One of the joys at WAM! was seeing all but 2 of the 5 free independent films, 4 of which were documentaries. All were made by women.
Friday night I saw The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo. One fact that has stuck with me: The "Special Victims Unit" which handles Child Protection and Sex Crimes is a one room shack with a typewriter and only one police officer. The officer is a female who, when asked how she does all of this by herself, says "I work with the heart of a mother." Sadly, though laws are in place around child welfare and sex crimes, it is very difficult to enforce them.
At 10:00 Friday night they showed "Who's Afraid of Kathy Acker?", but I decided that I didn't want to travel home on the subway and bus too late at night. So, I skipped it.
On Saturday afternoon they showed Girl Inside. It was about the three year journey of one transgender from male to female. Very interesting. Very humanizing. Definitely deepened my understanding and compassion.
At 6:00 Saturday night filmmaker Deborah Kampmeier showed her film "Hounddog" starring Dakota Fanning and Robin Wright Penn (among other great actors). It has been talked about in the media somewhat because of the controversial rape scene. It took Kampmeier 13 years to get it made and released. I'm glad she did.
Sunday afternoon "Club Native" was shown, but I decided to go home before it started.
Really wonderful, intense, provocative films.
Showing posts with label women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women. Show all posts
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Groceries: A Mr. B&B Anecdote
Glued to my computer working on my paper this weekend, I decided groceries would just have to wait until Monday. We would not go hungry.
Much to my surprise, Mr. B&B popped his head in our office late Sunday morning. "Just wanted to let you know, I will take care of the groceries today." he casually remarked. "You will? Are you sure? I was planning on doing them tomorrow..." Then I paused, looked at him, and said, "Thank you.", motioned for him to come closer, and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Mr. B&B is very helpful around the house ALWAYS. He washes laundry, sweeps floors, cleans bathrooms, hangs pictures, and removes snow and ice. He dusts, builds things, weather seals doors, grouts window frames and tubs. There are not many things Mr. B&B won't do. I am a lucky and very thankful woman. Though I am capable of doing the things Mr. B&B does, it is nice not to have to, not to be the sole proprietor of our "home sweet home".
On the other hand, I do not take advantage. I recognize that he works hard every day not only for self-fulfillment, but to keep our little family afloat. When he comes home and the dishes are done, laundry clean and dry and put away, floors swept, bed made, everything dusted, and dinner on the table, he is far more relaxed and just as appreciative of what I do at home all day as I am of what he does at work all day.
Having been together eight years and lived together for quite a few of them, some household tasks have naturally divided. Groceries have traditionally been done jointly or by me. So, when he made his "casual remark" on Sunday, I was floored. He recognized how hard I was working and this was his way of showing me support. My heart was full. I got up and, holding his hand, floated on air to the kitchen where together we made a grocery list. Moments later, Mr. B&B was en route to Trader Joe's.
Typing away in the middle of a thought I was not about to lose, my phone rang and I ignored it. When my thought was typed and saved, I picked up my phone. Mr. B&B, no doubt in the midst of a grocery store crisis, was the mystery caller. "Ring, Ring, ring, ring..." and I am through to his voice mail. Must not have been that important. Five minutes later, he called me back. Before I could say hello, "I decided to save all of my questions until I got to the last aisle so I didn't bother you over and over." He then proceeded with a barrage of questions which I answered deftly and expertly. One never fully understands how complex a seemingly simple task can be until one attempts it one's self.
Mr. B&B returned unscathed with bags full of yummy. With gusto, the receipt for "only $53!" (well done) was unfurled. While we put away the groceries together, he regaled me with supermarket stories and I listened intently as if he were describing a foreign land and the people who live there. "I'm glad you had a good time. Thank you SO MUCH for taking care of the groceries for me! It means more than you know."
The little things go a long way.
Much to my surprise, Mr. B&B popped his head in our office late Sunday morning. "Just wanted to let you know, I will take care of the groceries today." he casually remarked. "You will? Are you sure? I was planning on doing them tomorrow..." Then I paused, looked at him, and said, "Thank you.", motioned for him to come closer, and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Mr. B&B is very helpful around the house ALWAYS. He washes laundry, sweeps floors, cleans bathrooms, hangs pictures, and removes snow and ice. He dusts, builds things, weather seals doors, grouts window frames and tubs. There are not many things Mr. B&B won't do. I am a lucky and very thankful woman. Though I am capable of doing the things Mr. B&B does, it is nice not to have to, not to be the sole proprietor of our "home sweet home".
On the other hand, I do not take advantage. I recognize that he works hard every day not only for self-fulfillment, but to keep our little family afloat. When he comes home and the dishes are done, laundry clean and dry and put away, floors swept, bed made, everything dusted, and dinner on the table, he is far more relaxed and just as appreciative of what I do at home all day as I am of what he does at work all day.
Having been together eight years and lived together for quite a few of them, some household tasks have naturally divided. Groceries have traditionally been done jointly or by me. So, when he made his "casual remark" on Sunday, I was floored. He recognized how hard I was working and this was his way of showing me support. My heart was full. I got up and, holding his hand, floated on air to the kitchen where together we made a grocery list. Moments later, Mr. B&B was en route to Trader Joe's.
Typing away in the middle of a thought I was not about to lose, my phone rang and I ignored it. When my thought was typed and saved, I picked up my phone. Mr. B&B, no doubt in the midst of a grocery store crisis, was the mystery caller. "Ring, Ring, ring, ring..." and I am through to his voice mail. Must not have been that important. Five minutes later, he called me back. Before I could say hello, "I decided to save all of my questions until I got to the last aisle so I didn't bother you over and over." He then proceeded with a barrage of questions which I answered deftly and expertly. One never fully understands how complex a seemingly simple task can be until one attempts it one's self.
Mr. B&B returned unscathed with bags full of yummy. With gusto, the receipt for "only $53!" (well done) was unfurled. While we put away the groceries together, he regaled me with supermarket stories and I listened intently as if he were describing a foreign land and the people who live there. "I'm glad you had a good time. Thank you SO MUCH for taking care of the groceries for me! It means more than you know."
The little things go a long way.
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