blood (2007)
This Paul Thomas Anderson-directed masterpiece was inspired by John Huston’s The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Anderson used to make everyone watch the Huston film again and again every night during the shooting of There Will Be Blood which features an unforgettable performance from Daniel Day-Lewis who won his second Oscar for his portrayal of a ruthless oil prospector who makes a fortune at the turn of the 20th century. The film serves as a powerful treatise on greed, betrayal and obsession—one of the greatest at that.
46. The Silence of the Lambs(1991)
This Jonathan Demme-directed film is an adaptation of a Thomas Harris novel of the same name that tells the story of an FBI trainee name Clarice Starling who is sent by his mentor to seek the help of an incarcerated cannibalistic killer named Dr. Hannibal Lecter to help catch a serial killer. Along with It Happened One Night (1934) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), it happens to be one of three films to win the top five Oscars—Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Screenplay (Adapted). The Silence of the Lambs is dark, depressing and diabolical but is one of the finest crime thrillers of all time featuring unforgettable performances from Anthony Hopkins (as Dr. Lecter) and Jodie Foster (as Agent Starling).
45. No Country for Old Men (2007)
No Country for Old Men won as many as 4 Oscars including the ones for Best Picture and Best Directing. Directed by the Coen brothers, No Country for Old Men—with its themes of fate, greed, survival, and death—is one of 21st century’s greatest masterpieces. 2007 was certainly a special year for Hollywood and is yet to be matched in the recent times. The performances by Javier Bardem (as the serial killer Anton Chigurh), Josh Brolin, and Tommy Lee Jones immensely add to its cinematic brilliance.
44. The Night of the Hunter (1955)
This Charles Laughton classic features one of Hollywood movies’ best performances from the great Robert Mitchum who plays a wolf in a sheep’s clothing. His terrifying performance would give chills to the calmest of minds. This unique film blends the cynicism of film noir with the gothic terror of Nosferatu. Although, hailed as a undisputed classic today, the film was a commercial failure and remains the only film directed by Laughton, who, of course, was an Oscar-winning actor. The Night of Hunter is perfectly summed up by the late American film critic Roger Ebert in his 1996 review of Laughton’s classic: “It is one of the most frightening of movies, with one of the most unforgettable of villains, and on both of those scores it holds up… well after four decades as I expect ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ to do many years from now.”
43. Amadeus (1984)
Directed by Czech-American filmmaker Miloš Forman, Amadeus is arguably the greatest musical period drama film of all time. Adapted by Peter Shaffer from his own play of the same name, Amadeus presents a fictionalized account of Mozart’s life. The story is told from the point of view of Antonio Salieri who envies and hates Mozart’s musical genius. F. Murray Abraham is absolutely mesmerizing to watch in his Oscar-winning portrayal of Salieri. Tom Hulce too is brilliant in his comical avatar of Mozart. Amadeus makes for an unforgettable cinematic experience and deservedly won as many as 8 Academy Awards including the ones for the Best Picture and Best Director.
42. The Big Heat (1953)
Fritz Lang, along with F.W. Murnau, was one of the most famous names of German Expressionism. Lang’s Metropolis (1927) and M (1931) are arguably the greatest German films of all time. But the rise of Nazism forced Lang to move to Hollywood. Among the various films made by him in the US, The Big Heat remains the most famous. It also happens to be one of the greatest film noirs ever made. And it is no big surprise, for Hollywood’s film noir genre was more or less an offshoot of German Expressionism.
41. Rio Bravo (1959)
Howard Hawks was one of the greatest filmmakers of the Hollywood’s Golden Age. John Wayne was one of the most bankable actors of the era (famous for his collaborations with John Ford). Here Hawks and Wayne joined hands to respond to a film that they weren’t particularly impressed with: High Noon. They saw the film as an insult to the values they had helped establish with their Classic Westerns. Hawks had said: “I didn’t think a good sheriff was going to go running around town like a chicken with his head cut off asking for help, and finally his Quaker wife had to save him.” The duo thought that the story of High Noon was needed to be told in their own way. Hence, they made Rio Bravo and the rest is history! To watch Rio Bravo is to witness a master craftsman at the height of his creative powers. Not a frame is wasted as we are treated with one of Hollywood’s finest examples of cinematic storytelling featuring one of the greatest performances from John Wayne.
USA, Rochester, New York – For the second weekend in a row since America witnessed the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, hundreds attended a peaceful protest organized by Black Lives Matter, a decentralized grassroots organization founded in 2013.
The vast majority of the protesters were white allies, carrying signs and chanting in response to the organizer’s pleas for justice, which began with “Say their names.” More than a dozen names of Black Americans who have been victims of police brutality ripped through the blue skies. “We are the experts of our own lives, and it’s up to you [white allies] to push harder, be uncomfortable, and ask how you can make change.” One of the organizers asked for all the Black people to come to the front. Several dozen protesters stepped forward. The organizer then invited all the white allies to surround them. “This is what you can do,” he said. “You can use your body to defend Black bodies.”
The crowd erupted into another chant of “Silence is violence. Silence is compliance.”
Another of four speakers gave a eulogy in honor of Mr. Floyd, emphasizing that this man was nothing important by American standards, low income, living in the “hood,” and doing his best to get by. But that “God turned a nobody into a somebody.”
“Vote! Vote! Vote!” was the resounding reply.
In attendance with his wife and two sons was Bobby Douglas, age 49, a lifelong resident of Rochester, New York. “I do everything I can to avoid the police [as a Black man]. I have seen how the police treat two drunk people totally different. They see a Black man drunk and they will arrest him, but a White guy, they call him a cab.” This is the first protest Bobby ever attended, and he said that what needs to change is accountability. “How is it that these officers can turn off their body cameras? Why can’t we all just be treated the same, fairly? I don’t want anything from you but the same chance to make it. How does leaving anyone behind make you feel better? We need to prosper together. “Floyd, age 46, was arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 for buying cigarettes with a counterfeit bill. While in police custody, Floyd was pinned to the pavement by Officer Derek Chauvin, an eighteen- year veteran of the force with eighteen complaints filed against him. A seventeen-year old by-stander took video of Chauvin’s knee on Floyd’s neck until Floyd became unresponsive.
The video of Floyd’s death went viral and tens of thousands of Americans have flooded the streets every day since the arrest.
The protest in downtown Rochester lasted for more than two hours and was followed by 8 minutes and 46 seconds to mark the time that white Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd’s neck as Floyd cried, “I can’t breathe.” Chauvin has been arrested for 2nd degree murder, an unintentional murder in the act of committing a felony. Black Lives Matter and numerous other grassroots organizations are calling for the most severe 1st degree murder charge, for which willful premeditation must be proven.
The protesters have seen several of their demands met, including a ban on the use of neck restraint and choke-holds by Minneapolis law enforcement and the arrest of the three officers who stood by while their colleague committed murder.
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