Review: Mommy Dead and Dearest

An "ill" Gypsy Rose with mother Dee Dee

Another documentary I saw on the flight to Hong Kong was Mommy Dead and Dearest that was released in 2017, about the shocking tale of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard.

The film opens with Gypsy Rose at the police station and is told that her mother is dead.

She reacts with horror and fear, but the young woman is arrested -- for her role in her mother's murder, while her boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn did the dirty deed.

Gypsy Rose was sentenced to 10 years in jail

But soon the motive becomes clear and viewers begin to realise what kind of life Gypsy Rose had up until this point.

When Gypsy Rose was a baby, her mother claimed her daughter had numerous illnesses, and constantly took her to see doctors, who prescribed medicines that would make her have those actual symptoms, and even underwent surgeries that she didn't need to have.

Dee Dee claimed her daughter had muscular dystrophy and couldn't walk, which led to charitable people and communities giving them free housing and donating clothes and necessities to them.

However in reality, Dee Dee had Munchausen syndrome, where a person fakes illnesses for attention, and in this case she forced her child to be sick for over two decades in a horrific form of physical and mental abuse.

There is a lot of archival footage and photographs of them in the film, which tries to be as objective as possible.

She married Anderson but are now separated

The documentary features long interviews with Gypsy Rose in her prison uniform, as well as with doctors and psychiatrists, police, lawyers, and her estranged father, grandparents and other relatives. It seems Dee Dee was shunned in the family as she stole from them and never seemed to tell the truth.

Gypsy Rose has picked up this trait as well to get what she wants, making one wonder how much they can trust what she says. 

But at the same time can you blame her? She spent so much time with her mother that it was the only behaviour she knew of, and her naivety is apparent in how she and Godejohn planned the murder. Gypsy Rose was desperate to get out of her situation but didn't think much of the future or the consequences. 

She didn't have much experience in making friends, let alone romantic relationships, and mostly went along with what Godejohn wanted in their sexual relationship. 

Therefore it's surprising Gypsy Rose married a Louisana teacher by the name Ryan Anderson while in prison in 2022, but it turns out last month she announced her separation from him after being released in December last year.

One wonders how much rehabilitation Gypsy Rose has had in prison and since she left jail serving a 10-year sentence. She has had a tough life and a skewed outlook that will greatly affect her future in her 30s and beyond.

Mommy Dead and Dearest

Director Erin Lee Carr

82 minutes

Review: Love in the Time of Revolution

Another 2019 protest documentary released last year

A Hong Kong activist group in Vancouver organised the screening of Love in the Time of Revolution at the Vancouver International Film Festival theatre this afternoon, including a Q&A with the director following the showing of the film.

Ticket for the film were sold out and the the theatre was open 30 minutes ahead of time. When I arrived, there were volunteers encouraging people to petition their Member of Parliament in protest of the Hong Kong police taking part in the World Police and Fire Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

All people had to do was find out who their MP was, fill in their name, and sign the form letter. On the envelope, they wrote the MP's name and address in Ottawa, with the return address on the back (to prove you are in their riding) and it would be mailed off free of charge (because it is to the MP).

Before the screening, Mabel Tung, chair of Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement said a few words. She was very emotional having already seen the film and encouraged the audience to stay behind for the Q&A. 

Ngan interviewed protesters as events unfolded

Love in the Time of Revolution runs 107 minutes and the documentary follows the 2019 protests through the eyes of a group people: Uncle Fat, a middle-aged man who knows what life on the streets is like, Mr Leader, a frontline protester along with a young couple, and Rai Riya, a young woman from South Asia, perhaps Malaysia? who is fluent in Cantonese.

There is a very quick history lesson at the beginning from 1984 when the Joint Declaration was signed, until 2014 and then five years later when then chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor proposed the extradition bill.

Footage from the peaceful marches of June 9 and 16 are shown, mixed together with June 12 when the first shots of teargas were fired by the Legislative Council.

The protesters justified their actions by saying the government ignored them compared to what happened in 2003 when half a million people came out to protest Article 23 and then it was indefinitely shelved. 

People felt there was no point in protesting peacefully and then going back to work the next day -- they didn't want to be ignored by the government, and wanted to create change.

Uncle Fat gives context and concern

So on July 1 the protesters finished their march and went to Legco again -- this time ramming into the building with makeshift tools. Pro-democracy lawmakers like Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung, Wu Chi-wai, and Lam Cheuk-ting desperately tried to stop the protesters from doing this, saying this was not a productive way forward. It was heart-breaking watching them try to physically stop this overwhelming wave of anger and frustration.

However, with other pro-democracy lawmakers had been disqualified, the ones who were left were a small minority who could not make any substantive change, which is why these protesters insisted on taking matters into their own hands.

Thus began the relentless scenes of violent protests, the teargas canisters flying through the air, the police brutality meted on protesters they captured, the bloodied faces, throwing Molotov cocktails, and the beatings commuters suffered at the hands of white-shirted men on the night of July 21, 2019.

