At Terminal Velocity
Blanche McCrary Boyd reads. The author of "The Revolution of
Little Girls" and "Terminal Velocity" comes to Rackham as part of
the Visiting Writers Series. 5 p.m.
.Le Lt- rga Sd~
Tomorrow in Daily Arts:
® Breaking Records features reviews of Nine Inch Nail's,
Chris Cornell's and Ben Harper's new releases.
0
8A
Monday
September 20, 1999
'The Fanatic'
examines new issues with old eyes
By Joshua Pederson
Daily Arts Writer
in its purest form, the job of the artist and
the job of the filmmaker is to explore the
intricacies of the human condition. However,
some would say that there's nothing new
under the sun, that everything that's worth
saying has been said a million times over.
Th'e human condition is essentially the same
as it always has been.
Consequently, except for some wonderful-
1y rare occasion
My Son
The Fanatic
At the Michigan
Theater
s, everything that could be
said about the condition
of the human spirit has
been said at some time
or other. For this reason,
art, and more specifical-
ly, film, will deal with
the same themes as long
as people care to create
such works.
A clash of genera-
tions. A clash of cul-
tures. A love sprung up
from foreign soil. A peo-
ple persecuted and a
lifestyle condemned. All
are themes that the medi-
examined before, and will
generational and cultural conflicts, display-
ing the younger generation as hanging onto
tradition while the older searches for new
frontiers.
Furthermore, while Parvez's son turns
away from new love and youthful passion,
Parvez, to the detriment of his very classical
marriage, discovers these emotions in the
arms of an unlikely woman. In this way, "M
Son the Fanatic" isn't just a trailblazing o00
at tradition and rebellion, it's a unique but
extremely beautiful romance.
"My Son the Fanatic" isn't a movie to be
viewed for its American star power for it's
driven by no such force. It's a film produced
by the BBC, and most, if not all of the actors
and actresses will be foreign to viewers in the
United States. However, all give strong per-
formances.
These are highlighted by the film's t
leads, Om Puri and Oscar-nominee RachN
Griffiths, who build for the audience a beau-
tiful relationship, effusing an exquisitely
compassionate on-screen love.
"My Son the Fanatic" isn't a perfect film,
as if any film could be. At times, the dia-
logue is awkward. At times, the plot takes
turns that are implausible at best. At times,
the performances of the supporting actors are
forced. But these are minor detractors.
It is a feat worthy of note when a film
deals with a difficult topic in a way that d
justice to its exigency. However, it's ev,
more impressive when a film does such a
respectable job in a way that has not been
done before, in a way that sheds new light on
an ageless topic. "My Son the Fanatic" is just
such a film. It explores the human condition
admirably, and is a breath of fresh air in this
age where the commonplace has become the
standard fare.
um of film has
surely examine again. Frankly, one cannot
invent new issues, but one can look at these
issues from myriad perspectives.
And those films which are most com-
pelling are those films which explore univer-
sal themes from unique and thought provok-
ing angles, from angles that will challenge
the viewer and cause him or her to take a new
look at an old topic.
"My Son the Fanatic" is a film which looks
at very old issues with very new eyes. And
for this reason, it distinguishes itself as an
courtesy of Miamax
Om Puri and Akbar Kurtha play Pakistani men who come to England in "My Son the Fanatic."
exceptional film and an innovative explo-
ration of human relationships. "My Son the
Fanatic" is the story of a man and his family.
It's a story of yearning, a story of thirst. It's a
story of emptiness and of fulfillment. It's a
story of fulfillment sought after in various
places, and found by unexpected means.
Parvez, the main character, is a middle-aged
and imperfectly westernized Pakistani man who
moved his family to Great Britain in search of a
life of greater opportunity. As time passes,
though, and as his family ages and matures, they
become disillusioned with the vision of England
that he possesses. All deal with this disillusion-
ment differently, but Parvez's son's efforts pre-
sent the most intriguing problems for the fami-
ly's strength and unity.
In blatant opposition to his father's
anglophilia, he abandons his engagement to a
beautiful British-born girl and finds solace
within the confines of a reactionary, right-
wing sect of Muslims looking to strengthen
their roots in British soil. The film presents
its audience with an inversion of oft-explored
'Bees' encourages
small cast to shine
By Jeremy Salvatori
Daily Arts Writer
How does a virgin describe their first time? Well ... it depends. It could
be "OH, MY GOD, YES!! YES!!" or it could be "That was it? What just hap-
pened? Did I miss something?" or even "Man, I think I'm going to throw
up-!
Well, this Performance Network virgin's "first time" with this small theater
located at 408 W. Washington St., (just a small jaunt west of downtown's
]Main Street), was not exactly orgasmic. The atmosphere of the cozy little the-
ater was pleasing, however, as was the production of the off-Broadway play,
"As Bees in Honey Drown," written by talented playwright Douglas Carter
Beane.
"The New York Times" describes the play as "a delicious souffle of satire."
What a perfectly succinct description! The satire comes
to life as Alexa Vere de Vere, a fast-talking, cosmopoli-
tan woman, persuades a budding young writer, Evan
As Bees (in Wyler, to write about the story of her crazy and adven-
As Bees turous life. She introduces him to the glamorous big-city
Honey life of fame and fortune as he straps on for the ride
Drown through her past and present adventures.
