4 - The Michigan Daily - Weekend etc. -- Thursday, March 31, 1994
Food for
Cook, thief, wife and
By JOHANNA FLIES
"Being infertile makes me a safe
bet for a good screw." That's what
Georgina the wife says in "The Cook,
The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover."
The film is a modern commentary on,
er ... No, it's a post-modern critique
of spousal abuse. Or wait, maybe it's
an exploration of the continuing quest
for women's liberation in non-secu-
lar England. Or it could be an out of
control instructional tape for up and
coming restauranteurs. Who knows?
And with sex, violence and
cannibalism as part of the deal, who
really cares?
"Eating and sex are related."
Albert, the thief, is Georgina's
husband. He owns a restaurant, likes
to abuse people (especially his wife)
and really enjoys power and the sound
of his voice.
His restaurant is no hole in the
wall diner though; it is an elaborate,
other-worldly palace with a kitchen
bigger than my house. The young
dishwasher sings in a very irritating
high-pitched ViennaBoys Choirvoice
(maybe it's the voice of God) while
Albert strolls through his domain in a
ritual repeated night after night.
Much of the action takes place
here where the sets are very
thought
lover charm voyeurs
extravagant and futuristic. The
scenery, in fact, makes more of a
lasting impression than the dialogue.
Each room has a different color and
Georgina's dresses spontaneously
change to match them, contributing
to the surrealism that makes scenes
look more like a stage than a movie
set.
Georgina meets Michael, one of
her husband's customers, in the
restaurant one night and, after longing
looks and synchronized chewing, they
have an affair.
Here's where the sex comes in.
The various shots of cooks cutting up
cucumbers and slicing peppers are
mixed in with scenes of the lovers in
the bathroom, in the pantry, in the
meat freezer, anywhere they can hide
away from Albert to get naked. There
is quite a bit of skin shown, though
most of it is pale and pudgy and not
very exciting. When Albert finds out
what his wife is up to, he goes nuts,
his rampage culminating in a rather
satisfying ending.
"Eating black food is like eating
death. It's like saying 'Hah, death,
I'm eating you."' Lines like this - as
well as the general chaos of many
scenes and the coarse brutality of the
characters - make this film a bit hard
to fathom. It starts out slow but the
pace does pick up once Georgina gets
into the action. The seediness that is
evident in the first scene, however, is
sustained throughout. But this is not
all bad; seedy often is the heart of
humor and can open up a door to the
darker side of life that most of us only
dream about.
"But you don't have to eat him,
In other cities, on other campuses
nationwide, the eight-month lease is a
right and not a privilege. In Ann Ar-
bor, the eight-month lease is as com-
mon as a warm day in March. This
leaves us, Ann Arbor residents only
Roth
Georgina." This is a weird cinematic
experience. The costumes, designed
by Jean Paul Gautier, along with the
sets and the disturbing characters
make for a production that can be
jarring and repulsive.
And yet, there is still a certain
charm, perhaps in the opportunity for
voyeurism, that is utterly attractive.
Film majors, feel free to analyze this
film to their heart's content. Others
enjoy the sex and still others, feel
empowered by the feminine
undercurrents of the metaphors in
Georgina's oppressively unrestrained
cerebral awakening of her masculine
pseudo-identity.
Have a blast. Watch for Tim Roth.
And if you figure it all out, let me
know.
~TE~CDIK~ THE THIEF, HIS -
WIFE AND HER LOVER is
available at Liberty Street Video.
by writ of studential status, with 16
weeks in the summer during which
we will not inhabit our semesterly{
domains. As University graduates, we
will one day inherit the earth, but in
the mean time, who will inherit our
rooms?
"Inherit" is the operative word
here. A summer sublet - at a going
rate of half-your-rent minus [the
month's variable (January =1, Febru-
ary = 2, etc.) times 20]- is an inher-
itance for the subletter, who will for
the time he or she is subletting be
living at a cost slightly lower than that
of a light lunch at Taco Bell.
Remember though, we are in col-
lege to learn, and the valuable lesson
taught to all involved in the sublet
process grounds us in a basic eco-
nomic principle: that of Supply and
Demand. When the Supply is high
and the Demand is low a sublettee
will take in approximately half-their-
rent minus [the present month's vari-
able times 20]. While we could enroll
in Economics 201 to learn this prin-
ciple, to study it in practice rather
than in theory is both more convinc-
ing and more cost efficient.
