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videoassocdallas · 7 years ago

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Hello all, This Thursday starts the last part of Dallas VideoFest 30 with our new festival, Alternative Fictions. This festival mixes dramatic film and cinematic television. Everyone knows that TV is where the buzz is these days, so this is a way to look for the artistry in both forms of telling good stories.Clearly we live in a world with many alternative fictions. There is so much going on in the world that I could chat about but this week, but I’m going to stick with the alternative fictions we are showing. We start of the fest with Signature Move, a new film from Jennifer Reeder, whose work we have shown before and loved for years. It is a fun, Muslim, lesbian love story with Latino wrestling thrown in for good measure. It was a big hit at SXSW and you’ll really enjoy it. It’s followed by Dawson City-Frozen Time, a new film from Bill Morrison. For those of you who have been attending our festivals for a while, we had a magnificent screening of his Decasia, and this film is even better. On Friday, we start with The Beginning and End of Everything, a web series by Ya’ke Smith. Ya’ke made this around the DFW area and he returns with his cast and crew to show his successful move into episodic cinematic TV. This is followed by A Tribute to Andy Anderson. Andy was a great filmmaker and teacher who sadly passed away and we pay tribute by showing three of his great films. The feature Detention, his comedy about teaching, the short Ritual, which will stay with you forever, and I truly mean that, in a good way, and his installation Drive by Shooting. Moving on to Saturday morning we have the audience award winner at Sundance, I Dream in Another Language, a beautiful film about a linguist who is trying to record a conversation between two of the last speakers of a language that is on the verge of disappearing. And of course the two speakers will not talk to each other because of a past they cannot escape. Flix x Chicks short film screening comes next, followed by The Big D Mobile Film Festival, which I think is our 3rd year of this fest with the fest of international films shot on a mobile device, and they look great. The act of shooting on a phone inspires a different kind of filmmaking. Next is AMS Pictures, which has been creating its own visual language of documentaries mixed with dramatic re-creations that blend fact and fiction. We will be showing an episode of Murder Made Me Famous about David Koresh directed by Ya’ke Smith and an episode of Scandal Made Me Famous about Monica Lewinsky, directed by Brad Osborne and Rijaa Nadeem. Afterwards, Kat Candler presents Queen Sugar: We have loved Kat’s films for a long time. We have been following and programming her features and short at our festival and on our TV show Frame of Mind. She has been working on TV, and is now the showrunner of this Oprah network series that was created by Ava DuVernay. She will show an episode that she produced and directed and will talk about moving from film to TV. This will be amazing!!! Uncodumented, a film for our time, is an episodic feature following 4 stories of longing and love, immigration and identity--the vision of an Iranian and a European director, dealing with the complex theme of illegal immigration or ‘undocumented migrants.’ Each story is set at a different stage of the migrants’ journey, in three different countries: Iran, Greece and England. Which brings us to Sunday. We start with a panel on moving from Film to TV with Kat, Ya’ke and Rijaam which should be super informative. Every year, The Houston Film Commission seeks the best short film in Texas and shows them in Los Angeles and around Texas. We are once again happy to show them at our festival followed by the world Premier of TELEFÓTO by Texas filmmaker and SMU Teacher, Richard Bailey, who has been making great experimental films and now makes this move to narrative feature filmmaking with a local/universal ghost story about a working class family of artists who reckon with the gentrification of their neighborhood. Art of Directing: John Huston is up next. For those of you that have been to our festival in the last few years, you have seen Allan Holzman’s series on the art of directing, including the one on Trauffaut, the one on Capra and now, John Huston. These films use lectures at the American Film Institute that Allan acquired, masterfully intercut with work from these great masters. These are indeed masterfully done works of the great directors of cinema. This will be the world premiere. Waking David is the first feature by Kevin Nash, who lived and worked in Dallas for many years. He made some short films that we were very happy to show. He has since moved to London and has spent many years preparing, then creating this feature. It is a powerful script and very well directed with an impressive ensemble cast. It has a Mike Leigh feel to it. Rainn Wilson brings Will Eno’s one-man show Thom Pain (Based on Nothing) to the Geffen Playhouse ten years after it was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Thom Pain is just like you, except worse. One night, he finds himself on a stage, in the dark, in a theatre. In the audience are people who, just like him, were born and will die. Thom is going to try to make sense of it all. He's going to try to save his life, to save their life, to save your life - in that order. A camera crew captures the night, as various forces align to produce a reckless and accidentally profound event. The Texas Show, our traditional end of fest screening of great short films from Texas filmmakers. These are really wonderful. Stick around for the end of festival party. So that’s it. Pretty cool, huh? I hope you can come and check it out. Oh, Happy Halloween! On Tuesday you can see Dracula with a live ballet intro at The Texas Theater. (On Monday, they have Nosferatu with The Invincible Czars doing a live score.) The Alamo has the original Halloween by John Carpenter with that great score. This film changed horror films forever. The Angelika is playing another film that changed the horror films were made, the classic film, Psycho. See you at Alternative Fictions Festival on Thursday night! Bart Weiss Artistic Director Dallas VideoFest

