Léirmheas Scannáin: Killers of the Flower Moon!

Movie Review: Killers of the Flower Moon!

by | 2023/11/14 | Reviews

Movie Review: Killers of the Flower Moon!

My eyes were glued to the big screen every minute of this very interesting film 'Killers of the Flower Moon', masterpiece of director Martin Scorcese. I didn't even take a toilet break, even though the movie is almost three and a half hours long. I hardly took a breath, or blinked my eyes, for fear of missing something important in the story. 'Yes – this film is so enthralling.

The film is based on the popular book 'Killers of the Flower Moon', written in 2017 by journalist David Grann. The book tells the true story of a white businessman and self-proclaimed "true friend" of the Osage Nation (a native tribe). The tribe became rich when oil was discovered on their reservation. The scheme devised by some white men was to marry landowners and then kill them to get their estates. Women were the owners for the most part, as the Osage tribe was a matriarchal one. The story focuses on one native family – the mother (played by Tantoo Cardinal as Lizzie Q) and her four daughters, and what happens to them, especially one daughter who is not yet married.

There are three main characters in this film – Robert de Niro as William Hale, Leonardo diCaprio as Hale's nephew, Ernest Burkhart, and Lily Gladstone as Mollie Kyle – Burkhart's wife. All three give an excellent performance, and in my opinion, Lily Gladstone is on a par with de Niro and diCaprio. Ernest Burkhart is a dullard, and Hale cleverly exploits him, exerting his influence on him strongly. Mollie meets Ernest, her handsome taxi driver, and they fall in love. Therefore, it was not difficult for Hale to convince Ernest to marry Mollie. One by one, her mother and sisters die so that only Mollie is left alive.

Hale then plans to kill Mollie Kyle, and get her estate for his own family through Ernest. There is a twist in the story because Ernest and Mollie are in love, and the relationship between them is central to the story. I will not tell you more about this story now, but you will see the rotten corruption that the Americans, and especially the farmer Hale, played on the natives in the twenties in the past century, through the lens of this horrible story.

Opinion Gladstone

Lily Gladstone (Mollie in the film) has aboriginal blood, so her opinion about the film is very interesting.

“I struggle to think of another film that has been so true to indigenous women. I love my sisters in the film, and they are like family to me,” said Lily.

Mollie's sisters, native actresses Cara Jade Myers as Anna Brown, JaNae Collins as Reta Smith and Jillion Dion as Minnie Smith, are killed for their money.

The scenes with the sisters and their mother speaking their native language together are very powerful. In fact, every scene that shows the Osage language and culture is exciting. Rarely do you see such a realistic representation of the native people in Hollywood.

“Mollie survived but Kyle's three sisters did not. We all know someone, someone in our family, someone in our inner circles, someone we grew up with and we don't know where they are,” Lily said poignantly. With that, they connect the life as shown in the film and the life as it is today, in terms of mistreatment of indigenous people in America.

Conclusion

You can understand this wonderful film on at least two levels. You can take it as it is, that is to say that it features first class actors at work, under the direction of some of the best directors in the world, revealing an interesting story, set in Oklahoma a hundred years ago. It is a tangle of scheming, with love, murder and money as ingredients mixed together to present you with a delicious soup. The audience would be very happy with the film, and that read on it. But another meaning can be superimposed on this original reading, when you recognize that this is not just a work of imagination, but a work based on bitter truth. That is that there was racial and sexual discrimination against the indigenous people, and their lives were of little value. With that background, it was easy for greedy and immoral Americans to kill indigenous women to steal their money. This corruption was widespread, and did not stop until an FBI detective, Tom White (played by Jesse Plemons), came to investigate the murders.

The film steers the light towards the situation of the indigenous people in their own country, almost a hundred years ago. And it raises this question: are the conditions forindigenous people better now than they were then? Unfortunately, that question is not easy to answer! But perhaps, with this film, this important question will be asked more often to the appropriate authorities.

Bottom line: Don't hesitate to see this movie as soon as possible!

