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Commentary: Be Curious Enough To Go See ‘Parasite’

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michael
By Michael Leppert

MichaelLeppert.com

It has become as predictable and distinct as any sports or holiday season. What are the highlights of late November through the end of January as winter sets in here in the Midwest? Oh sure, many would point to their favorite festivity during that long stretch of holidays. Others might point to the crescendos of both college and pro football seasons, while warming up for what really matters in Indiana, basketball.

Each year I am driven closer to accepting my favorite thing about the region’s worst weather-months. It’s movie season. Good movie season, that is. And if there is a great movie made during the course of the year, you can bet it was in theaters in the last two months.

It is an imperfect way to treat moviegoers. Scheduling is a challenge. I still prefer seeing my favorite movies on the big screen. For anyone who saw 1917 at the theater, or even at an IMAX like we did, try to imagine loving that movie as much watching it on an iPhone. I have not yet seen Little Women, but I can tell from the trailer that it was beautifully filmed. The best movies still should be seen in the theater. That is, if you love movies.

Which brings me to my favorite film of the year, Parasite. If it weren’t for “the season” and its Oscar nomination as Best Picture, I probably wouldn’t have gone to see it. There are a few nominees I still need to see, and I try to see them all. That has also become more difficult with the expanded nominee list, nine films are on it this year. And Just Mercy isn’t one of them which is a snub worthy of a column all its own.

Parasite was playing from behind with moviegoers in America from the start. First, it is set in Seoul, Korea which is a city that for many Americans could just as easily be another planet. Second, and probably more importantly, its language is Korean with English subtitles. Half of the people I have spoken to about the movie say they have no interest in a movie they have to read. It was sort of the way I felt toward Romawhen it was nominated last year. Roma was slightly less challenging because it was set in Mexico City and the language, while not one I speak, is one that is far more familiar to me and many other Americans. Of course it had the added risk of being shot in black and white, which not everyone appreciates, regardless of how visually magnificent it was on its way to its Best Cinematography Oscar.

The story in Parasite was fascinating. It was hilarious and tragic. It was provocative. And it was a journey for this American to a place and a culture that appeared so different at the beginning, but felt incredibly familiar with rapid speed. It is a story about the Kims, a poor family that plots and schemes its way into employment at the home of the wealthy Parks. The con they run is complex and funny, and all of them contribute fantastically to the “artist” part of their con-artist designation.

That part of the story would have been enough to make the movie awfully good. But when the first signs of the certain collision of the socioeconomic classes that separate the families appear, the emotional elements of that strain begin to take over. The conflict leads to an epic climax, and an intriguing aftermath.

So, what?

So, don’t let the things that might make one hesitate to go to or simply watch this movie when it becomes available on other platforms keep anyone from doing so. I am a movie fan. I have not transitioned into the series-binge-watching culture of Netflix and Amazon just yet. I continue to be excited about the two hour cinema escape and not the eight hour investment a season series might take. I didn’t see Breaking Bad, and there is so much of it to see, I doubt I ever will.

All of that aside, the real reason I want people to see Parasite is for the cultural experience it portrays. Like Roma did last year, it makes us think just a little more about the things that make our cultures unique, but more so for me, they show our similarities.

I have never been to Mexico City or Seoul, or really experienced the cultures of those places. Not yet, any way. But I sure am curious about both of them now.

FOOTNOTE: Michael Leppert is a public and governmental affairs consultant in Indianapolis and writes his thoughts about politics, government and anything else that strikes him at MichaelLeppert.com.

 

Senate Bill Would Require Reasonable Accommodations For Pregnant Workers

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TheStatehouseFile.com

INDIANAPOLIS—When Destiny Faceson needed time off during her first pregnancy for her prenatal appointment, she couldn’t get anyone to change shifts with her and she ended up losing her job.

With her second pregnancy she had to take unpaid leave and when she returned, there was no accommodation so she could continue to breast feed her child.

Faceson’s experience is an example of why Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, co-authored Senate Bill 342, which requires employers provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant or women who are breastfeeding.

“Put yourself in the shoes of the mother,” Faceson said as she described her experience of being pregnant in the workplace. “If it were you, i it were your daughter, or your aunt, or your grandmother back then. It affects everybody.”

Breast feeding accommodations, necessary bathroom and water breaks, limited lifting after a certain point in the pregnancy, and scheduling changes for prenatal care are examples of accommodations employers would be required to make under SB 342, said Erin Macey, senior policy analyst for Indiana Institute for Working Families.

If there is a dispute on what is reasonable accommodation, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission would decide.

Indiana already prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy under the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Alting said there is a loophole that needs to be filled.

Under current legislation, there are no guidelines or guard rails that tell employers and pregnant workers where they can draw the line, said Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, who has signed on as a co-author. The proposed law would provide clearer guidelines.

