1350 – The Art of Self-Defense (2019)

The Art of Self-Defense is a 2019 black comedy thriller film written and directed by Riley Stearns. It stars Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola and Imogen Poots. (wiki)

After he’s attacked on the street at night by a roving motorcycle gang, timid bookkeeper Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) joins a neighborhood karate studio to learn how to protect himself. Under the watchful eye of a charismatic instructor, Sensei (Alessandro Nivola), and hardcore brown belt Anna (Imogen Poots), Casey gains a newfound sense of confidence for the first time in his life. But when he attends Sensei’s mysterious night classes, he discovers a sinister world of fraternity, brutality and hyper-masculinity, presenting a journey that places him squarely in the sights of his enigmatic new mentor. Audacious and offbeat, The Art of Self-Defense is an original dark comedy that takes toxic masculinity to absurd extremes. (rottentomatoes)

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imdb

1345 – Girl on the Third Floor (2019)

timespace coordinates: 2010’s suburbs of Chicago

Girl on the Third Floor is a 2019 horror film directed by (newcomer) Travis Stevens, written by Stevens, Paul Johnstone and Ben Parker, and starring pro-wrestler-turned-actor Phil “CM Punk” Brooks, Trieste Kelly Dunn and Tonya Kay. (wiki)

imdb   /   rottentomatoes

1343 – A Ghost Story (2017)

timespace coordinates: small house in Dallas, Texas. (1990’s (?) > 2010’s (?) > 1840’s)

A Ghost Story is a 2017 American supernatural drama film written and directed by David Lowery. It stars Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, Will Oldham, Sonia Acevedo, Rob Zabrecky, and Liz Franke. Affleck plays a man who becomes a ghost and remains in the house he shares with his wife (Mara). (wiki)

imdb

1341 – GTFO (2015 documentary)

GTFO (also known as GTFO: Get the F&#% Out) is a 2015 American documentary film, directed by Shannon Sun-Higginson, about sexism and women in the world of video games. It premiered at South by Southwest on March 14, 2015.

Sun-Higginson, a documentary filmmaker from New York City, began work on GTFO in early 2012 and ultimately funded it as a Kickstarter project. She was initially inspired to create the film after watching a clip from live-stream gaming competition Cross Assault in which a player repeatedly sexually harassed his teammate. Sun-Higginson then “decided to take a step back and explore what it means to be a woman in gaming in general, both the positive and the negative.” 

The movie compiles interviews from gamers, developers, journalists to show how pervasive sexist behavior is in the gaming world. 

The film’s premiere at South by Southwest was met with primarily favorable reviews, with critic Dennis Harvey commenting: “Several other documentaries are currently in the works on the same subject, and many will no doubt be a lot slicker than ‘GTFO.’ But the rough edges of Sun-Higginson’s Kickstarter-funded feature lend it an ingratiating, unpretentious modesty, and its lack of rancor on a topic that might’ve easily supported a more sensationalist approach can only be a plus in reaching male gamers most in need of its wake-up call.” (wiki)

imdb

1340

1338

Of Gamers, Gates, and Disco Demolition: The Roots of Reactionary Rage

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*Disco_Demolition_Night

1323

China banned the Comedy Central cartoon “South Park” after its 299th episode, “Band in China,” aired on October 2. It mocked Hollywood’s submission to the country. In response, “South Park” declared “F—” the Chinese government” in its 300th episode, and the show’s creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker published a mock apology. (businessinsider)