Category Archives: teandconversation

July High

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As we are graced with 15 hours of daylight this time of year in the Pacific North West, festival season is in full swing.  Vancouver is a city that harbors whimsical summer fun and I am feeling ever so grateful to live here.  Happy 125th birthday Vancouver.  I am riding the high from being surrounded by inspiring music, films, and people in a city that you can swim in the ocean and climb a mountain, hike pristine forests, and eat amazing organic food all in the same day.

One of the films that impressed me the most this month was Mike Mill’s ‘Beginners’.  Ewan McGregor and Mélanie Laurent rocked the screen in a well told story with enough subtle humor to have kept me giggling throughout the film while striking enough of an emotional cord, a necessary element for me to give a film praise.  Sweet story, sweet film making.  I especially was impressed that the dogs thoughts were subtitled.  I really loved this film.

‘Submarine’ by Richard Ayoade is a coming of age film humorously presented with depth, whit and enough of a twist that I loved as well.

Wishing you summer bliss and creative fulfillment.

Flashes of Light

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This year during Summer Solstice I was immersed in a week of filming short films.  That week was a culmination of projects and busyness that climaxed with the production of the short film that I wrote and directed.  I am editing it now, can’t wait to show it to you, it was a lot of fun to produce.  I had to rely on my inner light and a lot of matcha to get through that intense week that started at the end of another intense and busy week.  ‘Bend‘ starring Cassandra Sanders, Micky Overman, and Jennie Graham.

My favorite film from the past month was Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris‘.  I am amazed at his ability to express the truth that ‘life is suffering’ with such humor.  Owen Wilson and Woody Allen are a great combination.  Check it out, in all of it’s absurdity that only Allen could pull off so coherently.

I have to give an honorable mention to Terrence Malick’s new film ‘Tree of Life‘ that was produced and starred in by Brad Pitt.  This film is more of an experimental piece rather than your typical Hollywood flick with a focus on exploring our inner world delving into spiritual exploration again covering topics from the 4 Noble Truths that ‘life is suffering’ and ‘the origin of suffering is attachment’.  I am not sure this one will do so well at the box office though I think it deserves recognition.

My schedule is a little less busy for the next week or two, only slightly so.  In my spare moments you will find me skating in the sun or on a yoga mat recalibrating my frequencies to calm focused bliss.

Sumitra’s Movie Picks for May 2011

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This month I watched a movie that I thought was remarkable. Incendies was written and directed by Montreal based Denis Villeneuve. The story is cleverly structured as well as original and the cinematography is stunning. I highly recommend this film which I saw at the now permanently closed Hollywood theatre in Kitsilano. The film opens with a Radiohead’s “You and Who’s Army” and beautiful cinematography which instantly drew me in.

Another film worthy of mention is Iñárritu’s Biutiful. I liked the narrative of his film Babel and was not disappointed by this work that successfully represented the metaphysical as well as social underdogs, this film has depth.  The photography of this film was beautiful which helps to guide you into the emotional world of the actors.  It was mostly shot hand held and motivated by what the actor was focusing on with a filmic look to the shots. Lighting was unique and also enhanced the mood of this film. After watching the Director’s commentary I loved it even more, many of the actors in the film were not professional and benefited from the opportunity. I am convinced that Javier Bardem is an actor with great skill, I was relieved to see him in a role other than the creepy serial killer he portrayed in No Country for Old men.

I also have to mention Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay which is an intense film that portrays the realities of street children living in Bombay.  She took actual street children under her wing and housed and trained them to act in the film.  Most of the children in this films lives were improved from the experience.  The first time I watched it was in a group screening and most people found it such an intense film though perhaps as I was just in Bombay and read Shantaram while I was there I was prepared for what would be seen.  Regardless, this film was very well done with all of the elements that make a great film, decades before Slumdog Millionaire.

Let me know if you have seen any great independent films or if you have seen these films please share what your impressions were.

Sweet Retreat

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As we shift from Winter to Spring in the Pacific North West I am now established into a year long intensive film production program at Vancouver Film School. After coming back from India in February I started to have a strong urge to cultivate more skill and refine my craft. I have immensely enjoyed editing video the past four years and the collaborative process has definitely been rewarding.

I am glad I listened to my gut as the past three weeks have been amazing in that I have learned, laughed and pushed myself to go beyond my comfort zone. I am definitely feeling that I have made the right choice. Last night in my dream I was breaking down a script and then directing it. I have always considered myself as a visionary and a story teller and have finally put myself into an environment in which to hone these skills. By being in an intensive you can really live and breathe what you are doing and the process absorbs into your subconscious quickly!

As this is an intensive program, I am often in class for 11 hours in one day and am taking 10 courses this term, I am not spending as much time with my friends or going to as many events as I did before. I appreciate the support that I have been getting from my community and friends, I truly am blessed. To everyone supporting me in whatever way, I appreciate it more than you know.

snowing blossoms

Spring into action

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I got away for the long weekend to play in nature with friends.  Although my upper body still does not have the strength to pull myself up onto a surf board due to the accident 6 months ago I had fun body boarding on the Pacific waves.  This morning I woke up early (5:20) feeling invigorated and recharged, I feel Spring in my body.  I have an orientation today and next week start a year long film production program,  I am feeling ready to push myself.  Wish me luck.

Gunbare Japan

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Gunbare translated from Japanese means to persevere, to not give up.  It was one of the first sayings I learned when I first went to Japan and it is evident that the Japanese need global support right now after these tumultuous events.  I envision Japan whole heartedly re-embracing its nature loving Shinto roots while it recovers and rebuilds.

