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Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Art, morals and power
In this darkly absorbing and deeply intelligent novel, German writer Daniel Kehlmann charts the choices made by the real-life Austrian-born film director G. W. Pabst, a master of the silent and early sound eras. Known as 'Red Pabst' for his empathetic exploration of social issues, he leaves Europe after Hitler's rise to power, joining a community of cinematic exiles in Hollywood. Then, in a seemingly inexplicable turnaround, he returns to Austria — annexed by the Nazis and now called Ostmark — and ends up creating films under the patronage of the Reich propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. Clearly, Pabst has struck some kind of Faustian bargain, but Kehlmann's writing is so subtle it's difficult to mark the exact moment at which the filmmaker falls into complicity. Testing the boundaries between art, power and moral responsibility, The Director evokes creative life under totalitarian rule with exacting precision and scathing effect. Heike Steinweg photo Daniel Kehlmann's latest novel traces the movements of director G.W. Pabst, who fled Austria after Hitler's rise to power but voluntarily returned while the Nazis were still in power. Dividing his time between Berlin and New York, Kehlmann has generated buzz in the English-speaking world with such works as Measuring the World and the International Booker-nominated Tyll (translated, as is The Director, by Ross Benjamin). Kehlmann's approach to period stories is idiosyncratic and urgent, cutting the realistic horrors of history with sharp, ironical humour. This is not a comprehensive or conventional biographical novel. Kehlmann uses the outline of Pabst's life but fills it in with passages that are imagined and inventive, sometimes terrifying and sometimes out-and-out surreal. Working in long, loosely connected chapters, many of which function as standalone vignettes, Kehlmann takes us first to 1933, with Pabst somewhat adrift at a Los Angeles party. He's awkward and overheated and his English is poor. Kehlmann also has a running joke about how Pabst is constantly being confused with fellow Weimar filmmakers F. W. Murnau and Fritz Lang. 'No good coffee anywhere, but the fruit juices are astonishing!' says a cheerful compatriot, but Pabst seems unable to adapt to this sunny paradise — and to his demotion to the cinematic B-list. Not longer after, the novel relocates to France, where Pabst and his wife, Trude, are spending a drunken evening with German refugees in a Paris bar. Desperate for documents and safe passage out of Europe, these actors, writers and critics are shocked when Pabst reveals he is voluntarily returning. (The chapter ends with a sombre listing of these historical characters' fates — who escapes to America, who dies by suicide when a transit visa expires, who is murdered by the Nazis.) Pabst's reasons for going back to Austria remain deliberately opaque. He explains that he must visit his aging mother, but Kehlmann slyly suggests this might just be the first of the director's many rationalizations and self-delusions. Pabst's actual biography has hazy areas, and Kehlmann demonstrates how this haze can be a byproduct of fascism, as people cover over guilt with blurred memories and disputed histories. The Director introduces us to various real-life figures, from Greta Garbo (aloof, imperious) to a comic British writer who is clearly P.G. Wodehouse (humorous, hapless) to Goebbels (whose meeting with Pabst showcases Kehlmann's brilliantly sinister use of doppelgangers and double meanings). Filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl is portrayed as an appalling moral monster who is also inadvertently, grotesquely hilarious. Kehlmann also has an Orwellian eye for the kind of totalitarian infiltration that goes beyond controlling citizens' actions to policing their words and even thoughts. Trude attends a book club with the wives of high-ranking Nazis, a supposedly pleasant social occasion where a wayward opinion can have dire consequences. No wonder Trude enters into an 'internal exile' of perpetual drunkenness. The Director In another scene, prisoner-of-war Wodehouse — making a compulsory appearance at a film premiere — learns to his bemusement that the Hitler regime has outlawed criticism. Practitioners of this supposedly 'Jewish and Bolshevik' discipline are now replaced with 'describers.' (They aren't even allowed to say whether a film is good because that would imply that it could be bad.) The demand for 'genuine Aryan cinema' hangs over Pabst's film The Molander Case, based on a book by bestselling Nazi hack Alfred Karrasch. The film was in the late stages of production in Prague when the Soviet army reached the city and remains unfinished and unknown, allowing Kehlmann to turn it into an enigmatic question. Is it as cinematically brilliant as Pabst's (highly unreliable) narrative insists? And even if it is, could it possibly be worth Pabst's deal with the devil? Art remains when the mess of politics is over, Pabst says to Trude in one scene, but she seems to have a clearer sense of the cost. Kehlmann's own responses to Pabst's moral situation — the director's small, incremental compromises and then his sudden, terrible capitulation — are incisive and unsparing, full of absurdities and killing ironies. And they are never didactic, this novel of ideas remaining immediate, entertaining and a really good read. Alison Gillmor writes on film for the Free Press. Alison GillmorWriter Studying at the University of Winnipeg and later Toronto's York University, Alison Gillmor planned to become an art historian. She ended up catching the journalism bug when she started as visual arts reviewer at the Winnipeg Free Press in 1992. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
