LIFE AFTER FIGHTING

Australia, 2024, 123 minutes, Colour.

Bren Foster, Cassie Howarth, Luke Ford, Annabelle Stephenson.

Directed by Bren Foster.

Prospective audiences might look at the title interested in the aspect of life. But, for many action fans, the emphasis will be the fighting. And, indeed, these fans are the film’s target audience.

The film is the work of filmmaker and martial arts champion, Bren Foster. In his past, he had trained in film and television making and worked in Australia and in the United States, appearing in some films. However, as is evident from his performance in this film, he is expert at multi martial arts. And, interestingly at this stage of his career, he was in his mid-40s but doing all the fight sequences himself, organising the choreography, no special effects.

The film opens at his martial arts Academy, in an Australian suburban shopping centre, many students, and catering especially for children, even as young as five, wanting to train. Immediately, quite a number of training sequences, illustrating the various moves. This may be too much for those not immediately engaged by the martial arts but whetting the appetite for the fans.

And, one might call this a very popular kind of film, appealing to a wide range of audiences, definitely the action fans but, the introduction of a romance, signalled almost instantly but pleasantly pursued, especially with a focus on a harassed mother, a nice little boy of five, and the psychotic ex-husband played by veteran Australian actor, Luke Ford.

There is more besides the martial arts in terms of plot. Some sinister characters arrive at the school, audiences expecting them to turn up later even more sinisterly. And they do. The two little daughters of the manager of the school are abducted, disappearing, despite search. What emerges is a very serious subplot about human trafficking, involving those sinister characters seen earlier but also the psychotic ex-husband very much involved.

Then, for the fans, thinking of all those martial arts films and champions from Jean Claude van Damme to Jackie Chan there is a huge climax of fights, one against so many, the threat to the children, Alex being the hero but not without some personal cost.

Judging from blogging comments, Life after Fighting has well made its mark with fans and should be popular internationally in cinemas, streaming, for action fans who know what they want.

1. The title, the focus on fighting, multi-martial arts? Then the thriller dimension?
2. The Australian city, shopping centre, martial arts studio, offices, scenes outside, in the streets? The capture of the girls and their imprisonment? The musical score?
3. The target audience, martial arts fans? Beyond the fans? The serious thriller dimension?
4. The work of Bren Foster, filmmaker, martial arts expert, television experience, writing and directing and starring in his own film? Interesting and attractive screen personality?
5. The martial arts aspects, the training sequences, the introduction of the fight sequences, threats and dangers? The choreography? The drama of the moves? The reintroduction of the martial arts for the finale, one again so many, the fights, the skills?
6. Alex, his past career, champion, injuries and surgeries? Enjoying teaching, the children, the adults, the scenes of training, his manner? The ominous visitor and his partner, ousting them? The reappearance?
7. The romantic element, Samantha coming to enrol Terry, the immediate attraction, Victor and his presence, the marital situation, three years after divorce, Victor and his continued presence? Terry, aged five, the martial arts? Samantha and her coming to work at the school? The issue of the dinner, the night together, the relationship, Victor and his menace? Coming to the office, his tough associate, the fight?
8. Julie, her work at the school, her children, the ice cream, their being abducted? With the other children? The human trafficking story, Romania? Victor and his involvement, his past military experience? His psychotic attitudes and behaviour, his types?
9. Julie, upset, her husband away with military exercises, taking the pills? Alex and his determination to find the girls?
10. The week’s passing, Samantha, following Victor, her discovery of the girls, the captivity? The tough man in charge, his cruelty to the girls, his listening to music, Alex coming, dangers, the rescue of the girls, driving away, the pursuit?
11. Victor, abducting Terry, cutting his hand, his cruelty, madness? The phone calls to Samantha, the threats, the police, the bargaining, taken to the school? Hidden? The arrival of Victor and his thugs, masked? The friendly policeman who had tracked information about Alex seeing them pass, his later coming?
12. The last part of the film for the martial arts fans, one against so many, the fights, the impact on Alex, having to kill, unwilling to kill? The buildup to Victor’s arrival, the gun, Samantha with the gun, the shots and each being wounded? Alex forcing Victor with his gun, shooting himself? The policeman and the rescue?
13. Three weeks later, happy ending, everybody together, the future?

