Page 2 April 18, 2019
Entertainment
Check It Out
Film Review
Mary Magdalene: A Timely,
Quietly Captivating Biblical Drama
By Morgan Rojas
for www.cinemacy.com
Just in time for Easter Sunday comes Mary
Magdalene, another emotional drama from director
Garth Davis (Lion) that brings the story
of the apostle (or mythical apostle, depending
on whom you ask) Mary Magdalene to light
for the first time. Aside from the film’s visual
beauty, it’s important to note that Mary Magdalene
is the last film score by the incredibly
gifted composer Jóhann Jóhannsson.
The film opens on a shot of a woman drowning
-- her wavering, sinking body looking more like
an underwater ballet than a death. This imagery
is strong, but should not be taken literally. It is
made to resemble Mary’s (Rooney Mara) suffocation
at the hands of her father, her arranged
marriage and her lack of a sense of purpose.
Mary is beautiful and headstrong -- two qualities
that aren’t compatible with her time -- and so
all she can do is pray for change. When news
spreads that a mysterious man named Jesus
(Joaquin Phoenix) has come into town, claiming
he knows the path to God’s kingdom, Mary
finally sees a way out. Without hesitation, Mary
follows her faith and blindly follows Jesus and
his disciples, including Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor),
on his journey to preach the word of God.
Mary falls under the spell of the bearded
messiah after witnessing him heal the blind and
bring people back from the dead, but it is their
intimate, abstract discussions that bond the two.
There is no romance between Jesus and Mary.
It is purely platonic (off-screen, however, Phoenix
and Mara found love on the set). Mary is
there with Jesus until the very end as he hung
lifeless on the cross. She was there when he
was buried in the tomb made of rocks. And she
was the first person to witness his resurrection.
Rooney Mara’s ethereal beauty and wideeyed
innocence are natural features that make
her the perfect Mary. She reteams with Garth
Davis and delivers a simmering performance.
From Jesus to the Joker in a matter of months,
Joaquin Phoenix flexes his range as an actor
as the proverbial Son of God. This film proves
that he really can do it all.
Throughout the film, Davis is respectful
to the religion and the beliefs of Christians,
handling the crucifixion and miracles with
sensitivity. He even goes so far as to dispel
the popular “rumor” that Mary Magdalene
was a prostitute. In one of the title cards at
the end of the film, a statement reads this was
a “misconception” started by Pope Gregory
in 591 AD.
Believer or not, there is a quiet captivation
in Mary Magdalene that audiences will find
themselves lost in, be it the picturesque surroundings,
Mara and Phoenix’s chemistry, or
the gift of hearing Jóhann Jóhannsson’s final
musical score one last time.
Mary Magdalene is rated R. 120 minutes.
Now playing at Laemmle theaters and on
VOD and digital platforms. •
Mary Magdalene, Coutesy of IFC Films.
The Snow Lion by
Jim Helmore and Richard Jones
Reviewed by Kristina Kora-Beckman,
Librarian, El Segundo Public Library
This week, I’m reviewing a lovely new
picture book about friendship and finding
courage to face the unknown: The Snow Lion
by Jim Helmore and Richard Jones. Beautiful
as it is poignant, the story follows shy
heroine Caro who has moved to a new home
and struggles to adjust. But then she finds
the snow lion and her days are full of fun,
playing games with her new friend. When a
neighborhood boy invites Caro to come play,
she’s reluctant to leave her comfort zone with
the snow lion…but with gentle nudging, she
eventually finds her way.
Quiet yet sincere, my family and I enjoyed
the soft illustrations, wise and thoughtful
advice and empowering ending. As a shy
kid myself, I liked how the lion helped
Caro come to her own conclusions, in her
own way, at her own pace rather than
forcing her to confront her fears before she
was ready.
To check out The Snow Lion, or browse
more fabulous new picture books, please
visit the library to apply for your free library
card. For more reassuring young reader
picks and staff favorites, stop by our Youth
Services Desk, our friendly Youth Services
librarians would love to help you find your
next great read! •
The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore and Richard Jones. Kristina Kora-Beckman.
Morgan Rojas
Calendar of Events
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THURSDAY, APR. 18
• Chess for All Ages, 4:30 PM., free, Crenshaw
Imperial Branch Library, 11141 Crenshaw
Blvd., Call: 310-412-5403.