A new wave of eateries is elevating South East Queensland's dining scene
Clarissa Pabst has a similar relationship to local produce in her native Stanthorpe. Situated 218 kilometres southwest of Brisbane near the NSW border, this is the Granite Belt region. Almost 900 metres above sea level, it's known for the Euro-inflected wines from producers such as Bent Road and Golden Grove. But pre-pandemic, when Pabst moved back to town, there wasn't much of a food scene to go with it. 'There was no one really matching food to the wine,' she says. Her response in 2019 was to open Essen (2 McGregor Terrace, Stanthorpe), a cosy 20-seat restaurant in an old vine-covered cottage. Not that Pabst pairs wine to her contemporary menu, but a BYO permit encourages diners to explore the surrounding wineries before visiting. The other appeal of opening in the regions? Cost.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New generation of CHP squad cars hitting Bay Area roads
HAYWARD, Calif. (KRON) — California Highway Patrol has an all-new tool to help officers blend in with traffic, catching unsuspecting drivers who fall right into their trap. 'I consider myself a ticket salesman,' said CHP Hayward area Officer Jennifer Pabst. Pabst took KRON for a ride on Interstate 880 in Hayward in one of the agency's new low profile, specially marked Dodge Durango patrol vehicles. Officers notice drivers' behaviors change when they see a traditional black and white patrol car on the highway, but with the new incognito fleet, unsuspecting drivers are breaking the law right in front of officers. 'My goodness gracious, and you can tell like obviously it's so weird to be on patrol and usually people don't do that stuff in front of me,' said Pabst. The new generation of squad cars comes in several colors, including gray and purple, with hidden lights and subdued logos, giving officers the advantage. 'It was kind of out of the blue,' said Brandon Macedo of San Leandro, who got a ticket for using his cell phone while driving. 'I do this kind of often, so this is kind of how it's going to kind of catch up to me,' said Macedo. Within minutes of getting behind the wheel of the Durango, several drivers were caught off guard, including a Corvette driver caught making aggressive lane changes, doing over 80 in a 65-mile-per-hour zone during the busy morning commute. Angela Nath was among those pulled over for speeding to work by the patrol car she didn't spot. 'Oh, man. I'll be on the lookout for it,' said Nath, who apologized to the officer. 'I mean, this is the Bay Area. We have busy lives and, you know, nobody wants to be late to work. But I guess just leave earlier.' Speed is a factor in about 30 percent of the nearly 400,000 crashes in California every year, according to CHP. Officer Pabst would quickly pull over four drivers in just over an hour behind the wheel of the Durango. 'Being able to immediately stop these vehicles is just a fantastic tool and it's paying off very well,' said Pabst. 'Hopefully we are saving lives.' One-hundred of the new low-profile SUVs will hit the road statewide by the end of May, with a handful already patrolling the Bay Area. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Once-proud WA beer brand making ‘kitschy' comeback in Canada and Texas
You might have thought the Olympia Beer brand was dead when it disappeared from South Sound shelves in early 2021 as its owner announced a temporary pause in production. After some twists and turns, including a lawsuit over its motto, new versions of it are alive and kicking in some surprising places. Its current era spans north of Washington's state border down to the city that's home to The Alamo, reinvented as an entirely different 'Olympia' beer. Kendall Jones is primary contributor to the Washington Beer Blog. The News Tribune recently asked how he saw the brand's survival as a legacy brand. 'Those historic brands harken back to a time before craft beer and, even before that, the massive industry consolidation in the '70s,' Jones said via email. 'Every city or region had its brands. Around here, it was Rainier, Oly, and Heidelberg. In Chicago, it was Old Style. In Texas, it was Lone Star.' 'These historic brands appeal to younger folks because they are kitschy,' Jones noted. 