For our visitors interested in Wurrumiyanga- Bathurst Island

Tiwi Islanders embrace filming of TV series in historical church

The historical church on Wurrumiyanga – Bathurst Island – which featured in the popular movie, ‘Top End Wedding’ is set to star in a new follow-up television series, further cementing its reputation for being a beacon of faith and cultural heritage.

The church made its film debut in ‘Top End Wedding’, and is now set to star in the sequel TV series, ‘Top End Bub’.

Parish Priest of Our Lady of Peace and St Therese Parish, the Tiwi Islands, Wurrumiyanga, Fr Niran Veigas SVD, said the use of the church is a proud moment for the local indigenous community.

“I am thrilled to share the exciting developments surrounding our cherished historical church, a beacon of faith and cultural heritage,” Fr Niran said.

“Our church stands as a testament to the deep faith and rich history of the Tiwi people. This sacred place has been the site of countless celebrations, prayers, and community gatherings, making it a cornerstone of our spiritual and cultural identity. Its significance is not just in its architecture, but in the hearts and memories of our community.”

Pat Mara MSC, parish priest at the time is listed as an adviser in the credits for the film.

Fr Niran said the connection between the community’s historical church and "Top End Wedding" film has brought it newfound admiration.

“The movie’s touching wedding ceremony scene, filmed within our church, captured the hearts of audiences worldwide, drawing tourists eager to experience our sacred space,” he said.

The priest is played by Rob Collins who has a Tiwi background

“We are overjoyed that our historical church will once again shine in the spotlight.”

Fr Niran said the cast and crew of "Top End Wedding" returned in June to film the new series, "Top End Bub."

“On June 12 our church proudly hosted the film crew as they shot pivotal scenes for the series. The presence of renowned actors like Miranda Tapsell, Gwilym Lee, Rob Collins, and Executive Producer Rosemary Blight filled our community with excitement and pride,” he said.

Sister Anne Gardiner OLSH, longtime presence on Bathurst Island is listed as adviser for the film

“This occasion also marks the launch of a vital campaign to repair and preserve our historical church.

“Recognising its importance, the film crew has expressed its support for these restoration efforts. We urge everyone to join us in preserving this significant structure, ensuring it continues to be a beacon of faith and heritage for future generations.”

Fr Niran said that special recognition goes to Libby Collins, whose dedication and hard work ensured the success of the filming.

“The active participation of the Tiwi people in the filming process showcased our rich culture and traditions, making us all proud,” he said.

“As we eagerly anticipate the release of the new series, we extend our heartfelt thanks and prayers to the cast and crew. May this project be blessed, and may our church continue to stand as a symbol of our enduring faith and community spirit.”

Paris Olympics, Silver – the Downlands Connection

Photo: Equestrian Life

Vince Carrol MSC writes from Downlands College:

I suppose you all know that we have our first Olympian Medallist – in Chris Burton from Brymaroo, Silver for Equestrian. He was the Equestrian Captain when here in ‘99.

Olympic History

London 2012

Rio 2016

Tokyo 2020

Paris 2024

Christopher's Story

From the Australian Olympics Committee site

Chris Burton grew up on a grain farm near Toowoomba in Queensland. On his third birthday he got his first pony, Clancy, and with him he began his riding.

At six his eventing future kicked off with a new pony called Spice, using bricks and broomsticks, he’d build jumps for the pair to practice over.

Chris did his first EFA event in 1994 on Just Joshin. Shortly after Chris started riding Deo Juvante and soon enough the two rose through to 5****. 2008 saw Burton win 5* in Adelaide on Newsprint.

In 2010, Chris made his international debut for Australia at the Equestrian Games in Kentucky, finishing midfield in the event on his horse, Holstein Park Leilani. Chris soon became recognised as an established elite rider, and went on to compete on the Australian, British and European Eventing and Showjumping circuits.

Chris’s Olympic debut followed in 2012 at the London Games, where he finished 16th in the individual and sixth in the team event.

In 2015, Chris placed fourth at Luhmuhlen with Graf Liberty. He also went on to place third and fourth at Burghley on TS Jamaimo and Haruzac. 2015 also saw Chris take out the world record for the lowest ever finishing score at a three-day event aboard Santano in the CCI*** in Camphire. The duo finished with a dressage score of 24.5.

At the Rio 2016 Olympics Chris rode alongside Sam Griffiths, Stuart Tinney and Shane Rose, the team finishing third behind France and Germany in gold and silver respectively. During the Games, Shane was eliminated in the cross-country phase, so the three remaining Aussie riders had to be in top form as they entered the final day of show jumping in gold medal position. 

