Nadine Feldman, Author

celebrating strong female characters and whatever else strikes my fancy

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This Week’s Blog Winner Is…

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…Passionate Pursuits by Brenda Moguez!

If you haven’t read Brenda’s blog yet, you’re in for a treat. She weaves thoughtful, lyrical magic to all aspects of womanhood. Add the threads of sensuality and authenticity, and you get a blog that always intrigues!

While I’m reading Brenda’s blog, I’ve gotten surprisingly used to the sound of jackhammers. Yesterday I managed to do my Ellen Barrett DVD while they were going on! Gotta get my exercise, and Ellen, as you all know by now, is my fave.

In the meantime, have you seen The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel yet? It’s refreshing to see a fine film where older people are still vital, working, loving, and finding meaning in their lives. Judi Dench and Maggie Smith are just a few of the brilliant actors in this movie. Filmed in India, the chaos of Indian life is its own character, and many of the scenes were filmed among regular residents just going about their day. The beautiful line that threads the movie together is this: “Everything turns out all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it’s not the end.” The first time we tried to see it, it was sold out! Last night we were still sitting waaaayyy up front. Hollywood, we want more like these!

Remember that skirt I’ve been knitting? Well, next week I have a lot more to say about that. Let’s just say it’s been an “interesting” experience. I may also post a Tuesday book review. I know, I said I wasn’t going to do that anymore for a while, but I’ve been reading some great stuff that I want to share. Enjoy your weekend!

Inuk: The Warming of Ice and Hearts

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I am in the midst of reading a pile of books to figure out what to review next. In the meantime, I thought I’d write about a great movie I just saw!

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In Greenland, ice matters. Unfortunately, there’s a lot less of it these days, and the Inuit hunters and fishermen struggle to eke out an existence, often having to change their routes to avoid thinning ice with its potentially fatal cracks.

Meanwhile, Inuk, a teen-aged boy, lives in the city. He had once lived a traditional life, but as a child he saw his father fall through the ice and die. He and his mother moved to the city, where she turned to alcohol to cope. Emotionally abandoned and uncared for, Inuk is taken from his mother and sent to the north to a children’s home, where he is re-introduced to the traditional ways. A hunting trip across the ice brings Inuk in contact with the great hunter Ikuma. Both deeply scarred, Inuk and Ikuma must work together in the harsh environment. As the film’s synopsis says, “the most difficult part of the journey is the one they must make within themselves.”

Inuk is not your average Hollywood fare. The actors are all natives of Greenland’s north country, including children from an actual children’s home and hunters who make their living from seals and fish. None had previous acting experience. Director Mike Magidson never directed a film before, either. And yet, the rich story is well-acted and conveys a country struggling with changes in both traditions and climate.

Having made the rounds of a number of film festivals, where it has gathered a number of awards, Inuk is preparing for its debut in 25 U.S. cities later this year. If you get a chance to catch this heart-warming story, please do.