Cheaper. Yes. It costs an out-of-
state student approximately $3475 to
take Economics 201. So let's say an
out-state student, after pondering his
immediate future, decides to forgo
spring semester economics lecture,
rent his room out and go home. Let's
say our friend pays $300 a month for
his quarters. Now let's say our friend,
like so many of his neighbors, does
not find a subletter. Our friend will
lose $1200 in rent over four months.
But he has learned Supply and De-
mand, learned it well, and only paid
$1200 to do so. He has saved over
$2000. I give him an A.
A quick review: finding a summer
subletter is difficult due to a large
supply of rooms, and little demand
for empty beds. Supply. Demand.
Supply; demand. Supply, demand.
Good.
But economics is not the only field
of study in the classroom of Summer
Sublet. Sociology enters the arena
when members of a residence are
split into two basic groups: those who
will stay, and those who will leave.
The Sociology of Subletting is less
tangible than its economic counter-
part, involving judgment and a series
of essay questions. If you put an ad in
the paper and quote a low price (low
prices have been known to skew the
principles of Supply and Demand), it
also involves getting a lot of mes-
sages on your answering machine.
This is not a problem if you have
an erase button. The first thing to do
when overloaded with summer des-
peradoes is to quickly erase all their
messages. The alternative is to listen
to 60 minutes of Jennifers and
Michaels leaving their names and
phone numbers after the beep. Of
course, these messages could provide
interesting supplemental material: a
veritable mini-course in the Sociol-
ogy of the Answering Machine Be-
havior of Homeless Twentysome-
things in the Midwest. But you will be
busy enough with all the field work
Renting absurd: The summer sublet,
for Soc of Sublet. Better just to get
your finger on that button. Erase!
Erase!
The easiest way to ace the spring-
summer soc class is to have a resident
meeting and decide on the require-
ments for subletters (this is only nec-
essary if inhabitants are split into the
staying/subletting groups). The alter-
native to a meeting is to take each call 0
as it comes, and discuss it on the spot
with whomever is around. Here is an
example:
I am sitting in my un-sublet room
when the phone rings. I pick it up.
"Hello?" I say.
"Hello, um, I'm calling about the
newspaper ad for the spring and sum-
mer sublet."
"Okay," I say.
"Okay, um, I was wondering, does
your house have any rules?"
I rack my brain. "Well, no smok-
ing in the house ... I guess that's it,"
I say.
"Okay, um, because I practice
witchcraft."
"Oh, really?" I say.
"Yes, um, will that bother any-
one?"
"I'm not sure," I say. "I'll call you
back," I say.
This is where on-the-spot-discus-
sion comes into play. Itrack down my
housemate who will stay in our home
throughout the summer. Together we
discuss the merits ofcohabitation with
a practicing witch. She decides there
are none. I don't call the inquirer
back. My housemate and I have just
learned a valuable sociological les-
son.
What becomes clear is that much
can be learned from the sublet experi-
ence: lessons in political science, as-
tronomy, physics, photography. ButI
lack the time to elaborate. It is four
weeks until the spring migration, and
my phone is ringing off the hook.
PUBLIC LECTURE:
"Post-abortion Responses:
the Construction of a Syndrome"
Wednesday, April 6, 1994 - 4.1kJ-6x000 p.m.
Rachmn Amphhr
Discussants:
Lori Lamerand, Education Coordinator
Washtenaw County Planned Parenthood
Patricia Coleman-Burns, Assistant Professor of Nursing
and Director of Multicultural Affairs
Susan Contratto, Co-Director
The University of Michigan
Interdisciplinary Program in Feminist Practice (IPFP)
Co-sponsored by IPFP. Office of Multicultural Programs,
Women's Studies, The Center for the Education of Women.
School of Nursing, School of Social Work, Department of Psychology,
School of Business Administration, Office of
the Provost, and Office of the Vice President for Research
Be heard! Vote for the Best of Ann Arbor. r
CELEBRATE HOLY WEEK!
