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Geek Vibes Nation
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
Notes On A Virtual Cannes: ‘Dandelion's Odyssey,' ‘Death Does Not Exist,' ‘I Only Rest in the Storm,' and ‘Meteors'
The Croisette seems nice. Many have heard tell of its luxurious essence, what with the many movie stars, auteurs, producers, and journalists that annually trot its boulevard during the Cannes Film Festival. Cinephilia is the name of the game on those hallowed grounds, the air that reeks of ticket-reservation anxiety only being masked by the booze-sponsored scattered around the premises. Of course, I'm only guessing based on my experience at other festivals, and in all likelihood, these already vague details are dead wrong. Cannes remains on the bucket list, though as with any fest that is programmed to the gills, plenty of writers and critics such as myself and others at GVN have been lucky enough to catch a few of the titles that premiered in France earlier this month from home. For a few of them, I even crafted a homemade cheese board to set the proper mood. One's couch may not rival the Agnès Varda or Debussy screening venues. But worthwhile cinema, varying quality aside, has no set time zone nor locale. The following few Cannes premieres are living proof of exactly that. Dandelion's Odyssey (Momoko Seto) What to make of a longtime short film animator's feature debut, one that splits the difference between Flow and the weeds that terrorize your front yard berm? Perhaps there's no more important takeaway than the very plot of Momoko Seto's entrancing (if slight) Dandelion's Odyssey, the 76-minute saga of four dandelions working together to survive the challenges of an unknown cosmos, one that might make you reconsider yanking them from the soil in the future. After a series of nuclear explosions propelled them into space, the 'blowballs' – named Dendelion, Baraban, Léonto and Taraxa – find their search for safe sod to be a bit more treacherous than they bargained for. A clear comment on the modern climate catastrophe that continues to pillage the planet – and immigration, depending on your read – Seto's film sounds like a ridiculous ask only in terms of asking its audience to feel something for a quartet of Irish daisies, yet the director has her fingers firmly planted on the pulse of exactly what makes one exude compassion. It's easy for a viewer to weep over the fate of a black cat and his unlikely companions (one of which is a yellow lab, no less) as many did with Gints Zilbalodis' Oscar-winning film last year, but to inspire a similar response with plants, let alone dandelions, is tough, and not a task anyone would ever consider achievable. Seto succeeds in that effort, even if the film itself grows repetitive and farcical as its protagonists encounter threats in the form of fellow flora and fauna, not to mention the smattering of insects and amphibians that seem more dangerous on the surface than they are in execution. In order for a film to stretch beyond the bounds of being a mood piece, it has to do more, and to make us do more. Are questions about climate change bound to arise from Dandelion's Odyssey? If they do, they aren't new ones, nor the kind that will take us anywhere particularly revolutionary. Granted, that's a lot of unwarranted pressure to place on a wordless work of inspired animation – and my stars, is it that – but films are birthed into a world of demand, and it's difficult to note whether or not Seto's answers the call. It's triumphant in one sense, and more of a head-scratcher than it needs to be in another. (5/10) Death Does Not Exist (Félix Dufour-Laperrière) Not to be confused with Ryusuke Hamaguchi's masterful Evil Does Not Exist, Félix Dufour-Laperrière's French-Canadian triumph actually has something in common with the former title: Both films, both in name and in narrative, argue the opposite of what they proclaim with their labels. Death, like evil, is inevitable according to Dufour-Laperrière, and his fourth feature – equal parts Romain Gavras' Athena and Hayao Miyazaki's worldview – examines how a young person might reckon with that certainty. It's a foregone conclusion that our individual clocks will eventually tick down to their final seconds. The idea that Death Does Not Exist probes is how we choose to spend that time, and what we stand to gain and/or lose from every decision we make with it. The decision at the center of Dufour-Laperrière's film is for a group of radicals to make: In an effort to send a strong climate-related message to their community and the world at large, these juveniles aim to attack a powerful family at their lavish residence, hoping that their actions will change the course of history. After the last minute – notably, not 'at' – Hélène (voiced by Zeneb Blanchet) cannot go through with her part, beliefs be damned. It's a shocking decision that is sure to alter her future, but in what sense? Stunning illustration and the inspired, haunting use of limited colors keep Dufour-Laperrière's themes from ever being too challenging to assess, but his film's existential nature is never lost, especially given the writer-director's