Riding Santano II, Chris clipped two fences, including the second last, but he did well to avoid a disaster at the final hurdle where a mistake would have handed the bronze to New Zealand.

Chris also narrowly missed out on medals in the Rio individual eventing competition, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

At Kentucky 2018 he placed ninth on Nobilis 18. In 2019, Chris claimed third and fourth at Badminton with Cooley Lands and Graf Liberty and second at Pau with Quality Purdey. Chris finished the 2019 season as world no.3.

Chris was set to compete in his third Olympic Games in Tokyo, with his horse Quality Purdey, but had to withdraw two weeks out from the Games.

Following pre-Olympic veterinary inspections it was determined that Quality Purdey had sustained a minor injury and the decision was made that her welfare should not be compromised.

In 2021, Chris, who is based in Dorset in the UK, made a successful career shift from eventing to showjumping. However, early in 2024, he made a last-minute decision to return to his roots with the aim of qualifying for the Paris Olympics in eventing.

Chris took on the ride on Shadow Man, an exciting 14-year-old gelding produced to five-star level by British rider Ben Hobday, and quickly showed he had lost none of his artistry.
“I haven’t lost it,” Chris said. “On January 14 I asked my wife how she felt about my going eventing again — she said ‘Oh no’ — but by the end of next day we owned a percentage of Shadow Man.”

A series of strong performances by Chris and Shadow Man, including at Ireland’s Millstreet International Horse Trials – an Olympic selection trial – won them a place on the Australian team for Paris.

For the record, MSC Martyrs

We have some history of martyrs

The Baining Martyrs

These were the ten religious (two MSC priests, two MSC Brothers, five MSC Sisters and a Trappist Brother) who, along with several local people, were murdered on August 13, 1904, in The Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain. They were the first in the Chevalier Family to give their lives in the service of the mission.

From the MSC Siters site: During November of 1904 five young MSC Sisters, four MSC priests and brothers, and one Trappist died at the hands of angry natives in the Baining Mountains of New Britain. When Fr. Rascher repeatedly refused to condone the adultery of an influential man, the man gathered a band of natives and planned and executed the brutal massacre. The martyrdom of the five Sisters served to strengthen the young community’s resolve to be the Heart of God on earth. Volunteers quickly offered themselves as replacements, and in November of 1904, a relief expedition set out for the South Seas and the MSC Sisters continued to serve the people of New Britain. In fact, the number of MSC candidates swelled so dramatically following the martyrdom, that Fr. Linckens needed to find a new field for their missionary work.

Failure of the cause

The debated point, in simple language, is whether those who killed the ten Servants of God were acting out of hatred of religion (because the missionaries had opposed a case of adulter

y in the mission) or for cultural, political motives (because they saw the missionaries as agents of a foreign power who were opposed to their culture). These questions arose in the diocesan phase and were brought up by officials of the Congregation for the Saints in relation to both the first and the second Positio.

The Congregation for the Saints has informed us that unless we can find new evidence to support our claim of martyrdom, the cause cannot continue. We have, therefore, reluctantly decided not to pursue the cause and have so advised the Congregation.

The Martyrs of Canet del Mar

November 6th  is the feast day of the seven MSC martyrs. Blessed Fathers Antonio Arribas, Abundio Martín, José Vergara, Josep-Oriol Issern and Brothers Gumersindo Gómez, Jésus Moreno and José del Almo were beatified in May 2017 and are the first members of our Congregation to be declared blessed.

These seven Missionaries of the Sacred Heart lived and worked in the Pequeña Obra (minor seminary) of Canet de Mar, Barcelona, preparing some 65 young people for religious life and priesthood. By their lives and by their deaths as martyrs, they give the fullest meaning to the motto of our Congregations: May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere!

The Quiche Martyrs

The ten martyrs, all tortured and murdered by security forces and death squads, were the priests José Maria Gran Cirera, Juan Alonso Fernandez, and Faustino Villanueva; and the seven laymen: Rosalío Benito, Reyes Us, Domingo del Barrio, Nicolás Castro, Tomás Ramírez, Miguel Tiú, and 12-year-old Juan Barrera Méndez.

