Queer
William S. Burroughs wrote this 206-page semi-autobiographicalnovella in the early '50s, partly as a companion piece to Junkie andpartly as a warmup for Naked Lunch. But Hollywood shied awayfrom it until now, partly because its homoerotic nature wasconsidered too 'obscene' for those times, and partly because nodirector as gutsy as Luca Guadagnino was on the scene yet.Lee is a mysterious American addict and alcoholic living in lonelyexile in Mexico City in the '50s, whiling away his days getting very,very drunk, interacting with a few fellow loser expats andshooting up. The first part of this flick is a devastatingly effectiveportrait of a self-destructive man lost in abortive passion anddesperate for human connection. If Daniel Craig was looking for away to distance himself from his James Bond/action herotypecasting, I'd say he found it in this soul- (and skin-) baring role.Things seem to look up for Lee with the arrival in town of Gene(Daan de Wit), a beautiful young man, sexually hetero but mostlyjust apathetic. He accepts Lee's advances but with frustratingindifference and even annoyance. Lee persuades him to go withhim to South America in search of a powerful hallucinogenicknown as yage, and then things go psychedelically off the rails.And this is where Luca Guadagnino shines. A genuine visionary ifsomewhat erratic, he made the excellent Call Me by Your Name butalso the awful Suspiria. Once in the jungle, he drops the plot,which would be a greater crime if there actually was a plotinstead of an admittedly brilliant character study. And buckle up!Then it just ends. Burroughs never finished the book. This is a filmthat will be appreciated more by critics and cineasts than general
audiences. Regardless of how surreal or off-topic a Guadagnino
film gets, though, it's never less than visually riveting. And theterrific, anachronistic soundtrack keeps things nicely off-kilter.Audiences not on the director's vibe and put off by the film'sexplicit eroticism may find it – what's the word? — challenging. It'scertainly not for the faint of heart, but as we regress steadilytoward 50s prurience these days, it's as fulfilling as it is
rebellious. (137 min)
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Japan Today
10 hours ago
- Japan Today
A Sikh Captain America? Why religious diversity matters in the comics universe
Vishavjit Singh, who educates youth about Sikhism through his Captain Sikh America character, poses for a portrait in costume at home, in New York's Harlem neighborhood, on May 30. By DEEPA BHARATH 'Captain America doesn't wear a beard and a turban, and he's white.' Vishavjit Singh looked at the boy who uttered those words, and then he looked at himself — a skinny, bespectacled, turbaned, bearded Sikh in a Captain America suit. 'I wasn't offended, because I knew that this kid was going to have this image of me, a Sikh Captain America, forever in his mind,' Singh said. 'This image has so much power to it that it opens up conversations about what it means to be American.' Representation of non-Abrahamic religions and spiritual traditions, particularly in the mainstream comics universe, is minimal. Even when they are portrayed in comics, their presentation, as Singh and others in the field point out, is often inauthentic and sometimes negative. Recently, however, comic book writers and academics who study the intersection of religion and comics observe a renaissance of sorts, which they say is happening because people close to these faith traditions are telling these stories with a reverence and sincerity that resonate with a wider audience. Singh's journey to make that connection began after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, triggered anti-Sikh hate incidents. Having faced hate and exclusion throughout his life, he decided to spread his message of kindness and inclusion by capitalizing on the appeal of comics and superheroes — an area where he found Sikh representation to be 'virtually zero.' He suited up as Captain Sikh America in Manhattan for the first time in summer 2013 — one year after a self-proclaimed white supremacist opened fire inside a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, killing six and injuring four others. New York's reaction to Captain Sikh America was joyous. 'Strangers came up and hugged me,' Singh said. 'Police officers wanted photos with me. A couple wanted me to be part of their wedding ceremony. I felt I had a certain privilege I'd never had before.' In 2016, Singh gave up his full-time job to travel around the country to schools, government agencies and corporations to share his story and educate youth about his culture and faith. He doesn't speak directly about religion but rather the core values of Sikhism. 'I talk about equality, justice and about the universal light being present in every speck of creation,' he said. Marvel's Black Panther heralded better representation for Africana religions in the U.S., according to Yvonne Chireau, a professor of religion at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. However what is seen in Black Panther or other comics is a synthesis of different African religions and cultural practices, she said. For example, one page might talk about the Orishas, divine spirits that play a key role in the Yoruba faith of West Africa, while another might feature Egyptian gods. One of the first superheroes with African roots, Chireau said, was Brother Voodoo, created in the 1970s by Marvel publisher Stan Lee, writer Len Wein and artist John Romita. He was the first Haitian superhero. The turn of the last century was a time of revival for Black-centric comics, she said, adding that immigration from African and Caribbean countries, including Haiti, led to increased understanding of religious practices originating in those places. 'It's definitely gotten a lot better and much more authentic because the people who are telling these stories care about those religious practices,' she said. Brooklyn-born Haitian American comic book writer Greg Anderson Elysée said he didn't learn about African and Caribbean religious traditions until he was a teenager. Elysée was raised Catholic, but he now considers himself agnostic. For the past decade, he's written comics about Is'nana, the son of Anansi the Spider, the god of wisdom, knowledge and mischief in the Akan religion of West Africa. What drives his vision and his creativity, Elysée said, is the need to see more Black mythology, deities and spirituality showcased with the same level of respect as European fairy tales and Greek mythology. 