By Anne Brodie
Netflix’s pulse pounder mini series Hostage is such dark fun. It concerns the relationship between two female national leaders, left leaning British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) and conservative French President Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy) they are at odds with one another but also feel the bond of sisterhood in what is historically a man’s game. Dalton’s husband, Dr. Alex Anderson (Ashley Thomas) during the Summit; he’s working in Africa with a medical charity where he and others are kidnapped and held by terrorists. Dalton asks Toussaint to send French troops to rescue him due to her political limitations. She refuses. Among the hostages is an MI6 agent who’d been tailing the rebels and reporting. Toussaint has a grudge against Dalton who made an unwise open mic remark about her being “handmaiden to the far right”. It’s a petty reason not to save the lives of the hostages, so is there something else in play? You bet there is! Compromising video of Toussaint in bed with her stepson will be released unless she meets their conditions and carry out mission concerning Dalton. Eventually Toussaint sends in the troops and watch live on video link, when at a crucial moment, Toussaint orders the mission to abort. So close and nothing? This is a helluva ride, pitting women against one another each with secrets and lies to contain and answering to others who have them in their power. Yikes! Five episodes streaming now.
Darrell Dennis’ romcomdram Sweet Summer Pow in theatres is a pleasant enough boy meets girl story set on a reserve, where Graeme Greene (The MC) the community Greek Chorus remarks on them during an event. Jinny (Tatyana Rose Baptiste) is a free-spirited young dancer hitting the annual Pow Wow circuit to perform traditional indigenous and her own modern interpretive dances. Her mother Cara (Tanis Parenteau) keeps a close eye on her and laser focuses when Riley (Joshua Odjick) appears on the scene. The two young people are immediately attracted and begin a pow wow and Facetime relationship – innocent, sweet, optimistic and fulfilling. Well, not if mom has her way. Suddenly this supportive woman is the beast, hurling insults at him and warning her daughter in earshot that he’s no good. His father, the town drunk Luke (Joel Montgrand) is an embarrassment to the community, but Riley is not, thanks to his caring uncle. Riley and Jinny plan to leave for Vancouver where Riley will be safe from constant beatings and insults. Meanwhile Cara has always pushed Jinny to become a lawyer; she’s worked hard at school and is accepted into a top uni – except she doesn’t want to be a lawyer. She wants to dance. The pair enjoy sweet moments – he gently fixes her headdress before a show and they are respectful of one another – but must overcome the issues if they want to be together. The film is aimed squarely at teens and young adults who may identify with the leads’ dilemmas and blossoming relationship even as they make life-changing decisions.