THANK YOU, I’M SORRY

Sweden, 2023, 90 minutes, Colour.

Sanna Sundqvist, Charlotta Bjorck, Amael Blomgren Alcaide, Ia Langhammer, Juan Rodriguez, Peshang Rad.

Directed by Lisa Aschan.

The title is spoken at the end of the film.

This is the story of a depressed woman, a fickle husband, her absolute devotion to her young son, now pregnant. With the unexpected death of her husband, the stepping in of her mother-in-law, coping with the death, with her son, the funeral, and some platitudes from the earnest pastor, there is a sad atmosphere.

She is alienated from her older sister who went to live with their father during their divorce, she with her mother. The father is now in care. The sister has won the lottery, has a bizarre way of life, the oddest of boyfriends who is self absorbed in an extreme “New Age” style. But, she ventures a reconciliation with her sister, is greeted by her nephew who calls her Uncle Linda, and he is also devoted to her do

Various emotional ups and downs, the birth of the child, some straight talking with her psychologist mother-in-law who tends to dominate, bonding with Linda – and, at the end, a visit from her father who speaks the lines of the title.

1. The title, spoken at the end by Sara’s father? Cinema summing up the themes of family relationships and failures?
2. The Swedish film, Swedish and Scandinavian sensibilities, characters, lifestyle, relationships? The musical score?
3. Sara’s story and the focus, looking in the mirror, the message from her husband, potentially leaving her? Her being pregnant? Discovering him dead? The consequences, the doctors, his parents arriving, the impact on her son, Elliot? Her mother-in-law ringing her sister, Linda?
4. Linda’s story, older sister, looking younger, winning the lottery, her lifestyle, in the bath, the dog, the boyfriend coming, Jasse arriving home, the flawed relationship with him, his obsessions, courses, self-improvement, focus on himself, expectations of Linda?
5. Helen and her husband, his Spanish background, devotion to her son? Psychologist? Dominant, intruding, taking charge? The bond with her grandson? The preparation for the funeral, the hymns? The visit of the pastor, kindly, but platitudes with Sara? In the church, the sermon, Sara and her reactions? The aftermath? At the house?
6. Linda, the background of the parents’ separation, with her father, Sara with their mother, the mother’s death? The father in care, selfish, losing his mental ability? Linda and her decision to go to the funeral?
7. Sara, her relationship with her son, his bright and breezy attitudes, her reticence about his father’s death, Helen and his being straightforward? The effect on the boy?
8. Linda, coming to the house, Sara wary, the tensions between the two, the gradual breaking down, Linda and her being able to play with Elliot, and the dog? Her becoming Uncle Linda?
9. Sara, the pregnancy, visits to the doctor, to build up? The presence of Helen? Wanting to move in? The mellowing with Linda, Linda moving in? The sisters beginning to understand each other? Linda and her visits to her father?
10. Linda picking up Elliot, her missing out, Sara upset, the story of their father disappearing, fighting him?
11. The buildup of the pregnancy, the birth of the daughter, the family, the new child, bonding, Elliot and his sister?
12. The visit of their father, and his apology?
13. A strong portrait of a depressed woman, her husband to disappointment, devotion to her son, pregnancy, resentment to her father, resentment of her sister? The possibilities for reconciliation?

CENTO DOMENICHE/ A HUNDRED SUNDAYS

Italy, 2023, 95 minutes, Colour.

Antonio Abanese, Donatella Bartoli, Liliana Bottone.

Directed by Antonio Albanese.

A Hundred Sundays, like a month of Sundays, can be a long difficult time.

This is the story of a worker in a shipyard, good at his job, good at supporting young workers, retiring, welcomed by the workers but made redundant by the authorities. He is played by Antonio Albanese who also directed the film.

The film starts very cheerfully, an Italian town, friendships, the old men and their bocce games, a sunny atmosphere. Antonio has been divorced, does have rendezvous with a married woman in the town, is devoted to his daughter and her fiance who run a store. When she announces the engagement, this is one of the goals his life, and he enters wholeheartedly into the preparations, getting advice for the location, the number of guests…

Antonio also lives at home looking after his aged mother.

He goes to the bank, he listens to the smooth talking new manager, discovers that his investment is in stocks, is reassured, but soon the news comes that the bank is in danger, collapsing.

Antonio consults his friends who are supportive, but learns more and more about the bank, eventually getting a rifle, going to the bank, a confrontation, demands, the police coming – and, unexpectedly for the audience, his killing himself.

And the film adds information, 2023, of recent difficulties with Italian banks, their failing, and so many ordinary people losing their savings.

