- tabtuary lfi. 2QQ1 c A lthough the weather outside hasn’t been too frightful, it’s still the season for curling up with books and videos on a winter night. So dish up some popcorn, kindle a fire and enjoy these suggestions for an evening’s entertainment. Whiling away an evening An assortment of amusements with women in mind I’ ve H eard the M ermaids S inging the kind of people who write books.” Eventually, Polly realizes she has feelings that are difficult to identify: “1 think I kind of fell in love with the efore Canadian curator. I know that love is a pretty director Patricia strong word when you’re talking about Rozema made the another woman, and she’s not your lesbian film favorite When Night Is Falling, mother, but there you go.” she put together a treat Polly becomes intent on helping of a flick in I’ve Heard the resistant Gabrielle display her own the Mermaids Singing. work in the gallery. This, together The then 29-year-old with the arrival of Gabrielle’s young lesbian won the Young Polly wants a girlfiend ex-girlfriend, leads to trouble. Cinema Award in 1987 at Cannes for this fan Sheila McCarthy is an absolute joy as tastical tale about a rather clumsy young Polly with her unexpressive, gray clothing woman who is talented with a camera but low and a rumpled carrot top of a head, which on self-esteem. gives way to a perpetually puzzled expression. The film weaves in images of Polly’s fantasy Polly wanders aimlessly through life and a succession of temp jobs before landing a perma life (in which she can fly and say frightfully intelligent things) as well as shots of her nar nent part-time gig at a small, trendy art gallery rating the story in front of a video camera. run by Gabriel le St. Peres, whose poise and Careful editing keeps this from becoming sophistication equal her name. Polly is enam ored with Gabrielle’s perfection, particularly in confusing. light of her own awkward reality. Fantasy, story and film reality blend effort lessly. As an added bonus, Gabrielle’s ex dons “She was like a fairy tale," Polly narrates. “She some great ’80s clothes. — Lisa Bradshaw went to school all over the world and talked to B V.' S om ething B etter S oon Maureen Kelly • Meaux Records T he first thing I notice about Maureen Kelly’s C D Something Better Soon is the strength and tear-at-your-heartstrings quality of her voice. She has that great combination of clarity and pain of all raw, honest folk and country singers. A t times she reminds me of an early Cris Williamson. Although her lyrics are not particu larly “out,” her homage to love, “Swept Away,” certainly feels woman-identified. Kelly writes her own music and lyrics, and like any passionate country singer/songwriter, she embraces topics that are painful snapshots of the human experi ence. For instance, “Lonely Town U SA ” is about a plant closing and how it affects the residents. But this C D mostly is about love: hav ing it, losing it and finding it again. Kelly sings, “Even brokenhearted, come to find 1 can’t leave love.’ ass» ;y,*y •: • • k F ire F ire is the first in Deepa Mehta’s trilogy of elemen tal films, followed by Earth in 1998 and Water, slated for release later this year. The Indian-born director, who immigrated to Canada in the '70s, says passion is the con necting theme in all three. Fire takes place in modern- day New Delhi, where Sita, a young and beautiful bride, enters the home of her new hus band, Jatin. He was coerced into getting married by his older brother, Ashok, with whom he lives in a traditional “joint” fami ly—sharing a home and all income generated She cites Aretha Franklin, Roy Orbison, Joe Cock er, Janice Joplin, Patsy Cline and Melissa Etheridge as her musical influences. This is evident in her no- holds-barred vocal style. . Although her CD has an overabundance of midi track backup, Kelly’s voice is able to transcend the patently canned sound of the drums. She does incor porate acoustic and electric guitars; however, I would love for her to record with a live band. If she can do this much with what amounts to basically a band in a box, there’s no telling where she could go with a live sound. Kelly is Portland-based, although she originally hails from Wyoming. She has performed throughout the United States and toured extensively in Canada. She recently joined forces with two Portland favorites, Donna Luckett and Barb Galloway. This nine-song C D and Kelly’s earlier work Yester - day's Child are available from www.meauxrecords.com or by writing to P.O. Box 230685, Portland, O R 97218. If you would like to be notified of upcoming concerts and events, you can be added to the mailing ...Lp . list by sending an e-mail to Maureen® meauxrecords.com. — Lynn Thomas from the family’s video rental and takeout business. The brothers are in constant disagreement about their living arrangement and about Jatin’s continued love affair with his Chinese girlfriend, who refused to marry him. Meanwhile, Sita gets busy learning the family business and helping Ashok’s wife of 13 years, Radha, main tain the household. Both Sita and Radha essen tially have been abandoned by their husbands: Jatin takes no real interest in Sita, and Ashok has made a vow to resist desire, brought on by Radha’s inability to bear children. Sita and Radha soon discover a surprising— but appealing and liberating—attraction to each other. The movie has its problems. It’s filmed in English, which is Mehta’s first language, but that detracts from authenticity. And Sita is a bit of a stereotype. She waltzes into the house, defying convention from the very first hour of her arrival, and pursues a relationship with Radha rather effortlessly, as if she falls in love with her hus band’s traditional Indian sister-in-law every day. M ehta’s metaphorical references, how ever, and the absolutely flawless perform ance of Shabana Azmi as Radha save the day. She carries this movie and is a com manding screen presence. W atching Radha discover her own desires and needs and come to the realization that she has a right to them is in itself worth viewing the film. Fire derives its name from the trial by fire of Hindu mythology. A pure wife will survive the flames unscathed, which Radha ultimately has to do in order to escape her suffocating life. The visual reference of the trial by fire is a heart-stopping climax, and the final scene is breathtakingly moody and sensual. As a woman who left a husband to jump into the unknown with a foreign girlfriend, I have a hard time not loving this film. — LB ■ W i'u Me M \Jou putt tva Hid. Make Bender Properties your real estate home. Put your feet up and relax! Details are our business. You won’t lift a finger as we attend to every aspect of buying or selling your home-even the lit tle chores that others sweep under the rug. And successful? When it comes to fresh marketing or resourceful hunting, our enterpris ing agents really clean house. Complete service and client educa tion are always our priority. »r- HOME PURCHASE & SALES INVESTMENT PROPERTY SALES, PURCHASE & MANAGEMENT LICENSED TAX CONSULTATION ft'* A l t 4H 9U1 f i t 4c*eiifti9h! © A file s 4133 SE Division Street, “Richmond Place" 503.233.4363 Portland, Oregon 97202