Page 19 - The Jewish Voice - June '21

The Jewish Voice, Page 19

Arts and Entertainment from page 18
Film Review:
infant and orphaned to a physical assault, and in moments the encounter ends
hummingbirds and Two Distant Strangers in the shooting death of Andrew Howard in front of a
raised them until shocked woman who is behind the counter at a nearby
they can be released By Nils A. Shapiro newsstand.
into the wild. In The This seems to be a Suddenly, Andrew awakens once again, sweaty and
Hummingbirds’ Gift, month in which good shaken. It has all been a dream!
Sy takes us, step by things come in small We see him dress again, and explain again that he needs
step – complete with packages. Note my to get home to feed his dog. Back on the street, he lights
color photos – through Book Review on the a cigarette...then, with slight changes in the proceedings,
the rescue and survival preceding page, and he is once again shot and killed by officer Merk! And
of Maya and Zuni, two in this case a column awakens once again from what appears to have been a
orphaned hummers, about this year ’s dream.
from their naked, A cademy Award So it goes, repeating itself over and over in a series
featherless first days – winner for Best Live of time loops—in the fashion of Groundhog Day—but in
a size almost as small Action Short Film, horror and frustration for Andrew Howard, as he tries to
as a dime – and what it took to keep them alive, to the which is exactly 32 make small changes each time to try in vain to alter the
day they entered the skies. minutes long but ending.
It is a heartwarming, beautiful story, as only Sy – who delivers an emotional Finally, he succeeds in making a major change—one
was there to witness this mini-miracle – could describe impact that will last that appears to end the cycle and get him home to feed
it for us. One that has motivated my wife, Linda, and me for years with many Jeter. But I will not spoil the jolt for you by revealing
to hang in our home garden three hummingbird feeders in its audience! an ending that underscores the genius of this film’s
(each with places for five birds to feed at a time), and to That impact will take several different forms, however, director, Travon Free, who co-wrote the story with Martin
have now added several flowering “hummingbird” plants depending on the political and cultural ideology you Desmond Roe.
from the list that Sy has thoughtfully included in the book personally bring to its viewing, which at the time of Their message speaks to the current issues about
as being those that attract these wonderful flying jewels. this writing is limited to screening on Netflix. You will policing and the Black Lives Matter movement in America
We look forward to feeding, and seeing, them. You either be moved to fury through empathy with its leading more vividly than any newspaper headlines you have read.
should look forward to reading this book as soon as character...or to fury against him for what he represents. As I stated earlier, your reaction to this film will depend
possible. It is a perfect joy. But if you are honest, you cannot help but be impressed on what you bring to it.
by the emotional power of this story, the acting, and the But there is a reason it won the Oscar: It deserved it.
successful execution of its intended message. Two Distant
Strangers earned its Oscar.
As the film opens, Andrew Howard (a Black man
played by rapper Joey Badass) is just awakening after
having spent the night at the apartment of his girlfriend,
Perri (Zaria Simone). He dresses hurriedly, explaining
apologetically that he needs to get home to feed his dog,
Jeter.
When he reaches the street, he stops for a moment
to light a cigarette...and is immediately approached
aggressively by white NYPD police officer Merk, who
suspects that his cigarette may be a “joint.” Andrew
objects to the officer’s assumption, the officer escalates

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