By Anne Brodie
Jack Kerouac, his landmark book On the Road and the Beat era came before me, and was not a topic of conversation. But his legacy roars back to life in Ebs Burnough’s impressive doc Kerouac’s Road: The Beat of a Nation, a well-made collage of reminiscences those who knew him and modern notables who say his road novel changed their lives. They include Michael Imperioli, W. Kamau Bell, Josh Brolin, Matt Dillon, Natalie Merchant, Ann Charters, David Amram, Jay McInerney, Kim Jones, Jean-Christophe Cloutier, Joyce Johnson, Diana Langley, Tenaj Melendras, Faustino Melendras, Amir Staten, Angel Staten and Karlynne Staten. Impressive. Still, the doc falls short being a hagiography detailing his childhood poverty and racism – they were French Canadians in the US, and the alcoholism and drug use that ended him at age 47 in 1969. Getting away from it all seems to have been his survival tactic – he hopped in a car to find America “That’s the way. Its out there” and “I must know America, like the palm of my hand”. And he wrote it all out, grabbing the hearts and minds of readers during the time of the nascent Beat Generation, the 50’s emergence of an important literary and cultural revolution in the 50’s post WW2 America. He was eloquent, moving, and yet solid, and inspired many to hop on the road. M. Kamu Bell says the movement was getting away from one’s “former context”, a fresh start and seeing what one’s country really is. Chapters are dedicated to regular Kerouac fans who changed their lives, inspired by his courage and optimism, making stunning about faces from their previous lives to hit the road. Its interesting, fun and sort of the opposite of the way things are now as Americans chase careers, jobs, wealth, status and whathaveyou. The question lingers – was he happier? TVOD.
Alicia Silverstone’s spanking new murder mystery series Irish Blood which she also produced was made in partnership with Murdoch Mysteries’ Shaftsbury Films, and it reflects its family friendly, comfy murder vibe and a light touch on the subject matter. Silverstone stars as Fiona, a high-powered Los Angeles divorce attorney whose father (Jason O’Mara) left her and her mother (Wendy Crewson) on her tenth birthday, to Ireland, never to be heard from again. Now an adult, Fiona receives an unsigned note from Ireland with a number and a photo of a metal trunk. Her mother is tight lipped about what happened but Fiona wants answers; she plans to confront him in person over the lifelong grief he caused her. Fiona arrives in Wicklow, only to find him laid out in a casket as mourners celebrate him. He was well liked. His mother and sister invite her to stay with them till her flight home the next day. She discovers he had another side, dark ventures, and that he either jumped, was pushed or fell off a cliff and died. Fiona decides to stay and investigate, despite police warning her off. A keen young police recruit (Ruth Codd) tired of lame assignments, jumps in to help her. They enter an underworld of evil intent as complex as it is shocking. Good, dark fun. August 11 on Acorn TV.
Director and actor Itsaso Arana’s feature film debut The Girls are Alright is a breath of fresh air in the realm of storytelling around women’s friendships. Arana, Barbara Lennie, Irene Escolar, Helena Ezquerro and Itziar Manero play longtime friends who have gathered at a rural rental in Spain. Arana’s eye for natural beauty, landscape, sky and the women themselves brings a kind of mythical quality to this delightful tale in which nothing happens and everything happens. Arana also plays the writer / director of a film they’re making, starring the four women. As they explore the gorgeous property and speak of their lives, dreams and romances, they become closer, more honest and real all of which is ideal for the film- real intimacy, not faked. As they prepare to shoot, the women don luxurious period costumes, all silk and lace and beadwork, furthering the fantasy of this golden time they’re sharing. They share their acting experiences – “Have you ever acted death?” and how hard it is to play intelligence. They sing a charming choral round, and at one point, one of them breaks the wall and speaks directly to us to tell us she saw a barn burn down. What does it mean? Lovely shots of toile de jouy fabric open each chapter, dappled sun and happy smiles, peaceful reflection and conversation bring us even closer to them as they shoot their film called The Girls Are Alright! August 8 on Film Movement Plus.
A Spy Among Friends is now available on BritBox, based on the Ben Macintyre bestselling book, an eye-opening look at the greatest traitor in modern times, British MI6 agent Kim Philby. He operated in the UK and the Soviet Union circa WWII through to the Cold War. Guy Pearce plays him as the ultimate picture of cool confidence. He was a top British agent but he was a firm Marxist, tied closely to the Soviet Union. He operated in that dangerous netherworld skillfully evading discovery and winning multiple Russian awards for his service. He disliked the UK and its class system that oppressed workers and dedicated himself to the USSR principles and supremacy. He also wished to strike a blow against Nazi Germany. It’s 1963 and his best friend, longtime British spy Nicholas Elliott (Damien Lewis) is under investigation for allowing Philbin to escape from Beirut to Russia. He defected, choosing USSR over his family after having been responsible, MI6 believed, for hundreds or thousands of deaths in his work for Russia. Elliott under scrutiny by enigmatic hard nut Lilly (Anna Maxwell Martin) comes to realize that his 23-year friendship with Philbin was a lie, that Philbin led a double life. And Elliott is now under suspicion as a double agent. And what happened in Beirut? Fascinating insights into tradecraft, the burden of secrecy, and relationships strained by the work or proximity to it. Philbin’s career takes him around the world and unbelievably, to a prestigious post in Washington. Six episodes educate us about the business that no longer exists in those ways. Technology changed the game. Fascinating, if horrifying.