The Sunday Magazine for April 20, 2025
This week on The Sunday Magazine with Piya Chattopadhyay:
The federal election campaign enters its final stretch
With two debates down and one week to go in the federal election campaign, The Economist's Rob Russo, Le Devoir's Emilie Nicolas and Real Talk's Ryan Jespersen join Chattopadhyay to break down the state of the race and stakes for major party leaders as the 2025 election nears the finish line.
Finding the funny in news satire when real life is no joke
For people who work in the business of political satire and news comedy, there's no shortage of rich source material these days. But misinformation, disinformation and leaders who can seem stranger than fiction are complicating the craft. Chattopadhyay speaks with two veterans of the scene – The Beaverton 's Luke Gordon Field and a founding member of The Onion, Christine Wenc – about the challenges of skewering the news today, and how satire can help people make sense of the absurdity of real life.
What the first and last words we speak say about us
We may think of them as the most cherished or meaningful words we'll ever speak: Our first words as a baby, and our last words before we die. But as linguist Michael Erard explores in his book Bye Bye, I Love You, the significance of them varies according to culture and history, and their meaning is often supplied more by the listener than the speaker. He tells Chattopadhyay that they are nevertheless truly powerful, marking the beginning and end of our life connecting with others.
50 years ago, the Khmer Rouge began its reign of terror in Cambodia. Justice remains elusive
April 17, 1975, marked the start of Year Zero, the attempt by the Khmer Rouge and its leader Pol Pot to "reset" Cambodia and fashion it into a new Communist society by purging swaths of culture, traditions and people. An estimated 1.5 to two million Cambodians were killed and hundreds of thousands fled to other countries, including Canada. The Sunday Magazine senior producer Howard Goldenthal looks at the legacy of that time, and how far we've come in attempts to pursue justice for war crimes since then.
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National Observer
23-05-2025
- National Observer
MOVIES: A big showdown for the US long weekend: Tom Cruise in action vs Disney's live action Lilo & Stitch
It seems that we've got another case of two big films going head to head. It's Memorial Day weekend in the US and both Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning starring Tom Cruise and Lilo & Stitch, Disney's latest live-action remake of an animated film, are both predicted to be smash hits. The only question is, which one will be at the top. The other will be right behind. And here's a fun fact: Angela Bassett is an actor in one; her husband Courtney B. Vance is in the other. We've got other choices too, including a Jane Austen-inspired rom com and a gay rights/anti-Communist dissertation with a small Canadian connection. And watch out for a film I didn't have a chance to preview: Ocean with David Attenborough. It promises to be stocked with his usual wisdom about the natural world and revel in spectacular cinematography. And take note that Incandescence, the film about forest wildfires that I reviewed a month and a half ago, is about to start on the National Film Board ( website. It'll be free and with wildfire season starting up again, essential. In theaters, we have these: Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning: 3 stars Lilo & Stitch: 3 Jane Austen Wrecked My Life: 4 Bad Shabbos: 2 ½ MISSION IMPOSSIBLE THE FINAL RECKONING: This film finishes the story that started in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning two years ago and is predicted to be a much bigger hit. But it's not the story that you come to it for; it's the action, the driving narrative and Tom Cruise again doing his own stunts. I don't know if he really did the main sequence, dangling from a plane in midair after jumping from another. Then climbing up to overpower the pilot. It's thrilling and pretty-well sums up what summer movies are all about. Don't explain, just energize. The story has Cruise as Ethan Hunt continue searching for the people behind a malevolent use of Artificial Intelligence. It's a program called The Entity. It can invade any computer system on earth and considering how much of our world is now run with computers poses an extreme threat. Nuclear missiles will launch in three days unless Ethan can stop the Entity. He has half of a key (he got hold of it last film) and now needs something called the Podkova, a gadget apparently sitting in a Russian submarine that sank, also last film. He assembles his crew (Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg, holdovers, and Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementiff, newcomers) and with the U.S. president (Angela Bassett) urging him on, gets to work. The details don't make sense and take almost three hours to play out but for gung ho action and intense moralizing this is more than worthwhile. (In many theaters) 3 out of 5 LILO & STITCH: Disney is at it again. They've made this live action version of the animated film which came out 23 years ago and has been very popular with children. This new one will probably be also, with kids about 8 or 10 years old. They'll love the recurring scenes of havoc and probably the family connections it espouses. Adults may find it glossy and pleasant but bland and repetitive, a milder counterpart of better films like ET, lower in emotional impact and certainly not bringing on tears. Instead it plays like a run-of-the-mill family drama like Disney used to make regularly. Lilo (played winningly by newcomer Maia Kealoha) is a young girl living in Hawaii. She's been raised by her older sister (Sydney Elizabeth Agudong) after their parents died sometime in the past. Lilo is a bit of a troublemaker at school (in self-defense) which brings both a teacher and two children's services people calling. Sis assures her she's not bad. 