Shoa.........

The story of Simone Renaud : mother of Normandy
 

Madame Simone Renaud, the wife of the mayor of Ste. Mere-Eglise, – also known as the Mother of Normandy – was 45 years old when the United States invaded Normandy during World War II. She and her three young sons watched in horror as German soldiers opened fire onto the 101st and 82nd Airborne Division soldiers.

Seizing Ste. Mere-Eglise prior to the D-Day beach landings was crucial to the Allied offensive. A German counterattack would likely use the main road that ran through the town, and the Allies were determined to hold it.

Mixed units of the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions had hoped to use surprise and confusion to overwhelm the German garrison there, but stray incendiary bombs set many of the town's buildings ablaze. The German soldiers and the townspeople were fully alert and fighting the fires when the paratroopers began landing among them.

The Americans were shot as they landed. Some fell into the burning buildings, and their screams could be heard above the loudly ringing church bells. Others got hung up on poles, buildings, and trees, and were shot before they could cut themselves down. Renaud's husband witnessed several Germans emptying their machine guns into one paratrooper as he hung helplessly above them. It seemed that the assault on the town would end in failure and catastrophe.

But the young paratroopers fought back. They could see what was happening below and started firing their guns as they descended. Wounded paratroopers who were lying in the streets, some bleeding to death, shot the Germans as they tried to pick off their descending comrades. Renaud and her three frightened young sons huddled in their home as the fierce fight raged in the streets outside.

At 4:30 a.m., the town finally fell to the Americans. As the reinforcing soldiers arrived, they were stunned by the macabre scene. Dead paratroopers lay in the streets and dangled from trees, their blood staining the cobblestone streets. Lt. Col. Edward Krause could utter only three words: "Oh, my God."

Madame Renaud, the wife of the mayor of Ste. Mere-Eglise, vowed to always remember the sacrifices made by these brave young American men whose young lives were cut short at the hands of the Germans.

In the weeks following the invasion, this young mother took it upon herself and began taking care of the grave sites of the more than 15,000 US troops who died and were buried in temporary cemeteries in and around the area.

When Life Magazine published a photo of Madame Renaud decorating the grave site of General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., she began receiving numerous pieces of mail from US families asking if she would take care of their son’s resting place as well. Some asked if she would photograph their loved ones resting place and send it to them.

Even Madame Renaud could not have envisioned the 44 year journey she was embarking upon - a journey that would last until her death in 1988. During those years, she wrote countless letters, took hundreds and hundreds of photos, organized ceremonies, corresponded with many of the families who lost loved ones in Normandy and even sent soil samples to them from the grave sites.

Madame Renaud also cared for the veteran's who survived. She hosted ceremonies and events, chartering planes and trains to bring them back to the first town they liberated in Normandy.

She died in 1988. Just as she never forgot those who died so she and her fellow townspeople could be free, the veterans made sure she too would never be forgotten.


Her sons continued her work.

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Amazing story.

"East L.A. Interchange"
narrated by Danny Trejo featuring interviews with such prominent residents as Will.I.Am

Boyle Heights was an amazing neighborhood with an Italian family living next door to a Japanese family living next door to a Jewish family living next door to an African American Family, living next door to a Mexican family, etc, etc, etc..... This neighborhood defied the melting pot and instead showed how we can enjoy our individual cultures while respecting and sharing our neighbor's Culture.

And then the highway came in.
And then WW2 came in
And then the government itself performed actions that actually forced 'white flight.

I was fortunate to be able to go to the World Premiere, but it will now start making the rounds of festivals. It just won Best Documentary at the Downtown Film Festival L.A. After that, general release and then the hope is PBS.
https://www.google.com/search?q=east...utf-8&oe=utf-8

Deli Man
 

Jewish culture reflects the heart of a vital ethnic history. As that culture continues to shift and adapt alongside mainstream America, delicatessen food, as its name suggests, remains a beloved communal delicacy. In Houston, Texas, third-generation deli man Ziggy Gruber has built arguably the finest delicatessen restaurant in the U.S. His story is augmented by the stories of iconic delis such as Katz's, 2nd Avenue Deli, Nate 'n Al, Carnegie, and the Stage.