laser-honed focus on his complicated heroines (Karelle Tremblay's 'Manon' is a key figure to follow) and their equally complex partnership. In many ways, Death Does Not Exist is what one could imagine an animated film by Ladj Ly would look like, a credit to Dufour-Laperrière's understanding of how varying age groups understand and react to the backwards social and political machinations of their world. Gutting, imaginative, and a small but mighty standout. (7/10) 'I Only Rest in the Storm' (Pedro Pinho) Pedro Pinho's latest epic is a near four-hour task of a film that does its best to reward its viewer's patience by never being uninteresting. Here's the thing: Your patience will depend on a lot. For one, how strong your appetite is for a marathon that might seem as though it has no idea whether it wants to be a documentary or a scathing drama, let alone what it wants to be about. There's also the fact that it could feasibly have been separated into a number of shorts, its avant-garde, vignette-reliant construction resembling something closer to the work of Wang Bing than a true auteur. Now, that might just be Pinho's point with I Only Rest in the Storm: That fiction and nonfiction are interchangeable, not these 'genre' stipulations we tend to be far too quick to apply to every damn film that achieves proper circulation. His lead, Sérgio Coragem (playing Sérgio, natch), aids that idea. An engineer, he was brought from Portugal to Guinea-Bissau by an NGO to draft an 'impact assessment report' on an abandoned project but spends more time with two locals, best friends Diára (Cleo Diára) and Gui (Jonathan Guilherme), and the many more figures he encounters blur the lines between drama and documentary. (And not solely because of how much time Pinho enjoys spending with a gamut of non-professional actors.) An odyssey-level journey, I Only Rest in the Storm's focus is primarily pinned to a triumvirate of thematic prongs: The impact of Sérgio's whiteness on the community he's entered, the film's setting and its colonial history (namely the neo-colonialism its main character represents), and how the way one treats their responsibility can cause both internal and external harm. But Pinho's curiosity regarding these three ideas can't hinder his obsession-level partiality to Sérgio's sex life, a distracting element that ultimately reduce I Only Rest in the Storm to being an assemblage of a few curious films stuffed into a single massive one that doesn't quite know how to be about any of its many far-reaching – and far more compelling – concepts. Theoretically, this could have existed in a league similar to something like Miguel Gomes' brilliant Grand Tour. Instead, it's a film that wouldn't feel misnomered if it took the title of Pinho's 2017 feature: The Nothing Factory. (5/10) Météors (Hubert Chaurel) 'The heart of the film is [Paul Kircher, Idir Azougli and Salif Cissé,]' Météors writer-director Hubert Chaurel – premiering his second feature and first since 2017 – said of his film's cast. 'We wrote a story about characters who have known and cherished each other for a long time… If their mutual feelings were not believable, the film was doomed.' Thankfully, Météors is anything but doomed, but Chaurel isn't far off: If not for the undeniable chemistry between his three leads, the picture in question wouldn't be nearly as successful as it is in portraying the bond between a delinquent-adjacent duo (and their third, slightly more mature pal) careening towards chaos. Yet so much about Meteors feels lightyears beyond the actual experience its filmmaker possesses that you can see a world in which their connection is frayed and the movie is still highly engaging, if not as remarkable. Chaurel's innate knack for mining emotions, especially those of young men, goes for the jugular to the point where you're not only fearful for the boys' safety, but their well-being beyond the closing credits. Couple that with a startling visual sensibility – cinematographer Jacques Girault's nightlife-heavy tableaus never feel forced nor used as plug-and-play settings for a drama about troubled, misbehaving adolescents – and you have one of the festival's hidden gems. Perhaps this is no surprise given the talent Chaurel displayed in his 2017 feature Bloody Milk, the winner of that year's 'Best First Film' prize at Cannes, as well as Kircher (a consistent standout; no different here) and Azougli's rising stardom in French cinema. But what's really refreshing is a story about broken boys that genuinely roots itself in the heartbreak they struggle to manage and communicate. A simple premise – with a few stray, unexpected elements not worth spoiling here – is one thing. Taking it beyond the limits of its motifs, at least as they appear on paper, is what gives you one of this young year's best films. (8/10)
Geek Vibes Nation
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
Magnet Releasing Debuts Clip For Heist Thriller ‘The Quiet Ones' To Celebrate Home Entertainment Release (EXCLUSIVE)
