LOVE LIES BLEEDING

US, 2024, 104 minutes, Colour.

Kristin Stewart, Katie O'Brien, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Anna Baryshnikov, Dave Franco.

Directed by Rose Glass.

In fact, quite an amount of hate, hateful characters, also lie bleeding.

The comment by critic, Sandra Hall, suggested that this film was a Thelma and Louise on steroids. But, it’s not just an image, there is quite an amount of actual steroid Ealing and taking. The film opens at a gym, men and women, muscles bulging, sweaty, exercising. The gym is managed by Lou (Kristin Stewart, Twilight days long past), tough, initially seen cleaning a dirty toilet, stalked by a fellow worker, but taken aback when she sees Jack (Katie O’Brien, martial arts instructor and actress) come in to work out.

The love of the title is the relationship between U and Jack, often intense, but immediately complicated. Who is alienated from her gangster father, an eerie and wrinkled Ed Harris, devoted to her sister Beth (Jena Malone) who is married to an extremely smug and dislikeable JJ (Dave Franco). JJ is doubletiming his wife, including with Jack, is violent towards Beth, hospitalising her. Lou is angry but Jack is even angrier with the result that JJ, his face brutally disfigured, lies bleeding.

And, so, this film becomes something of a gritty thriller, especially with the women deciding to get rid of the body in a vast pit, where Sue many other bodies are buried, hoping to implicate Lou’s father.

Jake has also had an ambition, to enter a body building competition in Las Vegas and, with all the complications and tensions with Lou, she hitchhikes there and enters the event, only to fail, experiences a repulsive hallucination which is dramatised for the benefit of the audience, humiliated.

While the setting is Nevada, the film was shot in New Mexico and, one wonders why, the year is 1989 and there are direct references to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the migration to West Berlin and freedom.

A number of responders to Love Lies Bleeding is to see it as a film noir, better, a neo-noir. A brief definition of film noir states a style or genre of cinematographic film marked by a mood of pessimism, fatalism, and menace.. Black-and-white style was very popular in the 1940s and 1950s, especially in Hollywood. While this film is in colour, it is often in very dark colour, widescreen but the directors instantly using close-ups, especially faces, the screen sometimes turning red, which means that the director, Rose Glass (the horror film, St Maud) creates quite a menacing atmosphere.

Some audiences in the past found film noir too grim. And, despite the colour here, many audiences will find the narrative, the characters, the steroid atmosphere, the brutal interactions, too grim.

1. The title? The love? Characters bleeding? Deaths? Physical? Emotional?
2. The 1989 setting, references to the Berlin wall and freedom? The small American town, the gym, the gangster and his mansion, apartments, hospital, the streets, the precipice of the dump? Atmosphere? The musical score?
3. Lou’s story, age, background, sexual orientation, Daisy stalking her, her father and alienation, the disappearance of her mother, managing the gym, dealing the steroids, relationship with Beth, dislikeable JJ? Attracted to Jackie, intensity, Jackie talking, smoking (all the anti-smoking talk, yet the end), offering the steroids, the results, the sexual attraction, encounters, going home with Lou? The meal with Beth and JJ, as violent behaviour, later hospitalising Beth? Lou’s reaction, Jackie’s reaction? Jackie brutally killing JJ, Lou’s reaction, getting rid of the body, the carpet, the drive, Daisy seeing them on the road, a later use of this information, the car over the cliff, igniting it, the smoke? Lou and her meticulous cleaning of the house, her father’s arrival, knowing what had happened?
4. Jackie, ousted from home, on the road, bodybuilding, the ambitions for the competition, the sexual encounter with JJ, getting the job, the interview with Lou’s father, the smoke break and her encountering him, meeting Lou, the steroids, the exercise, the relationship, intense? Her angry reaction to JJ, killing him? Getting rid of the body? Lou wanting her to keep quiet, locking the door, Jackie getting out, going to the gym? The clash with Lou? Jackie hitchhiking, Las Vegas, entering the competition, the other women, the parade, the judges, her performance, going well, her being overcome, the hallucination, too many drugs, her being sick, imagining vomiting Lou? The humiliation? The return, Lou’s father and his control, giving her the gun, the jealousy about Daisy and the phone calls to Lou, shooting Daisy? Captured by the thugs, bound, Lou finding her, freeing her, her pulling the gun on Lou?
5. Lou’s father, gangster, the murders, memories of his wife, her death? The police in his pay? Confronting Lou, confronting Jackie? Lou and the gun, her father’s injuries, the gun in his mouth, not killing him, her informing the police, his arrest?
6. Daisy, at the gym, infatuated with Lou, jealous, seeing the cars on the road, confronting Lou, staying the night, the breakfast, the threats, Lou talking head down? Jackie shooting her? The finale with the body, dead or alive, Lou burying her in the desert?
7. The style of the film, neo-noir, the use of close-ups, faces, widescreen? Atmosphere? The colour shades, screen red? The room, sometimes ironic, touches of horror?

GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE

US, 2024, 115 minutes, Colour.

Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Kumail Nanjiani, Patton Oswalt, Celeste O'Connor, Logan Kim, Emily Alyn Lind, James Lancaster, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, William Atherton, John Rothman.

Directed by Gil Kenan.

It’s 40 years since audiences first enjoyed the first Ghostbusters film, funny, touch of the frightening, ghosts in New York City, and the happy characters of the Ghostbusters themselves.

There was a sequel five years later. Then, in 2016, a female version of the same story, with Chris Hemsworth very funny as the token male secretary, but, at the time, many audiences considered this a desecration! So, five years later, an attempt to revive the franchise with Ghostbusters in the next generation. Moderate success. Now, something of a risk in making this film in the series. Jason Reitman, the son of the original director, Ivan Reitman, worked with Gil Kenan, who wrote the previous film, worked hard on being inventive this time round.

Some delight for the fans of the original film, Dan a Croydon having a central role here, his character in retirement but ready to fight again; then Bill Murray turning up, interviewing a suspect but finally joining in; Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts (although the other Ghostbusters, Harold Ramis, died in 2014).

Some delight for those who enjoyed the 2021 film, the same family of Ghostbusters reappears here as well. They are very much the younger generation, Finn Wolfhard ,as Trevor, age 18, Mckenna Grace is the very precocious, Phoebe, age 15, along with their stepfather, Paul Rudd, the mother, Carrie Coon, and several of the young characters who resume their roles.

Something for everyone. And, judging by the initial box office returns and success, mostly everyone has been very pleased.

We join an initial chase through New York City and the pursuit of the ghost. But, something of a change of tone when a man, Nadeem, comes in to sell his grandmother’s goods, in Dan Aykroyd’s store, amongst the goods a mysterious ball covered in ancient hieroglyphics, taken to the antiquities expert, Patton Oswalt, and whole yarn about a power struggle four thousand years ago and the power contained in this strange ball.

Lots of complications from then on. The Indian man, comedian Kumail Nanjiani discovers he has powers to transfer flame by moving his fingers – which will come in handy for the final confrontation! But, is a lonely ghost who betrays Phoebe, her friend, who unleashes the monster – and a new ice age all over New York City.

So, the old Brigade, the new brigade, kinds of sinister folklore from the past, confrontations of power, a lot of family problems in between, but then the final showdown.

Which means that this is popular entertainment at its most popular.

1. The Ghostbusters franchise? 40 years? The 2020s generation?
2. Audiences remembering the original film, cherishing it, the characters, the issues, ghostbusting? Younger audiences and the 2020s, the next generation? The very young Ghostbusters? This film and the reintroduction of the old characters, enhancing the action, the enjoyment?
3. The New York setting, the old fire station, the headquarters of the Ghostbusters? The musical score and the use of the familiar popular song?
4. Gary and the family, the ghost in the sky, the reckless driving through New York, confronting the ghost? Trapping the ghost in the cellar, the machine and the red light, green light? The final crash? The reaction of the mayor and his continual condemnations?
5. The family, Gary, teacher, ghost busting, Ali, the marriage, her children, Trevor and his abilities, age, driving? Phoebe, precocious, 15, science skills, weapons, ghost busting? The mayor forbidding her to work?
6. Tensions within the family, the children’s ages, their expertise, wanting to Ghostbusters, relationship with their mother, tensions with Gary? Working together, final resolutions?
7. The comedy with Dan Ackroyd, memories of the other films, his shop, retirement, Pod cast on his assistance? Nadeem, arrival, settling his grandmother’s goods, shrewd and the bargaining? The global object, Ray fascinated, consulting his antiquities friend, the long explanation of the mythology, the monster, the hieroglyphics?
8. Ray, Podcast, his age, assisting? Lucky, from the previous film? Lars, arm in sling, his expertise?
9. The ghost, companionship with Phoebe, calm, tricking her, Phoebe and her demonstration, going into the cell, the transition, becoming a ghost, the two minutes? The loosening of the sinister ball, the creature coming out, its horns, resurrecting? And the resurrecting of all the ghosts?
10. Mayhem in New York, the ice age, the crystals, the spikes, people frozen, vehicles, the destruction of the city?
11. The team reassembling, Ray, Bill Murray and his character, his interview with Nadeem, Winston, his retirement, coming into action, Janine and her return? Teaming up with the younger generation? The weapons, the attack, the ammunition being frozen?
12. Nadeem, the touch of the conman, his grandmother, the discovery of who he was, his power with his finger, the fire? His ultimate contribution, the fire?
13. Everybody frozen, the ghost, the cigarette lighter, her throwing it to Phoebe, Nadeem and his powers, the conflagration, the destruction of the ghosts?
14. The mayor, the public, his being shamed into praising the Ghostbusters? The old brigade their happy retirement? The new family, the domestic problems throughout, Gary a stepfather, Phoebe and her reactions, calling Gary dead? The happy reunion?
15. In the presence of the marshmallow ghost throughout, mischief, and the final joke during the credits?

