I’m not doing a cutesy intro because I’m not in the mood. Instead, I’m going to cut right to the film. Here’s Ying Wu and Lizzia Xu’s Spellbound.

Of all the weeks… we need this one this week. There are a lot of hurt feelings and not a lot of perspective taking surrounding the recent Commander-In-Chief of the United States. Are there some violent protests going on? Yes; I’m not going to defend smashing a shop window and starting a fire, because you shouldn’t punish a shop owner or innocent bystander with violence. I WILL, however, defend the fact that people have the right to be pissed off. For everyone that is busy saying “we need to work together”… look at how well that worked out in 2012, after Obama won a second term. You have no right to say “get over it” after the way many of you reacted.

That being said, this film speaks to the power of words, both destructive and healing. Our main character, Rene, lives in the shadow of her talented sister Sunny. It’s easy to see where she’s jealous. It’s when she chooses not to speak that the feelings become dangerous and harmful. At a time where people are being encouraged to suck it up, this is where I say a dialogue needs to start: one that acknowledges hurt feelings and uncomfortable truths. Otherwise, you wind up with a mass of anger that only destroys.

The worst thing you could ever do is take away someone’s voice.

Wishing you all a thoughtful Saturday.