Magnet Releasing has just released the suspenseful Danish action drama The Quiet Ones from director Frederik Louis Hviid on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital. The film depicts a team of ambitious and uncompromising criminals who all share the same ambition: To achieve the impossible – despite great obstacles and personal costs. This is the story of the biggest and most spectacular heist in Danish history, and the lengthy and risky preparations required to pull it off. The film is inspired by real events. In anticipation of this exciting release, GVN has been provided with an exclusive new clip from the label. Take a look and then get the full details below! Synopsis: In 2008, a group of men from Denmark and across Europe pull off the biggest heist of all time on Danish soil. Kasper, a boxer with few chances left in life, is offered the opportunity to plan the robbery by its foreign initiators. At the risk of losing his family and everything that matters to him he takes on the challenge in a bid to break all records and secure his place in the history books. Before we let you go, we have officially launched our merch store! Check out all of our amazing apparel when you click here and type in GVN15 at checkout for a 15% discount! Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live, Top 10 with Tia, Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more! For major deals and money off on Amazon, make sure to use our affiliate link! Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies. Related Posts
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Global Virus Network's Statement in Support of the WHO Pandemic Preparedness Accord
TAMPA, Fla., May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Virus Network (GVN) strongly supports the World Health Organization's (WHO) newly adopted Pandemic Preparedness Accord. This agreement represents a vital and timely step toward establishing a more coordinated, transparent, and equitable global framework for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. GVN, an international coalition of leading virologists and research centers in over 40 countries, has consistently advocated for the critical components reflected in the Accord. Our recent statement on pandemic preparedness underscored the urgent need for sustained investment in global surveillance, rapid data sharing, robust public health infrastructure, and equitable access to diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. The WHO Accord affirms these priorities and reinforces the essential role of science and international collaboration in protecting global health. In a recent publication in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas addressing the growing threat of H5N1 avian influenza, GVN experts warned of the increasing risk posed by zoonotic pathogens and the necessity of strengthening pandemic intelligence systems. This emerging threat further emphasizes the importance of proactive, science-based policy frameworks like the WHO Accord. GVN looks forward to working closely with the WHO and its member states to help implement and advance the Accord's goals. Through our global network of experts, we stand ready to contribute technical expertise, research capabilities, and public health partnerships that can support practical and equitable implementation worldwide. While we commend the Accord's adoption, we strongly hope that all countries will ultimately vote in support of this critical agreement. A truly global commitment is the only way to ensure that no country is left vulnerable in the face of future pandemics. The lessons of COVID-19, the even more devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic, and looming threats like H5N1 make clear that global solidarity, scientific leadership, and sustained preparedness are not optional; they are essential. The WHO Pandemic Preparedness Accord provides a foundation for a safer and more resilient future, and GVN is committed to helping make that future a reality. Media Contact:Nora Samaranayakensamaranayake@ About the Global Virus Network The Global Virus Network (GVN) is a worldwide coalition comprising 80+ Virology Centers of Excellence and Affiliates across 40+ countries, whose mission is to facilitate pandemic preparedness against viral pathogens and diseases that threaten public health globally. GVN advances knowledge of viruses through (i) data-driven research and solutions, (ii) fostering the next generation of virology leaders, and (iii) enhancing global resources for readiness and response to emerging viral threats. GVN provides the essential expertise required to discover and diagnose viruses that threaten public health, understand how such viruses spread illnesses, and facilitate the development of diagnostics, therapies, and treatments to combat them. GVN coordinates and collaborates with local, national, and international scientific institutions and government agencies to provide real-time virus informatics, surveillance, and response resources and strategies. GVN's pandemic preparedness mission is achieved by focusing on Education & Training, Qualitative & Quantitative Research, and Global Health Strategies & Solutions. The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Geek Vibes Nation
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
