French Film Festival: Unity conquers all in ‘Abdel et la Comtesse’
Aaron Royce, Contributing Writer This weekend’s French Film Festival showed films emphasizing the importance of unity despite differences. One of the most poignant — shown March 30 — was Isabelle Doval’s heartwarming comedy “Abdel et la Comtesse.” Primarily filmed in a 17th-century castle in Normandy, the dramatic comedy shows a developing friendship between Abdul, a […]
French Film Festival: ‘A Brief Passage on Earth’ shows a son’s glimpse into his father’s legacy
Aaron Royce, Contributing Writer The French Film Festival reached its midpoint on Friday afternoon with a masterclass featuring director Jérôme Enrico, who is following his father’s footsteps and reflecting on family history. Jérôme Enrico’s class included a viewing of his 2018 documentary “Robert Enrico, A Brief Passage on Earth,” produced with Adi Walter and Jérémie […]
French Film Festival: Renowned leaders of French film discuss careers, experience
Aaron Royce, Contributing Writer Richmond’s annual French Film Festival ends tomorrow following a long weekend of events. As part of the programming, guests and French film fanatics attended masterclasses at the Institute for Contemporary Art, where some of the field’s biggest names reflected on cinematic culture, techniques and legendary on-screen moments. One of these individuals […]
LTE: Christians and Muslims stand together against evil
[Editor’s note: Sarah Metzel writes this letter to the editor in response to CT Managing Editor Saffeya Ahmed’s March 20 column on the attack in New Zealand.] Dear Saffeya, My eyes were wet with tears as l finished reading your article. As a Christian, I can’t imagine the simultaneous outrage and emptiness I would feel […]
OPINION: You can’t bet on B.E.T.
Alexia Holloway, Contributing Writer Black Entertainment Television, or BET, started off as a black-owned entertainment company founded by Robert L. Johnson in 1979. The television network offered a black alternative to white-dominated media outlets, like MTV. It was bought out in 2000 by the white-owned company Viacom, founded by Sumner Redstone. Since the buyout, BET has […]
Landon’s Outlook: “Gloria Bell” is a hilarious but melancholy take on the midlife crisis
Landon Roberts, Contributing Writer Sebastián Lelio’s “Gloria Bell” presents an entirely different take on coming-of-age films, depicting the challenges of a midlife crisis and the loneliness that sets in once a mother’s children no longer need her. This is not Lelio’s first attempt with this story. “Gloria Bell” is a remake of his 2013 […]
OPINION: Streetwear is stealing the spotlight
Aja Moore, Contributing Writer The streetwear industry has been in a consumer frenzy. The rising hype behind major brands is making the streetwear industry be seen as “high fashion.” Artists such as Kanye West and Supreme owner James Jebbia have been in the spotlight for years now for their brands that feature absurdly expensive designs. […]
Sustainability and Housing team up to bring free store to campus
Emma North, Contributing Writer Every summer when moving, students clear out items they don’t want anymore from their houses or apartments, sometimes leaving them in the street or nearby alleyways. VCU Residential Life & Housing has been doing cleanups for the last three years, collecting items from neighborhoods close to campus. Lisa Mathews-Ailsworth, an off-campus […]
Brandon’s Angle: ‘Us’ is Jordan Peele’s piercing look into the American Dream
Brandon Shillingford, Contributing Writer “We’re Americans.” Dialogue delivered with conviction and piercing intensity, while exuding an enormous amount of complexity and depth, could be considered the thesis for Jordan Peele’s newest film, “Us.” A film that asks, among many questions, what does it really mean to be an American? After his 2017 Oscar-winning directorial debut, […]
Mourners remember loved ones lost to addiction at vigil
Chip Lauterbach, Contributing Writer Local recovery community organizations held a candlelight vigil March 22 for people who have died from drug overdoses and other addiction-related complications. About 200 recovery advocates gathered in the chapel at the Grace & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church for the vigil. The event was coordinated by The Wellness Resource Center at […]