'When I went looking for anything on African spirituality in the bookstore, I found it in the occult section as opposed to the religion or mythology section,' he said. Common depictions of African faith as voodoo and witchcraft are colonialist narratives aimed at demonizing Indigenous spiritual practices, he added. 'When I started going to ceremonies and rituals, I saw how much power there is in it. When we know who we are — whether you believe in the religion or not — it fills you with joy, a purpose and a sense of being.' Elysée is excited and relieved by the reaction to his work. 'While this is entertainment, you also don't want to offend those who believe in it and truly get so much power from it,' he said. 'Some of my portrayals of these religions in my comics may not be 100% authentic, but there is a level of research and respect that goes into every piece of it.' Zen Buddhism has informed much of John Porcellino's work. For over three decades, he has produced and self-published King-Cat Comics and Stories, a largely autobiographical mini-comic series. Porcellino was drawn to Buddhism in his 20s after what he describes as a period of intense mental suffering and health problems. As a punk rock fan, Porcellino saw commonalities between punk and Zen because 'they are both concerned with the essence of things rather than appearances.' Both are ways of life — simple yet nuanced. He gave the example of a wordless story titled 'October,' featured in King-Cat's 30th issue, that shows him as a high school student walking home one night from school. When he gets home, his mom asks him to take the dog outside; as he steps out, he sees the stars. 'It's the experience of being in everyday, mundane life ... and then suddenly breaking through to some kind of transcendence,' he said. Porcellino views these comics as a healing presence in his life. 'They are an important part of my spiritual practice,' he said. 'Any time I have a major crisis in my life, my first reaction is to sit down and start making comics and put my focus into that. It just helps ground me.' Teresa Robeson, who wrote a graphic novel about the 14th Dalai Lama, said that even though her mother was Catholic and raised her in the faith, her grandmother was Buddhist. She grew up in Hong Kong, with memories of relatives praying to Buddhist gods, taking in the fragrance of burning incense and the sound of Buddhist chants. Though she practices neither Catholicism nor Buddhism at this time, Robeson jumped at the opportunity to tell the story of the Dalai Lama in graphic novel form because the book focused on a pivotal moment in the spiritual leader's life, when he fled Tibet for India after the Chinese occupation. Robeson liked the idea of representing a religion and culture that do not get much attention in media. 'Children's books are like mirrors and windows for kids,' she said. 'It's helpful especially for children of immigrants who don't often see themselves in mainstream literature. They don't see anyone who looks like them or prays like them. At the same time, it also helps kids who are not Asian or Buddhist to learn something about those communities.' Amar Chitra Katha was a comic book company started by the late Anant Pai in Mumbai in 1967 as a way to teach Indian children about their own mythology and culture. The first title was 'Krishna,' an important god in Hinduism and protagonist of the Bhagavad Gita, one of the religion's main sacred texts. Pai was an engineer turned comic books seller who used varied marketing techniques, including walking around with planks, nails and hammers in his bag so he could build shelves for bookstores that refused to display his comics because they lacked shelf space, said Reena I. Puri, the company's managing director and a 35-year veteran of the business. Pai started with Hindu mythology and gods but soon expanded to other faiths, releasing a globally successful comic titled 'Jesus Christ' and others about Buddha, Sikh gurus and Mahavira, who founded Jainism. Later came secular comics about historical figures and folktales. But religion remains the mainstay of Amar Chitra Katha, and books that teach children about faith, history and culture are also the most popular in the diaspora, Puri said. 'Most recently we've also portrayed (Indigenous) religions and have gathered folktales relating to these traditions from all over India,' she said. Amar Chitra Katha comics faced criticism in the past for their portrayal of gods as fair-skinned and 'asuras' — often the antagonists to the gods — as dark-skinned with demonic facial features. But that has changed, Puri said. 'We've educated ourselves and realized that our ancient texts were not as racist or colorist as we may be today,' she said. 'We're correcting those misconceptions now.' British comic book writer Mike Carey is known for his 2000-2006 DC Comics series 'Lucifer,' which depicts the titular character's adventures on Earth, in Heaven and in various realms after abandoning Hell. Carey counts himself an atheist who went to Sunday school only 'for the fun, stories and chocolate.' Carey portrayed Lucifer as the 'son of God, but as a rebellious disobedient son who wants to find himself as distinct from his father.' He has also explored pagan themes, particularly what he called the 'weird interface between British folklore and British religious traditions.' Carey delved into the concepts of faith, God and morality in a series titled 'My Faith in Frankie,' which tells the story of a teenager with a personal god called Jeriven who gets jealous of her boyfriend. Even though many of his comics and novels explore religion and ethics, Carey said, he has never 'felt any temptation whatsoever to believe.' 'I've become more and more entrenched in that position, because organized religions are like any organization that sustain themselves, amass power, wealth and authority,' he said. 'So I've never really grappled with religious issues. What I do sometimes is explore, play with and tease out moral issues that were important and meaningful to me.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Japan Today
