On Ireland’s Painful Emergence into the Modern World
Fintan O’Toole’s lucid history of Ireland, We Don’t Know Ourselves, is a vivid telling of how his country’s culture of silence and repression was broken open.
history
Sylvain Cypel’s ‘The State of Israel vs. the Jews’ Addresses Burning Questions
Cypel’s The State of Israel vs. the Jews addresses the prejudices embedded in Israeli policies toward Palestinians and their implications for Jews worldwide.
Is Louis Menand Right About the Death of Art and Thought in America?
For intellectual historian Louis Menand, the Cold War gave rise to prospects and paradoxes in America, and Art was given status through essential criticism.
‘Beirut 2020’ Portends What Awaits America
Majdalani’s Beirut 2020 warns that unwillingness to enforce rules and due process lies at the heart of the problems plaguing both Lebanon and America.
Director Agnieszka Holland on Cancel Culture and Its Effects on ‘Charlatan’
Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland says Cancel Culture takes many forms that suffocate Art, including the oversimplification of truth and judgmental attitudes.
In TV Comedy ‘Rutherford Falls’ History Is Personal
As viewers have come to expect from co-creator Michael Schur, Rutherford Falls uses sly humor and flawed, lovable characters to tackle serious issues.
‘Doom’ Illustrates Niall Ferguson’s Historical Flaws
While historian Niall Ferguson’s broad survey of human catastrophe, Doom, has erudition, insight, and sweep, it is frequently derailed by contrarian carping.
‘Lost Maya Cities’ Digs into the Nitty-Gritty of Archaeology
Slovenian archeologist Ivan Sprajc's memoir, Lost Maya Cities, is a pleasant read but it could have dug deeper.
Judy Irving’s Nuclear Weapons Documentary ‘Dark Circle’ Remains Timeless
When America developed the hydrogen and atom bombs in WWII, the Atomic Age's eyes opened upon our species. They have yet to blink. Judy Irving's Dark Circle is now available for on-line viewing from First Run Features.
‘Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President’ Portrays an Over-Simplified Man
The nostalgic, feel-good documentary, ‘Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President’, explores Carter’s connections to the music world but misses a lot about this not-so-simple man.