Nicolas Boukhrief’s “Inside the Cell”





“Made in France” de Nicolas Boukhrief

The line between reality and fiction is completely eliminated in this frighteningly nightmarish film. The filmmaker has successfully tapped into modern day phobias.
La ligne entre la réalité et la fiction est complètement éliminée dans ce film terriblement cauchemardesque. Le cinéaste a puisé avec succès dans les phobies modernes.

(Saw this film during the 44th Festival du Nouveau Cinema on October 15 2015)
(Vu ce film dans le cadre du 44e Festival du Nouveau Cinéma le 15 Octobre 2015)

Editorial comment in light of recent terrorist attacks – specifically those in Paris on Friday evening November 13 2015:
Paris Attacks Nov 13
This powerfully relevant and unnerving film was completed before the Charlie Hebdo attack of January 7 2015. Because of this incident, the original distributor, SND pulled out. While the events prompted SND to opt out, Pretty Pictures stepped in and played up the comparisons to reality. Since then it has only been screened at Busan Film Festival (Busan, South Korea, October 1-10, 2015), Festival du Nouveau Cinema (Montreal, Canada, October 7-18, 2015) and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (Talinn, Estonia, November 13-29, 2015). The film was set to open in French theatres on Wednesday, November 18th. Due to the tragic Paris attacks of November 13th, whereby a coordinated series of terrorist acts killed at least 130 people, the film’s opening was postponed until a later date. Updates will follow when available.
Commentaire éditorial à la lumière des récentes attaques terroristes – en particulier ceux de Paris le Vendredi soir, le 13 Novembre 2015:
Charlie Hebdo Crime Scene

Ce film puissamment pertinente et énervant a été achevée avant l'attaque Charlie Hebdo, du 7 Janvier 2015. En raison de cet incident, le distributeur original, SND Distribution sorti. Bien que les événements ont incité SND se retire, Pretty Pictures sont intervenus et ont joué sur les comparaisons à la réalité. Depuis lors, il a seulement été présenter au Festival du film de Busan (Busan, Corée du Sud, du 1 au 10 Octobre, 2015), le Festival du Nouveau Cinéma (Montréal, Canada, du 7 au 18 Octobre, 2015) et le Festival du film des Nuits Noires de Tallinn (Tallinn, Estonie, du 13 au 29 Novembre, 2015). Le film a été du à sorti dans les salles Françaises le Mercredi 18 Novembre. En raison des attentats tragiques de Paris du 13 Novembre, dans lequel une série d'actes terroristes coordonnée qui ont tué au moins 130 personnes, la sortie du film a été reportée à une date ultérieure. Les mises à jour seront affichées lorsqu'ils seront disponibles.

Scenario of film:
This movie takes us into the heart of the extremist terrorist cells responsible. Sam, a journalist, uses his Muslim background to infiltrate fundamentalist circles on the outskirts of Paris. He wants to write an article on jihadist extremism. He earns the trust of four young men who are waiting for their leader, Hassan, to return from a stint in a ‘training camp’ in Pakistan. When Hassan returns, he states that they need to ‘declare war’ on the non-Muslim world. They begin preparations with a total disregard for the laws of the land. Sam goes to the police with the information. They force him to go undercover to find out who is actually giving the orders. This puts not only himself in grave danger but also his wife and son.
 Scénario du film:
Sam, un journaliste, utilise son milieu Musulmane pour infiltrer les cercles fondamentalistes à la périphérie de Paris. Il veut écrire un article sur l'extrémisme djihadiste. Il gagne la confiance de quatre jeunes hommes qui attendent leur chef, Hassan, pour revenir après un séjour dans un «camp d'entraînement» au Pakistan. Lorsqu’Hassan retourne, il affirme qu'ils ont besoin de «déclarer la guerre» sur le monde non-Musulman. Ils commencent préparations avec un mépris total pour les lois de la société. Sam va à la police avec l'information. Ils l'obligent à aller en secret pour savoir qui est celui qui réellement a donnait les ordres. Cela met non seulement lui-même en danger, mais aussi sa femme et son fils.

What is a MARTYR?
Here is the definition as per Dictionary.com:
Noun:
1. a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.
2. a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle, or cause: a martyr to the cause of social justice.
3. a person who undergoes severe or constant suffering: a martyr to severe headaches.
4. a person who seeks sympathy or attention by feigning or exaggerating pain, deprivation, etc.
verb (used with object):
5. to make a martyr of, especially by putting to death.
6. to torment or torture. 
Comments: Which of the above (or French definition below) would justify calling a SUICIDE BOMBER a MARTYR? How are the victims of such attacks FORCING the bomber to renounce his religious principles; i.e. how is MURDERING others going to achieve salvation? Why are most suicide bombers young and thus have their whole lives ahead of them? If they continued to live can they not learn to bring about greater good by HELPING the unenlightened rather than killing them? VIOLENCE CAN NEVER LEAD TO RIGHTEOUSNESS – IT CAN ONLY BREED MORE. Last question: why do we never see the leaders of those groups (example ISIS, White Supremacy, etcetera) who preach this concept of committing suicide; killing innocent victims; engendering fear, hatred and intolerance take part in these attacks. In my opinion they are the hateful cowards, the murderers and thieves killing innocence and robbing many of achieving their full potential.

