By Yulia Federov

​Imagine being in an abusive relationship.  Imagine the fear that arises when you think about leaving.  Now, imagine that when you finally gather the courage to do so, it’s too late—because no matter where you go, your abuser will know exactly where you are.

​No, this isn’t the plot for a sci-fi movie—it’s real life.  

At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios took to the stage at Hall H to reveal upcoming productions from the studio. One of the announced films was ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’, Marvel’s first Asian – led superhero film. During the epic panel it was also revealed that Shang-Chi himself, will be played by Toronto actor Simu Liu, most known for playing Jung on ‘Kim’s Convenience’. It is an understatement to say that Shang-Chi will have a monumental impact on Asian representation, but to what extent and how will it affect the Asian communities in North America? 

​You may be thinking, what is an elder statesman in Sylvester Stallone doing in another Rambo film? Even at his age, Stallone violently embodies character John Rambo, who you don’t want to become enemies with.

By Laura 'Simply Leah' McNeil

The 2019 CaribbeanTales Film Festival music night has been quite a night! It’s surprising how much our history can and has been expressed through music. In hindsight, that’s how my ancestors were able to communicate with each other during the time of slavery. This short film entitled Karukera Blues by Pierre Huberson reaffirmed that notion and then some.

Jenna Cato Bass’ Flatland opens with hazy, claustrophobic shots of a small wedding. Shot through the eyes of Natalie (Nicole Fortuin), this light-skinned bride is a timid young woman whose love for her horse Oumie defeats all else. Before her is Bakkies (De Klerk Oelofse), her husband-to-be, to whom she doesn’t want to be married. But of course, she’s reminded by the pastor that she was led to her husband by God, and “when you lead a horse, it obeys without question.” Natalie is a victim of a system that has repressed the freedom of women for so long, that the relegation of a burgeoning young lady to a life of male servitude is deemed an ‘act of God.’ So, when her wedding night eventually ends in rape, Natalie grabs her horse, shoots the priest standing in her way, and seizes the opportunity to reach for the release that drives the film for the rest of its duration.

Since the bombing of the World Trade Centre in 2001, America’s history has been irreversibly split in two: pre-9/11 and post-9/11. Despite constant coverage worldwide, much of 9/11 is clouded by perplexing misinformation and distortion of truth. Yet, this event and its aftermath has been the basis for many intense, expository Hollywood narratives that trail the excruciating journey to solving the crime, and lay bare the iniquities of the U.S. government in the entire ordeal.