R – DVD Mother’s Little Helpers

DVD: Mother’s Little Helpers
Presented by/Copyright: Floralia Films 2004
Writer/Producer/Director: Stephen Geller
Starring: Kae Geller, Brett Ryland, Megan Kerins, Sarita Timmerman, Alyssa Russell, Dana Chodos, Maryssa Eusebio, Selene Preston, Lauren Calta, Yvette Hope, Oona Laurie
Playing Time: 130 mins.

“Something must have happened back there…to make those girls learn Greek!”

“Nine girls have escaped from a reform school. Their purpose? To bring down the most ancient Goddess, The Great Mother. To change their lives and the future of the planet. And if they don’t succeed, they’ve sworn to kill themselves. Or be killed.”

The movie opens with a gaggle of teenage girls assaulting and imprisoning what looks to be a jail guard. Turns out, these young woman are residents of a medium security girls-only reform school, only without the bars, and with comfy “cabins” instead of cells. Several of the girls have discovered they share a link to the past…a long ago, far away type of past, and have now made good their escape.

The rest of the movie focuses on the Psychiatrist and her intern/teaching assistant known only as “Rez” (as the Psychiatrist is known as “Psych” through most of the movie), and their curious, continued entrapment into the girls’ cause. “Rez” is so involved in fact, they’ve known about him since before he came to “Kyalea”. He is part of their greater plan. They are going to bring about the return of the Great Mother, the most ancient goddess. “Rez” is chosen as hostage once he finds the girls, and soon falls in love with one of them. Not to be outdone, the girl in charge quickly informs him that he is the father of “Psychs” baby (who is lesbian, for whatever reason this is relevant in the movie, is never revealed), and he will father a child with her, as well as the girl he loves.

This brings about the birth of “Creativity, Love and Destruction” – all aspects of the Great Mother. It culminates with a rather shoddy selection of special effects and the disappearance of the girls with their hostage-cum-consort, “Rez”.

While this movie is quite obviously low budget, as evidenced by the rather shaky photography and somewhat lackadaisical freehand with scene looping and volume control on the soundtrack, it was an enjoyable movie. If one can fight their way through the boredom during long loop-scenes and annoying psycho-babble and drama, and get to the meat of the matter, it’s actually quite well done, and well researched.

Most of the people involved in the creation of this movie are newcomers to screen productions – not to mention to acting at all. Many are students, some are film crew – one (the star, “Psych”) is the director’s wife.

The only veteran I could find listed with the production credits is one Stephen Geller – who has a list of credentials that reads like the Rede – if you’re into his type of film. If you recognize his name, you’ve likely seen “Slaughterhouse Five”, “Valachi Papers”, or “Cuppa Cabby Piece o’ Pie”. Mr. Geller served as screenwriter for these, and many great others. Mother’s Little Helpers was a project he’d been wanting to do for many years, and finally had the resources and time to do it. It’s been referred to as a piece of “guerilla-filming” mastery.

All in all, despite the camp, the low-budget and the somewhat forgivable bad acting, I’ve recommended it over and over to friends. It’s definitely one to watch more than once.

3.5 Broomsticks
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Jodi Lee, aka ierne, is a 20+ year veteran of pagan paths. A single work at home mom, she is currently hard at work on her first novel.

http://www.jodilee.ca

R – The Kitchen Witch Companion

Title: The Kitchen Witch Companion
Author: Patricia Telesco
Publisher: Citadel Press
Copyright/Release: © Patricia Telesco; 2005
ISBN: 0-8065-2670-X
Pages: 296 pp. including front and back matter

Patricia Telesco has long been a favorite of mine, and I was delighted with the release of The Kitchen Witch Companion. Her style of writing draws the reader into the book, and yes, into the material itself in a way that really no other author can do. Often I feel as though I’m sitting in her kitchen, listening to her talk.

The Kitchen Witch Companion covers everything from kitchen folklore (dealing with fire, water, food and the like) to witchy recipes for everyday cooking – all the way up to cooking for a coven. The recipes looked mouthwatering and after trying a few, I found they ARE mouthwatering. It’s obvious that Ms. Telesco has shared with us her tried and tested secrets. And I for one am ever so grateful.

Being a carnivore at heart and soul, I was delighted that she chose to include dishes with all sorts of meat. There is no meat lacking here…I found a recipe for preparing goose of all things. Golden Goose, none the less. What I found most intriguing and most delectable was the rather all-inclusive section on barbequing. A hot grill is, as far as I’m concerned, a pagans best friend. Whether it’s protein or vegetable, a grill is just a handy thing to have.

Quote: Page 80 – “Bountiful Baby Back Ribs”
“I owe a debt of gratitude to the person who first decided to roast these delectable items over a fresh fire. They’re among our favorites for inspiring both providence and bounty, being that the swine are associated with the fertile nature of the Great Mother, and Earth itself, in Celtic, Oceanic, Tibetan Buddhist, Hinduism, and Sumero-Semetic settings. This this foundation we add a sweet-savory rub so that life itself is sweet and zesty!

‘Meat when rubbed with herbs and zest
Brings to us, providence!
When heated ‘pon my sacred grill
Life becomes bountiful!’”

The recipe goes on to describe preparation of meat and grill. I’m sure everyone has some idea how to proceed from here, but if not, this recipe alone and it’s counterpart for the ribs themselves definitely makes purchasing this book a steal. Your family will thank you!

5 Broomsticks
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Jodi Lee, aka ierne, is a 20+ year veteran of pagan paths. A single work at home mom, she is currently hard at work on her first novel.

http://www.jodilee.ca