#FilmTexas DVF30AltFiction

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back-of-the-bus · 7 years ago

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@daydreamloverslane

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kickmag · 8 years ago

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OWN Announces Season 2 Of Queen Sugar

OWN announced the June 20th and 21st season two return of Queen Sugar today. The show about the Bordelon clan and their Louisiana farm will have a two-night premiere and an all-woman group of directors. Cheryl Dunye, Kat Candler, Aurora Guerrero, DeMane Davis and Amanda Marsalis will direct season two. The first half of season two will air in the summer and the remaining season episodes will broadcast in the fall.

Queen Sugar has made a deal to become available on Hulu. The streaming service has exclusive online rights to air season one and all future episodes after they debut on OWN

#queen sugar #ava duvernay

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ourdallasvideofestthings · 7 years ago

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Hi all,

While in many ways it has been a strange and contentious year, we here at the Dallas VideoFest have had a particularly stellar twelve months. This morning I looked over my calendar and was really surprised at how much we accomplished, considering we have such a small staff. So what experiences did we bring you?

Probably the big one was changing the concept of our festival. Traditionally we have shown somewhere around 150 films in several days on multiple screens, but I thought I would try something new.

So, we created two festivals, each four days, with only one theater so you could literally see everything at the festival. There’s no anxiety about knowing if you are in the best theatre anymore. We started with DocuFest at Studio Movie Grill and had some amazing screenings. One film, Ex Libris, is on the Oscar doc short list, which is great. Ex Libris and Bombshell were also on Chris Vognars’ top ten list for films of the year

The week after that, we had one of the best Kovacs Awards we’ve ever had at the Alamo in Richardson (far from the Texas OU game) and Kevin McDonald and Dave Foley from Kids in the Hall were engaging, funny and just plain wonderful. There was a picture taken were I am laughing more than I can ever remember. (Yes, that is my pic on Facebook!)

Then we held the second part of the VideoFest, Alternative Fictions, with the tribute to Andy Anderson, a showing of Ya’ke Smiths’ series, and the special presentation by Kat Candler of Queen Sugar. Exactly the idea I was going for--mixing independent cinema and cinematic TV, and it actually worked.

We produced our most ambitious and challenging season of Frame of Mind, the TV show we produce with KERA TV, and Art and Seek. This was the 25th anniversary year, so we started with a retrospective of 25 years, with forty-one separate clips. We had a wonderful reception for the artists at The Texas Theatre and we brought in the creators of the show, Suzanne Dooley and Marlis Schmidt, to talk about the early days. It was so much fun to look at all the old shows, and see how the show has changed over the years.

Another great show was the collaboration with the Bill Jones Collection at SMU, which holds all the TV newsreels from Channel 8. I distributed footage to 11 Dallas filmmakers who created original work that looked at the present through the lens of the past. The films showcased issues of race, gender, income inequality, and a divided city, which have not changed much, but the fashion and technology sure have. 

Then we had the Dallas Medianale (our every other year, experimental festival), with some great video art and performance. Thanks so much to Mike Morris who put this together. There was a moment when it almost didn’t happen because the fire Marshall closed down the new Mac where we had planned to hold the festival. The day before we opened, we were cleared for The Green Space. (Thanks to so many people for making that happen.)