No Streaming Required: Physical Media Spotlight For The Week Of May 6th
We at GVN aim to keep you informed of the newest and best in the world of physical media. Over on our YouTube Channel, you can find us talking about everything you need to know on No Streaming Required, our weekly guide to all the latest 4K UHD, Blu-Ray, and DVD releases. For the week of May 6th, we have some incredible releases making their way to our shelves. Read on to get a brief overview of what you should have on your wishlist, then be sure to dive into the full rundown in the video below. This week, we spotlight the 4K UHD debut of a Disney classic as Lilo & Stitch hits 4K UHD Blu-Ray with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio. The special features include a commentary track, featurettes, and more. Things get slightly more mature in the animated space as we explore Rick & Morty: The Anime, newly on Blu-Ray from Warner Bros.. The ten-episode season comes with the episodes presented in English and Japanese, but does not include supplemental features. In the world of new studio films, we have the unusual Oscar-nominated biopic Better Man on 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of Paramount, which follows the life of musician Robbie Williams as portrayed by a CGI monkey. The release arrives with Dolby Vision and a Dolby Atmos audio track along with a pair of featurettes. Also from the studio, we have Star Trek: Section 31 hitting 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a limited edition SteelBook with Dolby Vision, a Dolby Atmos audio track, and over an hour of supplements. They also dabble in television with Yellowstone: Season 5, Part 2 , which concludes the original series on Blu-Ray with six final episodes and over two hours of special features. Fans of international cinema are sitting pretty this week with some hard-to-find gems finally getting a proper Blu-Ray presentation. Cult Epics tackles the rare film from Suriname as director Pim de la Parra's personal drama Wan Pipel arrives newly restored on Blu-Ray in 2K with a commentary track, featurettes, a bonus short film, and more. The crew at 88 Films keeps up the Hong Kong cinema classics with Lady Of The Law remastered from the original negative with a new commentary. It is four times the thrills at Cauldron Films as the quartet of titles from the House of Doom collection have been individually released on Blu-Ray including The House of Witchcraft , The House of Lost Souls , The House of Clocks , and The Sweet House of Horrors . These films have been restored in 2K from the Original Camera Negative and have a world of special features. It is a huge week for Arrow Video releases as we dive into a trio of 4K UHD Blu-Ray releases. First up, we have two essential horror franchise installments as Jason Goes To Hell and Jason X arrive newly scanned in 4K with Dolby Vision, commentary tracks, and hours of supplements not to be missed. The label also has the Michael Crichton adaptation of The Andromeda Strain from director Robert Wise restored in 4K from the Original Camera Negative with Dolby Vision, a commentary track, interviews, and more. The fine folks at OCN Distribution have an exciting slate of Partner Label titles on Blu-Ray this month that offer a little something for everyone. Memory kicks off a big month for documentaries with the feature Physician, Heal Thyself detailing the life of medical expert Gabor Maté. Icarus Films delivers a docudrama two-pack from Jean Rouch with The Human Pyramid and The Punishment. Film Movement Classics offers a newly restored Oscar-winning music documentary with Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got , plus an Eric Rohmer classic with The Marquise of O… The mainline of Film Movement is bringing the Belgian entry for Best International Feature Playground to Blu-Ray with a short film from the director. The folks at ETR Media bring the comedy series satire UnderDeveloped to Blu-Ray featuring the likes of Tom Arnold and Samm Levin with all six episodes, commentary tracks, and more. Magnolia Pictures has upgraded the comedic slasher film Severance with new and archival commentary tracks, interviews, and more. Cinematographe has the 4K UHD Blu-Ray debut of the Wesley Snipes action film Drop Zone. This new release was derived from a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative in Dolby Vision and comes with a rich array of supplements. We also spotlight the Distribpix release of Last Tango In Paris on 4K UHD Blu-Ray from a 4K restoration in Dolby Vision approved by the director of photography. This is only a taste of what you can discover on No Streaming Required this week, so be sure to check out the full video below. What releases are you planning on picking up? Let us know over on Twitter. Before we let you go, we have officially launched our merch store! Check out all of our amazing apparel when you click here and type in GVN15 at checkout for a 15% discount! Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live , Top 10 with Tia , Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more! For major deals and money off on Amazon , make sure to use our affiliate link !