Indiana ranks third in the nation on maternal mortality, Alting noted, which is the same mortality rate as Vietnam. He said Indiana also ranks seventh in the nation in infant mortality.

“Indiana is better than that, and we can do better than that,” he said.

Ford said that part of this problem stems from unreasonable work conditions for women, adding, “One of the reasons is, because women are literally working up to the day that they are giving birth.”

Macey said SB 342 is about keeping women in the workplace and keeping them safe. Many women need and want to continue in their jobs throughout their pregnancy in order to bring a paycheck home. They should not have to work in unsafe situations or take unpaid leave, she added.

There are many advantages in this bill for both the employer and pregnant women, Alting said. It lays out the guidelines for the women but does not put a burden on the employer.

“We don’t want to panic the business community out there, thinking they’re going to have to put in beds, and great expense, a lot of time off work. These are reasonable accommodations. Common sense accommodations,” Alting said.

The bill will be heard Monday before the Senate Family and Children Services Committee.

FOOTNOTE: Haley Pritchett is a reporter with TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

 

Could Indiana Lose Out On Top Concerts?

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Could Indiana Lose Out On Top Concerts?
Watch out, concertgoers.

Entertainment venue operators are warning that a bill moving through the Indiana General Assembly could impact their ability to attract certain artists to perform in Indiana.

The bill would ban non-transferable tickets, which artists sometimes request for security purposes or to guarantee tickets will be sold to fans at face value, for concerts and other entertainment events. Important note: This would not apply to sporting events.

Republican Rep. Martin Carbaugh of Fort Wayne says he’s trying to protect an individual’s right to resell his or her ticket or give it to a friend or family member at the last minute.

“We need to have transferability,” Carbaugh said. “Things happen where people can’t go. Stuff pops up. They need to be able to sell them.”

Venue operators say that is generally allowed—only about 1% of tickets are non-transferable—but they still want the option.

After another legislator pointed out that New York has a similar law in effect, and obviously still attracts big concerts, Live Nation Entertainment Vice President Tom Mendenhall quickly rejected that line of thinking.

“Most artists are going to play in New York City,” Mendenhall said. “We’re not New York City.”

For more on this issue, which has both Democrats and Republicans breaking with their parties, read my story here.

STEM Escape Room Event Planned for High School Girls

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High School girls are invited to a special Girls STEM Day promoting the career fields in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. It is designed as an Escape Room activity, where the girls will have to use concepts in these fields to solve puzzles and “escape.” It will be conducted at Ivy Tech Community College, February 29, from 9-11:30 a.m.

This free event is designed around the scenario that zombies are coming and the girls will have to solve how to get out of the room and save the pizza, before the zombies arrive.

Prizes will be awarded and lunch provided. A special activity is planned for any parents who would like to attend. Registration is limited to the first 50 students to register at http://bit.ly/HSGirlsSTEM

The event is funded through the Marilyn J. Klenck Fund for Education and Literacy at the Community Foundation Alliance, supporting southern Indiana.

Indiana Dominates Purdue at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center

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Indiana Dominates Purdue at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center

 BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams dominated in-state rivals Purdue by scores of 174-120 (women’s) and 179-112 (men’s) at the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center on Saturday afternoon.

Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie and his wife, Laurie Burns McRobbie, attended the meet as art of the Bicentennial celebration.

TEAM SCORES

Men

No. 5 Indiana 179, RV Purdue 112

Women

No. 15 Indiana 174, Purdue 120

HOOSIER WINNERS

MEN

Zane Backes – 100 breaststroke (53.33); 200 medley relay (1:26.76)

Bruno Blaskovic – 100 freestyle (44.04)

Mikey Calvillo – 1,000 freestyle (9:11.11)

Gabriel Fantoni – 200 backstroke (1:48.29); 200 medley relay (1:26.76)

Matt Jerden – 200 butterfly (1:49.21)

Brandon Hamblin – 200 medley relay (1:26.76)

Jakub Karl – 200 freestyle (1:38.32)

Van Mathias – 100 butterfly (48.19)

Iago Moussalem – 200 medley relay (1:26.76)

Mohamed Samy – 100 backstroke (47.56); 200 breaststroke (1:58.68)

Cole VanDevender – 1-meter diving (345.75)

WOMEN

Cora Dupre – 100 backstroke (54.56); 200 backstroke (1:57.82); 100 butterfly (54.97)

Laurel Eiber – 100 freestyle (51.26)

Carla Gildersleeve – 200 butterfly (2:00.91)

Grace Haskett – 200 medley relay (1:42.10)

Maria Paula Heitmann – 200 freestyle (1:50.11)

Cassy Jernberg – 500 freestyle (4:55.39); 1,000 freestyle (10:10.52)

Shelby Koontz – 200 medley relay (1:42.10)

Noelle Peplowski – 400 IM (4:18.52); 200 medley relay (1:42.10)