'You just do bad things sometimes,' she says. All that changes dramatically because out on a planet somewhere in space a rogue genetic experiment has produced a 'monstrosity.' The queen orders it disposed of. It looks like a small animal with a soulful face and ends up on Earth where an animal rescue group saves it and Lilo finds and adopts it. She thinks it's a dog. Cue the havoc it causes at her home, at various locations and even on a surfboard. All that is fun but very silly, as are the forces closing in. One is the CIA (really? Operating internally in the USA?). Courtney B. Vance is the agent investigating. Also in pursuit are a couple of agents sent from the planet that Stitch came from. They disguise themselves as humans (Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen) but prove to be bumblers. Children may enjoy that. What may affect them more is the family separation threat looming over Lilo thanks to the child social workers. The film follows the original closely, with only a few changes. And live action isn't 100%. Characters on and from the alien planet are still animated; earthlings are live. Any reason, I guess, to re-visit old favorites. (In theaters) 2 ½ out if 5 JANE AUSTEN WRECKED MY LIFE: Here's a better-than-usual romantic comedy powered by a literary and classic English ambience. The word 'wrecked' don't fit though. The main character is a reader of Austen's novels and quite longing for some of the life in there, but she's not, as far as I can see, damaged by her. Influenced, sure. Agathe, played by Camille Rutherford, is single, hasn't had sex in years, writes but hasn't finished a novel yet, seems to be suffering a writer's block, and works in a bookstore alongside Felix (Pablo Pauly). She is attracted to him but makes no effort to show it. Felix says to her 'You don't live. You hide.' He helps, though. He reads the start of her in-progress novel, declares it good and recommends her to an English writers retreat. She's accepted, sheepishly goes and meets Oliver (Charlie Anson) who is a great, great, great, great nephew of Jane Austen's. He's a professor of English literature and considers Austen 'overated' which prompts Agathe to declare him 'unbearable and arrogant.' If you've seen any rom com before you know that feeling won't last. Gradually she warms to him and a love triangle, with him versus Felix, takes shape. Much like in an Austen novel. There are other smaller parallels envisioned by writer/director Laura Piani who herself, like Agathe, worked in a Paris bookstore. She steers the film's main theme to fight self-doubt and do what you dream of. A surprise cameo late in the film by the documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman sums that up. Satisfying. (Theaters in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver) 4 out of 5 BAD SHABBOS: The Jewish Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest and family gatherings but is noisily disrupted in this comedy. Too bad it's not as funny as the writers, Daniel Robbins, who is also the director, and Zack Weiner, seem to think it is. It feels like one of those SNL skits that starts with a good idea but comes up short in the writing. It's not all that clever and the story reminds me of several films done before. At heart this is a standard meeting-of-cultures film. David, who is Jewish and played by Jon Bass, is engaged to marry Meg, a Christian, and brings her home to his family for dinner on the Sabbath evening. Her parents are to arrive later. So there are many opportunities to have slightly awkward misunderstandings over Jewish traditions. Meg (Meghan Leathers) says she has always wanted to find out more about Judaism and thinks the Torah is a prequel to the Bible. (One of the better jokes in here). Kyra Sedgwick and David Paymer play the Jewish parents; she written stereotypically and he easygoing. Another son is the problem. Adam (Theo Taplitz) dreams of joining the JDF (the Isreali army) but sets off a huge problem with a prank that causes the death of another of the evening's guests. How to hide the body before the potential in-laws arrive? Do you call the police? 911? Good complications but lackluster debate and an unsatisfying solution follow. And the laughs are pretty mild in this would-be dark comedy, although the rapper Method Man contributes some good ones as a doorman who helps. The film has been popular at many festivals including Tribeca, in New York. (In theaters: Toronto, North York and Vancouver, soon Victoria). 2 ½ out of 5
Japan Forward
23-05-2025
- Japan Forward
'Melania' by Melania Trump
