Comments for Global Visions Film Festival 2012 http://globalvisionsfestival.com Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:48:00 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Into the Abyss by Jason Beesen http://globalvisionsfestival.com/film/into-the-abyss/#comment-40 Jason Beesen Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:48:00 +0000 http://globalvisionsfestival.com/?post_type=film_information&p=635#comment-40 Amazing portrait of types of people I don't normally meet. Take the person who was sister of one murder victim and daughter of another (killed because the killers really wanted their Chevrolet Camaro), for example.  In her obviously horrible last few years, she has also lost a cousin to suicide, one other death which I can't even remember, her biological father to old age (hopefully) and her stepfather to being hit by a train.  Then she watches the execution to boot. Then the third victim's brother couldn't find out what had happened because his cell phone was a prepaid that couldn't dial long distance and his grandfather refused to even speak with him.  Then he missed his brother's funeral because the police guessed he would try to attend, and took the opportunity to arrest him at the graveyard. Then one of the culprits (the one who isn't sentenced to death) has to get both his father and brother to, themselves, both get day passes from their own incarcerations in order to testify on his behalf. Probably worth the trouble though, because almost randomly the judge chose to spare him and not the other guy. Actually there is far far more which came across to me as absurd, but I would almost have to go through the film frame by frame to pick it all out and put it into a spreadsheet or something. (I just remembered a spitting guy relating how he had a screwdriver jammed through both of his lungs, 30 minutes before he had to be at work, with some ducks walking by in the background.  The ducks being the only normal things in the whole documentary.)  The documentary succeeds wildly in simply documenting, and makes overwhelmingly clear that the death penalty is comically tragically useless in Texas.  The title is clearly a double entendre: The Abyss = Death? or The Abyss = Texas. Amazing portrait of types of people I don’t normally meet.

Take the person who was sister of one murder victim and daughter of another (killed because the killers really wanted their Chevrolet Camaro), for example.  In her obviously horrible last few years, she has also lost a cousin to suicide, one other death which I can’t even remember, her biological father to old age (hopefully) and her stepfather to being hit by a train.  Then she watches the execution to boot.

Then the third victim’s brother couldn’t find out what had happened because his cell phone was a prepaid that couldn’t dial long distance and his grandfather refused to even speak with him.  Then he missed his brother’s funeral because the police guessed he would try to attend, and took the opportunity to arrest him at the graveyard.

Then one of the culprits (the one who isn’t sentenced to death) has to get both his father and brother to, themselves, both get day passes from their own incarcerations in order to testify on his behalf. Probably worth the trouble though, because almost randomly the judge chose to spare him and not the other guy.

Actually there is far far more which came across to me as absurd, but I would almost have to go through the film frame by frame to pick it all out and put it into a spreadsheet or something. (I just remembered a spitting guy relating how he had a screwdriver jammed through both of his lungs, 30 minutes before he had to be at work, with some ducks walking by in the background.  The ducks being the only normal things in the whole documentary.) 

The documentary succeeds wildly in simply documenting, and makes overwhelmingly clear that the death penalty is comically tragically useless in Texas.  The title is clearly a double entendre:

The Abyss = Death?

or

The Abyss = Texas.

]]> Comment on Journeys of Hope by Jason Beesen http://globalvisionsfestival.com/film/journeys-of-hope/#comment-39 Jason Beesen Sun, 04 Mar 2012 12:18:00 +0000 http://globalvisionsfestival.com/?post_type=film_information&p=628#comment-39 Plays like a 40 minute long infomercial. Some of the content is watchable, but there is no balance, no texture, no inflections, and it seemed like it was going to end about 5 times, thus making it seem like it was never going to end. Most of the content is just a list of good things the film maker's organisation is doing (in their own opinion.) Plays like a 40 minute long infomercial.

Some of the content is watchable, but there is no balance, no texture, no inflections, and it seemed like it was going to end about 5 times, thus making it seem like it was never going to end.

Most of the content is just a list of good things the film maker’s organisation is doing (in their own opinion.)

]]> Comment on Opening Night Gala by andy.g http://globalvisionsfestival.com/opening-night-gala/#comment-38 andy.g Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:05:00 +0000 http://globalvisionsfestival.com/?p=680#comment-38 Great documentary! I was at the opening night last night-this film speaks to everyone who has ever asked the question "well, I'm just one person, this is so much bigger than me. What can I do??". We need energy, no matter what. Every way we have figured out to create it has it's impact-there is no one perfect energy source. But-it seems so easy to just be aware of the energy we are consuming. Maybe, just maybe then we'll start using less.. Great documentary! I was at the opening night last night-this film speaks to everyone who has ever asked the question “well, I’m just one person, this is so much bigger than me. What can I do??”. We need energy, no matter what. Every way we have figured out to create it has it’s impact-there is no one perfect energy source. But-it seems so easy to just be aware of the energy we are consuming. Maybe, just maybe then we’ll start using less..

]]> Comment on Peace Out by Naima http://globalvisionsfestival.com/film/peace-out/#comment-37 Naima Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:13:00 +0000 http://globalvisionsfestival.com/?post_type=film_information&p=582#comment-37 Too bad I missed it. This is a must watch for every Albertan.  Too bad I missed it. This is a must watch for every Albertan. 

]]> Comment on The Bully Project by Naima http://globalvisionsfestival.com/film/the-bully-project/#comment-36 Naima Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:59:00 +0000 http://globalvisionsfestival.com/?post_type=film_information&p=625#comment-36 I wish it was in the evening or week end to allow those of us who work to get a chance to take advantage of it. I wish it was in the evening or week end to allow those of us who work to get a chance to take advantage of it.

]]> Comment on Opening Night Gala by Billgates http://globalvisionsfestival.com/opening-night-gala/#comment-35 Billgates Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:26:00 +0000 http://globalvisionsfestival.com/?p=680#comment-35 http://globalvisionsfestival.com/film-schedule/  It would seem that it is at Metro Cinema  At the Garneau Theatre8712 – 109 StreetEdmonton AB(780) 425-9212 http://globalvisionsfestival.com/film-schedule/  It would seem that it is at Metro Cinema 

At the Garneau Theatre8712 – 109 StreetEdmonton AB(780) 425-9212

]]> Comment on Opening Night Gala by Billgates http://globalvisionsfestival.com/opening-night-gala/#comment-34 Billgates Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:20:00 +0000 http://globalvisionsfestival.com/?p=680#comment-34 who what when WHERE why. I am feeling a little blind. Have I missed where this gala is going to be? I went to Tickets | Venues but am still un-sure about the Gala. who what when WHERE why. I am feeling a little blind. Have I missed where this gala is going to be? I went to Tickets | Venues but am still un-sure about the Gala.

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