Latest news with #TrueStory
The Guardian
a day ago
- Health
- The Guardian
On the Edge review – gripping study of France's overstretched mental health system
Within the corridors of a psychiatric ward in Beaujon hospital in Clichy, Paris, tensions run high. Every day, a steady stream of patients pours in, while resources are stretched pitifully thin. Through jagged handheld cinematography, Nicolas Peduzzi's gripping and passionate documentary reflects the facility's breakneck pace. Amid a flurry of frantic calls and rolling stretchers, a calm presence emerges: here comes Dr Jamal Abdel-Kader, the only staff psychiatrist in the building. The camera trails after Abdel-Kader's hurried steps as he splits his day between various departments, from the emergency rooms to the intensive care units. Despite his colossal workload – a result of crumbling infrastructure and lack of government budget – he devotes his full attention to each individual patient. Some are only in their late teens when they attempt self-harm and even suicide. Others have already spent a lifetime trapped in a cycle of addiction and depression. Although their situations vary, the patients' circumstances all point to structural issues in France's treatment of mental health. Abdel-Kader perceives the private struggles of his patients not simply as personal failings, but as symptoms of an indifferent society, in which people have forgotten how to care for one another. Besides medical intervention, his treatment also includes other forms of therapy, including creative sessions where people gather to study Molière and Shakespeare. Abdel-Kader's conversations with colleagues reveal that the loneliness endured by the patients also extends to the overworked physicians, who are undersupported by the state. These moments of introspection at the hospital, expressed in black-and-white snapshots, lend a human touch to spaces that are still painfully stigmatised in the public eye. In contrast to the outside world driven by productivity and prejudice, here is where care and understanding still exist, against all odds. On the Edge is on True Story from 22 August.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Malayalam writer Paul Zacharia on his novel ‘True Story of a Writer, a Philosopher and a Shape-Shifter', the perpetual need for revising a text and navigating bilingualism
As old as the story of writing is the story of the writer struggling to find the right words. Pen meets paper in easy camaraderie only in the imagination of the non-writer. Just ask Lord Spider, bestselling author of mysteries, thrillers and romances who cannot wrap his head around the demands of an essay on compassion (commissioned by the revolutionary party in order to raise funds for old comrades). Or ask his creator Paul Zacharia, whose own struggles with composing columns on political and social issues, after years of fiction writing, found expression through Spider's travails in True Story of a Writer, a Philosopher and a Shape-Shifter. 'I had to almost relearn writing,' the 80-year-old confesses in an email interview, 'I was dealing with facts. I had to double check the truth of everything I said. I had to reinvent my language to make it plain yet loaded.' If writing itself is a fraught enterprise, then what of rewriting? Zacharia, one of the most well-known writers in Malayalam literature, celebrated for the spare, elliptical style of his short fiction, has recently published his first novel. In English. For the second time. True Story of a Writer, a Philosopher and a Shape-Shifter is a revised version of The Secret History of Compassion, which was published in 2019 by Context, an imprint of Westland Books. After the closure of Westland in 2022, a new edition of Zacharia's debut novel was being planned with Penguin when the writer recognised the occasion for what it was: A rare opportunity to revise an existing work. 'My experience is that every revision improves and sharpens a text. When I suggested it to the publisher they were interested. It was a valuable learning experience for me because it involved working with a large text with several interconnected narratives,' he says. True Story's plot — if one were to describe it as such — is about more than just the difficulties of a writer. The trio of the title — Lord Spider, his wife and renowned philosopher Dr Rosi and the multi-hyphenate J L Pillai (shape-shifting hangman, would-be writer and fan-turned-collaborator) — talks, argues and speculates about such things as the nature of death and the weight of human desire (and whether it affects one's ability to fly). As Pillai, followed by Rosi, work with Spider to produce the essay on compassion line-by-line, what emerges is a distinct authorial vision of what lies beyond the easy binary of fiction and non-fiction. Zacharia's deft segues into tall tales and myths (and even a translation of the short story Satan's Brush by the late Thomas Joseph) and his sly wit suggest that what we typically see as the straightforward logic of a story, too, is just a lie. What seems like a farcical flight of fancy is, in fact, a sharp comment on the compromises and adjustments through which we try to draw meaning from the meaningless: 'Can it be… that the most efficiently organised agencies of Compassion are the armies, navies, air forces, secret services, serial killers, terrorists, dictators, religious fundamentalists, racists and nuclear-button controllers? Perhaps we have been mistaking them for annihilators whereas they only annihilate Sorrow at its root — by annihilating Life.' Clearly, Zacharia sends up pieties and certainties with as much assurance in his English fiction as he has done in Malayalam over the course of his long literary career. He's spoken before about how writing The Secret History of Compassion in English freed him up to be inventive, 'without stopping for any propriety or possible moral taboos'. Since he encountered it in college in Kottayam, Zacharia has loved the language ('as much as Malayalam') and when it first struck him that he should write a novel — because it meant a 'more demanding engagement' with his craft — English felt like an apt choice. 