Agriland
07-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Virologists issue call to action to mitigate rising global bird flu threat
The Global Virus Network (GVN), which represents human and animal virologists from more than 80 centres of excellence and affiliates based in over 40 countries worldwide, has issued a call-to-action to address the threat of H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu. GVN's call-to-action was enshrined in its comprehensive analysis of the virus, entitled 'Enhancing the response to avian influenza in the US and globally', which was published in the medical journal, Lancet Regional Health—Americas recently. The GVN has called on world governments to address the looming threat of bird flu by enhancing surveillance, implementing biosecurity measures, and preparing for potential human-to-human transmission. The study advocated for a multi-agency approach and the implementation of proactive measures to prevent further widespread outbreaks, leveraging lessons learned from prior pandemics. Chief medical officer of the GVN and dean of the College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Dr. Sten H. Vermund said: 'Understanding the current landscape of H5N1 infections is critical for effective prevention and response. 'The virus' ability to infect both animals and humans, combined with recent genetic changes, underscores the importance of proactive surveillance and rapid response measures.' Bird flu Since March 2024, when bird flu was reported in US dairy cows for the first time, the virus has affected nearly 1,000 dairy cow herds and resulted in more than 70 human cases, including the first confirmed death in the country, according to the GVN. The US poultry industry was deemed at significant risk, particularly in areas with high-density farming and where personal protective practices may be lacking, the GVN has stated. The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is now circulating in all 50 states as well as in Canada, resulting in the loss or culling of more than 168 million poultry in the US alone since 2022. While human-to-human transmission has not yet been documented, experts have warned that virus mutations and reassortments, or combining two flu viruses, could increase future transmissibility. Head of the Viroscience Department at Erasmus Medical Center, The Netherlands, Marion Koopmans added: 'Genomic surveillance is pivotal in tracking viral evolution and informing response strategies. 'Continued investment in surveillance at the human-animal interface, and immediate sharing of unusual field observations and sequence data is essential for researchers worldwide to monitor virus dynamics effectively.' The GVN virologists have underscored the need for improved pandemic preparedness, drawing on lessons learned from the recent Covid-19 pandemic and previous viral outbreaks. They advocate for a multi-faceted approach to pandemic preparedness, which includes: Enhanced surveillance: Continuous monitoring of animals, including testing of milk, wastewater, and individuals working with infected animals, to track virus evolution that may lead to human-to human transmissibility; Continuous monitoring of animals, including testing of milk, wastewater, and individuals working with infected animals, to track virus evolution that may lead to human-to human transmissibility; Faster genomic data sharing: Accelerate the release of genomic data to track virus evolution and spatial transmission while fostering collaboration among global research networks; Accelerate the release of genomic data to track virus evolution and spatial transmission while fostering collaboration among global research networks; Improved farm biosecurity: Using personal protective equipment (PPE) and strict farm cleaning protocols to minimise human exposure and prevent virus spread; Using personal protective equipment (PPE) and strict farm cleaning protocols to minimise human exposure and prevent virus spread; Plans for the roll-out of diagnostic tests: Advocate for self-administered diagnostic tests for farm workers, supported by healthcare access for frontline medical staff to enhance early detection; Advocate for self-administered diagnostic tests for farm workers, supported by healthcare access for frontline medical staff to enhance early detection; Strengthening public health infrastructure: Increase funding and support for response mechanisms, particularly in high-risk regions to better manage outbreaks; Increase funding and support for response mechanisms, particularly in high-risk regions to better manage outbreaks; Investment in phenotype prediction from genetic data: Invest in predicting the phenotypes of avian influenza viruses from genetic data, as key traits are difficult to predict solely from genomic sequences; Invest in predicting the phenotypes of avian influenza viruses from genetic data, as key traits are difficult to predict solely from genomic sequences; Investment in rapid vaccine development: Encourage the development and rapid deployment of vaccines for humans and animals, focusing on farm workers; Encourage the development and rapid deployment of vaccines for humans and animals, focusing on farm workers; Preparation for the roll-out of vaccines and therapeutics: Preposition clinical studies to rapidly assess the properties of emerging virus strains and potential treatments; Preposition clinical studies to rapidly assess the properties of emerging virus strains and potential treatments; Enable rapid clinical studies: Focus on enabling rapid clinical studies to assess key properties of new pandemic strains, evaluate new vaccines and treatments, and support modeling efforts; Focus on enabling rapid clinical studies to assess key properties of new pandemic strains, evaluate new vaccines and treatments, and support modeling efforts; International collaboration: Support a coordinated global response to track data, share research, and prepare for emerging viral threats to reduce community vulnerabilities and improve response strategies. While some surveillance of bird flu has been carried out, the GVN highlighted the lack of comprehensive testing and monitoring to assess the virus's spread and risks to public health. Founding director of the Center of Infection Medicine and Zoonosis Research at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Prof. Ab Osterhaus emphasised the urgency required of the global community to tackle bird flu: 'Given the growing circulation of H5N1 among mammals, the GVN calls for urgent efforts to understand and interrupt transmission in cattle through herd management and potential vaccination. 'Strengthening surveillance at animal-human interfaces is crucial, as current monitoring efforts are insufficient to guide effective prevention strategies.'