MSC Sisters 125^th Anniversary of FoundationMSC Sisters 125^th Anniversary of Foundation

‘Congregational transformation and evaluation’ were mandates of our last General Chapter of 2022.

To help implement this we are beginning a reflection process to begin on 25^th March this year, culminating on 25^th March 2025, the 125^th anniversary of our foundation.

Each province has written a short account of their beginnings and their development for congregational reflection and sharing.

This process will link the past to the present and hopefully assist us to rediscover and strengthen our MSC identity for the future.

Our Australian sisters launched the reflection year with the presentation of the first booklet of articles from Germany, Namibia and Peru. The second will be the articles from Korea, USA, PNG and India. Lastly, the third will be from Australia, Guatemala/El Salvador and the Philippines.

(From our reflection year prayer)

God of Love and Compassion,

We pray in deep gratitude for Fr. Hubert Linckens and our Congregation.

We pray with thanksgiving for all our MSC Sisters who have gone before us. Their stories speak to us of Your Love flowing through them. They faithfully responded to Your call, at home or abroad. They have shown us the way to live our charism, through their compassion, inner strength and courage. Their ‘yes’ was truly a ‘yes’ of resilience, acceptance and surrender to Your Will… …

                                                           TO BE ON EARTH THE HEART OF GOD… …

And, finally, MSC Vietnam

We have had 10 days of posts on the Australian Province celebration of Jules Chevallier’s Bicentenary of his birth (plus India becoming a province and our two pre-Novitiate  men beginning their Novitiate). 

We finish with a photo story of the Vietnam celebrations.

And now for something different, Campbell Town, Tasmania, celebration. 

Appreciation to Ed Travers MSC for organising this event and for the story. Thanks to Bartha for the photos.

One hundred and twenty one years ago the Australian Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart established its first mission in its own right in the Archdiocese of Hobart. Campbell Town was chosen as the place. Accordingly, we, who are now very few, gathered there to celebrate Fr Chevalier's 200th birthday which happened also to be the 120th anniversary of the death of Fr Henri Chetail MSC, one of our first of our confreres in this place who died with a reputation for sanctity which endures amongst local people to this day. Moreover, two of the churches of this region, in the villages of Ross and Mangana, were dedicated to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart thus standing in testimony to the influence of our pioneer members in this region.

Archbishop Julian Porteous considered the event sufficiently important for him to attend and preside at the concelebrated Mass at which Frs Bartha Paniyadimai and Ed Travers  MSCs were joined by five of the diocesan clergy and a couple of local parishioners. At the end of the liturgy we processed into the churchyard and prayed prayers of gratitude and petition at the grave of Fr Chetail whose remains rest there between two other priests of note, namely, Fr O'Çonnell OSB, a local man of this village who was the first Australian born priest and Fr Leo Kirkham a former parish priest who died in the 1980s and who also had a reputation for sanctity.

We then retired to a local cafe for a modest lunch amongst that day's crowd of tourists.

Bartha at Fr Chetail's grave

Over the meal Fr Chris Hope, a senior retired priest of this archdiocese and former professor of scripture in the Melbourne seminary, remarked that the thing most appreciated about all of the MSC who have served over these 121 years has been their having contributed as though they were themselves members of the local presbyterate. I had heard these same appreciative words used in formal speeches of thanks by now deceased senior priests forty and more years ago. It seemed to us that Fr Founder would have been gratified to hear of such a long line of his spiritual sons being appraised in those terms. Disponibilite!

More Bicentenary Glimpses, around the Province

Colleges

An unexpected cleric!