'I think the basic challenges of writing are the same in any language,' he says, 'English, perhaps, made my task of writing the first novel easier because, to me, English, because of its historical richness, held out a wealth of possibilities in regard to literary expression. And it saved me from having a model to look back upon.' Linguistic pride being an especially sensitive topic right now, there is widespread prickliness on the question of English vs Hindi vs every other Indian language. So it is easy to forget that such creative and intellectual bilingualism is a long-established Indian tradition; Zacharia has good company in writers like Gopalkrishna Adiga (under whose tutelage in Mysuru, he fell in love with English literature), Nirmal Verma, AK Ramanujan and UR Ananthamurthy. Yet, even as debates rage over mediums of instruction in classrooms and linguistic hegemony in India's most vibrant cities, Zacharia remains optimistic about the future of the country's multi-lingual character. 'There never was a time when everyone spoke everyone else's languages. But when the need arises, they all do. A Keralite in Mumbai will willy-nilly speak Marathi, Hindi and English. In fact, I feel Indian languages have evolved, become stronger, and modernity has become a continuing objective for them.' And what about the fate of compassion in a time of conflict? Satire in the age of humourlessness? And, of course, the act of writing in the era of the endless scroll? Reader, take heart from True Story…, where the titular trio wends its fantastical, if chaotic, way to an essay. Distracted, but never derailed, by the stories and characters they encounter during this time together (including Jesus and Satan), they conclude that, 'the penalty kick of Fate is the final test and let's hope for the best. For, the end is not here. It awaits you as a secret shrouded in a mystery. Or vice versa.'
Washington Post
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
The true story of a shipwrecked couple's fight to survive
Few nonfiction books get a reader's adrenaline pumping quite like Sophie Elmhirst's 'A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck.' As I plunged headfirst into this immersive tale of a British couple who set sail alone together one morning in 1972 bound for New Zealand, I flashed on the 2003 film 'Open Water.' In it, a scuba-diving husband and wife are abandoned in the Atlantic by their tour group, who pull up anchor without noticing that the pair are still underwater. As the hours pass and the sharks circle, you feel their terror in your bones.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside the 10 stunning UK beaches in new Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs film The Salt Path
Set to hit cinemas on May 30, The Salt Path starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs is likely to one of the summer's biggest movies. Based on a true story, the movie will follow Raynor Winn and her husband Moth's journey along the South West Coast Path - England's longest walking trail - after they lose their home and Moth is diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative condition. Raynor detailed their mammoth, 630-mile hike in her book, The Salt Path, describing the trek - which stretches from Minehead to Poole. And the movie is also sure to showcase some of the UK's most spectacular nature, as the South West Coast Path features breathtaking coves, rugged cliffs and stunning beaches. Find out where you can have your own Salt Path moment this year with this selection of some of the best beaches likely to star in the film... Minehead, Somerset The South West Coast Path kicks off in Minehead so Minehead Beach was always likely to appear in the film. Sometimes known as The Strand, the sandy beach ends at Minehead Harbour and is an ideal sandcastle-building spot. The beach is located very close to Exmoor National Park, so holidaymakers can combine their seaside break with a stop in local woodland. Porlock Weir, Somerset Just under 10 miles away from Minehead Beach, the beach at Porlock Weir is another key spot along the South West Coast Path. The pebble beach is backed by marshland and is a popular spot for birdwatchers to visit. Porlock is known for its oysters so walkers might want to stop at Porlock Bay Oysters for a dressed oyster. Heddon's Mouth, Devon The Salt Path is based on Raynor and her husband Moth's journey along the 630-mile South West Coast Path, which is England's longest walking trail Featured in the Salt Path, Heddon's Mouth earns its name from the valley where the River Heddon joins