Quel est un martyr(e)?
Voici la définition selon le Dictionnaire Larousse :
Personne qui a souffert la mort pour sa foi religieuse, pour une cause à laquelle elle se sacrifie : Les martyrs de la Résistance.
Chrétien mis à mort ou torturé en témoignage de sa foi. (On l'appelait aussi martyr de la foi ou confesseur (de la foi].)
Commentaires : Laquelle des définitions ci-dessus (Anglais ou Français) justifieraient appelant un KAMIKAZE un MARTYR? Comment sont les victimes de ces attaques forçant le bombardier de renoncer à ses principes religieux; c’est a dire comment que le meurtre d'autres va obtenir le salut? Pourquoi la plupart des kamikazes sont jeunes et ont donc toute leur vie devant eux? Si ils ont continué à vivre ne peuvent-ils apprendre à apporter plus de bien en secourant les non avertis, plutôt que de les tuer? LA VIOLENCE NE PEUT JAMAIS CONDUIRE À LA JUSTICE – IL PEUT SEULEMENT QU'ENGENDRER PLUS. Une dernière question: pourquoi que nous voyons jamais les dirigeants de ces groupes (par exemple ISIS, la Suprématie Blanche, etc.) qui prêchent ce concept de se suicider; tuer des victimes innocentes; engendrant la peur, la haine et l'intolérance, prennent part à ces attaques. À mon avis, ils sont les lâches haineuses, les assassins et les voleurs qui tue  l’innocence et privant un grand nombre de réaliser leur plein potentiel.

La Floret





The Flower Shop with the Loveliest Flowers and Owner

Reviewed by Nancy Snipper

When I moved to Verdun, something drew me into La Floret. As soon as I walked in, a splendid array of flowers greeted my senses, and along with this, the winning sweet smile of the store’s owner, Antonia. No hard sell with her; she just oozes sublime gentleness and humility.
Antonia has a Greek background, and as we all know, the Greeks are known for their generosity and hospitality. Every time I need a flower boost and a chance to feel happy by chatting with her, I always go to la Floret.
I end up walking out with my favourite flower: Casablanca lilies, and her prices are a steal.
Antonia donated heaps of bouquets and arrangements to the launch of my poetry/short story book, Beyond the Dream, Epic Solitude (see SMR Culture Plus). I honestly think it was her spirit of giving and the floral arrangements she made for the event helped get my book off the ground and into dream land.
Immerse yourself in the calming atmosphere of La Floret, meet Antonia and take time to smell the flowers. I am sure, you will not walk out of there empty handed.
She can handle any occasion: weddings, graduation, birthdays and more.


The address is: 5117 Rue de Verdun, QC, H4G
Call (514) 270-0088


MMM… Muthins!





Eating my favourite muffin and feeling thin

by Nancy Snipper

The other day I was at the Monkland Street Fair in Montreal where a ton of activities were going on, including tastings of new products.

I indulged myself, but there was one foodie that I can’t forget: Muthins

Ali (left) and Nancy (right) at the Monkland Street Fair


It’s a muffin that is so tasty and yet is only 90 calories. Everything inside is natural too. Of course, it is. That’s because the recipe goes back to 1985, and Ali Beloff, who has just started the company told me her mom is a nutritionist, and her inspiration to get these wonderful 100% all-natural bran muffins into everyone’s diet. There are seven different kinds and each one is as tasty as the next. I loved the lemon poppy seed one and the raisin. I can hardly wait to go back and purchase the other fruit flavours. Nothing was dry in texture!


I was so curious about this MUthin magnificent muffin, I asked Ali to tell me all about this muffin and why it is so different than those other health ones. Here’s what she said:
“What makes MUthins different than all the other healthy "muffin men”? Well first off, we’re muffin women, but more importantly, ours don’t taste like saw dust – they’re actually quite moist! Our secret recipe is a derivative of our mother’s, Leslie Beloff  – a certified nutritionist – thus adding an element of authenticity to everything that we do. 

Lesley (left), Ali (right)
  
Our flavours include: carrot, raisin, banana, chocolate-chip, lemon-poppy seed, apple-cinnamon and blueberry! With a MUthin in hand, you know you’re snacking the healthy way. Our mission is to help our community attain and maintain healthier lifestyles, one MUthin at a time”.

The MUthin Muffin story – a real girlie one
I asked her how it got started. Here is her “big MUthin reveal.

“Growing up in the Beloff household, the promotion of health, nutrition and the appreciation for local, fresh whole foods was always at the forefront”. Ali said that all of these essential values were instilled by founders, Chelsea and Ali’s mother, Leslie Beloff – the original MUthin women.
 
“Studying nutrition at McGill in her early 20’s and graduating as a certified nutritionist, our mom recognized the high need and empty gap in the Montreal food market for healthy snacking. Starting in 1985, she began her very own health muffin company with a line of ground-breaking 56-calorie muffins.” 


In 2011, Chelsea and Ali, along with a best friend, Jennifer, revamped their mother’s recipe – adding a few more calories with a whole-lot more flavor.
And thus, the MUthin was born! 
Keeping her mother’s values dear to her heart, Ali grabbed the steering wheel in the MUthins kitchen in 2015, with an everlasting urge to innovate with new MUthin flavours, shapes and derivatives to accommodate her community’s wants and needs.
Muthins is currently distributing to local health food stores, grocery stores, gyms, cafés, fitness centers, business offices and homes all across Montreal and the greater Quebec area. 



Visit: www.muthins.ca. You can order your favorite muffin off the website. They come in a six-pack or are individually wrapped for on-the-go gals.
Wholesalers welcome!