Page 2 January 17, 2019
Entertainment
The Girls in the Picture
by Melanie Benjamin
Reviewed by Kristina Kora-Beckman,
Librarian, El Segundo Public Library
Novelist Melanie Benjamin’s latest historical
fiction book, The Girls in the Picture, provides
an in-depth look into the colorful lives and
relationships of early Hollywood trailblazers
Frances Marion and Mary Pickford. Both
women break into the industry in its early
days -- and through hard work, business
savvy and discipline, they earn unparalleled
success. But as the industry evolves, Frances
and Mary struggle to adapt to changes that
affect their personal and professional lives.
Benjamin excels at immersing readers into
the lives and eras of her complex characters.
I enjoyed finding out the backstories of
these strong but flawed women and their
complicated, lifelong friendship. I admired
Marion and Pickford’s dedication and
courage to succeed in the industry they loved.
Living in LA, I also found the glimpse into
the movie business fascinating, from its
humble beginnings to the major players during
the silent and early “talkie” eras -- and
particularly in the “Me Too” movement
era when women struggle to be taken seriously in
the workplace despite their talent and expertise.
To check out Girls, or browse more titles
by Benjamin, please visit the library to apply
for your free library card. This title is also
available in audiobook format, which can be
enjoyed while exercising, driving, knitting,
and gardening, etc. -- a great way to include
more reading into your 2019! •
Check It Out
The Girls in the Picture by Melanie Benjamin. Kristina Kora-Beckman.
Film Review
Ashes in the Snow is Big,
Bold, and Beautiful
By Morgan Rojas
for www.cinemacy.com
Ashes in the Snow is not for the faint
of heart. This coming-of-age story is a
heartbreaking tale of innocence and young
love set against the brutally cold and dismal
backdrop of remote Siberia. In director Marius
Markevicius’ historical drama, based on
the novel Between Shades of Gray by Ruta
Sepetys, one teenager’s resilience and
passion to create art even in the darkest of
circumstances is a touching and tender watch.
Set in 1941, in the middle of WWII,
16-year-old Lina (Bel Powley) is a talented
artist living at home in Lithuania with her
mother Elena (Lisa Loven Kongsli), father
Kostas (Sam Hazeldine), and younger brother
Jonas (Tom Sweet). One night, a group of
Soviet officers kidnaps the unsuspecting
family from their home and forces them, along
with hundreds of other captives, onto a train
headed to one of Joseph Stalin’s work camps
in Siberia. Devastated and confused, yet trying
to be strong for her mother, Lina realizes that
continuing to create her art could possibly
lead to freedom -- if not physically, then at
least mentally.
Ashes in the Snow is a wonderful character
study of the depths of humanity and the duality
of man’s capabilities when put in situations
with dire consequences. Screenwriter Ben
York Jones, who recently added “creator
credit” to his resume with the Netflix
series Everything Sucks!, is no stranger
to developing passionate and affecting
love stories. A frequent collaborator with
director Drake Doremus (Newness, Like
Crazy), Jones brings visceral heartache
and layered character complexity to this
independent film, proving once again that a
good love story can transcend time.
The conflict between Lina’s mother and
the baby-faced young Soviet soldier Nikolai
Kretzsky (Martin Wallström) provides
much of the film’s electric tension. Nikolai
confides to Elena that he shares her feelings
of frustration about the position in which he
has been put. However, their shared feelings
toward their mutual circumstances aren’t
enough to form any sort of bond between
them. The two develop a dysfunctional
relationship that stands in complete contrast to
the evolving relationship Lina finds herself in
with a fellow prisoner, Andrius (Jonah Hauer-
King). A slight nod to the Shakespearean
dilemma of two lovers being torn apart by
their surroundings, their optimism is a muchneeded
signal of strength.
The colors are crisp and bold, the landscape
is vast and unrelenting, and even the dirt
that covers the Lithuanian’s faces can’t hide
their beauty. A powerful story that is equally
matched with breathtaking cinematography
and a haunting score from German pianist
and composer Hauschka (real name Volker
Bertelmann), Ashes in the Snow is a cinematic
triumph.
Ashes in the Snow is not rated. 98 minutes.
Now playing at Laemmle Music Hall and
streaming on VOD. •
Ashes in the Snow, Courtesy of Vertical Entertainment.
Morgan Rojas
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