1. The title? The long time?
2. The setting, the town, the port, the surrounding countryside, homes, shops, workshops, atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The tuple beginning, the friendships, Antonio and his life, retired, volunteering work, helping, caring for his mother, love for his daughter, the preparations for the wedding? The shift in tone? The focus on finance, the loan, the stocks and his account, the bank failing and the consequences?
4. Antonio, personality, helping at work, not being paid, the discussions with Carlo, support, the visiting accountants, his financial situation, ousted? At home, care for his mother, her hearing, the doctor’s, outings? Conversation at home? Love for his daughter, her fiance, running the shop?
5. The Joy of the wedding, so important for him, the number of guests, the location, discussions with his friends, their advice? Going to the bank, discussion with the manager, the issue of his account, stocks, their increasing, the 30,000-euro loan, the assistant at the bank?
6. The rumours, his apprehension, the discussion with Carlo and his reassuring him? The friend at the store, warnings, explaining that Carlo had saved his money? The man from the bank, his conscience, warning Antonio? At the restaurant, seeing the young woman and her husband, following her, the confrontation, her explanation, her own losses? Fear of being fired?
7. The discussions with his daughter, her wanting to postpone the wedding, his obsession?
8. The visits to his friend, her husband absent, the relationship, his asking her opinion, phoning her and the meetings?
9. The visit from his ex-wife, her marrying again, her advice and support?
10. The growing desperation, his friends from playing bocce, Martin and his support, offering financial help, Antonio rejecting it?
11. The growing desperation, getting his rifle, going to the bank, ousting the customers, the new manager, confronting him, the young woman present, the police arriving, his demand to see the previous manager, the police and the intervention, persuasion? His final desperation, his sitting on the chair, actor to back the camera, the shot, death?
12. The jolting impression, the pessimistic ending, and the final information about finance and banks in Italy and the effect of so many people losing their savings?

WALLACE AND GROMIT IN THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT

UK, 2005, 85 minutes, Colour.

Voices of Peter Sallis, Ralph Fiennes. Helena Bonham Carter, Liz Smith, Geraldine McEwan, Mark Gatiss.

Directed by Nick Park, Steve Box.

Wallace and Gromit have become British icons – and one of Britain’s best exports.  Their creator, animator, Nick Park, brought them to the screen in 1989 in the Oscar-nominated A Grand Day Out.  They won their Academy Award in 1993 with The Wrong Trousers and again in 1995 for A Close Shave.  Wallace and Gromit were popular the world over.

Now they appear in their first feature-length film.  And they have another success on their hands, topping the US Box Office on its opening weekend at the beginning of October.  But the makers received bad news as well when the production studios in Bristol, the Aardman company, burnt to the ground the same weekend.  While they lost decades of film history, many of the clay models were out on exhibition and were not destroyed.

The films themselves are indestructible.  They have great appeal for both children’s audiences and for adults.

As the title indicates, the film is something of a spoof of horror movies.  And that is a smart move.  After all, so many horror stories have become classics of literature and cinema.  Older audiences will have quite a lot of fun noticing the parallels with horror movies and the amusing send-ups.  Of course, it starts with the play on werewolf.  This time the monster is a gigantic rabbit who has an enormous appetite for vegetables.  This is especially disastrous for the village because all the inhabitants are desperately tending extraordinarily sized pumpkins and gardens full of veg to win the competitions at the forthcoming fair.  Gromit himself is growing a giant marrow.  Wallace, of course, does not like vegetables at all.  He loves cheese.

Wallace is an inventor (and we see quite a few of the inventions from the previous films as well as a machine for collecting rabbits out of lawns – a kind of giant vacuum cleaner – without injuring them).  Not only does he now create a rabbit Frankenstein creature, trying to brainwash the rabbits to hate vegetables,  he also becomes Dr Jekyll and creates his alter ego Mr Hyde. 

When the going gets touch, the people turn on the rabbit just as they do in Son of Frankenstein – and there is the potential for a bride of the Were-Rabbit.  But, when the rabbit is pursued, he seizes the lady of the manor and climbs a tower as did King Kong of old.  Just when you thought, the writers might have run out of ideas, they set up Gromit like a British Snoopy and create an air battle modelled on World War I and the attack of the Red Baron.  You see how inventive they have been.

The script is also funny and witty.  In the middle of the chase, Gromit turns on the car radio and it is playing Bright Eyes, the theme from Watership Down!  Some of the jokes have mild and amusing innuendo that will be lost on the smaller audiences.

Nick Park has done wonders with the clay characters, patiently working with stop-motion photography for years.  It is extraordinary the expressions he can create – especially with Gromit who does not speak but whose facial gestures are worth a thousand words.

The voices are wonderful as well.  Peter Sallis has been supplying the voice of Wallace for years and it would be hard to imagine Wallace without him.  The villain of the piece, Victor Quartermain, a bounder who wants to marry Lady Tottington for her manor and money and hunt down rabbits with his rifle, is played by Ralph Fiennes sounding far more vigorous than in his films, a real moustachio-twirling performance.  Lady Tottington is Helena Bonham Carter, more lively and funny than she has ever been as well.