'Maybe they think it is ironic to order a beer like Olympia or PBR, which was pooh-poohed for years as a 'bad beer.'' Olympia Brewing was started in the late 1896 in Tumwater by Leopold Friederich Schmidt. Schmidt's descendants sold the company in 1983 to G. Heileman Brewing, and the Olympia brand was acquired by Pabst Brewing in 1999. The Original Olympia Beer was known for its 'It's The Water' slogan devised to tout its sense of place and differentiate it from its competitors. Fast forward to 2003: The Tumwater brewery was closed, affecting roughly 150 workers. Pabst, along with the Olympia brand, then was purchased in 2014 by an LLC affiliated with Eugene Kashper and TSG Consumer Partners, and Olympia Beer was brewed under contract by MillerCoors in Irwindale, California. Irwindale, in the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County, is a long way from the picturesque falls more associated with Tumwater long depicted on the beer can. That became a point of contention for a California customer. The Olympia Beer can's vintage look labeled as 'The Original' beer and retaining the 'It's the Water' logo sparked a lawsuit in 2018 that sought class-action status against Pabst, filed by Brendan Peacock of Sacramento. Peacock contended Pabst was giving the false impression that the beer's production was still tied to its Tumwater roots and touting on its website that it was made with 'pure mountain water.' The Sacramento Bee in 2018 reported that the lawsuit contended, 'It is unclear where the water is actually from,' adding that parts of Irwindale are served by a utility that chlorinates its water and that the area's water supply 'has been contaminated by industrial solvents in the past.' Pabst won a summary judgment and denial of class certification last year. Last month it prevailed in Peacock's appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court in San Francisco. In its defense, Pabst submitted customer surveys it contended proved its point. Of 185 people responding in one survey, no one pointed to the water used in brewing as the reason they bought it. In another survey, four out of 202 'pointed to the source of the water used in the brewing process as a message they saw in the labeling,' Courthouse News Service reported in March 2024. The Ninth Circuit Court stated in an unpublished memorandum, 'Pabst carried its burden with unrebutted expert opinion that 'there is no meaningful evidence' that the relevant consumer population was 'misled by the elements of the Olympia Beer label' at the heart of this case.' Peacock's class-action status had been denied earlier by another judge who determined he lacked standing since the beer was out of production, according to Courthouse News Service. But the brand found a way to continue. At some point, the brewing moved across the border to Canada to Great Western Brewing of Saskatchewan, an authorized brewer and distributor of Olympia Beer for several Canadian provinces, according to online listings. Neither Pabst nor Great Western responded this month to The News Tribune's questions about the move or the status of U.S. brewing sites for the beer. Pabst does not show Olympia Beer among its brands on its website or include it in its online product locator. BeerAdvocate, an online forum that tracks and offers reviews of beers, added Great Western's Olympia Beer to its listings in March 2021. Though the can still shows the iconic waterfall imagery, Olympia Beer is marketed online as part of Great Western's product line, which bills itself as '100% Saskatchewan' and 'Born in Canada, Only Made in Canada, Independently Canadian Owned.' If you still weren't clear that Great Western is of, by and for Canada, its marketing of Olympia Beer states the product is 'Canadian Owned and Made,' complete with a maple leaf insignia on its website. Its marketing says of the beer: 'Born in the city of Tumwater, Washington and proudly brewed in Canada. Light tasting, slightly sweeter, round flavour balanced by a light and refreshing hop aroma and taste.' Great Western advertises the beer as the 'Pride of the Pacific Northwest.' The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Co-Op advertises a 24-pack online for $45.99, but notes, 'We have run out of stock for this item.' The emphasis of its Canada production, and the co-op's supply shortage, both could be tied to recent efforts in Great Western's home province to ban the sale of U.S.-branded alcohol in response to the Trump administration's tariffs against Canada. The action was among various bans of U.S. alcohol that have been imposed in the country's provinces to boost Canadian producers. The Saskatchewan government later modified its stance, allowing 54 U.S. beer brands (including Olympia) made in Canada to be sold, instead targeting only U.S.-produced alcohol. Michael Brennan, president and CEO of Great Western, did not respond to request for comment for this article. In an interview with a Saskatchewan radio show on April 1, he noted the strain of the tariff actions and bans without mentioning the Olympia brand. 'We've had multiple impacts over the last little bit,' he said on the 'Evan Bray Show.' 'I know on your show, you were talking about the American-name brands last last week. We got the unintended impact of people loading shelves with beers that they were worried they wouldn't be able to get,' Brennan told Bray. Meanwhile, a Reddit contributor discovered a version marketed by a Texas brewer in the same city that also is home to Pabst's main offices. Künstler Brewing of San Antonio last year introduced 'Olympia Revival,' in a red can carrying the Olympia Beer logo, and no sign of a roaring waterfall. It first promoted the beer in a May 9, 2024, Instagram post. 'Joining forces in the heart of San Antonio, Künstler Brewing and Olympia Brewing Company have united to brew the iconic Olympia beer – honoring its cherished place in the hearts of beer enthusiasts who treasure the legacy of historical American beer brands, and paying homage to those who paved the way for us in the craft beer industry,' it states on its website. 