‘Persian Treasures: The Best of Iranian Animation’
fter consecutive weekends seeing what $150 million can
achieve in animation, our family just watched a group of shorts that represent
the other end of the spectrum. We were enthralled.
“Polar Express and
The Incredibles are just there to
laugh at and have fun with,” Lila explained. “These cartoons actually have a
meaning to them.” Bahador, the last
of the six, was her favorite, a political allegory about a town of mice
oppressed by a gluttonous king with a “monster” who frightens the citizens. The
animators employ puppet mice, clay sets, scorpions, and even a live animal to
great effect.
Each film has its own style, from the silhouette animation
of the folk tale Sweet Story, to
claymation in the riotous Companion,
and even a story told entirely through characters and sets made entirely of
yarn, Shangoul and Mangoul (somewhere
between the three pigs and the three billy goats gruff). As the credits roll on
Companion, the camera recedes to show
us the “set” sitting on a table, a reminder that simple technology can be all
that’s needed to support good ideas.
Lila pointed out that “all but the goat one have a meaning
to include others.” Yes, and there is also a running theme of goodness in the
face of oppression. Lila says, “Most aren’t really funny, they’re sad,” but my
two-year old boy was simply entertained, laughing long and loud throughout.
Persian Treasures plays Sunday, November 28, at 3 and 5 p.m. at the Dryden Theatre, George
Eastman House, 900 East Avenue. 271-3361, www.eastmanhouse.org
— Lila and Adam Wilcox
This week for
families:
Double Dutch 41
Backus St. Double Dutch, ages 6-12, Wednesdays 2:45-3:30 p.m., #30 School
Gymnasium, 36 Otis St. Register, 428-7860
Genesee Valley Park
Ice Rink 131 Elmwood Ave. All ages open skate, Mon-Thurs 12-1:15 p.m., Fri
12-1:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.-12 a.m., Sat 9 p.m.-10:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.-12
a.m., Sun 2-3:15 p.m.; Skate & Shoot (helmets required) Mon-Fri 1:30-2:45
p.m., ages 13 and up, times subject to change. $2-$4 428-7889
Henrietta Public
Library 455 Calkins Rd. Tues, Nov 30. Preschool storytime, 11-11:30 a.m.,
ages 3 and 4 | Pre-register. 359-7092, TDD 321-1499, www.hpl.org
Holiday Pet Photos Sat-Sun and Tues, Nov 27-28 and 30. GRASP with Donna’s Pet & Praise
Training Academy, 520 Stone Rd, Sat 12-6 p.m., Sun 1-6 p.m., Tues 5-9 p.m.
$9.99 per package. 234-1953, 865-PETS
Mood Makers Books Sat, Nov 27. Children book club, 274 N Goodman St, 1-3 p.m.
Seneca Park Zoo 2222
St Paul St. Family nights, ZooDiscovery classes. Hours: daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tix: $5, $4 seniors, $2 kids. 467-9453, www.senecazoo.org
Sex and drugs
These words strike fear in the hearts of parents of
teenagers. That makes sense. The harsh truth is that teens have high rates of
death due to accidents and mental health problems linked to drugs and sex. We
can recall our own behavior and attitudes when we were adolescents. We probably
remember close calls that drove our parents crazy, not to mention those things
we did that they never found out about. We have scars, too. We ought to worry.
Open communication with our teens is the best way to prevent
substance abuse and risky sexual behavior. We don’t want to preach to our kids
because they’ll turn us off faster than Lawrence Welk. They have to want to
talk with us. A teenager in my care explained it all to me. “Why would I talk
to them about sex and drugs? They
never tell me about what they did when they were my age.” That is the answer
and the challenge. Can parents muster the courage to confide in their teens
about their own early experiences with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and sexual
exploration? Can we tell our kids what we didn’t even tell our parents?
My experience with adolescents is that they will talk when
parents will share the lessons of their past, model honesty, and be imperfect.
It is really hard to do. The odds are that our kids will respond with, “Gee,
Dad, I’m doing a lot better than you did.” Then we can say, “I know.”
— Laurence
I. Sugarman, MD
This article appears in Nov 24-30, 2004.
