Kurt Cobain: About a Son

It’s becoming obvious to me that since I’ve become a parent, my life lens has changed dramatically. That fact, combined with my complete ignorance of Nirvana’s history allowed me to see Kurt Cobain: About a Son as a surprising source of inspiration and insight. A well crafted montage of Pacific Northwest images and video front a collection of audio interviews of Nirvana’s lead singer and songwriter. Kurt starts at his beginning and offers many compliments and criticisms of his parents, as well as insights into life as a teenager. The interviews were recorded within a year of his death, when he was still only 26 and clearly connected to his teenaged years.

One stand-out moment for me was his revelation that his father just “gave up”… Alice Miller’s work has shown that significant childhood experiences reoccur in some form. While Kurt’s father didn’t commit suicide, he simply left his son’s life; Kurt’s daughter Francis also no longer has a father.

Nirvana fans will undoubtedly flock to this Vancouver Premiere; my hope is that many other parents also find this film to be an inspiration to constantly stay connected with our children, no matter what.

At the Pacific Cinémathèque (1131 Howe Street, in Downtown Vancouver), it runs from January 3rd to 7th and Jan 9th, with shows every night at 7:30pm (except Sunday, when it shows @ 9:25; Saturday also has a 2nd showing at 9:25pm).

Fun, French Flics for les filles and fils!

Two beautiful restorations of Albert amorisse’s children’s classics, The Red Balloon and the White Mane start their short, holiday season run today (Thursday) at 4pm.

Together running 73 minutes, both films’ enthralled my almost 3 year old daughter.

The Red Balloon’s story was one I was requested to repeat many times for her; vibrant red balloon takes on the persona of a schoolboy’s friend, which invokes the wrath and jealously of his classmates. Balloon solidarity ends this film on a very uplifting note!

White Mane is explicit about our culture’s obsession with control over others. Also gorgeous in its black & white form, it gives a glimpse into a world before colonization, at least in France. Our heroes prevail by sailing away to from it all to enjoy a life of peace. No wonder the capitalist machine tries to leave no stone unturned…

This duo continue on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Dec 30) at both 4 and 7pm…see www.cinematheque.bc.ca for more info.