Melania Trump's memoir, Melania , (Skyhorse, in English) released in October 2024, offers a curated, yet insightful, glimpse into her life. It begins from her upbringing in Slovenia under a Communist regime, and as a successful model in European capitals and New York. Then it culminates with her tenure as First Lady of the United States and life (until then) after the White House. Although the book has been criticized for lacking depth and introspection, I disagree. I found it very helpful to better understand both Melania herself and her side of the story. And I'm glad she wrote this, as I am for all first ladies who share their lives through autobiographies. As the expression goes, "Behind every great man is a great woman." This is nowhere more true than with Melania. Donald Trump has been successful throughout most of his professional life. However, during the past 20 years of his marriage to Melania (preceded by their long-term relationship beginning in 1998), it is undeniable that his career and trajectory have reached their highest levels. As comes through in her memoir, she influences and helps him make better decisions. One example of this was the Trump administration's policy of separating families who entered the United States illegally and detaining children at the border. Melania, herself an immigrant (who entered legally) and a mother, was distressed by the situation. (Their son, Barron, was born in 2006 and is discussed in Chapter 5.) Before challenging her husband, she studied up on the issue. "It was critical to address this situation with speed, transparency, and compassion, ensuring that the policies reflected our values as a nation," she wrote. (P 172, large print edition.) "Occasional political disagreements between me and my husband," she writes in the same section, "were a part of our relationship, but I believed in addressing them privately rather than publicly challenging him. I found our discussions more productive when we could have a quiet dialogue at home, out of the public eye" (ibid). When she was confident she understood the issue, she took her "deep concerns…regarding the family separations, emphasizing the trauma it was causing these families" (p 173). "As a mother," she stressed, "The government should not be taking children away from their parents." "[W]ith great clarity," she stated, "this has to stop" (ibid). Her husband promised to investigate, and he announced the end of the family separation policy on June 20, 2017. The next day, Melania flew unannounced to McAllen, Texas, one of the "epicenters of the border crisis," to see the situation herself and make sure the new policy was being adopted (p 174). Melania's relationship with her husband, both as president and as the businessman most of America knew before he ran, is a central part of her book. But so is her relationship with the media. She expresses her disgust with its double standards and "relentless spread of falsehoods and negativity" (p 175). Only a few episodes are touched on in the book. However, I imagine she could fill an entire volume (longer than her memoirs) on what she has witnessed. I, for one, hope she writes such a book. As a mother, she was protective of her son. He was the subject of both old media and new media attacks, as well as social media bullying by well-known personalities and others. After the Trumps left the White House, she documents how she and her family experienced "cancel culture." She also related sabotage efforts that even affected her business endeavors (Chapter 17). Such disrespect continued even this May. Former President George W Bush and his wife, Laura, skipped Melania's unveiling of a postage stamp in honor of former first lady Barbara Bush, George's mother. Another major part of the book is about her family life growing up in Slovenia, in the former Yugoslavia. She came from a strong, supportive, and creative family. They seemed to be most happy when they were together. With such a close family, she did not need to be an extrovert. Melania, in other words, grew up confident. Perhaps because of the influence of a Communist government and its secret police and informants, she also learned at an early age to protect her privacy. Akie Abe, wife of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with her friend, Melania Trump . (File photo) Yet another part of her book concerns her foreign travels. She includes trips when she was younger with her family and as a model. And later, her travels as First Lady. Akie Abe was one of her counterparts as First Lady with whom she bonded most closely. Melania discusses her trip to Japan in detail in her book and the friendship she developed with the wife of the slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Prime Minister Abe experienced much of the same political, legal, and media persecution and academic disdain that Trump did. Even though it wasn't spoken between the two, that struggle likely contributed to the close relationship Melania and Akie developed. Melania talks about their official visit to Japan in May 2019, shortly after the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito. Trump, on his second visit to Japan after becoming president, was the Emperor's first state guest. Melania was there by his side and met Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. They were joined by Prime Minister Abe and Akie. So much was accomplished on that trip for the alliance between the two countries. It also helped deepen the relationship between the Trumps and Abes. "I formed a genuine connection with her," Melania writes, "and this trip reaffirmed this link" (p 164). Melania's remark was not simply being polite or diplomatic, but was no doubt truly felt. Readers will recall how the Trumps invited Akie to Mar-a-Lago, their home in Florida, in December 2024. That trip followed Trump's reelection and preceded his second inauguration. Sadly, they could not be joined by Shinzo, who had been cruelly assassinated in July 2022 while campaigning for a candidate in the Upper House elections. She had also experienced two assassination attempts against her own husband, one of which came within millimeters of succeeding. Melania writes: "I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Mr Abe's assassination in 2022. He was a remarkable leader, and the connection between him and Donald was genuine. The world would undoubtedly be a better place if more countries could