the sea. The rocky cove is situated on the coast in North Devon and tourists can reach it by hiking through ancient woodland. A visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: 'The coastal path here is spectacular, steep climbs but wonderful views once you get up to some of the highest cliffs in England.' Ilfracombe, Devon Ilfracombe, Devon, is home to several beaches, but Tunnels Beach is one of the most unique, having earned its name as it's accessed through tunnels dug by the Victorians A seaside resort in Devon, Ilfracombe sits along the South West Coast Path. The town is home to several beaches, but Tunnels Beach is one of the most unique. The picturesque beach earned its name as it's accessed through tunnels dug by the Victorians. Ilfracombe is also home to Rapparee Cove which is a small shingle beach close to the harbour. Clovelly, Devon The South West Coast Path also runs through Clovelly, a historic fishing village in Devon. The picturesque village was owned by royalty until the 1200s and is now completely car-free. Clovelly Beach is a small pebble beach that's located below the village and is a popular sunbathing spot. Hartland Quay, Devon Another spot in Devon, Hartland Quay is a pebble beach backed by impressive cliffs. There are many rockpools to explore on the beach. Walkers can stop at the Hartland Quay Hotel & Bar to refuel at the Wreckers Retreat Bar and enjoy incredible views of the beach. But visitors should exercise caution as the area is known for having some of the UK's roughest seas. Port Quin, Cornwall Based on the true story featured in Raynor Winn's The Salt Path, the movie will showcase some of the UK's most spectacular nature Another breathtaking spot along the South West Coast Path, Port Quin is a pretty cove between Port Isaac and Polzeath. Once a busy fishing port, Port Quin is now a much quieter spot along the walking route. The National Trust reveals: 'Port Quin is a peaceful sheltered inlet. 'Surrounded by spectacular coastline, Port Quin Bay sweeps westwards towards the distinctive headland of the Rumps.' Fistral Beach, Cornwall Fistral Beach, Cornwall, is known for its consistent waves and tends to get very busy during the summer months An award-winning beach in Newquay, Fistral Beach is an especially popular spot with surfers. The long sandy beach is known for its consistent waves and tends to get very busy during the summer months. A tourist wrote on Tripadvisor: 'My favourite beach in the world. 'I have visited this beach many times before, the vibe here is just unmatched.' Holywell Bay, Cornwall Both Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs were spotted filming scenes for the Salt Path at this beautiful beach in 2023. The gorgeous beach has rolling sand dunes and is backed by grassy dunes. It's a popular spot with people who want to explore sea caves. Visit Cornwall says: 'On sunny days, Holywell Bay might as well be paradise.' Rame Head, Cornwall There's a medieval chapel at the top of the headland in Rame Head, Cornwall, and visitors will have an incredible bird's-eye view of the coast in both directions A coastal headland in southeast Cornwall, Rame Head is set to feature in the upcoming Salt Path film. Visit Cornwall describes the beautiful spot as 'Cornwall's Forgotten Corner', as it's often missed by tourists.
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The Hamlet Syndrome review – soldiers turn to Shakespeare as Ukrainians deal with the war
What is the use of art in time of war? Shot a few months prior to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Elwira Niewiera and Piotr Rosołowski's documentary probes this thorny question with a searing intimacy. The film observes an alternative production of Hamlet, which brings together a group of Ukrainian performers from all walks of life and as volatile emotions are spilled on to the stage, performance becomes a conduit for personal catharsis as well as artistic expression. In the film, scenes of the rehearsal process are interspersed with revelations about the actors' backgrounds. Many of them are soldiers on the frontline: Slavik and Katia, for example, have endured the bloodshed of combat as well as the horrors of captivity. Roman, a trained actor, was thrust on to the battlefield as a medic, a responsibility for which he was both professionally and emotionally ill-equipped. As the actors battle inner demons, the stage transforms into a common ground for understanding. Hailing from a conservative region of the country, Slavik admits to having his preconceptions erased through meeting Rodion, who proudly incorporates his traumatic experience as a queer person into his performance. The rigid parameters of national pride are also up for debate, as Oksana, a feminist actor, raises important inquiries about the place of women in Ukrainian society. These differences of opinions are processed not just through heated arguments, but also via the medium of dramaturgy. By emphasising the collaborative process of performance, the film stresses that unity must be achieved through holistic dialogue rather than an autocratic consolidation of ideas. The documentary's postscript feels even more shattering in this regard: with most of the cast called up for military conscription, opportunities for creative experiments like this are already a thing of the past. The Hamlet Syndrome is on True Story from 9 May
