Pilgrims’ Progress

* slow * sad * sub-titled * scenic *

short on dialogue
disjointed
not the thrilling epic I was expecting
perhaps even disappointing

scenes of Vietnam much like you see in books
we’ll yet see if that’s what it’s really like

a child born to a Vietnamese mother-American GI father
not fitting
causing shame
the life of hardship
there was potential, but it was not well-developed

not a must-see movie
but not a waste of time either

* harrowing * horrific * heartfelt *

Documenting one family’s experience of the 1994 atrocities in Rwanda, this movie is deeply moving. The characters are entirely believable - perhaps particularly so because the hero is not “all good” and grows significantly throught the course of the film. It would be comforting to think that some of the characters did not exist, but the reality is they did in all their incomprehensible, inhumane brutality (although it is worth noting the film shows very little *gore* - while it’s not explicit, you know it’s there).
History lessons and political comment are seamlessly woven through the story; interesting discussion could certainly follow a viewing of this piece.

The published itinerary now reflects the metamorphosis our ideas have gone through from starting with three months teaching in China to what is now a full six month excursion around the whole of South East Asia. The Mongolian winter has been whittled ... [Continue reading this entry]

Upon hearing about our upcoming silent auction, a lady who had purchased homemade flower presses from our Entrepreneur Son a couple of years ago, asked if there would be any more at the auction. ... [Continue reading this entry]

“Most people can do extraordinary things if they have the confidence or take the risks. Yet most people don’t. They sit in front of the telly and treat life as if it goes on forever.” ~ Philip Adams

I could not imagine leaving Rob behind to work while I took the kids round the world - but that's what this family did for six months....at least, their plan was to be gone for six months and their ... [Continue reading this entry]

It was with some trepidation we embarked on our first walk with Totally Loaded Packs. Anticipating the baby, who is still not yet two years old, might not manage to walk the whole way, I carried a wrap, just in ... [Continue reading this entry]

the house is painted we won't need to return for seven years ;-)

these boots were made for walking...... they're broken in....and served me well on this hike last week: but when we have further to go, we have other options: [Continue reading this entry]

Of course every movie is set *somewhere*. Most movies are set in a particular country/countries. Even if, like Narnia, that country/place is imaginary. But some movies are "totally Uganda" or "quintessentially Kiwi" or "America through-n-through" or "Japanese with a capital J". In theses ... [Continue reading this entry]