If we had just done those alone, well that would be amazing, but we also had an invigorating 24 Hour Video Race this year. So many teams, lots of excitement, and so much fun.

We also had another year of the North Texas Universities Film Festival, a chance for student filmmakers from SMU, UNT and UTA to see each other’s work. It was a great show with lots of really great work. We also programmed The New German Cinema series at the Alamo in Richardson and it was great to see these classics on the big screen with an audience.

This year we were privileged to partner with Chris Vognar and the Dallas Morning News for the Chris Vognar Screening Room Series, where we showed some great horror films and audiences were treated to a thoughtful Q&A along with free popcorn. We were very happy to be part of that and we are excited for the next series in March, where we will screen films about journalism. And it was so long ago you may not remember that on inauguration day, we had a special screening of CSA-Confederate States of America. Hmmm, enough said.

Those were all the programs we brought you last year. We also partnered with other festivals in town including Pegasus, Dallas International Film Festival, Asian Film Festival, Oak Cliff Film Festival, Earth X, and Thin Line Film Festival. We partnered with the DMA for a program about their great exhibition, “Truth at 24 Frames Per Second” and participated in a discussion about the Decalogue at The Nasher. We also got the Angelika Theater, the Obelisk award from the Dallas Business Committee for the Arts and we served as films sponsors for two projects

Personally my year was also just as busy. I was on an NEA panel. (boy, back in the day they would fly you to DC, but it was great to see what great things people are doing around the country.) I was a judge for SXSW, Austin Film Festival, Asian Film Fest, Thin Line Film Fest, and many others. (I actually need to watch some right now.) I presented on panels at the UFVA Conference and Film Festival Alliance Conference. I was also accepted as an Apple Distinguished Educator and did a Final Cut Pro workshop at the Apple Distinguished Educators’ Academy, which was very cool.

Oh wait, how could I have forgotten The Cat Fest, which was so much fun and included a screening of the silent film, Private Life of Cats by Maya Deren, with live music.

So, wow! What a year! I have to thank Raquel Chapa for making all of this happen. Most of the time we are doing all of this at once, and somehow she pulls it off. I have to thank Kelly Kitchens for being more than a publicist, Beth Jasper for helping with programing, and our board of directors, including chair Jeff Leuschel and treasurer Jim Nugent. Thanks to our many sponsors and supporters, and thanks to all of you who read my weekly thoughts. You don’t how good it makes me feel when you tell me you actually read this. And thanks to all of you who come out and see what is happening. Wait until you see what we have for next year. If you are still reading this and would like to help us with an end of the year donation, you may do so here

Stay toooooned for my Better Living Through Video!

Bart Weiss

Artistic Director Dallas VideoFest

#DVF30

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avaduvernayfans · 6 years ago

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‘Queen Sugar’ Renewed for Season 4 at OWN, Anthony Sparks Named Showrunner “Queen Sugar” has been renewed for a fourth season at OWN, the cable network announced Wednesday. The renewal comes ahead of the third season finale on Aug. 22. In addition, series co-executive producer Anthony Sparks will take over as showrunner and executive producer on Season 4. Sparks television writing credits include “Undercovers,” “Lincoln Heights,” “The District,” and “The Blacklist.” Previously, Sparks was a cast member of Broadway hit “Stomp.” Season 3 is produced for OWN by Warner Horizon Scripted Television. Ava DuVernay created the series and executive produces along with Oprah Winfrey, Kat Candler and Paul Garnes. Candler is also the showrunner on Season 3. The series is based on the book by Natalie Baszile. “Under Ava’s creative vision and leadership, ‘Queen Sugar’ continues to earn a well-deserved reputation for depicting nuanced characters, rich storylines and establishing an inclusive team that inspires and ignites much needed conversations about our society today,” said Erik Logan, president of OWN. “We are very proud of this show, the incredible cast, producers and crew, and can’t wait for more of the Bordelon family in season four.” The series stars Kofi Siriboe, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Tina Lifford, Omar J. Dorsey, Nicholas Ashe, Dondré T. Whitfield, Bianca Lawson, and Henry G. Sanders. Timon Kyle Durrett guest stars. Following a creative initiative established at the series’ outset, DuVernay assembled an all-female directing team that will continue in the new season.