Many of the scenes of violence are relentless and excessively long, and could have been edited down further, though the director Twinkle Ngan is keen on having Love in the Time of Revolution as a record of what happened. Nevertheless, it was re-traumatising and hard to watch.

A lot of protest scenes can be re-traumatising

Uncle Fat is an interesting character who nonchalantly says he was once involved with the triads, and how they have become gangsters only interested in money, with regards to the Yuen Long attacks. He constantly shows his concern for the young protesters, but there aren't any particular scenes of him actually helping them.

Riya says she and her family have been discriminated, perhaps for the darkness of her skin (which doesn't seem apparent in the film), but that she feels accepted in the movement and feels proud to defend Hong Kong.

The young couple brings some brevity to the film, as they tease each other about their techniques when on the front line, and how she needs to run faster if she wants to avoid being arrested.

Following the Polytechnic University standoff, the film just ends, adding that the imposition of the national security law led to the arrest and detainment of 47 pro-democracy lawmakers and activists, and that over 10,000 people were arrested.

Mr Leader is concerned about keeping the movement going and how the rest of the population needs to be mobilised into action -- it seems only the young people are brave enough to go on the front lines, some he says are as young as 10. He asks why it is only these kids who are willing to fight the state, but that they are exhausted and someone else needs to take their place.

Tung with Lee (above) and Ngan (below)

There is no answer, but it is evident others do not want to face a 10-year prison sentence for rioting, nor do they want to face police brutality, particularly in the hands of the "raptors", who showed no mercy.

After the film ended, Ngan and former Apple Daily executive Simon Lee appeared on the screen via video call. Lee seemed visibly upset, dabbing his eyes not once but twice, moved by the film and Ngan's comments.

He said this film was an important record, as the Chinese and Hong Kong governments are actively trying to rewrite history. 

Ngan said many people have asked him what they can do as the Hong Kong diaspora community. He explained that he himself had moved to the UK, and that he would continue to tell stories. Ngan said it was important to not feel helpless, but to be involved in the movement in whatever way they wanted to be.

A young student said he was now in university in Vancouver, but had trouble getting his fellow Hongkonger students involved and was frustrated. Ngan replied that there are reasons why others cannot be as active as him, as they may want to go back to Hong Kong at some point so they need to keep a low profile and not to blame them.

A middle-aged woman asked what happened to the people in the film. Ngan said Uncle Fat had moved to the UK as well, and spoke at length about Riya. He said when he last contacted her she has just gotten out of jail, and that she would sing the protest anthem to give her hope and strength.

It seems the next logical step would be what happened to people and Hong Kong following the national security law in July 2020. Is anyone working on this next chapter? It is a crucial one that was a tipping point for many to leave.

Love in the Time of Revolution

Directed by Twinkle Ngan

107 minutes

Bruce Lee's Philosophy and the 2019 Protests

Lee's saying, "Be water, my friend" inspired 2019 protesters

In North America it's July 20, the 50th anniversary of martial artist Bruce Lee's death at the age of 32.

Even five decades on Lee continues to hold a fascination for old and new fans.

Lee died 50 years ago today in Hong Kong

He inspired the 2019 protesters with his philosophy, "Be water, my friend".  Lee's full quote: "Be formless, shapeless, like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes a cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend."

What he meant was to constantly transform and adapt to situations, and with the protesters' uniform of all black, they were unidentifiable, and they made decisions organically, decentralising the movement.

Lee's saying actually comes from the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, who said: "Water is fluid, soft and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid and soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong."

Horrific attacks in the Yuen Long MTR station

In Hong Kong, it is the fourth anniversary of the July 21 attacks in Yuen Long. It was also the same day that protesters defaced the emblem of the People's Republic of China at the Liaison Office in Western.

Most people remember what happened in the Yuen Long MTR station and were traumatised watching the images of helpless people being attacked by men in white shirts with rods.  Those assaulted included lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, reporter turned politician Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam. 

Lam is in jail for his part in the Yuen Long attacks when he was a victim -- he was assaulted and had a wound that required 18 stitches on his mouth. Ho recorded someone hitting her with a rod, and she is in prison too.

Most Hongkongers did not trust the police ever again. They still don't and some are triggered seeing officers on the streets.

Ho became a politician after Yuen Long attacks

Tangentially journalist Bao Choy Yuk-ling worked on an RTHK documentary about the Yuen Long attacks, doing some investigative work on the vans that transported some of the attackers. 

For the award-winning documentary she was fired and then arrested for violating the Road Traffic Ordinance for falsely declaring her intention to find out the owners of the vans. 

She was found guilty of two charges and fined.

Last month she finally won her appeal against her sentence which was annulled by the Court of Final Appeal.

This was the one bright victory in the years since that fateful night. 

Meanwhile those who are languishing in jail are making the most of their time there.

Lam needed stitches after being attacked

It has been reported that a 21-year-old inmate earned the best-ever public exam result taken in prison in Hong Kong for the Diploma of Secondary Education Examination.