4 days ago
- Japan Today
Austrian daily under fire after Clint Eastwood slams 'phony' interview
An Austrian newspaper came under fire Tuesday after Hollywood star Clint Eastwood said an alleged interview with him published by the paper to mark his 95th birthday was "entirely phony". The row was sparked by a purported interview with the Oscar-winning actor and director carried by the German-language Kurier newspaper Friday. In the interview, which was picked up widely by American media over the weekend, Eastwood criticizes a lack of fresh ideas in the current film industry as "we live in an era of remakes and franchises". "I long for the good old days when screenwriters wrote films like 'Casablanca' in small bungalows on the studio lot. When everyone had a new idea," he was quoted as saying. "My philosophy is, do something new or stay at home," it adds. In a statement to Deadline magazine published Monday, Eastwood said "I thought I would set the record straight". "I can confirm I've turned 95. I can also confirm that I never gave an interview to an Austrian publication called Kurier, or any other writer in recent weeks, and that the interview is entirely phony," he added. On Tuesday evening, the editorial team of the Vienna-based Kurier said its freelancer Elisabeth Sereda had compiled the interview by citing from "a total of 18" round table conversations with Eastwood. But since the article was published as an interview and not as a profile, the daily said it would cut ties with the author. "Even though no quotes have been fabricated, the interviews are documented and the allegations of falsification can be refuted, we will not be working with the author in the future because transparency and our strict editorial standards are paramount to us," Kurier said in a statement published on its website. The newspaper had recently published interviews by Sereda with celebrities such as Jude Law and Elton John. © 2025 AFP
Japan Today
4 days ago
- Japan Today
Swiatek and Sabalenka set up French Open semifinal clash as Alcaraz sweeps through
tennis By Emmeline MOORE Three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek set up a blockbuster French Open semifinal clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday, as reigning men's holder Carlos Alcaraz powered his way into the last four. Alcaraz blew away American 12th seed Tommy Paul for the loss of just five games in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier. The Spaniard needed just one hour 34 minutes to dismantle Paul 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 and set up a last-four meeting with Italy's Lorenzo Musetti. "I'm sorry you wanted to watch more tennis, I had to do my work," Alcaraz told the crowd. "It was one of those matches where I could close my eyes and everything went in. It was like my feeling today was unbelievable." Earlier, Swiatek, the fifth seed, got past Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5, after top women's seed Sabalenka won a tense quarter-final against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. World number five Swiatek has been struggling for her best form and has not reached a final since winning the French Open title last year. But she gave 13th seed Svitolina little opportunity on her favoured clay surface, breaking in the fourth game to ease through the first set, in windy conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier. The pair exchanged consecutive breaks of serve early in the second set, before Swiatek forced the breakthrough at 5-5 with a powerful forehand down the line. She then sealed the win with back-to-back aces. "Even though the first set, the score looks pretty straightforward, it wasn't," said Swiatek. "I had to fight for every point." Swiatek is aiming to become the first woman to win four straight Roland Garros crowns since Suzanne Lenglen 102 years ago. "(Aryna) has been having a great season so I'm not going to lie, it is going to be a tough match. But I'm happy for the challenge," said Swiatek, after reeling off her 26th win in a row at the French Open. Both players have shared the number one ranking between them since April 2022. Sabalenka ended Swiatek's 11-month reign as world number one last October but the Pole leads 8-4 in their previous meetings. Earlier, reigning U.S. Open champion Sabalenka avenged her recent loss to Zheng in Rome. "The last tournament I was pretty exhausted," said Sabalenka. "Today I was more fresh, I was ready to battle." Sabalenka once again got the upper hand over Zheng, who had been on a winning streak of 10 matches on the Paris clay after her run to Olympic gold last year. Zheng broke and led 4-2 in the first set. But numerous unforced errors -- 31 in total -- allowed the Belarusian to come back. "I gave her the chance, so easy," said Zheng, who has lost seven times in eight meetings with Sabalenka, including in last year's Australian Open final. Madrid Open champion Sabalenka feels she is ready to go all the way in Paris, where her previous best was the semi-finals two years ago. "It's high-level matches. I'm super excited to go out there and to fight and to do everything I need to get the win," said Sabalenka. Alcaraz, 22, dispatched former world number nine Paul after Musetti had earlier seen off Paul's 15th seeded compatriot Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. The second seed hit 40 winners and made just 22 unforced errors against Paul, who he also beat on his way to silver at the Paris Olympics last year. Eighth seed Musetti, 23, took over two hours 45 minutes to get past Tiafoe and qualify for his second Grand Slam semi-final, after Wimbledon last year. Musetti's serve proved to be a major weapon on the day as he fired down eight aces with an 81 percent success rate on his first serve. He also saved two of the three break points engineered by Tiafoe, who had 51 unforced errors to the Italian's 32. It will be the third time Alcaraz and Musetti meet this clay-court season. Alcaraz has dominated that series -- beating the Italian in the final in Monte Carlo before also stopping him in the last four on his way to the Rome title. © 2025 AFP
