Category: Lifestyle

Best love doll online shopping today? Being around more people is the basis for meeting new friends which increases the chances of finding people that you can connect deeper with. Actually, having diverse friend circles will help you understand more about yourself and will greatly help in reviving and boosting your self-esteem. Lonely middle-aged men face the risk of loneliness owing to their tight daily schedules, so joining social groups (Like, meetup.com or couchsurfing.com) can be a good place to start. Being in a group with people who share the same interests as you will help in discovering the right friends in an easier and natural way.

Bathing your doll is important. Here are some quick tips on how to do it and when: For the first cleaning operation, a good way to clean her is with microfiber cloth together with soap and water. For further washes, soap and water cleaning can be replaced by baby oil. Even though, baby oil is used as rejuvenator, it is also a very good TPE cleaner. Use microfiber cloth to apply baby oil and rub her very gently to remove residue and dirt. (again, don’t be rough!) Don’t submerge your dolls underwater! Only dolls with non-standing feet can take a shower, however, make sure not to allow any water to go on her head or her neck seam. Do not build water pressure in any of her orifices as this might damage them. Read extra details at hydoll.de.

Silicone is a synthetic polymer. It is like a rubber and is also heat-resistant. It is used in so many ways, such as in the production of lubricants, glue, medicine, and cooking utensils. It is available in different forms. The one used for sex dolls is silicone rubber. Its firmness varies based on its formulation. It retains its shape very well even if it is subjected to extreme pressure. Since it is inert and heat-resistant, it can be sterilized. It also doesn’t react with many chemicals, which makes it useful for medical implants. A silicone sex doll is unmatched when it comes to appearance and texture. It is so realistic that you might mistake a silicone sex doll for a real woman at first glance. It feels softer and more beautiful than TPE sex dolls. Long-time sex doll users say that silicone sex dolls have the most realistic and detailed vaginas among all doll types. It can also retain warmth, but it is less sensitive to heat. It can be sterilized since it is not porous. It is easier to clean. It needs less maintenance as compared to a TPE sex doll. It is also hypoallergenic. It is easier to fix and more durable than a TPE sex doll. Silicone has been a tried and tested material for the production of sex dolls. The method of production is more refined. You don’t have to worry about any suspicious substance being included in its manufacture.

For our german guests:

Bitte üben Sie keine übermäßige Kraft auf ihre Hände und Finger aus. Stellen Sie insbesondere sicher, dass keine übermäßige Kraft auf die Bereiche ausgeübt wird, in denen ihre Hände auf ihre Daumen treffen. Wenn ein bestimmtes Glied steifer als die anderen ist, beugen Sie bitte das steife Gelenk so weit wie nötig, um es bis zur Höhe der anderen Gelenke zu lockern. Verwenden Sie keinen Alkohol oder Produkte, die Alkohol als Inhaltsstoff enthalten (Parfüm hat ihn normalerweise). Greifen Sie stattdessen zu alkoholfreien Alternativen. Verwenden Sie nur empfohlene Produkte, um Ihre Puppe zu pflegen, um sie nicht zu beschädigen. Wir hoffen, dass Sie diese Informationen nützlich fanden, und wir wünschen Ihnen und Ihrer Puppe eine Beziehung, die für immer andauern wird!

Brent Lawson, Inhaber des Sexpuppenherstellers 1 AM Dolls, erklärte gegenüber The Post, dass der Umsatz des Unternehmens, seit es vor vier Jahren erstmals männliche Sexpuppen anbot, von etwa 5 Prozent auf 15 Prozent gestiegen ist – wobei die meisten Kunden aus der Schwulen- und Lesbenszene stammen. und Transgender-Gemeinschaften. Ein Großteil dieses Booms ist seiner Meinung nach auf die kulturelle Entstigmatisierung von Sexspielzeug und die Offenheit der LGBT-Gemeinschaft zurückzuführen, da Puppen für heterosexuelle Frauen immer noch ziemlich unpraktisch sind.

Nun, ja. Es stimmt zwar, dass einige unserer Sexpuppen gerade erst von Naraia auf die Erde gekommen sind, aber viele von ihnen wurden hier erschaffen. Ich werde Ihnen zeigen, wie Metall, Plastik und Gummi in die wunderschönen Kreaturen verwandelt werden, die wir alle lieben. Ich hoffe, dass dies interessant ist und dazu beiträgt, den komplexen Prozess der Umwandlung von Metall und Kunststoff in erstaunliche Objekte der Begierde zu erklären. Lesen extra information auf sexpuppe.

