Enemies of the People

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again

- Maya Angelou -

Last night I went to a film that is part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival, currently screening at the Lincoln Centre. This festival is in its 21st year here and focuses on documentaries that highlight the social, economic and political injustices that occur everywhere in the world.

Enemies of the People is a remarkable film by a Cambodian journalist who lost his immediate family in the late 70's under the Khmer Rouge. This film is both a personal and historical journey for Thet Sambath, to try and understand why nearly 2 million people were massacred in the killing fields. Smabath seeks out those involved in the killings, not for justice or retribution, but to leave a legacy of truth for the next generations.

Ordinary farmers and mid ranking soldiers openly and honestly recount their atrocities on the site of their killing fields. And the notorious "Brother Number 2," Nuon Chea, in his eighties now, tries to justify why it happened.

It is a difficult film to watch, but an important one. It raises alot of questions about justice, fear, forgiveness, the fragility of truth and the importance of remembering. It also reminds us that these types of things are still going on now and it is up to all of us to have the courage to speak out against them.

Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/ 

A Single Man

When it comes to fashion, Tom Ford is a synonym for sexy, glamorous and hot. There are few fashion moments more defining than when Madonna wore his velvet pants and satin shirt to an awards event in 1995. This heralded his unforgettable reign at the house of Gucci and made Ford a household name overnight.

Other iconic moments from his time as "Gucci God" were the full velvet suit as seen on Gwyneth,

The white jersey gown with a cutout on the hip from his last collection in 2004

And of course the famous pubic "G" ad.

After Ford took his final bow at Gucci in 2004, he moved into the world of men's fashion with a flagship store in Madison Avenue, and beauty, creating a "sit up and take notice of me" range of deep, intense and beautifully packaged fragrances.

But perhaps his most defining moment is now, with his new film 'A single man'. Based on the book by Christopher Isherwood, it starts Colin Firth as a college literature professor who can't bear to continue living after the tragic loss of his lover. Julianne Moore plays his closest friend Charley and Nicholas Hoult - a far cry from the dorky boy in "About a boy" - is the love interest. I went and saw it last night and was captivated by every scene. The attention to detail is extraordinary and each shot so lush and beautiful. Firth deserves every accolade he is currently receiving and the oscar buzz around the film is absolutely warranted.

Images: flickr, fashion spot, miss frou frou, slash film, entertainment weekly, Guardian, Harpers Bazaar

New Moon Fever

For those of us here who are Twilight fans, things are hotting up. The New Moon movie release date is November 20th (Oz gets it a day earlier!) and the December issue of Vanity Fair is on newsstands tomorrow. Swoon over this cover by Bruce Weber:

Vanity Fair

Go to Vanity Fair to see the exclusive online shots. Call me a "cougar" if you like, but you have to agree that there is a reason every female is longing for their own Edward Cullen!

Where the Wild Things Are

New York has gone "Wild Things" crazy this past week. To coincide with the new Spike Jonze movie, there have been book readings around town, an exhibition of Maurice Sendak's original drawings at the Morgan Library (another often overlooked museum) and a selection of his lithographs and drawings for sale through the Animazing Gallery in Soho. This book was always a favorite of my family's - as it was for many families. I wanted to buy a lithograph for my niece, but they all sold on opening night!

I went and saw the movie last week. It is extremely beautiful although a little slow. Every shot is like a piece of art and it was filmed in Melbourne and South Australia! So the landscape is so familiar and yet foreign as well, as you witness the beasts rumpus through the eucalypts and along the coast.

Images: Animazing Gallery, www.wherethewildthingsare.warnerbros.com