• A Cool Dry Place
• A new stamp
• Isle of truth
• Mmm to travel in semi-luxury
• A dog called cookie
• It's wedding times again
• Which white is right?
• Adding sunshine to their lives
• 

The Culture Vulture

A Cool Dry Place

The Video Vulture review this week looks at a movie that appears to have slipped by unnoticed in the clamour over Godzilla last year. I usually keep up with new releases and works-in-progress but I had heard nothing of this intriguingly titled film. In fact the title had more to do with my choosing to rent this tape than anything else, but I was pleasantly surprised at the end of it.

Vince Vaughn (from the remake of Psycho) plays Russell Durrell, a single father trying to raise his 5-year -old son Calvin, struggle through a boring job as a small town lawyer and maintain his sanity all at the same time. Russell's wife left him and the baby several years ago and although she telephones regularly, takes no part in the upbringing of the boy. As Russell becomes increasingly frustrated, his wife Katie (Monica Potter) becomes more remorseful about abandoning her son. Her conscience gets the better of her and she reappears in the Russell and Calvin's lives just as Russell begins a tentative romance with fellow divorcee Beth (Joey Lauren Adams). As Katie begins to become part of his life once more, Russell is forced to look deep inside himself to decide what he truly wants in life: Beth/Katie, Calvin/A proper job and is eventually made to choose when Katie takes off with Calvin just as Russell lands a high flying job in the city.

What would you do? This film poses some interesting questions about human needs and values. Would you, having felt that you were being dragged down by the burden of single parenthood, grab the chance to free yourself and fulfil your aspirations? Or would you decide that no career is worth the sacrifice?

This is a sensitive portrayal of everyday life. The fact that Russell is an abandoned husband and a single father is an interesting and refreshingly non-PC angle on a familiar story. Vince Vaughn plays the character with a great amount of empathy; I liked the fact that Russell is not made out to be a shining paragon of virtue just because he is the put-upon parent; he loses his temper with the boy, says and does things that are hurtful. In other words, he is a real person, not some celluloid android 'ideal.' He is, at the same time, utterly loving to his son.

On the whole, the director is understanding towards his characters. It would have been too easy to present Katie as a selfish, cold hearted bitch but, as with Russell, the movie does not nudge the viewer towards passing judgement on Katie. Both sides of the story, hers and Russell's are presented without bias and at the end of the day we have to separate what is from what ought to be. I found it hard to condemn Katie for what she had done nor could I judge Russell for harbouring an undertone of resentment towards the boy.

A Cool Dry Place is a sensitive, intelligent movie and a welcome respite from violence, sex and animated monsters; it is a movie that lets you sit back and take stock - good for the soul, if you know what I mean.
4/5

A new stamp

By Wathsala Mendis

"The English language is Britain's greatest contribution to the world, maybe next only to cricket in which we're not doing very well at the moment," said Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Media Mangala Samaraweera at a stamp launch ceremony held recently to mark The British Council's 50th year in Sri Lanka.

The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts issued a new postage stamp in the denomination of Rs.3.50 of which one million stamps will be printed and be in circulation within the next few months.

Since its inception in 1981 by Queen Elizabeth II, The British Council has been a landmark in strengthening the deep and long-standing ties between the two countries. Through its centres in Colombo and Kandy it offers access to a wide range of educational, cultural, and development services.

Over the years hundreds of thousands of people have availed themselves of the library facilities as an invaluable resource in their studies. Others who study in Britain have benefited from the advice and support received from the British Council. Added to this is a new generation who use the Council as a key source of English and Management Training or simply as a resource of finding out about Britain. February 1999 saw the opening of the new Millennium Wing, specially designed for the teaching of young learners.

Sri Lanka has scored a first by becoming the only country among 109 contries in which The British Council operates to issue a stamp in recognition of its services. An art competition was conducted amongst young learners from The British Council's Language Centres in Colombo and Kandy. The colourful winning entry depicting the diverse activities of The British Council was that of 12-year-old Udayakumari Kulasekera, a student at the Kandy Centre. The winner and four runners-up were presented with awards and certificates following the cancellation and the presentation of the stamp and first day covers.

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