Downlands

Monivae and a new heart design - in cupcakes icing

Daramalan - and cupcakes

Adelaide celebration

Randwick parish

Jules Chevalier Bicentenary celebration, OLSH and MSC, Sydney, Kensington

Today, we joyfully commemorate the 200th Anniversary since the Birth of our founder and the founder of our MSC brothers, Fr. Jules Chevalier.

In our Mother House in Kensington, our OLSH Sisters and MSC Brothers came together for a Eucharistic celebration, presided over by the MSC Provincial, Fr. Stephen Hackett msc, concelebrated by our brother MSC Priests.

Following the Mass, we gathered for a beautiful morning tea,

in which included the unveiling of a commissioned artwork of Mother Marie Louise Hartzer and Fr. Jules Chevalier by our Provincial Sr Philippa Murphy fdnsc, alongside a commemorative bust of our founder Fr Jules Chevalier to be housed in our Mother House.

On this special and significant milestone for our congregation, we extend our warmest wishes and blessing to all. May the vision and spirit of Fr. Jules Chevalier continue to ignite our hearts, inspiring us to embody divine love as envisioned by him, forever nurturing the mission of being the heart of God here on earth.

‘The credibility of the Gospel is at stake’'

In the current context of Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s military response, and in anticipation of the Palm Sunday peace marches,

 Pax Christi calls on faith leaders to speak out on behalf of Gaza

By Claude Mostowik MSC, President of Pax Christi Australia.

From Pearls and Irritations, March 19, 2024

Faith leaders should stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and should call on the Australian government to condemn all violence that threatens a just future for the people of Palestine, Israel and the Middle East.

This call comes from Pax Christi, an ecumenical Christian organisation. Pax Christi Australia has sent the following appeal to all local faith leaders as it prepares to take part in the traditional annual Palm Sunday peace rally on 24 April. The appeal reads:

Pax Christi Australia, part of the international Christian peace movement Pax Christi International, based in Brussels, works to promote peace with justice and nonviolence locally and globally, having strong links with justice for the people of Palestine.

We mourn the suffering endured in Israel and Palestine and call on peace groups and religious leaders to stridently promote active nonviolence in the pursuit of peace with justice.

Pax Christi Australia has called on the Australian government, to condemn all violence which threatens a just and nonviolent future.

On Palm Sunday, crowds in Jerusalem showered blessings of peace upon The One who came in the name of God, whereas some religious leaders told Jesus to silence his disciples, to which he replied, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Gaza has become a killing field and the stones, the rubble, cry out to the world of genocide and the cries of people under the rubble. The stones cry out through the voice and actions of millions of people. These cries call for response. Yet, there is shameful silence from many church leaders who have yet to voice the call for peace, a call for support of the International Court of Justice, and call for humanitarian aid. It is morally derelict that the silence for peace is crushed by a complicity with Israel’s evil genocide that slaughters our human brothers and sisters.

The dignified pleas of Pope Francis and United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres to stop the violence have been ignored. As true followers of the nonviolent Jesus, we are deeply distressed at the silence of those with political and religious power and moral responsibilities. The credibility of the gospel is at stake.

We stand with Pope Francis who said recently, “I will never tire of reiterating my call, addressed in particular to those who have political responsibility: ‘stop the bombs and missiles now, end hostile stances [everywhere].’” And we call upon our heads of churches not to tire.

Pope Francis has repeatedly stated that dialogue is the only path toward a peaceful future. Dialogue must be accompanied by justice and self-determination which Pope Paul Vl proclaimed in his 1972 Day of Peace message: “If you want peace, work for Justice.” Pax Christi joins in the heartfelt appeal for a permanent ceasefire where all women and men of goodwill raise their cry for peace. It is time that Australian Church Leaders imitate loudly, bravely, and honourably the Voice of Peace spoken by Jesus, and by our Pope. “Every day, in my heart, I carry the pain and suffering of the populations in Palestine and Israel due to the ongoing hostilities.” (Pope Francis).

Let us stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people who feel abandoned, forsaken, and face genocide alone.

We demand that Western democracies (Australia, USA, United Kingdom, European Union countries) stop endorsing and supporting Israel in its criminal activity. We demand an end to the occupation of Palestine, which is the root of violence, and to stop illegal Israeli settlements. We demand that funding for UNRWA be reinstated.

Luther Pastor in Bethlehem, Munther Isaac, condemns many when he said in February 2024, ‘When churches justify a genocide or are silent watching from a distance, making carefully crafted balanced statements – the credibility of the Gospel is at stake’.

Negotiations and mutual trust are the only way forward.

‘The Middle East does not need war but peace, a peace built on justice, dialogue, and the courage of fraternity.’ – Pope Francis.