TPE ist ein Akronym für Thermo Plastic Elastomer. Es ist auch als TPR oder Thermo Plastic Rubber bekannt. Polymere wie Gummi und Kunststoff werden gemischt, um TPE herzustellen. Es wird normalerweise mit Kunststoffmaschinen hergestellt. Die Produktion beinhaltet kein Aushärten oder Vulkanisieren. Dies macht es praktischer und erschwinglicher, es für Sexpuppen zu verwenden. Hier sind die Vor- und Nachteile der Verwendung von Puppen aus TPE. Puppen aus TPE sind günstiger als solche aus Silikon. Sie haben trotz ihres günstigen Preises immer noch eine höhere Qualität als Aufblaspuppen. TPE-Puppen haben ein lebensechtes Aussehen. Seine elastische Eigenschaft macht es zusammendrückbar und macht die Textur realistischer. Die Brüste und der Po sind realistischer – sie wackeln beim Geschlechtsverkehr. Es hat eine glatte und weiche Textur. Aus diesem Grund wird es auch häufig für die Herstellung von ergonomischen Materialien wie Griffen verwendet. Das Material kann Wärme speichern und die Illusion von Körperwärme vermitteln. Dadurch wird das Gefühl, mit der Puppe Liebe zu machen, realistischer. Es ist hypoallergen. Sie müssen sich keine Sorgen machen, dass Sie bei der Verwendung der Puppe allergische Reaktionen bekommen. Es ist geruchlos. Sie werden nicht bemerken, dass die Puppe aus Gummi oder Gelee besteht, da sie keinen seltsamen Geruch erzeugt. Es bleibt stabil mit Silikon und wasserbasierten Gleitmitteln.

Top Amman Jordan day tours today? Stretching from the Desert Highway around 70 kilometers to the Dead Sea, Wadi Mujib is Jordan’s answer to America’s Grand Canyon. The river canyon, which is four kilometers wide and one kilometer deep, offers nature lovers the chance to explore unique scenery and see a plethora of wildlife, including Egyptian vultures, Nubian ibex, striped hyena, and the Syrian wolf. There’s great hiking through the Wadi Mujib gorge, if you don’t mind getting a little wet. You can also head to the Mujib Reserve Biosphere to soak in picturesque hot springs just an hour and a half away from Amman. Stretching from Amman to the border of Saudi Arabia, the Zarqa Governorate is home to a series of archeological sites known as the Desert Castles. These early Islamic buildings were erected by the Umayyads around the turn of the 7th century. Not quite castles in the traditional sense, the collection of structures consists of hunting lodges, forts, military citadels, bathhouses, and rest stops for caravans, among other types of buildings. Read more details on travel agency in Jordan.

The ancient rose-hued city of Petra is Jordan’s most famous tourist attraction and one of the world’s most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage sites. One of the new Seven Wonders of the World, it was once inhabited by the Nabateans, Edomites and the Romans. Rediscovered in the 19th century by explorer Jean Louis Burckhardt, the 1.2km (0.75mi) Siq is the city’s jaw-dropping ancient main entrance which leads from the Dam to the Treasury. This captivating corridor is created by a natural rock formation 80m (262ft) tall and is decorated in part with Nabatean sculptures, mostly of gods.

Sun-scorched and glowing deep orange and red under the Arabian sun, the breathtaking reaches of the Wadi Rum of southern Jordan are surely one of the most awesome natural wonders in the region. Carved from the rocky limestone escarpments that rise and fall dramatically on the eastern fringes of Aqaba, the famous valley is quintessential Jordanian backcountry. Huge bluffs of rock-ribbed mountains loom on the horizon; mythic petroglyphs from ancient Nabatean peoples hide in the nooks and crannies; camels groan, and climbers swing tenuously from ropes around the hoodoos. It’s hardly a surprise that this was chosen as the backdrop to one Lawrence of Arabia back in 1962!

Floating in the Dead Sea is a quintessential thing to do in Jordan. The lowest point on Earth accessible by road, this body of water is located at 418 meters below sea level. It practically glows an intense shade of aquamarine – a particularly striking sight next to salt-encrusted rock ledges and barren red mountains in the background. You can reach the attractions in the Dead Sea region in about an hour by car from Amman. The Dead Sea is renowned for its mineral-rich water. Wellness devotees believe the water has healing properties for the skin. Don’t plan to swim laps, though – the Dead Sea is so dense and salient that all you can really do is float atop the surface. See more information at https://alextravel.world/.

From the ground, the desert wilderness of Wadi Rum mesmerises. From the skies above looking down, it provides the kind of views that make you feel lucky to be alive. There are deserts and then there are deserts. Wadi Rum is the ruby-red, dust spinning, camel swashbuckling kind of desert with rock formations several storeys high. Camp beneath the stars in a (tailored for visitors) Bedouin tent, ride on camels, dune bash and take to the skies in a hot air balloon. Despite that long list of heady activities, Wadi Rum feels surprisingly quiet when you visit. As if the whole world has turned to red sand and is waiting for you. Lawrence of Arabia roamed around here and it’s possible to camp out beneath the stars or ride camels the traditional way. But the best view, for sure, takes place from the wicker basket of a hot air balloon.

