My Choice for One Film to Rule Them All

August 8, 2021

Roque Recommends

I was recently asked by a friend to think of one film that I would recommend to everyone. She thought to ask me this since I am a filmmaker, and, as such, I might have a good answer. The question became a wonderful thought experiment and a tall order. By my estimation, my choice would have to be both entertaining and a representation of what I believe a good film is. I came up with a short list of films right off the top of my head, but there is one that I kept going back to over and over again. That particular film had to fly through the following criteria:

  1. Does it have an engaging story and a satisfying ending?

    Yes. It certainly does. From its opening scene and all the way through the end credits, the viewer will certainly be enthralled. This film is imaginative and does not hold back.

  2. In terms of film craft, is it visually and technically well done or even masterful?

    Yes. Virtually all of the elaborate sets were custom built and every sequence (including crazy action sequences) needed to be carefully choreographed in order to work. It took a massive army of a creative team to bring this film to life. I am humbled and in awe of what these filmmakers accomplished.

  3. Does the film still hold up many years after its theatrical release?

    Yes. It is still entertaining and, sadly, as relevant as it was when it was released.

  4. Does the film embody different ideas and layers, as opposed to being shallow and one-dimensional?

    Yes! In addition to being a brilliant satire of real life, it is an action movie, a theatrical musical (with the best songs EVER!), a romantic film, and a hysterical comedy. It takes every Hollywood cliche and turns each one up a notch. It’s basically a satire of everything, and it does not get more ambitious than that.

  5. Does this film appeal to a large cross-section of people?

    I would say it would appeal to any adult anywhere in the world. As a comedy and geopolitical satire of America, this film would have strong international appeal for anyone who looks at America with a critical eye. Anyone within the US could benefit from seeing a satire such as this. For them, this film is a mirror image of what America projects onto the world, for better or worse. It’s also incredibly funny and quite a sight to behold. However, I would strongly caution against young children watching this because of its adult content and language (even though they would be highly entertained by it otherwise.)

Well then, my choice checks all of the boxes. So, without further ado, here is the theatrical trailer for the film I would recommend to everyone:

Team America: World Police

Yes, this film uses puppets. Yes, it looks ridiculous, but you have to watch the whole thing to understand where I am coming from. The musical sequences and the songs (which are not mentioned in the trailer) are brilliant. (AMERICA! F__K YEAH!!!!)

I give mad props to directors Matt Stone and Trey Parker. They took every risk imaginable, and it all paid off.

Honestly, I can’t believe this is my choice, but I keep going to back to it in my head.

If you haven’t seen this film, I highly recommend watching the extended and uncensored version. (It has a lengthy sex scene that will leave you ROFL and LOL’ing for sure, among many other tidbits.)

So, based on the criteria listed above, what is one film that you would recommend to everyone? Leave a comment here or on the Facebook to let me know.

Thanks for reading, and please, grab some popcorn. Gather up a few friends and watch “Team America: World Police.”

You will certainly be entertained, if nothing else.

Roqué’s Sunday Book Review: The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

August 1, 2021

Culture and Society / Reading Books / Roque Recommends

When I read a description of the book The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris, I was intrigued by its premise and placed a hold on a digital copy from my library once I found out that one was available. Its story is set at the end of the US Civil War and the beginnings of the Reconstruction era when the north followed through on its pledge to do the work to end slavery in the southern states. To be honest, I find stories from this era to be difficult to read because of how terribly slaves were treated. It is unfathomable that the white people of that time believed so completely in their superiority that they treated other human beings so horribly. This era is one of the most shameful in human history. Nonetheless, I read it anyway because I cannot turn down the power and the sense of possibility of what a good book can give.

This harrowing tale centers around a small white family living on a large swath of inherited land that borders several plantations that are worked by slaves. Two black brothers, who were slaves owned by a local and particularly cruel land baron, left one of these neighboring plantations as freed men. Their lives become intricately intertwined with this small white family, for better or worse. Embedded within all of the ensuing complexity is an illicit romantic affair between two white men and former soldiers who secretly meet deep in the woods to spend time together.

This is a good book. Its steady pacing and complex characters drive its plot to places that are unsettling to experience but necessary. It offers a case study in the ways by which racism can decimate any sense of human decency and compassion and a primer on what it means to care for others in times of immense struggle and sorrow.

Is it a lighthearted, easy, and fun book to read?

No.

But it is a book that has a lot of depth and layers, in which actions and consequences are at odds with what is just and fair. It takes the bonds between parent and child, friend and friend, brother and brother, lover and lover, individual and community, and husband and wife into situations in which they become strained and gutted. Up until the final page, we find out which bonds survive.

This is one of those books I hope everyone gets a chance to read for the important example it gives of how racism breeds nothing but destruction. There are plenty of fun and lighthearted books available to read, but it takes a book like this one to see a much bigger and broader view of the world—a panoramic vista that shows us what we need to see.

