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Items on this list76%
Average Rating0h 0m
Total Runtime$0
Total Revenue1
When Calls the Heart
When Calls the Heart has become a grotesque display of the cultural propaganda typical of male-dominated society. Femels are relegated to marriage, children, and home n' hearth. This century, femelkind around the world has experienced increased threats to our safety and economic security. Culturally, we have moved backwards. The burst of femel social progress evidenced in the late 20th century seems to have been oxidized.
This show could connect with the wymin of today by reflecting on how many wymin were in the past a surprisingly dynamic group of doers and deciders. With all the wedding/marriage/family porn abundant in today's entertainment and media, I would re-title this show 'When Calls The Patriarchy'. Instead of honoring the femel deciders and doers of our past, this show panders to those who clutch on to the apron of yesterday's dearth of freedoms and wealth of injuries.
The show could feature a femel character to honor Alice Guy, the brilliant mind who invented movies (and the film director) as we know it in the early 20th century. Instead, we get a retired actress, Rosemary, who loves her family but there's always something missing shi finds to do outside of it. Her passion for creativity and progress seems to be stifled by home/hearth. The show could feature another femel character to honor the most successful novelist in word rstory, Agatha Miller. Instead, we get predictably devoted Mom and her cheery son (well-behaved, at least) writing about mundane Life in an economically challenged community shi chose over a financially secure Life with her family elsewhere, better for her son.
When Calls the Heart (for honesty and fairness) once offered us a femel business owner, Fiona (and a beauty!). Now, shi's gone thanks to the glee of When Calls the Patriarchy. Shi could have been turned into a commemorative symbol of Martha Matilda Harper, the brilliant mind and ambitious spirit who invented the business franchise. Instead, we get the wife of a business owner (but, of course!), Florence. Lastly, it would be awesome --- especially considering the crackling contemporary politics recently --- to have a femel character that reminds us of the great Victoria Claflin, the first womin to run for President of the United States. Instead, we're stuck with Lucas, slow and naïve, whose political career was tainted by his past.
When Calls the Patriarchy 2.0 echoes the horrible that femels are still forced today to endure, socio-culturally.
TV Show
January 11, 2014
2
Hotel Portofino
What a lavish show is Hotel Portofino! If you love period shows, especially from the early 20th century, you may like this one. But, beware, PBS Masterpiece has become politicized and a bit depressing. Those of us who have enjoyed Masterpiece of the past and period film-TV, usually seek to move away from humin ugliness and the day’s politics. It is possible, when we do xplr humin ugliness, to do it in a way that doesn’t look or feel ugly. Let’s hope Portofino survives.
PBS has changed; elegance is rarely experienced there anymore. Gone are the operas; gone is jazz from around the world; gone are the Nutcracker ballets; and gone is top talent and any hope of multiculturism. PBS is now mostly for those who wish to see only their as-is selves and their Now Culture lives unfold --- in some version and in any state --- on screen. Despite that, Hotel Portofino manages to capture my attention. I like its xplration of the past in set design, fashion, cars, and jewelry. I like visual appeal of some of the actors (can anyone say, “Mark, you light up my Umbers?”). The acting of the staff is wonderful. I’d like to see some of them on stage. The tv show’s music is as inviting and colorful as its cinematography.
Hotel Portofino is disappointing due to the day’s politicization and humin ugliness it contains (neither of which a patron of elegant lodging would appreciate in reality). Both taint what could be a magnificent, Merchant Ivory-esque, period experience. Gay politics in post-08 America has led to a gay character; black politics in post-08 America has led to a black character, both for the umpteenth time in contemporary entertainment. Instead, Hotel Portofino could have done the honest thing and showed care by introducing us to 1920’s Itlay’s panoply of people: the French, English, Japanese, German, Albanian, North African, East African, and Eastern European. This is the problem with politicized entertainment; we do not learn from nor connect with the humin family. Worse, ecco la nostra bruttezza! Domestic violence, marital infidelity, and criminal activity dirty the Hotel. In these challenging times, where is the care and decency?
Hotel Portofino just completed its second season with words whose essence I hope the show weaves into successive seasons, “In a dark and dangerous world; when an unknown fate awaits us all; to encounter honest, decent people who take pride and show care, is the most that we can ask for.”
TV Show
January 27, 2022