Zain Smith – 1-meter diving (286.05)

Ashley Turak – 200 medley relay (1:42.10)

Emily Weiss – 100 breaststroke (1:00.92); 200 breaststroke (2:12.18)

NOTABLES

  • Prior to the meet beginning, the Indiana University swim and dive program honored the following seniors: Wyeth Brock, Hope Hayward, Maria Paula Heitmann, Cassy Jernberg, Shelby Koontz, Mohamed Samy, Hannah Leybo (trainer), Josiah Parr (swim manager), and Jim Schuman (swim manager).
  • The Hoosiers won 23 of the 32 contested events and saw seven individuals win multiple events. Freshman Cora Dupre led the charge with three event victories.
  • The Indiana men have now defeated Purdue in 10-straight dual meets, dating back to the 2009-10 season. The women’s team holds a nine-meet winning streak over the in-state rival.
  • NCAA CUTS

A: None.

B: Zane Backes (100 breast, 53.33); Gabriel Fantoni (100 back, 47.59); Noelle Peplowski (100 breast, 1:01.22); Mohamed Samy (100 back, 47.56) Emily Weiss (100 breast, 1:00.92; 200 breast, 2:12.18)

NCAA Zones Qualifying Scores

1-Meter:  Mory Gould (320.25); Zain Smith (286.05); Cole VanDevender (345.75)

Platform: None.

 UP NEXT

The Indiana Hoosier swimming and diving teams will close out the dual meet slate with a trip to Louisville to take on the Cardinals on Jan. 31. The competition is slated to begin a 2 p.m. at the Ralph Wright Natatorium.

 

Junior Jennifer Comastri Posted Her Second Provisional Qualifying Mark Of The Season

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind.— Junior Jennifer Comastri posted her second provisional qualifying mark of the season at the Gladstein Inivitational Friday.

Comastri won the 3000 meters with a NCAA II provisional qualifying time of 9 minutes, 42.53 seconds. Senior teammate, Hope Jones also had an impressive outing coming in eighth with a time of 10:15.33.

Other Notables: Comastri’s 3000m time is currently fifth-fastest in the nation. Also, Comastri set a new Screaming Eagles’ record besting Mary Ballinger mark set in 2009. Comastri now has NCAA provisional marks in both the 3000m and 5000m for the indoor season.

Up Next: The Eagles will return to action on Feb. 1 for the Greyhound Invitational held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

EPD REPORT

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EPD REPORT

Shelbyville Attorney Suspended After Secretary’s Felony Theft

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A Shelbyville lawyer whose legal secretary was convicted of felony theft and fraud charges has been suspended for 60 days for his failure to supervise the secretary’s actions.

Attorney James Lisher’s attorney discipline case traces all the way back to 2001, when he hired nonlawyer Heather Brant to work for him at the Lisher Law Office in Shelbyville. Brant worked for Lisher until 2018 and was given “broad authority” to handle tasks including client communication, banking and electronic filing.

But in 2018, Brant stile thousands of dollars from the firm’s operating account, overdrafted its trust account and created several fraudulent court orders and other legal documents. Lisher did not maintain appropriate trust account records, a Thursday discipline order says, so “Brant’s improper actions were enabled in significant part by Respondent’s failure to appropriately supervise her.”

Online court records show Brant pleaded guilty last October to theft, identity deception and fraud on a financial institution, all as Level 5 felonies.

She was sentenced to concurrent terms of 2,190 days in the Department of Correction, with 2,189 days suspended and one day executed. She was given one day of actual credit and was ordered to serve 2,189 days on probation.

Brant was also ordered to pay $178,387.16 in restitution. Of that amount, $72,790.96 was to be paid to Lisher.

A compliance hearing in Brant’s case is set for 8:30 a.m. July 16 in Johnson Superior Court 2.

“The parties cite Respondent’s substantial experience in the practice of law as a fact in aggravation,” the Indiana Supreme Court wrote in the discipline order. “In mitigation the parties cite among other things Respondent’s lack of prior discipline, his lack of dishonest or selfish motive, his restitution to affected clients, and his cooperation with the disciplinary process.”

Lisher was found to have violated five Indiana Professional Conduct and Admission and Discipline Rules: Rule 1.5(a), Rule 5.3(b), Rule 23(29)(a)(3), Rule 23(29)(a)(7) and Rule 23(29)(c)(7).

The parties agreed on the 60-day suspension with automatic reinstatement in In the Matter of: James R. Lisher, 19S-DI-535.

ADOPT A PET

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Captain is a 6-month-old male brown tabby! He and his siblings were found as strays just before Christmas. They received names from “The Nutcracker & the Four Realms.” His adoption fee is $40 and includes his neuter, microchip, first vaccines & deworming, and more. Contact Vanderburgh Humane at (812) 426-2563 for adoption details!

ECVB MEETING

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