Performance These adventures are not always what they seem, how-
Network
Ne 7-Oct.10 ever, for during this smooth, yet intricate plot line, Evan
Wyler comes to a realization about not only how the
world can work, but who he really is and what he really
wants in life. Beane masterfully creates a script full of
swerves and swoops that produces one surprise after the
next.
nBesides writing the scripts for a few other New York
productions, Beane also wrote the screenplay for the
film "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar." This screenplay
llowed actors Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguziamo to shine
like stars. The well-written script for "As Bees in Honey Drown" also opens
the door for its actors to shine, and though they didn't shine bright enough
0 guide three wise men to a manger, it was enough to get at least two of
them to the stable.
Despite afew missed lines characteristic of opening night, the cast per-
firmed quite well with a script of long, tongue-twisting lines and reactions
that play quickly off each other. Carla Milarch's character, Alexa Vere de
Vere, has the most extreme case of these tongue-twisters, and she pulls off
this difficult job quite impressively. Theater student Brendan McMahon's
protagonist character, Evan Wyler, often requires powerful emotional demon-
strations sans words, which he communicates exceptionally well. The small
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'Tis' whines about'
dying of the light
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Courtesy of Perfomance Network
Carla Milarch and Brendan McMahon are part of the small "Bees" cast.
cast has four other actors, Thomas Cooch, Tobin Hissong, Kathy Kauffmann
and theater student Maggie Smith, that play a myriad of other well-acted sup-
porting characters.
The minimalist approach to props, lighting and sound effects in this pro-
duction work splendidly. Stage manager Tricia Smith and her crew orches-
trated the special effects just enough to enhance the story so that the audience
is distracted from the acting.
Director Robyn Heller's production of "As Bees in Honey Drown" is, if
nothing else, a fun little job through the theatrical woods. Besides "As Bees
in Honey Drown," Performance Network has five other plays yet to come this
season.
If you don't see the current show, check out one of the other five, for it is
delightful to see successful professional theater outside of big cities such as
Toronto or New York.
Want to write.
Come to the mass meeting tonight!
7:30 p.m. in the Daily Arts office
Frank McCourt
'TIS
Scribner
It is impossible to begrudge Frank
McCourt his success after reading
the instrument of that success, the
publishing phenomenon "Angela's
Ashes." The pyrotechnic appearance
of the book from the hand of an
unknown, one who had spent
decades in the obscurity of the New
York public school system, was at
least part of the man's public appeal.
But much the greater part was the
plucky charm of McCourt's voice,
which perfectly captured the narra-
tive persona of the author as a child.
It is something of a shock, then, for
readers who so wholeheartedly fell
in love with the juvenile Frank
McCourt to find the more "mature"
model so prickly-edged and unap-
proachable in McCourt's eagerly
awaited second volume of memoirs,
Tis."
One would be remiss to ignore
what pressure there must have been
for an author attempting to devise a
chaser for the near-miraculous
"Angela's Ashes." Even with one's
judgment tempered by this empathy,
however, the stretch marks left on
McCourt's good humor by the
weight of this burden present them-
selves to the reader.
The amazing thing about
"Angela's Ashes" was the way that
the shocking squalor of McCourt's
County Kildare upbringing was so
starkly exhibited, yet guilelessly
defused by the wit and deeply sin-
cere passions of its child narrator.
But whereas "Angela's Ashes sur-
prised the reader both tenderly and
harshly at the same time, "'Tis"
finds its audience already familiar
with the childhood that is the engine
behind nearly every significant
response McCourt has to his new life
in the States.
Such an audience cannot perhaps
be surprised, but it can be startled
anew when McCourt allows himself
to become rancidly acrimonious over
his many disappointments in the land
of promise. This never happened in
"Angela's Ashes," -but it happens
every few pages in "'Tis."
Far and away the best passage in
"'Tis" is the opening section, which
reprises the ending of "Angel'a's
Ashes" and lends the new book
title. As the adolescent McCourrs
boat draws within sight ofuthe
American skyline, the ship's officer
declares ebulliently, "Isn't this a
great country altogether?" and
receives McCourt's shy response,
This is one beauty of an ending to
"Angela's Ashes," and the use of itas
the title of the ensuing book seemis
irresistible, but may have been &
unfortunate decision.
That's because the romantic
exchange between sailor and new-
comer implies a fulfilling embrace
of the American dream. It's a drean
that no doubt helped the yoPgg
McCourt endure his hardships :in
Ireland, but against it McCourt's
inevitable disillusionment is leftin
even more naked relief. McCotrt
still has a way with a charmings
tence, and his ear for dialaA
smoothly encircles his rambling nar-
ration.
Furthermore, there are many won-
derful stories embedded in the work,
such as McCourt's fast-talking his
way into the University of New Yqrk
despite the technicality of his ;tot
having attended high school. In an
especially hypnotic episode,
McCourt the G.I. avoids com
duty in the Korean War only
accompany his German-posted unit
on a laundry detail to a former death
camp.
Regrettably, such stories seem all
too strategically assembled in the
end, an attempt to cloak the futility
that seems to underlie McCourt's
perspective. This undertone is so
insistent that it is hard to imagine
how recent celebrity could have pror..
vided the author's struggles all t*
fundamental a redemption. If
McCourt had openly countenanced
this futility in "'Tis," the result
might have been a great work of art,
although it surely would have been a
shattering experience to read and
horrifying to most fans of "Angela's
Ashes." But of course McCourt's
amelioration of his darker waxings is
not a conscious artifice, only t
inherent self-deception most ofW
require to continue the struggle.
-Jeff Druchniak
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