Ted Harris MSC, Australia

From the first group of those ordained from Croydon, 1939, Ted Harris helped troops escape invading Japanese forces who executed him.

Every Man for Himself : the life of Father Edward Charles Harris, "martyr" of Mal Mal, the man who would not retreat

Congratulations, 10 Years, ELSPM

 ELSPM MEDIA RELEASE, CELEBRATING 10 YEARS TEACHING ENGLISH FOR THEOLOGY AND PASTORAL CARE.

And a tribute to Margaret Bentley FDA and her leadership.

Photos of the celebration at YTU, Trieu MSC, a graduate. Also present our graduates, our MSC novices, Long and Nang.

ELSPM, the English Language Studies for Pastoral Ministry, is celebrating ten years of providing valued language services to students from across the globe, delivering on its goal of providing learning for life and mission. It is estimated that 80 per cent of the Catholic Church today live in the southern hemisphere and nearly all of these people are in developing countries. Principal Executive Officer, Fr Kevin Hennessy recognises ELSPM’s important role in supporting a modern ministry that is collaborative and dynamic. “As the English language is a medium for conversations and connections across the globe, our work is empowering religious people to work together and participate in building the church of the future,” he said.

Founded in Adelaide in 2014 as an initiative of the Passionate Congregation, ELSPM teaches English to overseas students from Religious orders, who are destined for further theological study or to work in pastoral ministry in an English-speaking country. ELSPM took over the educational licence of the Mercy Sisters at St. Aloysius College and achieved its first accreditation in April 2014, thanks to the efforts of the Christian brothers and a dedicated group of volunteers. The first group of students began their studies on 8 August 2014. It was soon evident that if ELSPM was to continue to cater for students it would need to be in Melbourne or Sydney. A strong connection with Yarra Theological Union (YTU) and the Passionist community at Templestowe, Victoria prompted the move to Melbourne in 2015.

Since August 2016, ELSPM has worked with over 300 students including priests, seminarians, pastoral ministers, religious men and women, candidates for religious life or Christian Church ministry.

Some of ELSPM’s students came from places that have experienced war, or an influx of refugees and returned to work with their own people. Fr. Pong CSsR, from the tribal people of Thailand, now works with his own people. Sr. Lan, RNDM, is in Africa working with children from very poor families. Sr. Seraphina, FMM, through her music therapy in South Korea, helps those suffering from trauma.

“At ELSPM we are proud that our teaching and support has helped our students answer the call to discipleship and take with them the extra skill and confidence of working in English,” said Fr Hennessy.

ELSPM’s English courses are all accredited through the Australian Government and are registered through the National ELICOS Accreditation Scheme (NEAS). ELSPM is also an approved provider for English preparation for Theological studies at the University of Divinity.

For more information about ELSPM, contact:

Academic Manager: Sr Margaret Bentley fma M: 0409 789 600 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Principal Executive Officer: Fr Kevin Hennessy CP M: 0408 461 622 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Acknowledging Peter Malone MSC, 85.

Peter Malone, from Sydney, educated at OLSH Bowral, and five years at Chevalier College. First profession on 26 February 1958, studies at Sacred Heart Monastery, Croydon, Sacred Heart Monastery, Canberra. His theology studies were at the Gregorian University in Rome where he was ordained in the student house chapel, April 3 1965.

He taught at Daramalan College, Canberra, moving to teach Old Testament and theology at the Canberra monastery, then pre-Novitiate director at Croydon monastery for ten years, the 1970s, teaching at the newly-established Yarra Theological Union as well as at the National Pastoral Institute and the Heart of Life Centre where he is still involved.

Frequent question: Twins? Frequent answer: Actually not!

This photo from two weeks ago, July 25^th, indicates the lack of resemblance.

During the 1990s, he headed the OCIC (International Catholic Organisation for Cinema) in Australia and the Pacific and in 1998 was elected the world President. When OCIC merged with the international television organisation, Unda, in 2001, he became the first president of SIGNIS (World Catholic Association for Communication). He has been reviewing films since 1968 and has published some books on cinema and religion. He was also the editor of the MSC theology periodical, Compass Theology Review for 27 years, 1972-1998. He edits this site.

He lives in the MSC Melbourne community, his brother, Philip a member, at Kew.

Celebrating the feast of St Mary MacKillop, Mary of the Cross – and MSC connections, August 8th

And a reminder that quite a number of MSC had sisters who were Sisters – a total of 20 sisters.

