Latest news with #Unbroken
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
"Unbroken" launch reinforces urgency of Uyghur human rights crisis
Rushan Abbas presenting her book to Markus Rinderspacher, vice-president of the Bavarian State Parliament (Image credit: X/Rushan Abbas) Uyghur human rights activist Rushan Abbas officially launched her powerful memoir "Unbroken": One Uyghur's Fight for Freedom at the European Uyghur Summit, held in Munich. The launch was marked by a heartfelt reading and powerful statements of solidarity from global dignitaries and advocates. The memoir, authored by Abbas--who serves as the Executive Committee Chair of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) and Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU)--chronicles her personal journey, the ongoing atrocities against the Uyghur people, and her tireless fight for justice and freedom. — RushanAbbas (@RushanAbbas) In a post on X, Abbas wrote, "Today marked the opening of the East Turkistan/Uyghur National Summit, organised by the @UyghurCongress and co-hosted by @CUyghurs alongside other allied organisations." She also shared a personal milestone from the summit: the presentation of her memoir to Markus Rinderspacher, vice-president of the Bavarian State Parliament. "We are deeply grateful for his support of the Uyghur cause and his commitment to human rights," Abbas added. One of the event's most poignant moments came as Abbas read from the memoir's final chapter, A Letter to the Uyghur Diaspora--a heartfelt message of resilience, unity, and hope. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 지금 차면 가장예쁜 기부팔찌 유니세프 지금 기부하기 Undo The summit was attended by a distinguished roster of supporters and partners, including David Baxendale of Oneworld Publications, Niclas Butz, Ambassador to the Health Innovation Exchange, and Dolkun Isa, former President of the World Uyghur Congress. Each voiced strong support for Abbas's work and reaffirmed the global importance of advocating for the Uyghur cause. Campaign for Uyghurs, a leading NGO dedicated to promoting human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of East Turkistan and ending the Uyghur genocide, shared highlights of the launch on X. "We were deeply honoured to mark the European launch of Unbroken at the Uyghur Summit in Munich, surrounded by members of the Uyghur diaspora from across the world, trusted friends, advocates, and international delegates," the organisation posted. The European launch of Unbroken underscores a growing international awareness of the Uyghur struggle and reflects a broadening coalition of allies committed to justice, human dignity, and the defence of basic freedoms. The Uyghur population in China's Xinjiang region has faced severe and systematic human rights violations under the Chinese government. Since 2017, over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been arbitrarily detained in so-called "re-education" camps, where reports of indoctrination, torture, and abuse have emerged. Authorities have enforced mass surveillance, restricted religious and cultural practices, and separated children from families. Evidence also links Xinjiang to forced labour programs, with Uyghurs coerced into working under oppressive conditions. Furthermore, China's birth prevention policies targeting Uyghur women have raised serious concerns about demographic suppression. International organisations and several governments have labelled these acts as crimes against humanity, with growing calls for accountability and global action to end the repression and protect Uyghur rights.
Metro
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
This 'disgusting' TV episode had fans boycotting global hit series 10 years ago
*Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault and MAJOR spoilers for Game of Thrones.* This weekend 10 years ago, TV viewers watched something so harrowing that it caused several fans to threaten boycotts of a hit fantasy series. By 2015, Game of Thrones had become one of the most popular TV shows in the world – and arguably the most successful fantasy TV series of all time. Set in the fictional medieval continent of Westeros, Game of Thrones primarily focused on the warring factions and royal families who each longed to sit on the Iron Throne. A violent, bloody, and graphic series, the HBO show gained rave reviews for the majority of its run and became a global smash hit, even among people who usually avoided the fantasy genre. But being such a graphic 18+ show meant that it sometimes crossed the line with viewers, especially when it came to the brutal sexual assaults it often depicted. On this night in 2015, the season five episode Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken crossed so many lines in the eyes of some viewers that a section of them vowed to never watch Game of Thrones again. From season one to season four, main character Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) had been imprisoned by the royal Lannister family after her father's execution. And at just 13 years old, she was forcibly married to Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage). Sansa was eventually smuggled away from the Lannisters and, by season five, had been escorted back to where she'd started the series: her home castle, Winterfell. The Starks had ruled Winterfell for generations but, after a deadly war during seasons two and three, the Bolton family now had control – and no Bolton was as cruel as military commander Ramsay (Iwan Rheon). Sadistic and twisted, Ramsay had already horrified viewers when he captured and tortured Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), eventually castrating him during a sick sexual game. Theon was still Ramsay's prisoner at Winterfell when Sansa – now aged 15 – returned to the castle and was instructed to marry the evil Bolton boy. On their tragic wedding night, Ramsay fiercely ripped Sansa's clothes off and raped her, while also forcing a helpless and tearful Theon to watch. The episode attracted 6.24 million viewers, but many of them – TV critics and fans alike – were outraged by the decision to take Sansa's story in this direction. One Reddit user, account now deleted, summed up many fans' feelings by saying: 'Before each episode, I ask myself how much worse will Sansa's life get today. [It turns out] much worse.' From seasons one to five Game of Thrones had been criticised for its frequent female nudity, while many viewers claimed that lead female characters were raped in order to further progress their stories. Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) was raped in the first episode, while Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) had also been raped by her brother Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) in season four. The term 'sexposition' had also been coined to describe scenes in the show that used nudity and sex as a titillating distraction while crucial plot information was divulged by another character. Following four seasons of this reputation building and building, the incident involving Sansa, Ramsay, and Theon was seen as one step too far, with Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken being the final straw for some viewers. TV writer Joanna Robinson asked in Vanity Fair: 'Did they really need to go there? Did we really need to see Ramsay Bolton rape Sansa Stark? No, we absolutely did not.' The creative decision to focus the camera on Theon's face instead of Sansa's at the scene's climax also drew criticism, with some viewers hammering the show for placing a man at the centre of a woman's story. Reddit user Fat_Walda argued that the scene portrayed Sansa as 'the damsel in distress' and as little more than 'a vehicle for Theon's redemption'. The morning after, many fans called for a boycott of Game of Thrones, with United States senator Claire McCaskill among them after describing the episode as 'disgusting'. She wrote on X at the time: 'Ok, I'm done [with] Game of Thrones. Gratuitous rape scene disgusting and unacceptable. It was a rocky ride that just ended.' Sezin Koehler, writing for Huffington Post, joined the boycott and chastised the writers for having 'beloved young girl characters brutally and repeatedly raped, tortured, and murdered.' However, according to Jeremy Podeswa – who directed Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken – Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss were reportedly 'influenced' by the angry reaction and subsequently made changes to future episodes. He said in December 2015: 'They did not want to be too overly influenced by [the criticism], but they did absorb and take it in and it did influence them in a way.' Amid the calls for a boycott, viewing figures for the following episode, titled The Gift, dropped to 5.4 million – although many analysts attributed the drop in ratings to the Memorial Day weekend holiday in America. For the episode two weeks on, titled Hardhome, viewing figures reached an all-time series high of 7.01 million, indicating that calls for a boycott hadn't reached everyone. In the years since Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken's initial broadcast, its reputation hasn't improved much in the wider TV-watcher community, but it has been defended by some fans of the show. Horror author and culture writer Gretchen Felker-Martin argued: 'Game of Thrones is one of the only shows on TV making a meaningful inquiry into rape as both a traumatic experience and as a weapon deployed by society against women.' She added: 'Treating Sansa as a real person who's been wronged by her creators, rather than a fictional one in a story explicitly about the different forms of violence people go through, is also a disturbing misapprehension of art's nature.' A year later, Sezin Keohler wrote a second letter saying she'd ended her boycott because of how 'empowering' later episodes had been for female characters – Sansa in particular. In 2021, Professor Feona Attwood told the Game of Thrones fan podcast The Longest Night that 'the dialogue around the show [suggested] there was a correct way to depict rape. '[Suggesting that rape scenes] should be shot in a certain way… How dull and uninteresting would it be if there were rules about how certain events unfold?' More Trending Sophie Turner herself spoke strongly to The Times (via The Sun) in 2017: 'The more we talk about sexual assault the better – screw the people who are saying we shouldn't be putting this on TV, and screw the people who are saying they're going to boycott the show because of it. '[Rape] used to happen and it continues to happen now. If we treat it as a taboo subject, then how are people going to have the strength to come out and feel comfortable saying that this has happened to them?' Game of Thrones was later praised for Sansa's story from season six onwards, as she used military cunning to get revenge on Ramsay, reclaim Winterfell, execute her rapist, and eventually rule as Queen in the North. View More » Watch Game of Thrones on SkyGo, Sky Atlantic, and NowTV. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Ex WWE star wraps first film role after shock exit and Invicta move MORE: 'Perfect' Netflix show renewed for season 2 but fans worry it won't be the same MORE: WWE legend Jim Ross, 73, diagnosed with cancer after years of health struggles
News.com.au
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Jaw-dropping ‘Goldywood' estate is back on the market