Fans of Wallace and Gromit will also welcome the musical score with the familiar anthem from the previous films.  The Curse will keep you smiling.

BALOTA/ BALLOT

Philippines, 2024, 102 minutes, Colour.

Marian Riviera, Will Ashley, Royce Cabrera, Gardo Versoza,Mae Paner.

Directed by Kip Oebanda.

Almost 100 years, world audiences have watched on the political struggles in the Philippines, democracies, dictatorships and the Marcos family, uprisings and freedom, the reign of Pres do to take, the return of the Marcos Next Generation…

This film is a fiction based on many stories, the setting is 2007, a local election, the pompous mayor standing for re-election, throwing her weight around, the tough candidate campaigning, a wealthy man, with a mansion, a huge collection of artworks, a great believer in individual power.

The focus is on a local teacher, Filipino star and award winner, Marianne Riviera, a reputation in her village, influencing a number of the people with her teaching and tutoring. She has a teenage son, American father, and scenes of schooling, basketball games, young people gathering, but also the protesters campaigning against the Mayor and her social injustice against workers, a woman leader campaigner because of the death of her husband in the cause.

The teacher Enemy is charged with transferring a box of ballots to the governor’s house, an attempted bribe, the death of her companion, her fleeing, chained to the ballot box into the jungle, desperate phone calls with her son, corrupt police taking over, murders, folks, her eventually going to the house of the candidate, his trying to win her over – but protesters gathering at the gate and some kind of indication of justice.

At the end, it is 2010, another election time – and Teacher Enemy looking straight into camera indicating that probably very little has changed.

1. A film for the Filipino audience, politics, corruption, rich and poor, elections? For the international audience, a perspective on the Philippines? The history of politics in the 20^th and 21^st-century is?
2. The setting of the small town, the visuals of the town, homes, school, election officers, the streets and demonstrations, the contrast with the mansion and the artworks, the countryside, the jungle? The musical score?
3. The setting, the 2000s, Filipino memories of politics at the time, elections and the provinces, local elections, the candidates, campaigns, supporters, demonstrations, protests? Behind-the-scenes, corrupt police, folks, murder, buying of votes?
4. The focus on Teacher Emmy, her status, as a teacher, the influence on people, relationship with her son, teenager, his friend, Jimbo, Jimbo’s mother? Scenes of her teaching porous students, urging them on? Her role with the elections, the supervision, the voters, her being invited to demonstrate against the Mayor, her reticence, her own personal perspective on the candidates?
5. The background of the candidates, the mayor, her pushy style, relationships and ex-lovers, ownership, plantations, unjust wages, the wife demonstrating against the death of her husband, leading the protests? The gay men, the two sisters, taking sides and demonstrations? The wealthy candidate, his mansion, guards, the range of artworks in his house? His henchman?
6. Seeing thugs in action, pursuit of people, buying votes, murders, bodies abandoned? The leader against Teacher Emmy, in the car with the ballots, the fellow teacher, the driver proposing payment, the gun, the teacher shot, Emmy hitting the driver with the ballot box, her escape into the jungle, hiding, the pursuit, her phone, contact with her son, with Jimbo and his mother, the violence of their deaths? The threats to her son, the phone calls, the information she gave, going to the house of the candidate, being allowed in, still holding the box, her injuries, the reception by the candidate, his boasting of his wealth and art, her decision to play up to him, the food and drink, the conversation, his plans? Her son’s phone call, warning him away? Holding her ground, the reaction of the candidate, violence, payoffs, his plans and his power struggle? In the wheelchair, the confrontation with the protesters, his arrest? And is campaigning for the next election in jail?
7. Enzo, his age, American father, friendship with Jimbo, computer games, basketball, with the girls, persuaded to go to the protests? His support of his mother? The death of Jimbo and his mother? The phone calls, his desperation, his being arrested, in the cell, Morales and the food, support, the old policeman and corruption, taking into the jungle, the empty gun on the shots, Morales, shooting the policeman? Morale is indebted to Teacher Emmy, his gay identity and Emmy support? His continuing to help with Enzo? The arrest of the candidate?
8. Teacher Emmy, the rescue, her working with the wife of the murdered man, the confrontation with the mayor, the ballot box, confronting the Mayor, her making promises and signing them, legal cases?
9. Three years passing, Teacher Emmy and her classes and prestige, and so and his legal studies, the friendship with Morales?
10. The prospects of the election, the candidates, the promises, the candidate in jail, the focus on Teacher Emmy and the focus on the audience perspective on elections and corruption?