—Roqué

My Tarot Card Journey and How I Found the Perfect Deck for Me

July 25, 2021

Culture and Society / Roque Recommends / Self-Care

I have had Tarot readings done for me at different times of my life, and I dismissed it as a new age kind of novelty that I should not take all that seriously—categorizing it as something fun to do with a friend and nothing more. I had a deck that a dear mentor gave to me as a gift many years ago that I had tried out a few times, but even then, it did not resonate with me in any deep and substantive way.

Fast forward to 2020, the tumultuous year that will go down in history as the year that a global pandemic put the entire world on lock-down. It was a scary time. People were getting sick and dying everywhere. I was scared for myself and my friends and family. In my adulthood, I do not consider myself to be a formally religious person. I have my own personal beliefs that I keep to myself which gave me some solace, but I started to think about how I can be more grounded in life amid all of this death and fear. I put all of my energy into my filmmaking and creative work, and I did my best to exercise and eat healthier foods. Even so, I found myself needing something more.

Fast forward again to March of 2021, I had lived through a year of pandemic hysteria (and a stressful presidential election) by then. I had this random thought that if I had a tarot reading could it tell me if I would get Covid and die? Does it even work like that? Paranoia was getting to me, and I wanted answers. I started to browse online to read about Tarot cards. I quickly found out that there is so much more about them to explore.

To my surprise, there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of different kinds of Tarot card decks out in the world. They each embody their own theme and sensibility. I dug deeper to find out that they are all adapted from the original deck called “The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck” that is comprised of 78 cards divided up into major and lesser arcana groupings. I also discovered that I could actually do readings for myself without involving another person.

Along with my research, I asked my friends on Facebook if they had any Tarot card recommendations. I was expecting to get maybe a couple of responses, but I got almost 30 recommendations! I did not know that so many of my friends were into this. I looked up all of the decks that they suggested, and while there were some extremely awesome decks among them, none of them resonated with me.

What I was looking for was a deck that focused on self-care and healing, and nothing had quite hit the mark. I decided to start with my own set of the Rider-Waite deck. I worked with it for a couple of weeks after it arrived in the mail. I started a practice of doing a one-card reading in the mornings, but I found the deck to be a bit clunky and hard to understand. It definitely has an old-world feel to it that was both Eurocentric and almost medieval. Neither of these characteristics connected with a brown Asian boy who grew up on an island in the South Pacific.

Then, I used a deck called “The Wild Unknown” that was fairly popular and featured gorgeous artwork. These days, my life is oriented around nature and the outdoors. I take lots of walks outside. I live out in the woods, and I actively care for a half-mile long driveway. As such, its use of animals and elements found in nature appealed to me. I purchased it and also used it for a couple of weeks. Even then, something about the experience felt lacking. I found myself referencing the Rider-Waite deck that I had along with various Tarot card websites online just to get a better sense of what the cards were suggesting to me. I wondered if there was an easier way, outside of giving it up as a failed experiment.

Finally, I found a deck called “Neo Tarot.” Here was the description that I found for it online:

“With a beautifully illustrated 78 strong deck included alongside relatable explanations of the profound symbolism of each card, this modern guidebook and deck is a mixture of revealing insights, practical wisdom and actionable exercises that readers can incorporate into their self-care practice instantly, and watch their self-love flourish.“

Along with its rave reviews, the booklet that comes with the set includes descriptions of each card along with suggested activities that are contemplative and explorative in nature. The emphasis on self-care is a big deal for me. So, I decided to try one more time and bought myself a set.

In this case, the third time was an absolute charm! “The Neo Tarot” deck has met all of my needs and gone beyond my expectations. It is written in a tone that is gentle and thoughtful. The artwork features images of people with various skin tones, body sizes, and genders. The entire package is skillfully designed. I absolutely love the artwork. This deck was constructed with an awareness of inclusivity and the importance of self-care and healing.

Both the creator (Jerico Mandybur) and the artist (Daiana Ruiz) hit this out of the ballpark in terms of how its visual design and thematic elements integrate with the written content. One significant complaint about this deck from various reviews is that its booklet is attached to the box that holds the cards. As such, one has to hold the entire box in order to read about each card. This does make using this set feel a little clunky, but I have gotten used to it. It’s also not as easy to pack into a bag when traveling because of the thickness of the whole box. To me, these are minor complaints. The benefits of the deck far outweigh it significantly.

I use this deck every day in the early mornings. I do a one-card reading followed by writing down my thoughts and reflections in a journal that is dedicated to this purpose. What this ritual allows me to do is get me outside of my regular thinking patterns and to contextualize different aspects of self-care and healing into my daily existence. Each card prompts me to explore parts of my life that might need tender mending. As of this post, I’ve been doing this morning practice now for almost four months, and I now have a deeper awareness of what I need to do to protect, nurture, expand my wellbeing.

This may not be the last set of Tarot cards I will ever use, but at this current stage of my life when I am seeking to heal and prioritize my personal health and wellness of my mind, body, and spirit, this set is perfect for me.