Posted By Ethan de Seife on Sat, Aug 8, 2015 at 9:00 AM

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Twentieth Century Fox / Lightstorm Entertainment

George Clooney and Natasha McElhone in Solaris (2002)

As I mentioned in a previous “What I’m Watching,” my wife and I recently embarked on the "Solaris Project”: Together, we read Stanislaw Lem’s 1961 science fiction novel, then watched Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1972 adaptation of it (which I wrote about here), then watched Steven Soderbergh’s 2002 adaptation of that same novel. Experiencing the same text in three different ways has been an instructive lesson on the nature of adaptation, and — not to be too over-the-top here — of the endless and eternally inspiring human capacity for artistic creativity.

I’m not particularly drawn to the story of Solaris, I’ll admit, and I can think of other novel-to-film-to-film transformations that are more interesting to me. Off the top of my head, the 1956 and the 1978 versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers come to mind; so do the 1920 and 1941 versions of Jack London’s novel The Sea Wolf. I’m not that into those authors, either, but I am always curious to see how stories can be interpreted and presented in multiple ways. Lem’s novel, and the films made from it, fit the bill for this project. And there were all the texts, right there in my living room, so what the hell.

Tags: film , movie , what i'm watching , solaris , steven soderbergh , andrei tarkovsky , stanislaw lem , science fiction , remake , adaptation , novel , ambiguity , Image , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Thu, Aug 6, 2015 at 2:19 PM

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Courtesy of Daniell Krawczyk

You know what's been missing from Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign? I mean, like, aside from serious coverage from mainstream media outlets? A bangin' hip-hop video, that's what. Thankfully, that issue was addressed earlier this week, when a group of friends based in various states throughout the country collaborated on a new song and vid called "Bernie Damn Sanders."

The video uses old Bernie footage from the archives at CCTV Channel 17 in Burlington that alone is worth checking out — especially the opening segment featuring a young-ish Bernie clumsily referencing Rambo and "Stylvester Stalloney." BTW, local multimedia guru Bill Simmon consulted on the editing process.

Tags: Senator , Bernie Sanders , CCTY Channel 17 , Presidential Campaign , presidential candidates , Wilfrid Cyrus , Video , Image , Web Only

Posted By Ethan de Seife on Mon, Aug 3, 2015 at 4:27 PM

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Ethan de Seife

The mural that was recently unveiled to the public at Burlington’s Ohavi Zedek Synagogue has been celebrated, forgotten, rediscovered, restored and transported, but, despite its 100-plus years, has not lost its ability to impress.

Hanging in the synagogue’s foyer from a specially constructed steel frame, the mural commands attention even though it hangs at second-story level. Its blues and yellows are rich not just in hue but in symbolism, and its three-paneled, triangular form is so unusual as to inspire curiosity. It’s a one-of-a-kind work of art, and those who have been working for years on restoring it are keen to give the mural its due.

In a ceremony at the synagogue on Sunday, dignitaries, religious figures and project supervisors gave the public its first look at the mural’s new, permanent home. Among those who spoke at the ceremony were former Vermont governor Madeleine May Kunin, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who had mentioned the so-called Lost Shul Mural in the Congressional Record of July 7.

Using that article to refer to the Lost Shul Mural as ”one of our state’s most significant treasures,” Leahy also praised the hard work of its restoration committee: “This important piece of Burlington’s Jewish history will finally be on proper display for all to enjoy.”

Tags: lost shul mural , ohavi zedek synagogue , Jewish art , Ben Zion Black muralist , art restoration , Image , Web Only

Posted By Eva Sollberger on Mon, Aug 3, 2015 at 12:38 PM

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Eva Sollberger

Robert Achinda

Vermont resident Robert Achinda was a rich man. Not with money but with family, friends and loved ones. The political asylee, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, believed in miracles, and he made you want to believe in them, too.

I first met Robert back in January 2013, when he shared his epic story of reuniting with his family after years spent apart on different continents:


I met up with Robert again in June 2015 at his twin daughters' graduation from Champlain Valley Union High School:


Robert passed away on July 28 at age 50 after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his eight children, his wife and a large extended family and community. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 8, at the Community Bible Church at 2025 Williston Road in South Burlington. The viewing will be 9-10:30 a.m., with the service following at 11 a.m.

After the service, the family invites friends to the burial at the Gilman Road Cemetery in Hinesburg, and then for lunch and fellowship at the United Church of Hinesburg. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent here. 

You don't meet people like Robert Achinda too often in your life. I'm lucky I got the opportunity to share his story with the world and to spend time with a unique soul who touched so many in his 50 years. Rest in peace, Robert. 

Tags: robert achinda , political asylum , Vermont refugees , Stuck in Vermont , Image , Video , Web Only

Posted By Ethan de Seife on Sat, Aug 1, 2015 at 9:00 AM

Paramount Pictures

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in Pain and Gain

Though I’ll be the first one to grant that he has a lot to answer for after making those execrable Transformers movies, director Michael Bay is, in my opinion, generally misunderstood. I don’t think he’s a cinematic genius on the order of Werner Herzog or Brian De Palma or anything like that, but I do think he’s been unfairly relegated to the bin in which we place makers of mindless, fast-moving action films. Bay is a smarter filmmaker than that.

I recently watched Bay’s 2013 film Pain and Gain; though it’s a bit overlong and sags in the middle, I regard it as one of his best films, joining (in my estimation) The Rock and The Island — and, of course, the famous “Aaron Burr” milk commercial.

Actually, that now-semi-legendary commercial (inasmuch as such things can achieve legendary status) highlights many of Bay’s strengths as a director, which he developed at the helm of many a music video.

Tags: film , movie , what i'm watching , pain and gain , michael bay , visual style , action film , narrator , voiceover , unreliable narrator , Image , Video , Web Only