#queen sugar

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queensugardaily · 6 years ago

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Inside the Episode: Kat Candler and DeMane Davis on "The Horizon Leans Forward" | Queen Sugar | OWN

#video #queen sugar #queen sugar spoilers #kat candler #demane davis #3.12 #making queen sugar

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wherever-i-look-blog · 7 years ago

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Do not expect resolutions to any of your pressing questions in the season 2 finale of Queen Sugar. Hold onto them until season 3, unfortunately.

Previous Recap: Episode 15 “Copper Sun”

Network OWN Director(s) Kat Candler Writer(s) Ava Duverney

Something To Celebrate: Hollywood, Aunt Vi, Nova, Remy

As Aunt Vi and Hollywood watch Blue for Darla, Hollywood learns the rig and the lawyers have reached a settlement. One which is triple of what they asked – meaning he is rich. This is followed quickly by a marriage proposal and Nova throwing an impromptu engagement party. One which may only have her, Aunt Vi, and Blue, at first, but then Remy comes around.

Now, there is some drinking going on so take this with a grain of salt, but there is this vibe that something might have been there. There is a touching of Nova’s hand, a longing look, and a lingering hug, and this vibe that maybe something happened before Charley ever came around. After all, Nova and Remy are both frequent members of community events. Who is to say something may have gone down and unlike most of Nova’s breakups, she didn’t burn a bridge when she stepped off it?

A Deal With The Devil: Charley, Remy, Ralph Angel

Charley is coming to seriously realize what Sam Landry said in the first season. That is, how her Hollywood ways aren’t going to work in St. Jo. So, she is deciding to change tactics. With Ralph Angel’s blessing, she decides to work on ruining the Landry business from the inside. Even have Ralph Angel mill with them as she seemingly hands her mill over.

It’s all part of this bigger plan and sadly we don’t get to hear the finger details. Like Remy, we are expected to trust Charley. Thing is, Remy doesn’t have it in him. His word, which is what got Charley this far, would mean nothing if he sided with her on this. It would honestly seem he sold himself over to her with the farmers, like slaves, coming wit with the partnership.

And speaking of slavery, it is hard to not see the way the Landry men look at Charley and not think of that. Here we have this formidable woman entertaining these men who are clear in what they want. Something beyond business. Yet, she is willing to play with these emotions. Perhaps presents this femme fatale vibe, but you got to wonder if she is in over her head.

Which isn’t to say Charley isn’t capable of playing these men, but there is the question of how much, or what in particular, is she willing to sacrifice to attempt to get the upper hand? It is her business, and her father’s farm now but that won’t be enough. You took 50% of the Landry family’s farmers in 6 months and just made a threat about being the fire from which smoke comes from. Who is playing who here?

One Without The Other: Darla, Ralph Angel, Blue

Cutting to the chase, Darla doesn’t relapse. Is she frustrated? Yes. Nova not letting her into the house just to get her charger was petty. Even seeing Blue play happily with Aunt Vi and Hollywood left her screaming. If only because, she realized she kind of ruined her ability to be part of that. She already got one chance of which, so it seems, people were keeping quiet for Ralph Angel’s sake. So a second chance? After holding a lie in for 7 years? Who does she think she is? Aunt Vi? Only she can lie about something for decades and it get swept under the rug.

But despite the effects of the lie on everyone, it seems Ralph Angel is still going to do right by Blue. He and Darla are done, and Darla is going to seemingly abandon her child and go to DC to lick her wounds. However, like when she was at her worse, she knows Ralph Angel’s family will do what she is right now not capable of. Which is really taking care of Blue. For without a job, and surely not wanting to be a burden on her sponsor, Darla is pretty much forced to go home. After all, who in her situation wants to deal with so much animosity? The kind Blue may not be fully aware of, but he knows people are saying mean things about his momma. It just isn’t clear why.