A jaw-dropping luxury estate used to accommodate actors shooting at nearby film studios is back on the market. The sprawling property at 36 Jenkins Court, Upper Coomera is priced at more than $8m and marketed by Amir Prestige agents, Alex and Victoria Fleri. It's been on and off the market for the past five years since being transformed into a private retreat fit for film stars. The current owners spent close to $3m on the rebuild after purchasing the property as a deceased estate for $1.2m in 2016. Anchored by a contemporary five-bedroom, four-bathroom home, the estate commands breathtaking 360-degree views stretching from Brisbane to northern New South Wales, and showcasing the glittering lights of the Gold Coast skyline. Features include a basketball court, infinity pool and spa, tennis court, firepit, commercial-grade gym and yoga garden, along with a recently upgraded professional recording studio. The estate has doubled as a home away from home for visiting actors shooting film productions in the region. The nearby Village Roadshow Studios comprises world-class facilities and has hosted productions including Nautilus, Aquaman, San Andreas, and Unbroken, while the city itself has earned the nickname 'Goldywood' for its local investment into the film industry. The home includes five large bedrooms including an opulent master suite along with three renovated bathrooms and a powder room, plus a media room and fireplace lounge. Illuminated waterfall stone benchtops in the kitchen anchor expansive living areas, flowing onto a vast covered terrace. Mr Fleri – who moonlights as an actor and film producer himself – confirmed Aussie screen veteran and Gladiator star Russell Crowe was among actors who had stayed at the Jenkins Court estate. Oscar-winner Crowe stars in the upcoming thriller Bear Country, shooting on the Gold Coast this year and marking a return to the Glitter Strip for the award-winning Aussie actor, who also appeared in Land of Bad, another local production filmed in 2022 with Luke and Liam Hemsworth. Builder's marvel named Aus hottest home One of the Hemsworth brothers is also understood to have stayed at the property. 'The location within a secure gated estate provides the openness of an acreage while being ensconced in privacy, and then of course there's the view, the quality and inclusions of the home itself and the lifestyle that comes with it,' Mr Fleri said. 'With the basketball and the tennis courts, all of the property's features create the luxury vibe that is comparable to the Hollywood Hills lifestyle, and that is why it is a drawcard for the Village Roadshow guestlist.' Mr Fleri said the owners had maintained a close relationship with the location hunters and studio executives, and would also be positioned within easy reach of a new screen production facility planned for Yatala, between the Coast and Brisbane. The property is marketed via an expressions of interest campaign.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Exceptional' war film directed by A-lister and everyone needs to watch
Cinema buffs have been praising Angelina Jolie's 2014 film, Unbroken, since its release, and they're gobsmacked to discover that the Hollywood icon directed it. Unbroken is an Oscar-nominated cinematic gem that brings to life the true tale of a World War II legend. With Jack O'Connell taking the lead in his major breakout performance and under Jolie's direction, it's hardly shocking that people are 'highly recommending' this flick. According to one critic on Rotten Tomatoes: "This film is as accurate and immersive as a historical film can get. Angelina Jolie did a fantastic job both casting and directing this film. Everything from the acting to the sets is absolutely phenomenal!". The movie chronicles the resilient saga of Louis Zamperini, a former American Olympian turned lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces. The storyline follows him as he survives a harrowing plane crash into the sea, where he and two crew members are marooned on a raft for an excruciating 47 days. After an arduous ordeal, Zamperini ends up on the Japanese Marshall Islands and is captured, becoming a prisoner of war. Throughout his captivity, the former athlete withstands forced labour and brutal beatings at a camp until the end of the war, lasting nearly two years, reports the Express. One person said: "Unbroken is a captivating film that masterfully depicts the physical torture endured by its characters while also delving into the psychological toll of their experiences. The acting is exceptional, and the movie strikes a powerful balance between brutality and resilience." Louis Zamperini himself was involved in the production of 'Unbroken' before he passed away in 2014 at the age of 97, just a few months shy of the film's premiere. The following year, it went on to bag three Academy Award nods for its standout cinematography, sound editing, and sound mixing. "It's an intriguing take on a war story, and one I find myself returning to again and again. A solid film that I'd highly recommend to anyone who appreciates war dramas with depth," touted another satisfied movie-goer. With the famous Angelina Jolie at the helm, expectations were sky-high for the film to perform well, especially as she had only stepped into the director's shoes a few years earlier. "I would've never guessed that Angelina Jolie did directing work either!" exclaimed someone, praising her efforts by adding "She did a terrific job!". The shining light in 'Unbroken', however, is Jack O'Connell, who takes on the role of Louis Zamperini. His portrayal has been hailed as a "powerful performance" by fans, and his stellar acting nabbed him the 'New Hollywood Award' at the Hollywood Film Awards, propelling him forward as a front-runner in the acting world. A touched telly fan shared: "What a powerful true story of perseverance in the face of seemingly impossible obstacles and abuse. Seeing this reminded me how good I have it in my life and how I have no room to complain about anything." Unbroken can be rented on both Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
The Guardian
