by Ian Cochrane | Aug 6, 2018 | Americas, Utopia
Director Gus Van Sant has created a poignant portrait, warts and all – the true story of the American cartoon-satirist, the late John Callahan. The characters are a diverse lot – some dregs, all diamonds – the performances touching, the direction skilled and straight...
by Ian Cochrane | Aug 6, 2018 | Americas, Europe, Utopia
The adventures of a young English woman reassessing her life after a 15yo relationship treading water, all wrapped in a quirky, crazy plot, driven by ridiculous coincidence. The writing is clever, the direction inspired and the acting superb – the chemistry between...
by Ian Cochrane | Mar 21, 2018 | Americas, Oceania, Utopia
Paul Robeson was a black American man and an important civil rights activist of the early to mid 1900s, but there is so much more to this story. Until hearing Jeff Sparrow’s impassioned presentation at his recent Melbourne book promotion, my own knowledge of...
by Ian Cochrane | Mar 12, 2018 | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania, Utopia
Bodies of children, guns more sacred Lay in heaps on crimson pavement The future dead, the ghosts of hope A shattered nation with prayers will cope . Pagoda beauty, suddenly soured Hateful icons, a new leader’s power Crowded camps, no fault their own Despair and...
by Ian Cochrane | Mar 3, 2018 | Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania, Utopia
Blogging these days is not like it once was… a fickle, little-read beast at best. And it’s hard to believe that just five years back I chose to take a dip in the blogosphere, a late starter, a wandering writer through the once-was maze of WordPress and...
by Ian Cochrane | Feb 8, 2015 | Americas, Europe
There’s a raspy laugh, parted purple lips, a toothy gap and shining silver orb perched on a pierced tongue. “French? Me?” Mascaraed eyes shine from an impossibly pallid face. “Like… God no.” There’s a slight lisp, the word...