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Todhchaí an Mheánoirthir – Idir dhá cheann na meá!

The future of the Middle East - conflicted!

by | 2023/11/07 | Current Affairs, International News

Todhchaí an Mheánoirthir – Idir dhá cheann na meá!

The Israeli government was in a panic, after the recent horror when Palestinian militants attacked Israel. At the time of writing, more than 1,400 have been killed in Israel and more than 8,000 have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began on October 7. The Israelis had a choice between two tough options: launch a major invasion of Hamas in Gaza, guns blazing; or take a more prudent, measured approach.

Background

Most Palestinians live in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Israelis captured those territories in the six-day war in 1967. The Golan Heights were captured from Syria, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, and the West Bank and Jerusalem from Jordan. Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in 1982. They pulled out of the Gaza Strip in 2005. For decades, Palestinians have been racially discriminated against in the occupied territories. The most horrific thing is the illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. From 2012 to 2022, the number of Israeli residents in the West Bank and East Jerusalem increased from 520,000 to over 700,000. These settlers are living illegally (according to international law) in 279 Israeli settlements throughout the West Bank, with 14 of them and 229,000 inhabitants in East Jerusalem. 147 of the settlements are outposts, which are illegal even under Israeli law.

Israel's efforts to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank have intensified this year, reflecting the agenda of the right-wing government in Israel and prompting international criticism of a practice that violates international law.

The Palestinians say the settlements are encroaching on territories that will one day be part of their own state. The settlements also create a two-tier legal system in the territory – one set of rules for Israelis and another for Palestinians who live under military rule.

The Israeli approach creates a lot of tension between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and especially when the Israeli government is ignoring the Palestinians and their demands to have their own country.

Freagra don Ionsaí Hamas

The Israeli defense forces (IDF) have launched a ground invasion. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “We are only at the beginning of the war against Hamas. What we do to our enemies in the coming days will hurt them deeply for generations to come."

Immediately after the Hamas attacks, Israeli forces have been carrying out continuous airstrikes on Gaza and the people of the area are lacking food, water and medical supplies. A ground invasion is underway but not much news is coming out, as the communications systems in Gaza were destroyed as part of the attack. It is very unfortunate that Israel did not follow the advice of the experts.

Advice from couple of experts

A couple of Middle East experts I respect have offered their suggestions. Thomas Friedman is an award-winning journalist for the 'New York Times' - including three Pulitzer Prizes! Here are a few words he recently wrote about what's going on in the Middle East, referring to President Biden's visit to Israel:

"I admire how President Joe Biden has used his compassion and physical presence in Israel to convince Israelis that they are not alone in their war against Hamas, while at the same time extended a hand to moderate Palestinians. Biden strongly urged the Israeli leadership to pause and to think about the next three steps forward – not only what they should do in the Gaza Strip to destroy Hamas, but also what should be done next to achieve peace and political stability.”

Yuval Noah Hariri is a historian, Professor of history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a famous writer (who wrote 'Sapiens' and 'Homo Deus'). Here are a few words from him:

“The Israeli government says it wants to disarm Hamas, and it has every right to do so to protect its citizens. The disarmament of Hamas is also crucial for any chance of peace because, otherwise, as long as they remain armed, Hamas will be able to prevent that. Even if Israel succeeds in doing so, that is only a military achievement, not a political plan. In the short term, does Israel have any plans to salvage the peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia? In the long term, does Israel have any plans to achieve a comprehensive peace with the Palestinians and to normalize its relations with the world?”

Conclusion

The Israeli government went against the advice of the aforementioned experts, who were saying that this is the time for it to show unprecedented self-discipline. Hamas was expecting a fierce and violent response from Israel, which has happened and will end any chance for Israel to form alliances with Arab countries in the region. No doubt, Iran is happy to see that, with Israel stuck in an endless war.

It would be better to devise a new and more targeted approach against Hamas as soon as possible, and protect innocent people in the Gaza Strip. As part of that strategy, it would be necessary to stop building settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem immediately. These proposals are unlikely to happen today or tomorrow, and in the meantime innocent civilians will be slaughtered in droves.