Ed Bennett

Frank Crilly

Greg McCann Snr

Jack Burford, 3 sisters

James McNamara, 3 sisters

John Bell, 4 sisters

Norbert Earl (Sister Denis, former Superior General)

Patrick Canty

Paul Jennings

Peter Carroll

Stan Tyler

Terry Barry, 2 sisters

There have been many connections. Fr Matthew Smith gave the Saint her last communion, Viaticum.  For many years Paul Stenhouse celebrated the morning Mass at Mount Street.  Associations with St Margaret’s Darlinghurst and the MacKillop Centre in East Melbourne – and many others.

Judith Rolevink statue, Adelaide

Finally, we are still trying to solve the mystery of the cloth from 1866, the year of the foundation of the Sisters of St Joseph, held in the museum in Mount Street, North Sydney. It contains the Latin motto that Jules Chevalier, Founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart from the later 1850s.  Where did Mary MacKillop come across the motto, aged 24, founding the congregation, a motto in Latin from France? Fortuitous or a connection?  No one has come up with a solution.  We still hope.

TRAP

US, 2024, 105 minutes, Colour.

Josh Hartnett, Arielle Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Alison Pill, Hayley Mills, Jonathan Langdon, Scott Mescudi.

Directed by M.Night Shyamalan.

It is 25 years since-director, M. Night Shyamalan tantalised audiences with his excellent thriller, The Sixth Sense. He has been making films consistently during the quarter of a century, some highly praised, some considered less so, but an interesting career. Often there is something of a “supernatural” aura in the tale. However, Trap is more down-to-earth, a police investigation, something of a portrait of a serial killer.

The director, Indian background, grew up in Philadelphia which is the background of most of his films. This time it is a very popular concert, in the Taylor Swift vein, crowds of youngsters, especially girls, excited fans, singing and swaying along, rapt. One of the girls is Riley (Ariel Donoghue) accompanied by her beaming father, Cooper (Josh Hartnett). The singer is played by one of the director’s daughters, Saleka, who wrote and performs the songs. Quite lavish productions.

What emerges is that the concert, an extra performance because the previous concerts were sold out, is actually a trap set up to capture the serial killer, The Butcher, profiled by an expert (a surprise performance and presence by Hayley Mills), the police in abundance in attendance at the concert, every door guarded intercepting every man present.

Very soon into the film, so not much of a spoiler, especially because of the trailer and reviews, we first see it in his eyes that Cooper is the killer. On the one hand, he has a devoted wife, children, home life, career as a fireman. On the other, he is haunted by memories and imaginations of his punishing mother. And we soon see that he has a victim trapped in the basement, ready to kill him.

On the one hand, we are disgusted at The Butcher’s murders. On the other hand, we become very involved with Cooper, the first half of the film quite ingenious in the ways that Cooper can head off the police, get information, steal passes, the police communication, and, surprisingly, with the aid of a cameo appearance by the director, get himself and his daughter involved with the singer. We are fascinated – will he escape the trap?

While the concert is the trap, the second half of the film is the singer’s attempt to turn the tables on him, cat and mouse tactics, his threatening to kill his victim, controlling the silence of the singer. And, there is his very nice family at home, something of domestic bliss.

As with the director’s other films, there are a few more unexpected twists, the confronting his wife, the threats to her, the role of the singer, and the unexpected image twist in the final moments.

Some of the bloggers are determined to pick holes in the plot and judge accordingly. But, for the director’s fans and anyone else who happens on Trap, it is an intriguingly entertaining thriller – and with those twists.