Congratulations, Maureen Smith MSC, Mary Drum MSC, Golden Jubilee of Profession.

Saturday 1^st, February, the MSC Sisters, relatives and friends gathered at the Cambell Rd community for a Eucharistic celebration for the jubilee.

Sadly, with the Sisters in Melbourne only, they are not so well-known personally by members of the Australian Chevalier Family.

Provincial Superior, Tess Venkeer MSC welcomed everyone. Maureen has worked in education, Mary for many years in PNG. Both have served as Provincial Superiors.

Peter Malone MSC presided, Philip Malone MSC gave the homily.

And, the two jubilarians shared the occasion with their Novice Mistress of those decades ago, Anneliese Reinhard MSC.

And quite a sumptuous lunch, jubilee cake and speeches.

And great appreciation to Carmel Butler MSC for the photos

140 Years Ago. OLSH memory.

On January 31, 1885, five brave pioneer Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart arrived at Sydney Harbour, bringing with them the Charism of the Heart to many.

We give thanks for Sr Mary Paul, Sr Mary Xavier, Sr Madeline, Sr Claire, and Sr Martha, who sailed to the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit on a mission filled with the Love of the Heart of God. Their courage and missionary zeal continue to inspire us as we carry forward the Mission of the Heart today.

Photos from Vietnam, Renewal of vows and ordinations

Hoa renews his vows in Vietnam, Pat Mara MSC representing the Provincial

Vietnam ordinations, first MSC ordinations taking place in Vietnam

Hoang Nguyen sent photos from the ordinations of Priest Thanh Vu, Deacon Thanh Le and Deacon Vu Nguyen,

January 18th at Bac Dung Parish, Archdiocese of Saigon-HCM City, Vietnam.

L-R: Dcn Vu Thanh Nguyen, Fr Thanh Vu Nguyen, Dcn Thanh Van Le 

Gospel Values in the Trump era. Letter from Claude Mostowik MSC

Dear Right Rev. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde,

I write to you on behalf of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace Centre and Pax Christi Australia to thank you for the very dignified prophetic voice to speak truth to power during the National Cathedral's Service of Prayer for the Nation in Washington on Tuesday January 21.

Your pleas to President Trump for mercy, kindness, and justice on behalf LGBTIQ+ people, people who are immigrants and many other marginalised people in your country was a powerful expression of the commandment to love one another - our neighbours - as we love ourselves.

As your country honoured the legacy of Dr Martin Luther King Jr on the same day it was an urgent reminder to the people of the United States and others beyond your country that silence in the face of violence and all forms of injustice is a failure to be people of hope - a hope that can only be created by action. When Dr King asserted that we need a heart full of grace in order serve, that grace was displayed in your pleadings at the Cathedral. Such grace is exceedingly rare in the public sphere.

As we thank you and express our appreciation, we are also mindful that many church and religious leaders have been silent as a genocide has unfolded, and have been silent against marginalised people in many places.

We hope that those who do raise their voices will continue to do so with courage.

Once again, a heartfelt appreciation and thanks.

Claude Mostowik msc

--

Fr. Claude Mostowik msc

Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Justice and Peace Centre

Pax Christi Australia

PO Box 146

Erskineville, NSW 2043

Mob: 0411450953

Ph: +61 2 8762 4224

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which I live and work, and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

MSC worldwide: New MSC Leadership Appointments for California and Pennsylvania 2025  

Jim Miller MSC

A sign of the times, some of the provinces ageing, many growing – and collaboration between provinces.  Here is a US province example.

After individual conversations with members in CA and PA, and confirmation from the Provincial Council, Fr. Michael Miller, MSC Provincial, appointed

Fr. Luis Segura the new Superior in the MSC California Community. He replaces Fr. John Kavcak, MSC. 

Fr. Selva Lucas to Superior who will serve the local community in Pennsylvania replacing Brother Jim Miller, MSC. Both Fr. Kavcak and Br. Miller served their communities as Superior for 6 years.

In addition to the newly appointed Superiors, Brother Francis Hung will serve as the House Manager overseeing the day-to-day activities at the Sacred Heart Villa in Center Valley, PA.

Each will serve for a 3-year term beginning January 1, 2025. Congratulations to all of them!

Chris Chaplin: Congratulations to the new leaders and sincere thanks Jim and John for your years of service of our confrères in Pennsylvania and California.

Congratulations, Frank Dineen MSC, Golden Jubilee of Ordination, January 25th, 2025

Thanks for John Walker MSC for photos.

While the poster says Profession, this is the Golden Jubilee of Ordination - Frank made his first porfession on January 15th 1972

Frank celebrated with his community at Douglas Park.

Gerard McCormick MSC, Community Leader.

And, sad news that Frank’s oldest brother, John, died this week.  Our sympathy to Frank and the Dineen family.