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Dírbheathaisnéis 5 – Amanna Cinniúnacha!

Autobiography 5 – Defining Moments!

by | 2023/10/31 | Dírbheathaisnéis

Autobiography 5 – Defining Moments!

After the fact, it is easy to see a small number of defining moments that had a big impact on the direction of your life. In my own life, there are a few of them that have had a strong influence on me. Here are a few.

Introduction

First, I should pave the way, and give you an understanding of the background. I was a weakling when I was in primary school. I was even lucky to be alive, having had a bad bout of pneumonia when I was just five years old. I was sick again when I was seven, and after that my asthma was pretty bad. Therefore, I was not involved in field sports, unlike most of the students in the school. But I had a hunger for knowledge about everything, but especially about science. I got copies of 'Look and Learn' magazine every week, and I read everything in them. I was fascinated by the mysteries of the universe, and it was hard to believe that the stories in that magazine were true. But they were! It was unbelievable to me that we were all traveling on an insignificant little planet, revolving around an insignificant star, in an insignificant galaxy in the vast universe itself. When I looked up into the sky, I saw the stars and galaxies up there, and I knew even as a boy, that I was looking far back millions of years. That's a big concept for a little boy, and it gave me a comprehensive understanding of humanity and our small role in that big universe.

Inspector!!

One day, when I was in sixth class in primary school, an inspector came to visit. He was monitoring the class for a while, and writing notes. Then, he stood up and walked to the top of the class. He introduced himself to us, and then started asking us questions. Many pertained to Science and maths – playgrounds for me. The questions got harder, and before long, no one but me could answer them. I was able to answer them all. I remember a few of them well: How far is the sun from us? What is air pressure and what is the air pressure at sea level? The inspector was very surprised that I was able to answer his questions, and he praised me and said that it was the first time a sixth class student had been able to answer them. I was ecstatic. The inspector’s respect had a strong affect on me and it occurred to me that I had a great interest in science and mathematics and that they are worthwhile activities. At school and in the society around me, I saw how worthwhile sport was, and especially hurling. But now, I realized that there was a place for people like me, who were interested in learning, and that was a good thing, despite the opinions of many boys in the class. I felt reassured. It was only once in one day in primary school, but in that hour, some unknown inspector lit the flame of my interest in learning - a flame that grew over time, and a flame that encouraged me to concentrate on scholarship.

Confirmation

I don't remember exactly when Frank Dowling came on the scene as a new student - maybe in sixth class, or maybe in the first year in secondary school. Like the inspector, although he wasn't there for long, he had a big impact on me. He spoke with an English accent, as his family had just moved from England to Ireland. Unlike the other students, Frank did not play hurling, and was very interested in science. I could hardly believe that there was another youngster like me. Before long, there was a special bond between us. We used to have lively debates on science topics, and I learned a lot from him. I knew more about certain subjects in science and he knew more about certain other subjects in science. We were always learning from each other, which inspired both of us. I remember one time in particular, when Frank asked me pointing to my desk: "This table – do you think it's solid?" I replied that it was strong and solid. “Wrong!” said Frank. "There is nothing but empty space, and elementary particles whizzing to and fro, traveling through space at the speed of light!" I was taken back, because what he said went against everything my senses were telling me. But things are not as they seem, and I knew that everything was made of molecules; molecules made of atoms, and atoms made of electrons, protons and neutrons. So, what Frank said made sense, but I had never put those pieces of information together before. It gave me a great insight and I then realized that all aspects of science were very interesting to me, from things so small that they cannot be seen, up to things so big that they cannot be imagined.

Múinteoirí Randamacha!

The few random encounters mentioned above had a big impact on me, no doubt. The people in question did not ignore me completely, but (instead) they gave me recognition and praise and more importantly, they reinforced my attitude about science and its value. Therefore, my self-confidence and interest in science increased from that time. Looking back, it strikes me how important other people are in your life, apart from your teachers and even your parents. I believe in the old saying from the Buddha: "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear!"

