Star*Men (2015) (7/10)

I had the pleasure of watching the movie directed by Alison Rose at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium, followed by Q&A with two of the stars Donald Lynden-Bell and Nick Woolf, and the director. These two along with Roger Griffin and Wallace Sargent formed a quartet of British astronomers in their mid-twenties who found themselves together at Caltech in Pasadena the 1960s as postdocs and went on to become shining astronomers, through, what Wal would call hard work. Their passion for astronomy and travel saw them do many road-trips then. Fifty years later they decided to revisit some of those places, and Star*Men is a documentation of that.

Watching it at Caltech with fellow-astronomers was special. It was good to see Donald Lynden-Bell on stage answering questions about what he would do today and what he thought of space explorations and humanity and all that. I first met him about twenty years ago at IUCAA, India when I was a graduate student myself, and he does not seem to have aged a bit. That is what is also reflected in the movie as they travel and talk about some of their thoughts about, well, the life, the universe, and everything. I had the privilege of interacting with Pandit Wal at Caltech with whom I could chat about quasars as well as cricket. While there are many great astronomers, as also other professionals in different fields, the story shows how the bond of friendship between these four and the world outside astronomy - if connected by astronomy - stayed strong for five decades. Though they do not discuss much science, I hope it conveys to the young watchers their fascination for it and perhaps helps them gravitate to it. 

Star*Men  (2015) (7/10)

Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006) (8/10)

Gory details of the killing of a good initiative. Given the vagaries of the gas prices (they are down today, but wait until summer) and the demand for hybrids, the wonderful, if fledgling, electric cars that were around a few years back and then gotten rid of by car companies, oil industry, politicians, selfish California officials is nothing short of shameful. That in fact is a very mild word.

The documentary is fairly thorough in looking at different aspects of the introduction and vanishing of the electric car. When the time is ripe things happen. Or do they? Hopefully the Japaneses hybrids and electrics will keep coming. If the US wants to play dumb, so be it. I wonder why other countries had not picked up the development though.

Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)(8/10)

The future of food (2004) (7/10)

This is a documentary and worth a watch. I was not sure of the exact dangers posed by genetically modified foods. It is now amply clear that much of the threat if from greedy people rather than the inherent biological aspect of it. It is big corporations which lobby, patent and drive farmers out of a livelihood. The second generation sterility is artificially imposed. Strongly recommended.

The future of food (2004) (7/10)

Life and Debt (2001) (7/10)

This Jamaican documentary explores the effect of globalisation on Jamaica. IMF restrictions, US bullying form the axis of evil for them. US companies use cheap labour through free zones, do not pay taxes, proper wages, and try to stop Europe from buying their bananas by complaining to WTO. Related issues are explored very well in the documentary and teach a lot about complex world affairs in a very straightforward manner. It does not provide any possible solutions though. May be it is left to the viewers to see how they can help. What long-term effects will globalisation have on a country like India?

Life and Debt (2001) (7/10)

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004) (8/10)

A documentary which rightly got a "truer than fiction" award, it is about how children who would otherwise be potentially stuck in a vicious cycle are enabled by learning to use a camera to make way for their talents, creativity and explore aspects of life that would not otherwise have been possible. Siding the nurture aspect of upbringing, it also is a triumph of a well planned project taken to a logical conclusion. At least up to the limits external help can take one. Then of course it is up to the horse. What other parallel things can individuals do?

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids (2004) (8/10)