ZSun-nee Matema

The three-hour long film zipped by. My granddaughter, Harmony and I were enthralled. She asked many on-point questions. I was left embarrassed by America's antics. It was after all, the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, acclaimed "father of the atomic bomb." The story itself is a treasure trove of lessons. The power behind America is dark and greedy. No one advances unless they play "the game." And, the game is to serve the needs of those in true power, not the actor-representatives we think we elect to make this country or us great. Oppenheimer is seen as a "purist" desiring only to further his genius as a theoretical physicist and Director of the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, NM. The real Oppenheimer may not have been so innocent. He was no doubt a narcissist and a womanizer, married to a woman who lost herself in alcohol because of his absenteeism and her undesired role as housewife and mother. The pity of it all is that I had to explain to Harmony the vast difference between what we see as America's leadership role in the world and its true trajectory which does not value loyalty to this country, its ideals or personal achievements. The only loyalty is to monied men in the shadows. Oppenheimer was motivated in his work by the urgency to halt Hitler's horrifying war advances. He was affected by the knowledge of fellow Jewish people who suffered and died in an era of Nazi war crimes. Although, he had, it seems a rather casual association with the traditions of his faith. He becomes caught up in the glory of his scientific accomplishments. Later, after the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, he realizes that his true work was a battle of morality over genius. Or, so the film tells us. Loyalty to America, the film reveals, is only measured by allegiance to back door power brokers not to this or any country or flag. People are moved in and out of political positions at whim. Our supposed "enemies" become friends when we need their talents. I did a little research and discovered Oppenheimer's father became rich by indulging himself in the riches of African diamonds. Apparently, the family owns 700 plus acres of land in South Africa and in other nearby African counties. Let that sink in... Excellent acting. It will no doubt win loads of awards. It won my Harmony's full 19 year-old attention. What It roused in me were my worse fears for her future and for the future of all our children who cherish brave new ideas to create a better world.

Now, this is a SHOCKER! The film, "Barbie," seemed the antithesis of my interests. But a good review led me there. So, wearing pink, I joined my pinked-out granddaughter, Harmony to see "Barbie" and celebrate our cousin, actor, Alexandra Shipp on the big screen. Surprise! "Barbie" is a film that deals, in flashes of pink, with the complicated affairs of men and women. It's a tutorial on maternal vs paternal societies. It demonstrates the trouble encountered when skewed to the extreme of either. To the point, "Barbie" suggests to men that they stop camouflaging their fear of learning who they are. Running relay races where they sport one woman after the other, stuffing themselves in materialism, big houses or flashing wealth is divulged to be a dodge of their biggest fear--being alone. In essence, men fight wars, beat their shields and settle on co-dependent women who are lost in self-imposed, slay-support care of "their men." Anything to avoid being alone and learning who they are. The lesson: men and women, know and love yourselves first, then become "we." I didn't know Barbie was so smart!

REVIEW OF KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Be prepared. If you intend to see Killers of the Flower Moon, know it may be hard on the heart. That is, if you read and face history as it truly was. The film stars Leonardo Di Caprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone. Great acting. Shocking scenes of Native abuse and murder. The film tells the historical story of the Osage people in Oklahoma who, the United States, pushed, as they have many Indigenous people, away from their homeland. Murders of the Osage took place from 1910-1930's. My father's ancestors came from Amherst County, Virginia, and were part of the Monocan- Buffalo, Ridge Cherokee nation. They were also invaded by white European sailors and captains who, like the whites in the film, took the approach of marrying into indigenous families for profit. This was a common strategy. Anglos, marry Native women and then have a dollar stake in their land. What struck me more than anything in this film were the lies told by the "colinizer" husbands. The performance of Dinero perfectly portrayed the art of stealth. His grimacing face contrasted with the trusting, innocent Native faces of love was heartbreaking. Go see it. I cried at the end. An elderly white couple walked past me. I hoped they would understand and respect my feelings. As they walked down the sloping exit ramp of the theater, the man made mock native war hoops. It occurred to me that some people never change.