Madame Noir: a study of moral ambivalence

Greetings, commies!

If you cannot commit to a full length novel, check out this brilliant short story from a historical novelist Kim Rendfeld. Hopefully Madame Noir will excite your literary taste buds and prompts you to check out her Carolingian series. 

Synopsis:

Las Vegas, 1911: Madame Noir hopes to escape her past of divorce and prostitution with her new-found trade as a spiritualist and medium. When a new client asks for help with a life-changing choice, Madame Noir must do more than convince the young woman she can communicate with the dead. She must free her from her demons while she confronts her own.

In this short story, author Kim Rendfeld imagines a middle-aged woman with few options daring to start a new life and find redemption.

My thoughts:

I have been a fan of Kim Rendfeld's historical fiction for a while. I've read all of her full length Carolingian era novels. She has already proven that she can handle novel length fiction with in-depth character development. Crafting compelling short stories is a whole different skillset. Her story "Madame Noir" is nothing short of a tour de force. She manages to squeeze a whole universe into a piece of short fiction. The story reveals the unsavory and unflattering reality of being a woman in early 20th century America, a place of opportunity to rise - or fall ... and rise again. Pre- WWI world was in flux politically, socially, industrially, even religiously. The story's protagonist capitalizes on the addictions and superstitions of the people around her to survive in a morally ambivalent world. The story touches upon such complex issues as internalized misogyny and judgment that women impose upon each other. With a few strategic strokes, the author is able to paint compelling back stories for her characters. 

The Ugly Stepsister: Bachelor meets The Substance

 

Synopsis:

Elvira dreams of the weak-kneed virgin, Prince Julian, and is willing to go to great lengths to conform to the kingdom's ideals of beauty. A surprising and raw twist on the fairy tale `Cinderella', seen from her stepsister's point of view.

My thoughts:

I have been waiting for this body horror gem. It takes a dark Scandinavian soul to revamp the Cinderella story in such a twisted, delicious manner. It's not the first time the story is retold, but it's the first time it's told from the point of view of one of the "ugly" stepsisters. I am delighted to see so many unapologetic, uncompromising female European directors send their visions forth. After watching Coralie Fargeat's The Substance (2024), I was smacking my lips in anticipation of  Emilie Blichfeldt's "The Ugly Stepsister" . Only women understand the depth of self-hatred that leads us to desperate self-mutilation. Only women understand our love-hate relationship with our bodies, our female relatives and perceived rivals. All this mess concoction is flesh out in "The Ugly Stepsister". Of course, the actress who plays the titular character Elvira is a model in real life. Lea Myren is traditionally attractive, and it took a few special effect makeup tricks to make her face appear puffy and asymmetrical. Elvira is only ugly in the eyes of her greedy, ambitious mother Rebekka, who is panicking over her own esthetic decline. Rebekka is not a source of evil by herself. She is yet another casualty of a very unhealthy value system. There are plenty of female characters who support this system, including the women who run the finish school for girls, the nurses who assist with grisly cosmetic surgeries. Agnes, the Cinderella figure, meekly accepts the prospect of marrying a man she does not love to advance her social standing. She is willing to relinquish her stable boy lover for the chance to marry Prince Julian. Even though both of her parents are dead, and nobody is really pressuring her into marrying the prince. It's the pressure Agnes puts on herself. The only sane, levelheaded female character in the story is Elvira's prepubescent sister Alma, who is not on the dating market yet. In the end, Alma proves to be the last thread to redemption, as she pulls her mutilated older sister out of the nightmare. All in all, this movie is NOT a feel-gooder with a happy ending. It will make you evaluate your relationship with your body and your alliances. 

Anora: a tasty fusion of Russophobia and misandry

 

So much has already been said about this firecracker of a dark comedy. I will tell you what I personally appreciated about it. The narrative doesn't rely on stereotypes. The privileged male is not a predatory, older oligarch with piggish features. He is a 21-year old imbecile. He is actually a few years younger than the woman whose company he buys. Anora herself is not a stereotypically Slavic blonde with inflated lips. She's actually of Central Asian descent, probably Tadjik, as her name suggests. Historically, Russians have been the dominant culture that subjugated other ethnic groups. The manager who works for the Russian oligarch is an Armenian. Casting an actress with a more racially ambiguous look was a smart move.  Anora blends in well into the underworld of New York. She could pass for Latin or Middle Eastern. 

Another commendable fact is that the Russian characters are actually played by Russian actors. (Imagine that!) That means, no cheesy James Bond villain accent. I encourage you to check out some of the Russian movies they starred in. You can see Daria Ekamasova in the 2011 "One Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman" - another great tale of feminine lot. Yura Borisov stays true to his image as gopnik with a heart of gold. He started his career as a Chernobyl hero-martyr in 2014 "Inseparable". These are some solid actors who nail their parts in "Anora". 

Immaculate: the flip side of Rosemary's Baby

Synopsis:

An American nun embarks on a new journey when she joins a remote convent in the Italian countryside. However, her warm welcome quickly turns into a living nightmare when she discovers her new home harbours a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.

My thoughts:

Sydney Sweeney, who usually portrays highly sexualized characters (for obvious reasons), takes a detour from her typecast as a wide-eyed bride of Christ. The trope of an American embarking on a sinister adventure in Europe is not exactly groundbreaking, but the Italian setting is perfect for this thriller. The convent is claustrophobic powder keg with its own hierarchy and secrets. Rivalries and jealousies boil hot in a closed off all-female group. Whether you are carrying Satan's baby or God's, the end result is distressingly similar. 

"Heretic" - a crash course in comparative theology

Synopsis:

Two young missionaries become ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they knock on the door of the diabolical Mr. Reed. Trapped in his home, they must turn to their faith if they want to make it out alive.

My thoughts:

Not to be a nitpicker, but the title of the movie, "Heretic" is a bit of a misnomer, because the lead villain (or is he?) is more of a nihilist than a heretic. Technically speaking, heresy is a perceived deviation from the dogma, not dismissal of dogma. I realize that the term "heretic" is catchier and more marketable, instantly pigeonholing the film in specific genre. Most religious horror is flat and predictable, with a strong anti-religious message - or an "Exorcist" derivative. This particular film is admirably stimulating and challenging. Kudos to the screenwriters who managed to digest a lot of comparative theology to make it more palatable. If you have a lot of background knowledge in religion - you will find yourself nodding through some of the dialogue. If your knowledge of religion is very basic, and all customs blend into one, you will learn something new. 

 

A few words about the villain (or is he?) Hugh Grant aged out of his "dreamy bad boy" image. Now he plays a creepy old man. I was surprised that the sexual component was underplayed, despite the dynamic of a sinister older man holding two young girls hostages in his labyrinth of a house. There was no element of seduction/coercion. Thank you for leaving that predictable trope out of the equation. 

The Most Promising Cases: the story of Hans Asperger

 

Greetings, commies!

Here's what turned out to be a novella about Hans Asperger. A few months ago I posted here about potentially writing a piece of fiction. There was enough material for a novella. Published in the Bewildering Stories e-zine. Regardless of where on the spectrum you fall, how you personally feel about Hans, hopefully you take something out of this story.

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/.../promising_cases1.html