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This was both fun and educational. Rich history, fascinating people, and Yiddish lessons.

Citizenfour
 

With unprecedented access, this behind-the-scenes chronicle follows director Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald's encounters with whistle-blower Edward Snowden in a hotel room in Hong Kong, as he hands over classified documents that provide evidence of mass indiscriminate and illegal invasions of privacy by the NSA.

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If we werent so desensitized to government intrusion under the guise of national security, this would keep people up at night.

The Hunting Ground
 

"A startling expose of sexual assault on US campuses, their institutional cover-ups, and the devastating toll they take on students and their families. Weaving together cinema verite footage and first person testimonies, the film follows the lives of several undergraduate assault survivors as they attempt to pursue both their education and justice - despite incredible push back, harassment, and traumatic aftermath"

Kumare

Excellent film!




Happy



Street food around the world




Paddle To Seattle





Pedal to the midnight sun

I watched an interesting one on master photographer Diane Arbus....

Jonathan Demme interviews Werner Herzog (Museum of the Moving Image, 2008)
 

One of my role models....Kathleen Hanna...
 

From Mao to Mozart
 

From Mao to Mozart

Haven't seen this in decades. Will see if I can stream it.

Equal Means Equal - the definitive documentary on the sattus of women in America
 

An unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today. Examining both real-life stories and precedent-setting legal cases, director Kamala Lopez uncovers how outdated and discriminatory attitudes inform and influence seemingly disparate issues, from workplace harassment to domestic violence, rape and sexual assault to the foster care system, and the healthcare conglomerate to the judicial system.



Available on iTunes, Timer Warner, Amazon, Google play, Xbox, Vudu, Fandango Now, Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, Charter, and Dish Network.

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Excellent and sickening. Goof refresher course for those who have forgotten or never knew the history of women in this country. And, an excellent look at how politicians, courts, both political parties and all genders have and continue to perpetrate an incredible war on women - some by their actions and others by their indifference.

Also an eye opening view of young women today who have no clue about their history, think the ERA is a laundry detergent, and who have been taught to think they have equality when they do not and think there are laws to protect them when there are not. It is a rude awakening for most. And, these women also internalize their failure to find the non existing equality and laws as a personal failure rather than a systemic failure.

Another strong point in the film is how other women, with internalized misogyny and sexism, are being used as the bearer of bad news when companies or systems engage in discriminatory practices. For a patriarchal system to work well, it requires violence, particularly sexual violence, and women to police other women.

MARS
 

The new National Geographic "Mars" is a documentary fantasy :mohawk:
Fascinating to see what we have accomplished in Mars history so far.

realizing we may kill our planet and may need to have a home base for humankind

:readfineprint:People believing we will become extinct, like the dinosaurs on our home planet.

Tickled
 

When I first read the synopsis for this movie I thought it was a joke. Holy shit, that fact that this is true is unbelievable. It makes me feel like I am living in some kind of bubble. It was fascinating, but frustrating, but a good watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOBXuCYB4jQ (I suck... can't link)

Glen Campbell's final tour and his diagnosis of Alzheimers.

Polar Bear Town
 

Last night I watched, Gleason on Amazon Prime. I think Netflix may be streaming it as well but not positive on that. This is a documentary about Steve Gleason, (New Orleans Saints 2000-2008) who was diagnosed with ALS. This doc shares his journey from game to marriage, to ALS diagnosis to the birth of their child, his relationship with his father, and much much more. It is extremely raw and down to earth. Uplifting, heartbreaking and even humorous at times. Very real & powerful stuff happening here.

Here is a youtube trailer:

Documentary fanatic here!