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Plus ça change…

Plus ça change…

by | 2023/10/17 | Current Affairs, International News, National News

Plus ça change…

The more things change the more they stay the same, or as they say in French: "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose!" Although that statement is true in the sense that human nature does not change, it is not true in the way that changes are happening now that have never been seen before. Exceptional crises are underway now and we cannot take the chance of failing to find solutions to them. For example, global warming is taking place, due to atmospheric pollution, and we can no longer ignore that problem. Often, changes, both good and bad, start in one place, and then spread to other places. Global warming started primarily in the United States with the proliferation of cars, and then as other countries became richer, they followed suit.

In the article I wrote last week, I toured back memory lane, remembering a few criticisms that my mother expressed to me on her first trip to California. She was absolutely right about the problems she focused my attention on, and her keen insight has stayed with me ever since. The amazing thing about that is that most of the same problems happened in Ireland later, starting in the reign of the Celtic Tiger and continuing to the present day. I well remember the bar man in "Tynan's Bridge House Bar" - he may have been the owner- telling me when he heard I was living in California, "We only take the good stuff from the United States, son!” I didn't have a sharp answer on the tip of my tongue, but now I have the answer. "Keep dreaming, son!" If I were to meet that guy again, I would have a lot to say to him and I would recommend he read this article! Anyway, here are a few examples of the problems that I first saw in America, but which can be seen in Ireland today.

Housing Crisis:

As strange as it may seem, it is true that there are certain problems that become worse when countries become richer. The housing crisis is one of them. When countries become richer, house prices increase. Between 1996 and 2006, prices in Ireland quadrupled! The country was then divided between the rich and the poor, on the basis of home ownership. Buying a new home has not been easy for people and especially first time buyers. Sometimes, they could not afford to buy a house at all, and therefore, they were left homeless and had to sleep on the streets.

Poverty and Immigration

Up until the time of the Celtic Tiger, the Irish used to migrate in waves with every bad economic recession in the country. Not many wanted to come into the country. Things changed completely with the arrival of the Tiger, and the waves began to move in the other direction – into the country, including refugees and asylum seekers, many of whom were destined to spend years in Direct Provision Centres. Many people also landed from other countries in the European Union, looking for work. Those numbers put a lot of pressure on the country's infrastructure, which wasn't very good in the first place. Housing matters became worse, and the Health Service Executive was also under additional pressure.

Health Care

Everyone knows that the Health Services Executive (HSE) has big problems. It is a shame that the hospitals are always overcrowded and have been so for a long time, with no viable solution yet in sight. A few months ago, there were around 85,000 people waiting for inpatient beds and almost 500,000 people waiting for an appointment at the outpatient clinic!

Eipidéim Drugaí

Everyone has seen the headline recently: "Cocaine worth €157 million in 'biggest drug bust in state history'". The drugs came from cartels in South America and organized crime gangs from Ireland and Britain came together to share and distribute the drugs, some of them in Ireland. There is a big cocaine problem in Ireland now - even in the Gaeltacht. This is a headline in a recent tuairisc.ie article: "50-year-old man arrested and €105,000 worth of cocaine found by Gardaí". Those are just a few examples, but without a doubt people have the money to buy the cocaine, and this problem is not only in the cities, but throughout the country.

Violence and Guns

Compared to the United States, there is not a big problem with guns or violence. But it is necessary to keep a close eye on it, because the murder rate doubled last year.

Conclusion

I think certain problems arise in rich countries. There are still those who deny that we are a rich country, but I read in 'Forbes Magazine' recently that Ireland is the richest country per person, in the world! The United States is only in 9th place!!!

Unfortunately, to my knowledge, our government has not done much for a long time to address the above mentioned problems. But big changes are coming in the political sphere and Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn Féin are well-positioned coming into the next general election. If they are elected, they may be able to take a step forward, in terms of those big problems. Failing that, one day guns will be readily available in this country too!

