/..fleeting../

this too shall pass…

corner store: a documentary

a few weekends ago, i watched ‘corner store’, a new independent documentary that premiered at the indie film fest in sf.  i watched the movie at the roxie in the mission.  the showing was sold out. the documentary is about the palestinian owner of a corner store in the mission district of sf (which is where I live) and his move to the US 10 years ago.  yousef’s story is one of many shop owners around the mission.  i remember when i moved to sf, i was amazed at how many of these corner stores are owned by palestinians.  the documentary is great that way; it describes the palestinian plight and diaspora in light of this one man’s pursuit of a better life for his family.  a few things that I liked about the documentary:

1. the documentary was raw; there was no sugarcoating, hardly any editing, and the story was communicated in a most authentic voice.

2. the documentary shed some light on the living situation of palestinians as the camera followed yousef all the way to palestine. it was less about the politics (as hard as it is to take the politics out it!) and more about the people and their day-to-day lives.

3. it’s set in my city and specifically in my hood.

4. yousef and his family were at the showing. :)  it was so nice to meet yousef after falling in love with him through this heartwarming documentary.

‘over the hills and far away’ -led zeppelin. my jam for today (and has been for a couple of weeks actually)

a single man: a movie

last weekend, i saw this beautiful movie by tom ford.. his first actually. i would not be exaggerating when i say everything was beautiful; the script, the cast, the dialogue, the style, the cinematography.. you get the idea. watch this and you’ll know what i mean.  the movie is a sad love story that explores loss and the emptiness that accompanies loss.. definitely not the most suitable for a valentine’s weekend.  i loved colin firth, or known to most by his mr. darcy roles in both pride & prejudice and bridget jones diary.  this was a very different role for him and one that really highlights how versatile and capable he is.

was in hayes valley getting my blue bottle fix, and there it was in the park; ‘Ecstasy’ by karen cusolito and dan das mann.  this is a 28’ tall woman made out of recycled and found steel.  it was first featured in burning man.

‘worse than the total agony of being in love?’