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘I had to spit in Michael Caine's face': Jack O'Connell on Skins, impostor syndrome and stripping off
Your new film, Sinners, sounds scary. What scares you? MrSOBaldrick Loneliness. I've always wanted to act, but I've never taken the plunge. Has there been a role where you felt you took a plunge out of your comfort zone? AliciaGrace1 Getting to portray an American comes with inherent impostor syndrome, because so many other US actors could take the role. The roles I've played in the US have bigger distinctions from my lived experiences than some of my other roles. But it can be rewarding and fulfilling to do something that's very different, so it works both ways. '71 was one hell of a white-knuckle ride around the backstreets of Belfast. Did you get that sense of urban claustrophobia when filming it? Aubrey26 We didn't actually film any of it in Belfast. I think it would be quite insensitive to shoot that type of story on the streets where, not so long ago, that ferocious, urban conflict was getting lived out for real. There's no way you can pull that off without upsetting people. We shot a lot of it on the Derbyshire-Yorkshire border. Did the '71 screenwriter, Gregory Burke, draft the screenplay to fit your background, for example the line about Derby and Nottingham folk not getting on? Inverclydediaspora Yeah, dead on. Originally, my character was from Sheffield. I think the original line was people from Sheffield and Leeds not getting on, but those local rivalries are relevant over the whole country. Did Michael Caine really yell: 'Star of the future!' at you while filming Harry Brown? And did Angelina Jolie really hire a helicopter for you to join a family dinner in Derby while filming Unbroken? TurangaLeela2 Michael Caine had me tied up to a chair, interrogating me. I had to spit in his face, which was massively daunting. I think it was doing that that caused him to come out with that. I've not forgotten it. It was totally mind-blowing for a 19-year-old to be working with someone like Michael Caine, a hugely important actor for young, working-class actors. We were doing prep for Unbroken. I had to lose quite a bit of weight [to play the Olympic runner Louis Zamperini], so I was hunkering down in a hotel in Ascot, dieting and learning my lines. Before we went off to shoot in Australia, Angelina wanted to meet my family, my nearest and dearest. We got together somewhere on the outskirts of Derby that was rural enough to land a helicopter. Everyone just buzzed off each other. My nana picked a moment during the meal to stand up to say a few words, in that way old-school nanas would, and I think that really stuck with her [Jolie]. How did you prepare for your role in Starred Up? ExileCuChulainn Jonathan Asser [the writer] was generous enough, once we'd been cast and rehearsed a few times, to step back and give us licence to invent stuff and bring new things to the fold. We filmed sequentially, so it was very organic. We shot it at this empty, crumbling Victorian jail in Belfast and had free rein there, apart from the odd guided tour. It can certainly be challenging when the subject matter is dark, because you're dealing within trauma. It helps to equip yourself with as much information as possible to do justice to what you're trying to portray. Who is your favourite character you've played? jessputnam I couldn't possibly say. I've been very fortunate. I think it's obvious what character people associate me with [Cook from Skins], but I don't mind that – it's a massive compliment. I think by the time we turned up [the second iteration of characters in season three], we knew we were on to something that felt culturally important. It amazes me that people still talk to me about it, 15 years on. You made your directorial debut last year, directing the video for Paul Weller's Nothing. Are you a big fan of the Modfather? VerulamiumParkRanger Always have been: the Jam, the Style Council, his solo material. It was a huge honour. We shot it over three or four days and I loved every second. It's made me hungry to do more. He originally asked me to be in one of his videos. That's when I chanced my hand and said: 'I could direct one?' He obliged and I shat myself. I saw you in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. How was it performing nude night after night? Kellysahero1970 There's a nude scene at the start of the play and another at the end. The play starts in the shower. It would be very odd to be in the shower wearing clothing. So I just assumed: I'll be naked. You just crack on. But I guess, for the audience, being met with that image of me being naked … I remember a few gasps in the matinees from the coach trippers. They weren't there after the interval. What was it like working with Danny Boyle on 28 Years Later? TopTramp A dream come true. We shot two films – the sequel and the sequel to the sequel [28 Years Later: The Bone Temple]. Growing up, his work meant an enormous amount to me. What his films have done for cinema, British cinema and culture, is hard to encapsulate. On set, I was all eyes and ears, absolutely beside myself. He's there by the cameras, in the trenches. He's not sat on some hilltop being fed blueberries. He's among it and it's all very immediate. Which Derby County player would you most like to play in a biopic? I reckon The Marco Gabbiadini Story is well worth telling (Goals! Glory! Caravans! B&Bs!) but that may be a bit before your time. Loumo I love this question, man. I'm gonna go for [the Italy striker] Fabrizio Ravanelli, for the glitz and glamour, so long as we can ignore the [1996-97] Middlesbrough era. I expect the offer will come in now. That's usually how it works. I say something in the Guardian, tongue in cheek, then someone will write a script. Sinners is in UK and Irish cinemas from 18 April