Leaving one last thing. In order to perhaps redeem Ralph Angel, after pretty much disregarding Darla’s attempt to explain she was raped, among other things, he explains how Blue got his name. To put it simply, it was in homage to the two most important people in his life. Aunt Violet and his mother Dru. Blue’s name stems from the feelings Aunt Violet got when she learned her name was a color and the beauty in it, and while Ralph Angel doesn’t really talk about his mom, that is still his mother and likely, he sees a bit of her in Blue. Making it so, blood or not, he claims that boy and while there are complicated feelings when it comes to his momma, the bond has already been formed and Ralph Angel has no desire to break it.

Other Noteworthy Facts & Moments

Nova seems to be back to writing articles and now is writing one which is a bit more political.

By the time Charley was ready to give in, she had only 3 farmers left that were willing to work with her.

The “Go head Ree Ree” at the end of Queen Sugar comes from Ava Duverney’s mom who nicknamed her “Ree Ree.” Since her middle name is Marie.

Question(s) Left Unanswered

Is a paternity test so hard to get or unheard of? Or would finding one kill too much drama for Bianca Lawson to go through? Is that why this couldn’t be nipped in the bud? So that she could get more press and maybe get mainstream award recognition during the next Emmy/ upcoming Golden Globe season?

.. he seems to have admired Aunt Vi to the point he would have taken a crack at her if she didn’t kind of scare him. So, with that in mind, and Nova talking like she is a younger version of Aunt Vi, you think something may happen there? Much less, even if Nova and her dad weren’t close, surely she came across Remy and crossed paths a few times. Are you telling me nothing ever happened there?

So was Ralph Angel going to jail connected to Darla getting pregnant or just him wanting to have some money in his pocket, period?

Charley asking Ralph Angel to trust her, isn’t that a joke? She was unable to trust him for a long while and yet, I guess, her firing Darla was supposed to be taken as a sign of loyalty?

Did Charley really think threatening farmers about penalties with breaking contract was going to help her situation?

Collected Quote(s)

Marred by challenges but exalted by triumph.

Hurt fuels me. I don’t let it sit and fester, I let it drive me. I let it save me.

Dreams are funny things. They morph and reshape in an instant.

If you set after doing something and learn a lesson on the way, even if you lose, it’s still a victory.

Rumors usually start with a seed of truth.

Highlights

Aunt Vi and Hollywood

I’m not sure how and where this sudden influx of money storyline may go, but I’m here for an Aunt Vi and Hollywood wedding. Just as long as there won’t be some network TV nonsense, like the “Blue may not be your child” storyline. Such as Aunt Vi fainting at the wedding, us learning she was diagnosed wrong and it is something worse than Lupus and etc. For while I get there has to be drama and the show can’t be all about representation acclaim, there is this fear inside me. The kind where, to keep ratings high and even mainstream the show a bit, they start tapping into the kind of storylines that make many a network TV show a hit.

Bianca Lawson & Kofi Siriboe

Though perhaps unfair to say, it is pretty much these two who are making Queen Sugar their breakout roles. At the age of 23, Kofi Siriboe probably has the most compelling role a Black man has right now. He is shown as a caring and devoted father; an often terrible boyfriend who tries to use grand romantic gestures to make up for his immaturity and tantrums; and all the while he is dealing with this cloud of his past hanging over him. Something that through hard work he has been trying to clear up. Including by going to school, his least favorite task which could better the farm.

In this multi-dimensional role, he gets to play every trope we know for Black men and remind us that, at one time, these tropes, these stereotypes, they were once considered just part of being human. As perhaps the latest special of Iyanla: Fix My Life shows, you can be an ex-con and still have feelings. You can still want a close relationship with your family and kids, and some of your community can accept you back after a long time away. Yet, do you ever really pay your debt to society when everyone has a different price of what they think you owe?

Something we see with how Bianca Lawson plays Darla in the finale. No matter what she does or says, there are all these children’s toys on the floor and she is walking barefoot. Tell the truth, and she gets hurt. Speak respectfully and not go off, still getting hurt. Making it surprisingly, and sort of a cathartic release, when we finally hear Darla yell. Something she had yet do this entire series.