'Crafted with Great Western Malt from Washington barley, this brew honors Olympia's Northwest roots. It's a collaboration 128 years in the making, inspired by the pleasure of reviving a beloved American classic, and bringing it back to life for enthusiasts old and new to savor and celebrate.' Another variation was added this year, with Künstler promoting The Olympia Revival Brewers Cut. The Texas-style reinvention of Olympia Beer does not include original imagery on the cans outside of the Olympia logo, and the latest version isn't just about the water but the addition of 'El Dorado hops for a unique twist,' its marketing notes. Back in the South Sound, Well 80 Artesian Brewing in Olympia tied its own theme to the area's brewing history, with its well representing one of nearly 100 artesian wells identified in a 1939 survey, according to the 'It's the Water' portion of its website. It offers Original Lager Year '64, which it says was created 'in collaboration with legendary Olympia Brewmaster Paul Knight.' But the future for any locally produced 'Olympia' branded adult beverage appears to be in vodka. Tumwater-based Olympia Distilling's Olympia Vodka is currently in the process of selling equity shares via crowdfunding to expand operations. Lesa Givens is co-founder and CEO of Olympia Distilling Co. She told The News Tribune via email that Pabst still owns the rights to Olympia Beer and oversees 'all decisions related to beer production and distribution.' 'As for us,' she wrote, 'We operate under an exclusive licensing agreement with Pabst that covers the spirits category only. We launched in March 2020, and our vodka is proudly made in Tumwater using local artesian water—an intentional nod to the heritage that put Olympia on the map.' Givens added that they have been 'overwhelmed by the early support' in the equity crowdfunding campaign with a goal of up to $1.24 million. 'In a short amount of time, we've already raised over $200,000 from more than 150 investments. The campaign is intended to help us expand production, grow our team, and prepare for new product launches — including RTD (ready to drink) cocktails made with Olympia Vodka.' For Jones of the Washington Beer Blog, there remains strong generational ties to a brand that brings up family memories as much as familiar marketing. 'I'm 60 years old,' Jones said via email. 'When I was young, my dad told me, 'We're Rainier men; your brother-in-law, he's an Oly man.' People like my dad (and brother-in-law) were loyal to their brands. 'That kind of brand loyalty really doesn't exist in the beer world anymore,' he added.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Pabst Blue Ribbon Debuts ‘Unmatched' Collab That Took Months to Perfect
If you've ever wanted a cheese that tastes like a specific type of beer, let's say Pabst Blue Ribbon, consider your prayers answered. A popular cheese brand worked with the beer company to recreate the experience of drinking the lager for a new limited-edition release that "people need to try," according to the collaborators–and no, it's not a beer cheese spread. On Wednesday, Yancey's Fancy Cheese and Pabst proudly announced the all-new Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Flavored Cheese, which "brings a unique spin to everything, from charcuterie platters to epic grilled cheeses, heartwarming mac and cheese, or just a midnight snack straight from the fridge." Related: Fan-Favorite Beer Is Flying Off Shelves After Limited Return "Yancey's history with cheese-making crossed with the legacy of Pabst Blue Ribbon creates a nostalgic tip of the hat to the long history of cheese and beer as counterparts. They did a killer job with the flavor profile, honing the notes of PBR to sit well with the tang of the cheddar. The combo of beer and cheese is unmatched, making this collaboration something that people need to try," said Pabst Blue Ribbon brand manager Hunter Cox in a statement. Unlike traditional beer cheese, Yancey's Fancy PBR Beer Flavored Cheese isn't a melty, served warm spread. It's "a bold, flavorful cheddar" heading to the refrigerated section of grocery stores in blocks. Related: Craft Beer Company Announces Delayed Re-Release This Summer While the beer-cheese combo certainly has been around for some time, so have both brands, and their combined 280 years in business should make this innovation the "ultimate beer-infused cheese," or so the companies say. "The Yancey's brand is known for robust flavored cheese, so when the Pabst team approached us, we were thrilled to create a truly unique cheese," added Yancey CEO Eric Cosnoski. "We spent 6 months meticulously refining the taste and mimicking the nuanced botanicals to capture the complex taste experience of drinking a PBR. If you are a PBR fanatic, this will be your new favorite cheese." According to the release, Yancey's Fancy Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Flavored Cheese is currently rolling out at retailers nationwide that carry other varieties of its products (including Albertsons, Food Lion, Hannaford, Harris Teeter, Jewel Osco, Price Chopper, Publix, Safeway, ShopRite, Sprouts, Stew Leonard's, Stop & Shop, Tops, Walmart, Wegman's, and Winn Dixie). To find it near you, try the Yancey Fancy product locator. Next: Chobani Brings Back Limited-Edition Coffee Creamer Flavor That Fans Can't Get Enough of Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