In addition eight of 18 young detainees who sat for the DSE exam achieved scores good enough to enter a university.

They are not only using their time behind bars to study hard, but it also shows Hong Kong jailing its best and brightest.

Feeding Pigeons in HK Could be Fined HK$100K

Feeding pigeons could soon become illegal and HK$100K fine

Hong Kong seems to be becoming more legalist by the day, as residents may be fined up to HK$100,000 (US$12,750) and one year in jail for feeding wild animals, including pigeons.

It is a proposal submitted to the Legislative Council by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in a bid to stop people from feeding these animals. The proposed fine amount is 10 times what it is now. 

For comparison sake, a dog owner not picking up his or her canine's feces is HK$1,500.

Wild boars dig through human garbage for food

Needless to say animal activists and public policy experts say the move is out of proportion and question if this kind of punishment will be effective.

AFCD says residents feeding pigeons "constitute a public health issue".

"Feeding feral pigeons will inevitably attract other wild animals... to eat the food given by the feeders," a spokesman said, citing species such as spotted doves, tree sparrows, monkeys and wild boars.

But Benson Wong Wai-kwok, a retired assistant political science professor at Baptist University specialising in comparative public administration, said such a heavy penalty for a relatively light wrongdoing was a "disproportional move".

"Instead of addressing the problem, this policy may probably yield nothing but seed fear among residents," he warned.

There is a valid concern about feeding wild boars, but in the time that I had encounters with these creatures, no one fed them. 

Nevertheless, surely if this whopping fine does become law, it will be reported internationally for sure -- "Feed the pigeons in Hong Kong and get fined over US$12K!"

Is that a happy Hong Kong story?

Chan budgets extra HK$5B for national security

Or how about the fact that the Hong Kong government has budgeted an additional HK$5 billion for national security. 

During his 2021 budget speech, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po had allocated HK$8 billion and told reporters after it would be "enough to last for the next few years".

That amount was to to be used for "minor construction works, specialised equipment, system set-up, machinery" or other capital expenditure.

Imagine if the HK$5 billion was focused on housing homeless people, or giving men living in cages a decent place to live. What about those people in those subdivided flats? 

It's another priority Beijing has told Hong Kong to work on, or has housing these people taken a back seat?

Meanwhile those container flats at Penny's Bay are still empty and unused...

Recycling was never Hong Kong's strong suit.

Respected Ex-Lawmaker Moves to Canada

Cheung has left Hong Kong for Toronto

There was word today that former pro-democratic lawmaker Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung has left Hong Kong and migrated to Toronto, weeks after he was released from serving a three-week jail sentence in February.

He went there, because at least his "basic freedoms no longer needed to be granted by those in power".

He fought for ethnic minorities and disabled

Cheung's departure with his family was confirmed by Chung Kim-wah, the deputy executive director of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute, who had also left for the UK on April 25, citing "threats from powerful bodies" and fears over crossing "moving red lines".

"I wish my respected friend Cheung Chiu-hung and his family a happy life in Canada," Chung wrote on Facebook on Wednesday morning.

Cheung is known for advocating for ethnic minorities and people with disabilities, inspired by his daughter who has severe intellectual disability. He also has another daughter and a son. 

In his reply to Chung's post, Cheung said: "In my current situation, I need to spend more time taking care of my daughter and my family. Being a caregiver is not easy. We are still close to each other, no matter in any corner of the world, and we will not forget why we started.

"I am not yet in a stable situation now, but at least it is safe, and my basic freedoms no longer need to be granted by those in power."

Cheung forcibly removed from Legco

The 65-year-old Cheung was born in Macau, educated in Hong Kong and then went to the United States to study further, and obtained American citizenship.

However, he gave it up when he ran for a social welfare seat in the Legislative Council in 2004. He was in and out of Legco for 12 years until 2020 when he resigned with 14 other colleagues to protest the disqualification of four of their peers.

At the time Cheung said, "Our sky has fallen apart now... Even people like me, regarded as very 'soft' protesters, have become Beijing's target."

Since then Cheung kept a low profile, but this past February he was jailed for three weeks on a contempt charge for protesting against a rival, Starry Lee Wai-king, assuming control in a chaotic Legco meeting in 2020, in the first such conviction since indirect elections were introduced more than three decades ago.

When he went to jail, Cheung was very worried about his mentally disabled daughter, as the two are close and she was used to seeing him everyday. It was also heard but. not reported that Cheung was infected with Covid-19 while behind bars, and that the prisoners' rights were not respected.

Cheung with his mentally disabled daughter

He was released on February 25 and now he has left Hong Kong. 

It is a relief to hear this respected lawmaker finally somewhere safe. Also his daughter will have access to good social assistance when it comes to disabilities, unlike Hong Kong.

We wish Cheung and his family best of luck with their new lives in Toronto. He deserves peace and quiet after all the tumult they have been through in the last few years.