foster such relationships" (p 165). Official photo of First Lady Melania Trump (provided by the White House via Kyodo) Knowing her better through this memoir, it would be no surprise to find that Melania recommended to Donald that they invite Akie to Florida, to the place the four of them had previously dined. That is what true friendships are all about — celebrating victories together and sharing in the low points. I am sure Melania continues to advise her husband today, too. She is certainly more confident in her role and has learned from staffing and other mistakes she may have made in the past. This is something she alludes to in Chapter 16. Like her husband, she values trust and loyalty. Hopefully, she finds it this time around. Now that her son is an adult and off to college, she is also able to be more engaged. During the first term, she was actively involved in raising him while serving as First Lady. This time, she can focus more attention on her duties. I can't wait to watch her successes and look forward to seeing her in Japan again. Having read her excellent memoir, I am better able to understand her now, despite the efforts of the media to misportray and misrepresent her. Indeed, she wrote the book to "set the record straight and to provide the actual account of my experiences" (p vii). I am sure she will have more to share in the future, but this was a great start. Title: Melania Author: Melania Trump Publisher: Skyhorse Language: English ISBN: ISBN-10 : 1510782699 and ISBN-13 : 978-1510782693 More Information: To purchase the book or learn more, visit any online English language bookseller or the publisher's website. Reviewed by: Robert D Eldridge, PhD Dr Eldridge is a former political advisor to the US Marine Corps in Japan and author of numerous books on Japanese political and diplomatic history. He was a 2024 Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fellow at Tamkang University and is a consultant on a broad spectrum of Japan-related matters.
Winnipeg Free Press
20-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cambodia's ‘Day of Remembrance' marks the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge genocide
CHOEUNG EK, Cambodia (AP) — About 2,000 people attended Cambodia's annual Day of Remembrance Tuesday to mark half a century since Cambodia's communist Khmer Rouge launched a four-year reign of terror that caused the deaths of about 1.7 million people. Some three dozen student actors from a Phnom Penh art school re-enacted brutalities under the Khmer Rouge, which held power from 1975-1979, when an estimated one-quarter of Cambodia's population was wiped out due to tortures, executions, starvation and misrule. The official ceremony honoring the victims of what a U.N.-backed tribunal judged to be genocide was held at Choeung Ek, site of a Khmer Rouge 'Killing Field' about 15 kilometers (10 miles) south of the capital Phnom Penh. Several dozen Buddhist monks were among those attending. Garbed in black, the Khmer Rouge's standard attire, the performers acted as executioners, swinging bamboo sticks at the heads of victims whose arms were bound behind their backs. The re-enactment was held near a memorial displaying victims' skulls and mass graves where thousands of others were buried. 'When I come here, it reminded me, and I will never forget, this Khmer Rouge regime because it was extremely cruel and barbaric,' said 71-year-old Nhem Sovann, a Phnom Penh resident who said she lost six family members — her parents-in-law and two brothers and two sisters. She was put to work faming a rice field in the western province of Pursat. 'I saw with my own eyes that even children were taken and had their heads smashed against the trunk of a coconut tree,' she said, sobbing. For a younger generation, the 'Day of Remembrance' is a learning experience. Pen Kunthea, a 23-year-old art student who portrayed a government soldier who rescued fellow Cambodians from the Khmer Rouge as they were being chased from power in early 1979, said the more she performs, the more she learns. She said she first learned about the Khmer Rouge regime from her parents and from her studies, and that one of her uncles died from illness during the Khmer Rouge's time in power. 'I feel scared, and I think the Khmer Rouge made our people afraid and I don't want that regime to happen again,' Pen Kunthea said. 'When I perform, it makes me feel like I was in the middle of the story,' she said, adding that she was excited to be able to portray the history of the regime. The Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh on April 17, 1975 and immediately herded almost all the city's residents into the countryside, where they were forced to toll in harsh conditions until in 1979, when the regime was driven from power by an invasion from neighboring Vietnam. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. In 1984, a new Cambodian government installed by the Vietnamese declared May 20, the day the genocide was said to begin, to be a 'National Day of Hatred' for people to vent their anger against the Khmer Rouge and its backers. At the time the Khmer Rouge were still trying to regain power by fighting a guerrilla war from the countryside, only to be finally subdued in 1997. In 2018, the day was officially redesignated the National Day of Remembrance, with an emphasis on honoring the victims. In a statement issued Tuesday, Prime Minister Hun Manet urged all Cambodians join in preserving and protecting peace. 'Even though these tragic events have passed, and the Cambodian people have been living in peace, political stability, and full of development in all fields, we must not let go or forget this bitter past,' he said.