AT THE WESLEY FOUNDATION
a campus ministry at 602 E. Huron at State
Holy Thursday:
6:00 pm
Good Friday:
7:30 pm
Easter Sunday:
7:00 am
10:00 am
Noon
5:00 pm,
foot-washing communion
Sedar Meal & Tennebre service
(a service of lights)
Sunrise Service in the Arb
College Class
Easter brunch
Celebration Service
eBagels *Pasta Salads
*Muffins eSoups
*Frozen Yogurt *Vegetable Salads
(Gis6-Glace) *Fruit Salads
*Deli Sandwiches
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Come Join Us!
for more information call 668-6881
L
715 N. University
Moor
I
Contraceptive Injection
(sterile medroxyprogesterone acetate suspension, USP)
WHAT IS DEPO-PROVERA CONTRACEPTIVE INJECTION?
DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection is a form of birth control that is given as an intra-
muscular injection (a shot) in the buttock or upper arm once every 3 months. To continue
your contraceptive protection, you must return for your next injection promptly at the end of
3 months. DEPO-PROVERA contains medroxyprogesterone acetate, a chemical similar to
(but not the same as) the natural hormone progesterone, which is produced by your ovaries
during the second half of your menstrual cycle. DEPO-PROVERA acts by preventing your
egg cells from ripening. If an egg is not released from the ovaries during your menstrual
cycle, it cannot become fertilized by sperm and result in pregnancy. DEPO-PROVERA also
causes changes in the lining of your uterus that make it less likely for pregnancy to occur.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS DEPO-PROVERA CONTRACEPTIVE INJECTION?
DEPO-PROVERA is over 99% effective, making it one of the most reliable methods of birth
control available. This means that the average annual pregnancy rate is less than one for
every 100 women who use DEPO-PROVERA. The effectiveness of most contraceptive
methods depends in part on how reliably each woman uses the method. The effectiveness
of DEPO-PROVERA depends only on the patient returning every 3 months for her next
injection. Your health-care provider will help you compare DEPO-PROVERA with other con-
traceptive methods and give you the information you need in order to decide which contra-
ceptive method is the right choice for you.
The following table shows the percent of women who got pregnant while using different
kinds of contraceptive methods. It gives both the lowest expected rate of pregancy (the
rate expected in women who use each method exactly as it should be used) and the typical
rate of pregnancy (which includes women who became pregnant because they forgot to
use their birth control or because they did not follow the directions exactly).
PERCENT OF WOMEN EXPERIENCING AN ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY
IN THE FIRST YEAR OF CONTINUOUS USE
Lowest
Meiod Expected Typical
DEPO-PROVERA 0.3 0.3
Implants (Norplant) 0.3 0.3
Female sterilization 0.2 0.4
Male stenilization 0.1 0.15
Oral contraceptive (pill) 013
Combined 0.1-
Progestogen only 0.5 ~
IUD -3
Progestasert 2.0-
Copper T 380A 0.8-
Condom (without spermicide) 2 12
Diaphragm (with spermicide) 6 18
Cervical Cap 6 18
Withdrawal 4 18
Periodic abstinence 1 -9 20
Spermicide alone 3 21
Vaginal Sponge
Used before childbirth 6 18
Used after childbirth 9 28
No method 85 85
Source: Trusseil etal;Obstet Gyncol 76:558, 1990
occur and, therefore, the bleeding that com,3 with your normal menstruation does not take
place. When you stop using DEP O-PROVERA your menstrual period will usually, in time,
return to its normal cycle.
2. Bone Mineral Changes
Use of DEPO-PROVERA may be associated with a decrease in the amount of mineral
stored in your bones. This could increase your risk of developing bone fractures. The rate
of bone mineral loss is greatest in the early years of DEPO-PROVERA use, but after that, it
begins to resemble the normal rate of age-related bone mineral loss.
3. Cancer
Studies of women who have used different forms of contraception found that women who
used DEPO-PROVERA for contraception had no increased overall risk of developing cancer
of the breast, ovary, uterus, cervix, or liver. However, women under 35 years of age whose
first exposure to DEPO-PROVERA was within the previous 4 years may have a slightly
increased risk of developing breast cancer similar to that seen with oral contraceptives.
You should discuss this with your health-care provider.
4. Accidental Pregnancy
Because DEPO- PROVERA is such an effective contraceptive method, the risk of accidental
pregnancy for women who get their shots regularly (every 3 months) is very low. While there
have been reports of an increased risk of low birth weight and neonatal infant death or
other health problems in infants conceived close to the time of injection, such pregnancies
are rare. If you think you may have become pregnant while using DEPO-PROVERA for con-
traception, see your health-care provider as soon as possible.
