Seen in May

Ralf Fiennes as Ulysses in The Return.

Ok, so this May I did see more than this, but re-watching Conclave, and Andor S01 doesn't count for a "seen in…" mention. Also, I'm still watching Andor S02, The Studio and Daredevil: Born Again. Furthermore, May is the month I was trying really hard to get in shape for the Bike for Brain Health charity ride and watched a very entertaining Giro d'Italia, so that made a short list even shorter.

Circusboy
Hot Docs
A young boy doesn't have to run away to join the circus when he's born in it. This is a very charming documentary about three generations of a family who all live, work and perform in a family-owned and operated circus. In many ways, this seems like a dream life for a kid. Growing up surrounded by family, extended family living close by, climbing anything climable, hanging out with animals and learning to ride a dirt bike. Yet, they basically live out of a trailer, move from town to town every two weeks, going to a new school every two weeks and never really being settled anywhere. Despite all of this, and what I may have thought as a "carnie" existence, our young protagonist is a thoughtful, smart, funny, bright and kind little fellow. It's fascinating and captivating.

The Gardener and the Dictator
Hot Docs
An endearing portrait of the filmmaker's grandparents and her grandmother in particular. It's certainly fascinating to meet the filmmaker's grandparents, who raised her until she was 5 or 6, which explains her closeness to them. It's also engrossing to see regular people, living regular lives in an aging neighbourhood in China, while the government is trying to encourage residents to move to a different city with new buildings. Of course, this couple, who have lived in this apartment and neighbourhood for decades aren't keen on leaving but that is really a side note to meeting this couple.

Juliette Binoche bides her time as Penelope.

The Return
Hoopla
This isn't the movie version of Homer's Odyssey I thought I wanted, but a ropey and muscular Ralph Fiennes changed my mind. This is the story of Ulysses' return home from the war with Troy, his doubts in himself and the violence of usurping his wife's suitors. In the translation of the Odyssey, as I remember it, Ulysses' arrival and banishing of his rivals is fairly brief. Whereas, in the film, the story begins with him washed up on a beach and climaxes with the banishing of the suitors. We find Ulysses, washed up on the shore, taken in and nursed back to health by a slave, as his wife, Penelope (Juliette Binoche), bides her time with various tactics hoping her husband is still alive. Ulysses' son, Telemachus (Charlie Plummer) is hapless without allies and unable to do much of anything but stamp his feet. This is a wonderful rumination of war, what it does to the men who fight in them and their families to whom, in some ways, they will never return.

You must persist to resist in these trying times.

Coexistence, My Ass!
Hot Docs
Woody Allen has said, "Tragedy, plus time equals comedy". When it comes to Israel vs Hamas, we need a lot more time. Comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi grew up in a community where Muslim kids learn Hebrew and Jewish kids learn Arabic. She is Benjamin Netanyahu's worst nightmare: a left-wing, progressive Jew. She used her comedy and one-woman stage show to not only get laughs but to discuss the shared experiences of Muslims and Jews in the Middle East and to advocate for peace. That was until Hamas attacked Israel and then the Israeli right-wing nationalist Likud-led government of Netanyahu began their plan to obliterate Gaza. For comedy, we need more time, but that's something Palestinians in Gaza have run out of.

Small Achievable Goals
CBC Gem
Who knew menopause was such comedy gold. This is essentially an office sitcom, starring Meredith MacNeill and Jennifer Whalen as Kris and Julie, two women thrown together for professional reasons but finding common ground as they navigate their new reality in their aging bodies. Or something like that. MacNeill and Whalen were previously best known for The Baroness Von Sketch Show and they've brought their comedy chops to this honest and funny show.

Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life
Crave
You may comedian Brett Goldstein as the taciturn and abrasive Roy Kent from the popular show Ted Lasso. But he's not really that guy. He's this guy. Who knew he was such a softie? Also, how many potty-mouthed comedians are huge fans of the Muppets?

Martha Wainwright
The Great Hall
A live show of Martha Wainwright celebrating the 20th anniversary of her self-titled debut album. To be honest, most of my favourite songs of hers come from this album, except perhaps Proserpina and her cover of Leonard Cohen's Tower of Song. A surprise was her performance of Dinner at Eight, by her brother, Rufus Wainwright, which was written about her and a planned dinner with their father Loudon Wainwright III. Of course, her song Bloody Motherf*cking A**hole is my favourite and her encore. Can you be an ally to women without loving this song? I think not.