Page 22 - Boca Club News - December '20

Page 22, Boca Club News
Film Review: “Blackbird”

By Nils A. Shapiro a “tear-jerker” of a decision that is the focus of the film: the competitions,
In 2014, at the San Sebastian festival in Denmark, “Silent script that panders resentments, long withheld affections--and, finally, the
Heart” --- a film by former Academy Award-winning director to the audience’s suspicions that surface and threaten to disrupt Lily’s deeply
Bille August --- premiered before an audience that gave it a emotions. felt wishes for her own end.
20-minute standing ovation as the closing credits rolled across My own reaction Even the critics who faulted the screenplay praised the
the screen. It told the story of three generations of a family that to this film was very performances, giving special nods to Susan Sarandon, Kate
came together over a weekend to say their final goodbyes to different, as was Winslett, Lindsay Duncan...and unanimous bouquets to Mia
the matriarch who was dying of a fatal illness and had decided my wife, Linda’s. Wasikowska. Any one of these deserves consideration in
on euthanasia as the way to end her life more peacefully. Every aspect of the upcoming Academy Awards and Golden Globes acting
An American remake of the film with the title “Blackbird” the story rang true categories. That being the case, some credit must certainly be
was released in the U.S. this past September and is currently for us, and it was a due to the director, Roger Michell.
streaming on Netflix. Blessed with a stellar cast that includes moving experience. “Blackbird’s” controversial subject matter ---the concept of
Susan Sarandon as Lily, the ill-fated woman, in one of the For Lily, a woman assisted suicide promulgated by Dr. Kevorkian and others---is
finest performances of her career; Kate Winslett as Jennifer, growing weaker each important and emotional enough to make this film deserving
her eldest daughter; Mia Wasikowska as Anna, her younger day and faced with of your attention. In my view, it is also an excellent film that
daughter; Sam Neill as Paul, her physician husband, who the prospect of soon stands on its own.
has arranged to help his wife in an assisted suicide; Lindsey becoming immobile- *****
Duncan as Elizabeth, Lily’s longtime best friend, among other --finally approaching There is more than one American film with the title
fine actors...the production was nevertheless received with a time when, not being able to swallow, she would sufferingly “Blackbird.” When seeking to view the one discussed in this
mixed reviews that laid the blame on screenwriter Christian choke to death---the choice to drink a poison-laced glass of column, be sure that it is the 2020 version starring Susan
Torpe for what some critics---notably, with the exception of wine and go peacefully to sleep seems perfectly understandable. Sarandon. The DVD is available for rental from the Boca
the late Roger Ebert’s more positive syndicated review---called But it is the reactions of the others in the family to her Raton public library.
Pet News

You and Your Pet:

My Pet is My Fur Baby-He Needs His Holiday Meal

By Hilary Eisenbruan, DVM, Emergency Veterinarian and While we devour our most favorite holiday treats, our skin), cranberry sauce, and even those mashed potatoes
avid lover of four-legged critters, at Calusa Veterinary furry family members are standing by, waiting for those (but skip the butter). Avoid those excess sugars, and be
Center, Boca Raton, FL 33487 (561) 999-3000. www. scraps to drop or to use their unknown cuteness to coax sure that your furry family member also avoids sugar-free
CVCBoca. family members into unwillingly sharing their holiday items. Unfortunately, although sugar-free is great for us
The holidays: pine tree smells, snow falling (or, in South dinners. However, while our stomachs tend to tolerate an humans, it can cause your pets to reach life-threatening low
Florida’s case, extra rain), family gathering and, of course, array of food, our furry family members are nine times out blood sugar levels that more often than not are irreversible.
the most delicious foods that many American families wait of 10 not nearly as lucky. So what can you feed your favorite Finally, don’t forget to keep holiday plants out of
365 days to consume. Baked turkey, Apple Pie, Cranberry four-legged members without having to worry about copious reach. While they are beautiful, they can cause diarrhea,
Sauce, Oh, my! amounts of vomiting, diarrhea, or, even worse, a trip to the vomiting, and even mouth ulcerations. So better to keep
pet emergency room? the holiday plants high up out of reach, or forego them
It’s important to note that---while the excess fats in
Attention Dog Owners turkey skin, gravy and butter can cause stomach upset, altogether. Sometimes being a pet parent is hard, but better
to be safe than end up sorry.
such as pancreatitis---bones, for example, are a foreign Should your furry family friend end up with any upset
body that can even require an emergency surgery to have belly during the holidays, don’t worry. Your veterinarians
It is your responsibility to pick up after them removed. Both conditions can cause life-threatening (emergency veterinarians included) are standing by ready
your dog. It’s the law. Some of you have conditions if not appropriately treated. to help your beloved four-legged family member feel like
been negligent in doing so. With that being said, never fear, my dear readers, your his normal happy self again.
furry family members can still enjoy the turkey meat (no

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