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Trioblóid ar Neamh!

Trouble in Heaven!

by | 2023/10/10 | Current Affairs, International News, Personal

Trouble in Heaven!

A long time ago, when my father had just retired from his job at Kieran’s College, my parents came to visit us here in California, for three weeks. We drove along the coast, from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and through many places along the way. Both of them were surprised because what they saw in California did not match their preconceptions. We were all impressed by the beauty and diversity of the landscapes that could be seen throughout the length of the State. My parents were also surprised at how friendly and well-mannered all the people we met were. They don't complain about the Mediterranean climate, either.

While their trip got rid of most of their worries about where we were staying, it also gave them a few new worries, or at least a few questions.

Homeless People

When we were walking in the heart of Los Angeles, we had to walk on the road sometimes, because there were homeless people lying on the sidewalk. We couldn't not see them. When we were safe and sound at home again, drinking a cup of tea, my mother asked me: “Why are there homeless people here? It makes no sense. Ours is not a rich country, but you wouldn't find many homeless people there. What's going on?" "There are no strong social policies in America," was my reply, "unlike in Ireland! And housing prices are also very high in this country, so it's hard to buy a house!” But I had to admit that it was a strange thing!

Poverty and Immigration

Another time, we crossed the international border into Tijuana in Mexico. Mexico was and still is, a very poor country. Rubbish was everywhere, and many half-finished buildings could be seen. There were only a few paved roads to be seen, and it was mostly dirt roads. All you saw on the road was an old jumble of cars and trucks falling apart. There weren't many shops or restaurants in the city, either. My parents were stunned. They thought they themselves grew up in a poor country, but after seeing the poverty of Tijuana, they realized that they were never as poor as people in third world countries. When my mother noticed how easy it was for us to come back across the border to America, when it was very difficult for Mexican citizens to do the same, she asked me another question. “Those poor people are in dire need of help. Why wouldn't the richest country help the people of the neighboring country ?" Her question stuck with me, because there was a complicated subject to discuss - immigration control. I said that I didn't know much about immigration policy in the United States, but that it was a difficult process to enter the country legally, and it was expensive to do it. The American officials were concerned about letting any Mexicans into the country, for fear that they would stay there illegally, and millions of people were already living in America without permission.

Health Care

Another time, when we were talking together at lunch, the topic of health care came up. My parents couldn't believe how expensive it was to go to the doctor, or to the hospital. But when my mother heard that you would be sent home from the hospital as quickly as possible, without any time for you to recover, she was furious. "What kind of medical system is that - it's cruel and too expensive - aren't we lucky enough to live in Ireland!" I made a weak attempt to defend the medical system, saying that you need to have health insurance, and then things weren't too bad. But you need to have a job to qualify for health insurance. “But what about the unemployed? What can they do if they get sick?” My mother’s question disoriented me, and I had no answer.

Eipidéim Drugaí

Bhí eipidéim chócaoin ag réabadh na Stát Aontaithe ag an am sin, agus níorbh fhéidir an teilifís a chur ar siúl gan cloisteáil faoi ar an nuacht. “Cén fáth atá fadhbanna drugaí chomh mór sin ar siúl i Meiriceá, agus gach saghas duine ag mí-úsáid drugaí, ní hamháin daoine bochta éadóchasacha?” Arís, bhí mé sáinnithe ag mo mháthair!

Violence and Guns

Horrific mass shootings used to happen in the United States almost every day (and, unfortunately, still do), and my mother told me that it was much more dangerous in many parts of America than in Northern Ireland itself, where a war was going on at that time. She didn't even have to ask me, in that case, because she knew there was no answer to that insanity!

Maybe she was trying to lure me back to Ireland and she made a strong case, but I had no intention of doing that because, to tell the truth, things were going well for us and it would therefore difficult to return home. But my mother's questions have stayed with me ever since and are more important today than ever. My parents would be disappointed to learn that many of the aforementioned problems have now come to Ireland. I'll have more to say about that next week!

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