5. Other Risks
Women who use hormone-based contraceptives may have an increased risk of blood clots
or stroke. Also, if a contraceptive method fails, there is a possibility that the fertilized egg
will begin to develop outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy). While these events are rare,
you should tell your health-care provider if you have any of the problems listed in the next
section.
WHAT SYMPTOMS MAY SIGNAL PROBLEMS WHILE USING DEPO-PROVERA
CONTRACEPTIVE INJECTION?
Call your health-care provider immediately if any of these problems occur following an
injection of DEPO-PROVERA: Sharp chest pain, coughing of blood, or sudden shortness of
breath (indicating a possible clot in the lung); sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizzi-
ness or fainting, problems with your eyesight or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm
or lei (indicating a possible stroke); severe pain or swelling in the calf (indicating a possible
clot in the leg); unusually heavy vaginal bleeding; severe pain or tenderness in the lower
abdominal area; or persistent pain, pus, or bleeding at the injection site.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF DEPO-PROVERA
CONTRACEPTIVE INJECTION?
1. Weight Gain
You may experience a weight gain while you are using DEPO-PROVERA. About two thirds
of the women who used DEPO-PROVERA in clinical trials reported a weight gain of about 5
pounds during the first year of use. You may continue to gain weight after the first year.
Women in one large study who used DEPO-PROVERA for 2 years gained an average total
of 8.1 pounds over those 2 years, or approximately 4 pounds per year. Women who contin-
ued for 4 years gained an average total of 13.8 pounds over those 4 years, or approximate-
ly 3.5 pounds per year. Women who continued for 6 years gained an average total of 16.5
pounds over those 6 years, or approximately 2.75 pounds per year.
2. Other Side Effects
In a clinical study of over 3,900 women who used DEPO-PROVERA for up to 7 years, some
women reported the following effects that may or may not have been related to their use of
DEPO-PROVERA: Irregular menstrual bleeding, amenorrhea, headache, nervousness,
abdominal cramps, dizziness, weakness or fatigue, decreased sexual desire, leg cramps,
nausea, vaginal discharge or irritation, breast swelling and tenderness, bloating, swelling of
the hands or feet, backache, depression, insomnia, acne, pelvic pain, no hair growth or
excessive hair loss, rash, and hot flashes. Other problems were reported by very few of the
women in the clinical trials, but some of these could be serious. These include convulsions,
jaundice, urinary tract infections, allergic reactions, fainting. paralysis, osteoporosis, lack of
return to fertility, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, breast cancer, or cervical can-
cer. If these or any other problems occur during your use of DEPO-PROVERA, discuss
them with your health-care provider.
SHOULD ANY PRECAUTIONS BE FOLLOWED DURING USE OF DEPO-PROVERA
CONTRACEPTIVE INJECTION?
1. Missed Periods
During the time you are using DEPO-PROVERA for contraception, you may skip a period,
or your periods may stop completely. If you have been receiving your DEPO-PROVERA
injections regularly every 3 months, then you are probably not pregnant. However, if you
think that you may be pregnant, see your health-care provider.
2. Laboratory Test Interactions
If you are scheduled for any laboratory tests, tell your health-care provider that you are
using DEPO-PROVERA for contraception. Certain blood tests are affected by hormones
such as DEPO-PROVERA.
3. Drug Interactions
Cytadren (aminogutethimide) is an anticancer drug that may significantly decrease the
efetiveness f DEPO-PROIVERA if the two drugis are given during the same time.
01
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WHO SHOULD NOT USE DEPO-PROVERA CONTRACEPTIVE INJECTION?
Not all women should use DEPO-PROVERA. You should not use DEPO-PROVERA if you
think you might be pregnant, have any vaginal bleeding without a known reason, have
had cancer of the breast, have had a stroke, have or have had blood clots (phlebitis) in
your legs, have problems with your liver or liver disease, or are allergic to DEPO-
PROVERA (medroxyprogesterone acetate or any of its other ingredients). You will have a
physical examination before your doctor prescribes DEPO-PROVERA. It is important to
tell your doctor if you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications or if
you have a family history of breast cancer; an abnormal mammogram (breast x-ray),
fibrocystic breast disease, breast nodules or lumps, or bleeding from your nipples; kidney
disease; irregular or scanty menstrual periods; high blood pressure; migraine headaches;
asthma; epilepsy (convulsions or seizures); diabetes or a family history of diabetes; or a
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