But even with the way she yells, there isn’t this vibe she is going to lash out. Everything is internalized with Darla. Unlike the Bordelon family, there isn’t this need to push the blame on external figures and take little to no credit. Which is perhaps part of the reason she could never really integrate with them properly. Darla’s maturity, thanks to her parents and actually seeking out help to end or manage her destructive desires, has made her a more mature person. Meanwhile, everyone else ducks and dodges from their own hypocrisy or need for reflection.

Which is perhaps why Darla stands out so much on this show. Like with Ralph Angel, it isn’t necessarily because she represents a rarely seen person, especially a Black person. More so it is because with Darla we got growth and she has kind of been dragging Ralph Angel, pushing him with all her might, to grow as well. For despite the best intentions of Ernest, maybe even Aunt Vi, the Bordelon children are all stunted in their ways and unsure how the hell to get out of their own way. Yet, through almost toxic validation of each other, including Aunt Vi co-signing, they think there isn’t a single problem with how they live their lives. Never mind how they treat people who even do them the slightest bit wrong. For, at the end of the day, everything is very much an ultimatum. Either you ride or die or you are someone getting in the way of me lying to myself about my part in this messed up situation.

The Future of Charley

With all that goes on between Darla and Ralph Angel, as a couple and individuals, you have to give props to Charley and Ms. Gardner. Despite those two having the most drama, she is still able to carve out a large enough piece of each episode to keep Charley relevant and noteworthy. This episode was no different. In this battle with the Landry family, which has long since been tiresome, things have reached a new level.

Charley, switching tactics, seems willing now to play along with this game of, “Who can sleep with this high yellow chick first.” Hell, in a way, Charley damn near has made it into a slave auction. Which maybe perhaps taking it a bit far. However, she is the one selling herself, and all that comes with her, to the family which used to own hers. Yeah, she may get some overseer, Uncle Tom, kind of position, but she is trying to be within the family’s trust to destroy them from within.

A process which, in my bones, I feel will lead to some attempt to humanize the Landry family. Something I have mixed emotions about, since they have been absolute demons but it also seems long overdue. The Bordelon family has been given vast opportunities to show they are complicated people, so why not the Landry family too? And being that Charley’s life has always been about working between her Black identity and code-switching to deal with a white corporate environment, it should be interesting to see how she handles that.

Especially now that she has no one really in her corner. At least when it comes to the business anyway. Ralph Angel may vouch for her and Nova and Aunt Vi may give vocal support, but now the mill is all Charley’s problem. So here is hoping she decides to add some admin and clerical support. Hopefully losing all those farmers since no one was picking up the phone acted as a wakeup call.

Criticism

Unresolved Storylines

Micah just got suspended for over a month. Davis is wishy-washy about his relationship with Tamar and has possibly career shortening, if not ending, surgery. Also, Darla’s parents pretty much disappeared without saying goodbye, her father especially. I mean, Quincy was there for one episode! Lorna, on the other hand, was able to fully integrate into the cast before she got snatched out like a glued on weave. Why were Darla’s parents given the short end of the stick?

And while I get you can only do but so much, so comes the question of what the extra half hour was for? Considering how drawn out some stories were, was it just to make more ad money? For never mind Davis, but Micah completely absent, barely mentioned even, was this extra half hour really to give more screen time to Darla, Ralph Angel, and leave some scraps for Charley and the rest to fight over?

No Paternity Test

Yet never came to the idea of a paternity test.

I can fully understand wanting to keep fans guessing as a show goes on a 6+ month break (this is an educated guess not official). My problem is, while I have no issues with cliffhangers like what will Charley’s plan be, what will come of Nova’s article, where will Remy go from here, and other things, this paternity issue carrying over into season 3 is bothersome. Especially when you consider who we are dealing with here. Charley worked in the entertainment industry, is affluent and I know could find a discreet doctor to procure a DNA test. Same goes for Nova. Though she is usually around average people, we know she is connected enough to not only get a paternity test but know what one is.