“…the discipline and strength of the survivors are inspiring the world.” – David Suzuki

Please support an evening of music at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on April 19th. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster http://www.ticketmaster.ca/Ganbare-Japan-tickets/artist/1578058

100% of ticket sales will go to Japanese Red Cross.

Over twenty thousand people are confirmed or presumed dead, and half a million people are displaced.

http://bc-jerf.ca/ganbare/

 

Post Panchakarma Pontifications

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As we welcome Spring I am coming up to my two month mark after completing Panchakarma treatment.  After leaving Kerala, India, I returned home and for the next month remained low key as the effects from the Ayurvedic treatment settled in.  I felt so much bliss in my body, the process is profound and really does kick start a process of rejuvenation and healing that carries on after the treatment is finished.

devotional destination

I continue to take the Ayurvedic supplements that were prescribed though I have slacked off on my yogic practice which included pranic energization techniques.  After working hard while away I am not too concerned that I have allowed some downtime though I am hoping to resume my morning practice, I like feeling like I have super powers! I have been taking the time to do my one prescribed yoga pose, simhasana, at the very least.  My friends note that I look rejuvenated, I am not surprised that the effects of this powerful transformation are visible.  How I tick has changed too.

temple lights

I deeply feel a strong synchronicity in my life and nothing feels random these days.  I conclude that the accident this past fall that pushed me to seek treatment in India was destined.  Since my return my life has taken on a new course, I have been feeling a sense of fruition.  The seeds that I had been planting the past three years at times felt like they would never germinate though they are now finally poking through the dark soil. Sometimes we need an extraordinary push to change our course or to move forward and accept the challenges that comes with the change.  These challenges always have a hidden gem awaiting for us when we overcome them, I am enjoying recent revelations.  I have so much optimism and passion when I allow myself to look forward, it brightens my present moment.  Amongst the chaos I root into calm.

Land of the Rising Sun

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Again YouTube is keeping us connected as disaster strikes our tumultuous planet.   When a natural disaster or major uprising surfaces we are all effected as we are hyper connected since the internet has made its way into our homes on so many devices, we carry it around with us in our pockets.  Updates make it to us instantaneously.

I’m grieving too.  I know that northern Japan will rise again, this nation’s ability to regenerate is unprecedented.  The way the people co-exist with such harmony is truly impressive and has always filled me with inspiration.  Japan has given me so much, right now all I can do is send love back.  With such an intact collective mentality I can envision the entire nation suspended in disbelief yet being able to move forward supporting each other and finding order amidst the devastation.

I hope Japan takes on renewable energy with as much passion as they take on pretty much everything else they do and move away from nuclear energy.  It is time, please learn from this.

Let’s find solutions that don’t include putting our health at risk.

***

I fell in love with this song when I spent my first year in Japan, back in 1994.

A Revolution for Sustainability?

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For the first time I watched a feature film on my iPhone, fully embracing the convenient technology. It is a noteworthy project, the Zeitgeist Movement a documentary that is brilliantly leveraging the viral video phenomenon and also is ‘non-commercial’.

If you have ever wondered what the world would look like without money then it is worth checking out, it goes into detail on how a resource-based economy would impact the Earth. I think that it is healthy to envision the future of this planet through different lenses in different scenarios to our current socioeconomic model in which we work so hard to transcend. What I like about the ideas presented in this documentary is that they are discussed along with an understanding of human needs, the first section reveals our needs in utero and in the developmental years. It is grounded in a thorough understanding of one of the key components to the critical situation on this planet: PEOPLE.

It is a common thread in many of the documentaries I have watched in the past year; revolutions are a necessary component in world history, they bring about justice and allow us to move forward in our development in a healthier trajectory. In the west we have such a comfortable lifestyle and are bombarded with personal entertainment and consumerism that it does appear that the masses pour their energy into sustaining their lifestyle rather than look deeper for solutions to global concerns. We have become passive and complacent. Sustainability is such a poignant issue it seems alarming that the revolution has been so ineffective. It seems we are all going green though global emissions are still on the rise.

Check out this documentary that has almost 4 million views in just over a month and let me know what you think.

Sweet Integration

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It has been 18 days since I completed my 28 day course of Panchakarma. I have since returned to my home in Vancouver after a little adventure in Mumbai and have been laying low and getting lots of rest while catching up with my friends and family. Admittedly I had been feeling somewhat reclusive and in need of a lot of rest, I didn’t get this response after my first round of treatment in 2008 and it caught me off guard. As I immersed within this integration period I am feeling a sweet synchronicity and am reintegrating my crazy work schedule with a new focus. There are some exciting projects on the horizon that I look forward to sharing with you. In the meantime, I interviewed the Chief Dr. at the Ayurvedic hospital that I stayed at so if you are wanting to know more about authentic Ayurvedic treatment and what the process can be like please check this video out.

I feel a deep rooted calmness within and ready to tackle certain obstacles that I never had the guts to. There are certain facets of my being that have died, thank God, though my trajectory continues with an accelerating speed with new clarity. As I fought past my physical and emotional limitations in India I can’t begin to describe how inspired I was to hear of the events that unfolded in Egypt and now other nations around the globe. I am hoping that this trend continues and that people living under oppression join together and insist upon living in justice and peace. I adore this video by Bjork and find it fitting and it’s directed by one of my favorites, Michael Gondry.