India, the new MSC Province

Saturday March 16^th was indeed a memorable day for the Indian branch of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart:

Four celebrations rolled into one.

Present for the occasion were Father Mike Miller, General Secretary, Rome and Father Michael Huber,  Provincial South Germany/Austria.

1. The first of the four celebrations was the Ordination to the Diaconate by the Archbishop of Bangalore, Peter Machado of the following three MSCs :

Vinodh Kumar from the Bangalore Archdiocese, Karnataka State, aged 39; 

Karthik Raja Sekar from the Madurai Archdiocese in Tamil Nadu State, aged 30; and

Sesu Raj from the Mysore Diocese, Karnataka State aged 31.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Bellandur Gate, Bangalore.

Michael Miller MSC

2. The second celebration involved the Formal Erection of MSC INDIA as a Province.

It had been established as a Union back in 1997.

Successive Union Superiors were: 

Fr. Malcolm Fyfe (1997 to 2004);                                                                                         

Fr. Tijo John Arukalil (2004 – 2009) ;                                                                                        

Fr. Joseph Christy (2009 to 2012) ;                                                                                    

Fr. John Peter (2012 to 2016) ;                                                                                         

Fr. Charles Babu (2016 to 2019);                                                                                  

Fr. Darwin Thatheus (2019 to 2024);

Now that MSC INDIA has become a Province, Father Darwin Thatheus will continue on until December as Provincial, assisted by the current Council members.  Father General has indicated that a Provincial Chapter should be held sometime in August 2024 to approve our new Provincial Statutes.

Subsequently an Elective Assembly should be held in October to elect a Provincial and Council. Whoever is elected (or re-elected) will take office in December.

Father Joji Babu an Father Tijo John congratulate Father Darwin Thatheus

Father Mike Miller with Father Darwin Thatheus

3. The third celebration was that of the 200^th Birthday of our Founder, Father Jules Chevalier.

Lighting of the Vilakku Pooja Lamp:Father Mike Miller, Father Michael Huber and Father Tijo John Arukalil

4. The fourth celebration involved the Official Blessing and Opening of the Chevalier Academy.

This Primary and Secondary School has been built on the site that formerly housed the MSC Formation House at Bellandur Gate. The Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church occupies the other major portion of this property. The Chevalier Academy will serve the needs of many of our parishioners’ children in what is now a major growth area of Bangalore.  The Academy actually started enrolling a small number of Grade 1 students last year utilizing the few classrooms that were ready. Now that the Construction has been completed, a Formal Opening and Blessing of the Academy was appropriate. 

Chevalier Academy

L to R: Father Mike Miller, Archbishop Peter Machado, Father Darwin Thatheus, Father Michael Huber, Father Tijo John, Father Ravi Paul.

Felix Joseph, from the first batch of students receives a Certificate of Merit from Father Mike Miller, MSC General Secretary.

With special thanks to Father Tijo for the photos.

Father Malcolm Fyfe msc

March 18, 2024

The Australian Province congratulates our new Province, India.  We are proud of our connected history: Malcolm Fyfe, Founder; the longtime presence of Dennis Murphy; many who assisted over the last 40 years, Vyn Bailey, Albert Yelds, Michael Fallon, Tom Fitzgerald, Tyson Donneley……

Beginning the Novitiate, Long and Nang

In the afternoon of March 1th, we continued our spirit of celebration from the morning, the parish Bicentenary Mass, the MSC, OLSH, MSC Sister, Laity of the Chevalier Family, with Jules and his passion to spread the human and unconditional love of Jesus everywhere, by celebrating the beginning of our Novitiate March 2024-May 2025.

Nang Dinh VU and Van Long TRAN were officially received into the Novitiate by Fr Khoi Nguyen msc, the Director of Initial Formation and Novice Director, on behalf of the Australian Province.

During this reception liturgy, Khoi reminded Long and Nang of the ‘radical’ invitation of Jesus to each of them at this stage of their formation, and urged them to be open, to be ready to take risks with God, and with God’s grace, to go out of their comfort zone, their own security, and to find God in new ways, beyond their expectations and imagination.

Fr Stephen Hackett msc, the Australian Provincial, who could not be there in person conveyed his greetings and best wishes, his prayer and support, to the novices, as they embarked on this unique and important journey.

Many MSCs, parishioners of St Thomas’ Blackburn parish and friends to Long and Nang, were present at the church to show their love and support to them. We continue to keep them and Khoi, their director, in our prayers and thoughts.

Khoi Nguyen MSC