Famous Hollywood performing artists and comedians Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were American favorites, an on- and off-screen couple, who together have created many legends. Today we will introduce to you one of their most popular sitcoms “I Love Lucy” as well as the comedy film “The Long, Long Trailer,” co-starring this lovely couple. Set in an apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper East S

Yesterday was the Lunar New Year, and to welcome the Year of the Ox, we will present two wonderful films about our bovine animal friends who, just like us, are born free and should be respected: “Ferdinand” and “Bovines or the Real Life of Cows.” Our first film, “Ferdinand,” starts in Casa del Toro, a ranch in Spain that raises and trains bulls for the arena. It is also where our hero, Ferd

Let’s first take a look at “Talk to the Animals,” a short film directed by Charlie Picerni and written by Gregory Crosby and Spice Williams-Crosby. The film begins as a lady feeds her dog in a park. She appears to live there with a few simple belongings. In a flashback, we learn that her name is Lucy. Lucy has been diagnosed with brain cancer and dementia, and she knows that her life on Earth may

Today we will present two inspiring spiritual movies about the venerated enlightened Master Paramahansa Yogananda. “Awake: The Life of Yogananda” is a 2014 documentary about the great Indian Guru who brought yoga and meditation to the West in the 1920s and inspired millions of people seeking spiritual awakening. The film begins prior to the birth of Mukunda Lal Ghosh, later known as Paramahans

Today we present two inspirational films about Mother Nature: “My Octopus Teacher” and “Gaia.” When Craig Foster, a filmmaker, videographer, and diver, experiences a very tough time in life, he can hardly work and finds it difficult to be a good father. He knows a radical change is needed. Following an inner calling to go to the ocean, he moves back to the place where he spent his childhood, happi

Today, December 24th, is Christmas Eve. We are going to present two cartoon films about this joyous and holy holiday season featuring our legendary animal friends: “The Star” and the 1948 “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The film “The Star” transports us back to “Nazareth, 9 months B.C.” A kind and loving Mary is visited by an angel telling her that she has been chosen to bear the Son of God,

Today, we will present two poetic movies about cats: “Kedi” and “The Cat Returns.” Our first movie is the beautifully made 2016 Turkish documentary, “Kedi.” Hundreds of thousands of stray cats roam the streets of Istanbul. They are a distinct part of everyone’s life. This is the story of seven of them. Produced by Ceyda Torun and Charlie Wuppermann, this touching and poetic film affectionately por

Today, the 20th of November, is Universal Children’s Day, an exceptional day that celebrates international togetherness and promotes awareness among children in order to improve the welfare of the younger generation worldwide. Rejoicing on this special occasion, let us take a look at two films that ignite the pure, simple, and imaginative inner child in our hearts: “Mary Poppins” and “Mary Poppins

“Casa de Carne” is a short film written, directed, and edited by filmmaker Dustin Brown for the non-profit organization Last Chance for Animals (LCA). Set in the fictional high-end restaurant Case de Carne, meaning “Meat House,” Eric comes to have dinner for the first time with friends who are familiar with the place. Handing Eric an apron and a knife, the waiter opens a door for him to enter. In

Today we present not one film but two by the name “Underdog,” which follow the adventures of “human’s best friend,” our much-loved dogs. The first “Underdog” feature, also known as “A Dog’s Courage,” is a delightful Korean animated movie. The film gives viewers an opportunity to look at the unfortunate reality of abandoned canine friends, and to think about a world where humans and animals can coe

Indigenous people all over the world still retain cultural traditions in their way of daily living, displaying ancient wisdom that we can learn from in modern times, as we see in these two inspirational films, “Wisdomkeepers, Paqo Andino” and “Pocahontas II: Journey to A New World.” The 2013 documentary “Wisdomkeepers, Paqo Andino” was written, directed, and produced by Paqo Jeffrey Wium. A Wester

“Thank You for the Rain” tells how global warming is affecting farmers in Africa, who are often the first and worst affected by the changing climate. Julia travelled to Kenya in 2013, where she met Kisilu. With Julia’s help, Kisilu visits Norway and Europe, meeting people there and gathering new ideas. A highlight is when he is invited to speak on behalf of small-scale farmers from arid lands at t

Telling a both riveting and cautionary tale, “Contagion” was critically acclaimed and was also well-received by scientists for its accuracy. About 10 years after the film’s release, we are experiencing something very similar with the current coronavirus pandemic. Like the virus in “Contagion,”COVID-19 was originally transmitted by eating animals and has rapidly spread around the world, making mill

Directed by Leila Conners, “Ice on Fire” Presents research concerning how Arctic methane gas release could lead to the extinction of our own as well as other species. Featuring extraordinary footage and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, the documentary also explores the latest technologies that could help reverse some of the harmful effects on our climate, including reclaiming greenhouse gases from t

Brilliant French actor Samuel Le Bihan was an ambassador for Positive Cinema Week at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival, and sponsored the Moteur! Project competition for young artists. “It’s about recreating social bonds, regaining awareness among young people so that eventually they build themselves up, they become what they are through the people they admire. And also those who are admired also have

For the fourth year in a row, the 72nd Cannes Film Festival hosted a Positive Cinema Week. It was founded by Jacques Attali, a French economic and social theorist. The subject for the 2019 cinema review was social justice. “We’ll meet again in the coming months and years to make cinema become more and more positive in a country. That deserves to be and has all the means to be (positive). Positive

In “A Hidden Life,” Fan Jägerstätter’s love and support for her husband served as a significant source of strength. As Reverend Kauffman explains, “This year’s Cannes Film Festival was marked by the great strength of the female characters. In all films, many films anyway, the female characters are really grounded and have extremely strong characters. They are faced with all the difficulties of exi

Formally beginning in 1946, the Cannes Film Festival is an annual 12-day event held in the beautiful city, Cannes, of the French Riviera. Considered one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. The 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival took place from May 14 to 25, 2019. We had the honor of speaking with some of the event’s distinguished guests, who shared their thoughts on artists and thei

In celebration of all the treasured gifts from Mother Nature, let us take a look at two thought-provoking films about organic vegan farming. Based on Takuji lshikawa's book of the same name, “Miracle Apples” follows the true story of Akinori Kimura, who, for the sake of his wife’s health, goes on a decade-long quest to grow the perfect organic apples without the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

In today’s program, we present two powerful films about female pioneers who have, in their own unique ways, changed their personal fate and become an inspiration for future generations: “Hidden Figures” and “Little Women.” “Hidden Figures” is a 2016 historical biographical drama adapted from Margot Lee Shetterly’s non-fiction book entitled “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story o