1. The title? The concert is a trap, elaborate and extensive? Cooper trapped? Means of escape?
2. The Philadelphia setting, the city and views, the streets, the theatre, interiors, vast, the concert, backstage? The contrast with home sequences, street sequences? The musical score, the range of songs, the young audience singing along, rapt?
3. The plausibility of the plot, the background of the serial killer, crimes, clues, information about the ticket, indications of The Butcher, the plan for the concert, Lady Raven agreeing, the range of police, the elderly profiler, the trap?
4. The introduction to Cooper, genial, taking Riley to the concert, enjoying it with her? Her age, clashes with Jody at school, the clashes with Jody’s mother? The revelation that he was the killer, the audience watching him, identifying with his plans for escape, toilet breaks, the T-shirt sales, the discussions with Jamie, information, his taking his pass, testing it out on doors, continued back and forth in the concert, on the roof, after causing the explosion and the injury to the cook, his plausible explanation of his fears? The opportunity with the manager, his sad story of Riley and leukaemia, their being taken backstage, Riley going on stage, the joy, singing and dancing with Lady Raven, and the scene of Jody’s jealousy and anger with her mother? The collapse of the young girl, Cooper carrying her, ingratiating himself, the dilemma of the check at the backstage door? His going to Lady Raven, confronting her, forcing her to take them in her limousine, his escape?
5. The profiler, her plan, her presence, the glimpses of her communicating, strategies?
6. Cooper and Riley in the limousine, and Lady Raven turning the tables, asking him to go home, in the house, at the piano? Cooper and his phone, Spencer in the basement, the click to release the carbon monoxide? Lady Raven’s dilemma? Her capitalising on the situation? Her denouncing Cooper, taking refuge, the phone calls to the police, to Spencer, her many fans, the message, their taking action, finding the house, the statue of the broken line, the blue door? Saving Spencer? The police coming?
7. The family reaction, the police, the profiler, the Taser on Cooper, his being taken? The comment about his OCD, tidying things, the bike in the yard and making it upright – and his ingenuity in taking the strand which would later free his cups?
8. The driver of the police, Lady Raven, her escape, with the fans? The crowds, the police driver, the attack on the police car, the irony of the jacket on the helmet and Cooper’s escape?
9. The return home, the confrontation with his wife, alone, making the tea, the gradual revelation of his double life, his wife thinking is having an affair, the discovery of the ticket, sending it, the setup so that he would be caught? Is confronting his wife? The police and the rescue?
10. In the police car, getting his cups loose, the close-up of his smiling face? To be continued, perhaps?
11. And the amusing credit sequence of Jamie and his discovering who The Butcher was?

THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE/ BERNADETTE

France, 2023, 93 minutes, Colour.

Catherine Deneuve, Denis Podalydes, Michel Vuillermoz, Sarah Giraudeau, Laurent Stocker, Maud Wyler.

Directed by Lea Domenach.

A comedy with serious political undertones. And the question is: do audiences outside France know enough about the presidency of Jacques Chirac in the 1990s and early 2000s, aware of the career of his wife, Bernadette, and her influence. It will be very interesting to read the reviews to gauge how much is fact, how much is exaggeration, how much is comedy, how much is serious.

And, of course, to find out whether French audiences like the film or not, depending on their particular political perspectives, in the reassessing of Chirac’s presidency, the influence of the far right and Le Penne 20 years ago, the similarities with the pre-Olympics 2024 elections, the ins and outs of French politics.

The opening of the film is something of an eye and ear delight, a mixed choir, in robes, chanting with polyphony, initial information about who Bernadette was, her family lineage, her political career, her marriage to the future president, her determination, the place of women in French politics in the 19^th century, and her husband’s infidelities.

And who better to portray Bernadette Chirac than the doyen of French actresses, Catherine Deneuve, the film released as she turned 80, remembering her rather brilliant career, headlining film credits for 60 years. And, at various stages, she was the image symbol of France, Marianne.

Catherine Deneuve gives a commanding performance as Bernadette even though so often she is at the command, the phone beck and call of her ambitious husband. She has had something of a local political career, her husband is a political male chauvinist, becoming increasingly alarmed at her upfront presence in his campaigns, in her social work, establishing a hospital, television appearances, music and sports stars eager to support her charities.

It needs to be said that the portrait of Jacques Chirac in this film is exceedingly one-dimensional, preoccupied with power, upset at his wife’s increasing public presence, something of the moving equivalent of newspaper cartoons. And, in many ways, that is how his supporters are presented – the exception being Nicholas Sarkozy and his moves against Chirac but who was in line to succeed him.

One of the very interesting characters, but also one-dimensional, is the Chirac’s daughter, Claude, 110% committed to her father’s political career, rather humourless, single-minded, critical of her mother and also trying to control her, but the suggestion that she have a mentor. He is played by Dennis Podylades, the other multi-dimensional character in the film, a touch pedantic, politically shrewd, public relations savvy, becoming a good friend and supporter of Bernadette.

The film is comparatively brief, indicates the timeline with continued jumps of several years from 1995 to the mid-2000’s.