• Board Games Day, 4:00 PM. – 5:00 PM.,,
Hawthorne Library, 12700 Grevillea Ave,
Hawthorne, Call: 310-679-8193.
• Family Movie, 4:00 PM. – 5:30 PM., Inglewood
Public Library, 101 W. Manchester
Blvd., Call: 310-412-5380.
FRIDAY, APR. 19
• Teen Club, 3:00 PM. – 4:30 PM., Inglewood
Public Library, 101 W. Manchester Blvd.,
Call: 310-412-5380.
• STEAM for Kids, 3:00 PM. – 4:00 PM.,
Ages 8 & up, Inglewood Public Library, 101
W. Manchester Blvd., Call: 310-412-5380.
SATURDAY, APR. 20
• Bunny Breakfast, 9:00 AM. – 12:00 PM., Hawthorne
Memorial Center 3901 W. El Segundo
Blvd., Must register prior to the day, Cost
is $5.00, Call for more info: 310-349-1640.
• Earth Day Festival, 9:00 AM. – 1:00 PM.,
Hawthorne Memorial Park, 3901 El Segundo
Blvd., Hawthorne, Call for more info: 310-
349-2903.
• Family Story Time, 1:00 PM. – 2:00 PM.,
free, Inglewood Public Library, 101 W. Manchester
Blvd., Call: 310-412-5380.
SUNDAY, APR. 21
• HAPPY EASTER!!!!
MONDAY, APR. 22
• Monday Mania, Earth Day Program for
Kids, 4:00 PM. – 5:00 PM., free, Inglewood
Public Library, 101 W. Manchester Blvd.,
Call: 310-412-5380.
• Hawthorne Parks & Recreation Foundation
30th Annual Golf Tournament, 10:00 AM.
– 5:00 PM., Industry Hills Golf Club, One
Industry Hills Parkway.
TUESDAY, APR. 23
• Brick Building, 3:30 PM. – 5:00 PM., free,
Crenshaw Imperial Branch Library, 11141
Crenshaw Blvd., Call: 310-412-5403.
• Chess for Adults, 6:00 PM., free, Inglewood
Public Library, 101 W. Manchester Blvd.,
Call: 310-412-5380.
• Family Story Time, 6:30 PM., Inglewood
Public Library, 101 W. Manchester Blvd.,
Call: 310-412-5380.
• LA Maker Space: Robotics for Teens, 3:30 PM.
– 5:00 PM., Hawthorne Library, 12700 Grevillea
Ave, Hawthorne, Call: 310-679-8193.
• Hawthorne City Council Meeting, 6:00 PM.,
Hawthorne City Hall, 4455 W. 126th Street.
WEDNESDAY, APR. 24
• Building Bricks/Board Games, 3:30 PM.,
free, Inglewood Public Library, 101 W.
Manchester Blvd., Call: 310-412-5380.
• Children’s Chess Club, 4:30 PM., children 18
& below, free, Inglewood Public Library, 101
W. Manchester Blvd., Call: 310-412-5380.
• Parent/Child Workshop, 5:00 PM. – 6:00
PM., Hawthorne Library, 12700 Grevillea
Ave, Hawthorne, Call: 310-679-8193.
• Inglewood Visionaries Toastmasters Club
#4404 Meeting, 6:00 PM., Inglewood Center
for Spiritual Living, 525 No. Market St.,
For more info: www.ing4404.toastmastersclubs.
org
THURSDAY, APR. 25
• Chess for All Ages, 4:30 PM., free, Crenshaw
Imperial Branch Library, 11141 Crenshaw
Blvd., Call: 310-412-5403.
• Family Movie, 4:00 PM. – 5:30 PM., Inglewood
Public Library, 101 W. Manchester
Blvd., Call: 310-412-5380.
• Baby Story Time, 10:30 AM. – 11:30 AM.,
ages 0-18 months, Crenshaw Imperial
Branch Library, 11141 Crenshaw Blvd, Call:
310-412-5403.
• Toddler Story Time, 11:30 AM. – 12:30 PM.,
ages 18 months to 3 yrs, Crenshaw Imperial
Branch Library, 11141 Crenshaw Blvd, Call:
310-412-5403.
UPCOMING EVENT: SUNDAY, APRIL 28TH
• Inglewood Park Cemetery Open House, 1:00
PM. – 4:00 PM., Free Event, Live Concert,
Unveiling at Angel Sculpture Garden and
Estates, Tours, Food Trucks. •
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