So the utter avoidance of the idea is kind of infuriating. Especially since one of the most shocking and interesting storylines honestly only exists because the thought is avoided and treated as something not invented. And I could understand if the reveal happened in this episode and emotions were still hot, but we’re a good few episodes past that now. At least a few days, so the fact it isn’t being brought up makes it seem the idea here is purely to push Bianca Lawson and Kofi Siriboe to the front and center of the show.

Which I don’t have a problem with. For while I enjoy the other actors on Queen Sugar, they don’t have the type of storylines which really bring prolonged discussions. They bring small pops. Be it Nova’s latest failed relationship or Charley and Remy trying to balance being business partners alongside something more. Something that, as shown, just doesn’t work.

On The Fence

Remy and Charley

But I guess at the end of the day you had to realize what Remy and Charley was. Both seemed to be looking for sequels to past partners. Charley wanted a new and loyal Davis. Someone who simply had her back and perhaps didn’t really challenge her business acumen. Hell, maybe like Nova, she is someone who prefers a person’s validation than their opinion about their life? For we can’t and shouldn’t pretend Nova was the only one messed up by Aunt Vi’s lie.

Through Remy, Charley was able to get a real sense of community. Aunt Vi may have sat with Charley to peek through the window, but Remy invited her in. He introduced her to her people, the kind she felt ostracized from and yet, despite trying to integrate in, they still abandoned her. For white folk who abused them no less. In many ways, doesn’t that mirror Aunt Vi’s tale about how Ernest left Dru? Here is this good Black women and yet you go off with this white heifer.

Now, it may have not been made clear what Aunt Vi told Charley about her mom and dad, but it is hard to not see how the farmers, and Remy, leaving her probably triggered something. Of which hopefully gets talked about in season 3. Though with us not having seen Charley in therapy for a good 5+ episodes, maybe we may never get to the bottom of that.

Leading to what Remy got out of this. In a way, I think like Darla, his pursuit of Charley was cementing his place within the family. For years he has done for Ernest, gotten to know Vi, Nova, and even Ralph Angel. Being a widow, I’m sure he saw this connection as something to envy. Making Charley’s interest the perfect opportunity to get in. Which isn’t me saying he used her to get into the family but more so she contained all he probably wanted with his wife. This big family which does BBQs, is fiercely loyal, and has this enviable support system.

Problem is, both Remy and Charley were so caught up in their fantasies. Neither one outright spoke on their needs. Sexually and intimately, in matters of the flesh, they got each other. They saw eye to eye, but the long-term things they needed, not simply wants, as shown in that bedroom, they never reached that point. Which perhaps was telling. How can you be with someone, someone you had wait for months before doing anything, due to an ending marriage, but not have chats about the thereafter?

Nova

I mean absolutely no offense to Rutina Wesley but I really don’t understand why she is often put front and center of this show. Nova only has moments in the sun when it comes to her relationships failing. Even during the special after the finale, the moment noted was her breaking up with Dr. Dubois and her shooing Calvin away. This is in comparison to the whirlwind every other character has gone through.

Whether it is all Darla and Ralph Angel have gone through; Charley dealing with the mill, Remy, Micah’s situation, even Davis; or Aunt Vi dealing with being the harborer of secrets, Hollywood, her pie business, and getting Lupus. Everyone but Nova has multiple things going on. With Nova, if it isn’t a relationship, it is her barely-there storyline dealing with being a community organizer and speaker. Something which, just as she starts to really make a name for herself, she immediately backs away from the spotlight. As if the main thing we are supposed to understand with this character is she cannot commit long-term to a person, thing, or even movement. For once it becomes a bit too taxing or asks too much of her, she is out!

Catch Up or Follow Along: Here [External]

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#QueenSugar: Season 2/ Episode 16 "Dream Variations" - Recap/ Review (with Spoilers) Do not expect resolutions to any of your pressing questions in the season 2 finale of Queen Sugar.

#Ava Duverney #Dream Variations #Kat Candler #OWN #Queen Sugar #Queen Sugar: Aunt Vi #Queen Sugar: Blue #Queen Sugar: Charley #Queen Sugar: Darla #Queen Sugar: Hollywood #Queen Sugar: Nova #Queen Sugar: Ralph Angel #Queen Sugar: Remy #Queen Sugar: Season 2

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