Whether an audience outside France would be eager to see the film is a question. The obvious attraction is Catherine Deneuve. It may well be interesting to make political comparisons with campaigns of other countries (it is the era of Clinton at first, with a visit from Hillary Clinton to France – but there is no mention of George Bush.)

Entertaining in its way but comparatively slight.

1. For a French audience? For those outside France? Knowledge of Jacques Chirac? Of Bernadette?
2. The settings, Paris, the political world, society world, campaigns, hospital promotion, of the family, political work behind the scenes? The musical score?
3. Catherine Deneuve, her status, portraying a public figure, age, appearance, fashion and style?
4. The actual story of Jacques Chirac and his wife, the long marriage, his character, single-minded, philandering, dominating his wife, phone calls, expectations, his resenting her being in the limelight, pushing her out of view, her success, his harsh reactions, politicking, her role in the campaigns? His election, his staff, his reliance on Claude managing his business, the resentments against Sarkozy, barracking at the football match, phoning his wife, intervening, his stroke, his retirement?
5. Bernadette, local politics, her involvement, popularity, her reaction to her husband, expectations, his affairs, her patience, expressing her views, Claude’s reaction, advising the mentor, Bernadette response, collaborating with him, the hospital, the entertainment and sports stars, publicity, meetings, events? Her relationship with Laurence, her illness, her concern, passed over by her husband, gradually emerging, her support of Sarkozy after meeting with him, given her former resentments?
6. The mentor, character, task, responding well to Bernadette, their collaboration, improving her style, appearance, public functions, charities, achievement?
7. Her daughters, Claude and her strictness, devoted to her father, referring to him as the president? Is one, her past illness, her concern, her daughter’s resentment and reactions?
8. The politicos, their characters, yes-men to Iraq, and vice, situations, elections and campaigns, the far right and its success? Supporting Sarkozy?
9. Political comment, the light touch, comic, satiric?

OPERATION NAPOLEON

Iceland, 2023, 104 minutes, Colour.

Vivian Olafsdottor, Jack Fox, Iain Glenn, Wotan Wilke Morhing, Olafur Darri Olafsson, Atli Oskar Fjalarsson, Adesuwa Oni, Annette Badland .

Directed by Oskar Thor Axelsson.

This is something of an old-fashioned action adventure – very popular in the latter part of the 20^th century, big budget, fantastic plots from the past.

And, it is a film from Iceland. The focus is on an enterprising young woman, competitive in her field, concerned about her brother. He is out on an expedition in the snowfields and discovers a crashed plane, almost immediately confronted by a tough commando group, and killing, his being taken. His sister and an associate to the rescue.

The back story is a Nazi tale, a plane, gold, Hitler’s plans, possible escape, a crash and disappearance.

The villain of the piece is the CIA official, played by Iain Glenn. He has been searching for the crashed plane and its contents, continual surveillance over the decades, now taking advantage of the opportunity to recover the plane and its contents.

Some interesting characters out there in the snowfields, a big giant of a man who collaborates with the searchers, an elderly woman who has records from her researches of the past.

More or less as might be expected of this kind of adventure but enjoyable in its own way.

1. Action adventure in Iceland? From an action novel? Old style action?
2. The title, the background of the Nazis, some newsreel footage, plots, Hitler, gold?
3. The Iceland scenery, its impact?
4. Kristin, her personality, career, critical of collaborators? Her brother, the flashbacks, the bond? The interruption to her argument, his contact?
5. Alliance, the expedition, companions, out in the ice, their discoveries?
6. The encounter with Julie rat off, her squad, her pencil, ruthlessness? Her mission? The confrontations with Kristin?
7. Car, the CIA, the family man with the grandchildren, his power, the mission, the flight, Julie and the squad, the discoveries, the challenge, his arrival, revelations about him, the search, the secrecy, the operation, the name of Napoleon, his son, the encounter with Are in the past, with Sarah? The buildup to the confrontations, the stand-off, shooting, deaths?
8. Simon, the killer, stalking Kristin, the attempts to kill her, Steve?
9. Kristin Steve, his background, interests, their working together, her being tough, his difficulties? The visit to Owner, to Sarah, the discovery of what it happened? Action together?
10. I now, his character, the loner, trusting Kristin, the explanations, the background, his final interventions?
11. The clues for Sarah, visiting her, her investigations, her life, age, the confrontations?
12. The climax in the snow, good prevailing, the villain is being defeated?