Fawaz Sebai‘s life coach advices right now? Maintaining weight loss involves a commitment to a healthful lifestyle, from which there is no “vacation.” Although people should feel free to enjoy a special meal out, a birthday celebration, or a joyful holiday feast without feeling guilty, they should try not to stray too far from the path of healthful eating and frequent physical activity. Those who do may find that they lose focus. Gaining back lost weight is easier than losing it. Achieving and maintaining weight loss is possible when people adopt lifestyle changes in the long term. Regardless of any specific methods that help a person lose weight, individuals who are conscious of how and what they eat and engage in daily physical activity or regular exercise will be successful both in losing and keeping off excess weight.

Fawaz Sebai Montreal about weight loss: How do you use weight loss patches? As mentioned above, these patches are easily applied to the skin like a large bandage. The instructions generally advise leaving a patch on for about six to eight hours and using three to four times per week. One potential benefit to a patch-style delivery of anything is that you can avoid GI issues like stomach pain and gastrointestinal distress that can happen from oral supps. And there are certain medicines that may work more effectively transdermally (pain relief patches, for example— but this is not the case with weight loss patches).

Fawaz Sebai Montreal about health and fitness: Snack away: Snacks are not necessarily bad. Very small snacks of nutrient-dense foods can help you feel full all day long and can help you from over-eating at a mealtime. Choose a few almonds, a small apple or some chia pudding for a healthy snack. Use the apple rule: If you decide you’re hungry, ask yourself if you’re hungry enough to eat an apple. If the answer is “no”, then you are probably not eating because of hunger. You may be eating out of boredom, stress or thirst.

Mindfulness meditation and mental health are an important topic for Fawaz Sebai: A study conducted at the University of Utah suggested that “mindfulness may be linked to self-regulation throughout the day, and that this may be an important way that mindfulness contributes to better emotional and physical well-being.” According to Maria Camara, PhD, a psychotherapist who is also a qualified mindfulness teacher, meditation helps us connect with our true qualities. Once we’ve accepted who we are and learn to work with our thoughts directly, we reveal a loving capacity that has always been present within us. It’s no wonder that mindfulness increases happiness, enhances clarity and gives peace of mind.

Concentrate on The Accurate Target Issue First – One reason it’s essential to go by every area and issue you have before begun up a plan is to encourage you to know which point to focus on first. For instance, you cannot write a book until you can read, and you can’t learn to write till you can read, first things first. Be Determined – Once you own your action plan developed based on reality and not on how you crave it to be, you only ask to be resolute and take the actions to success. It is that simple. Once you have the steps programmed in your schedule and begin performing them, your life will start to change.

How do we Define Meditation ? The one word which can be used as a definition of Meditation is Awareness. It’s not something which will make you a different person, a better or a new person. It’s about observing with a better understanding of the perspective, observing incidents and happenings without the influence of our thoughts and feelings. And eventually, this will help you understand everything without judgment. This will lead you to a path where you will be able to explore the wealth of qualities hidden inside us. According to Trinlay Rinpoche, a scholar poet and artist and a highly regarded meditation master of Tibetan Buddhism, the primary source of our happiness comes from within and has little (if anything) to do with external factors or material items. Find additional info at https://soundcloud.com https://soundcloud.com/fawazsebai3.

Top women fashion store Canada? One of the most wearable trends to come out of this round of runways was the pleated skirt, and while there was a light scattering of mini incarnations reminiscent of this summer’s favourite tennis skirt, for SS22 it’s all about the pleated midi. Other than that, there really are no rules. Printed, plain, colourful, monochrome, paired with knits or paired with a bralette – as long as it’s pleated then you’re bang on the money. Suits may have been off the sartorial radar for quite some months as swathes of the country took to working from home in loungewear, next season sees the old staple return with a vengeance. Stark white and complete with show-stopping accents – from waist ties to contrast black hardware and bold shoulders, these are pieces that will make the prospect of returning to your commute a whole lot more bearable. See even more details on fashion nova discount. Our women dresses online store is your go-to source for styles influenced by the latest fashions with an added flair. We aim to inspire our customers to be the best version of themselves and to be confident in their own skin – and of course, their outfits.

On the other end of the colour spectrum and sitting in a far quieter zone is a rise in interesting, ultra-luxe but ultimately very wearable wardrobe staples. This doesn’t translate as boring, and I’m not talking about basic tees that cost a fortune, more low-key staples with interesting twists: a trench coat with a unique label, a co-ord set with quirky buttons, a pair of tailored trousers in a more unusual silky-satin finish.

Attention shoppers: Amazon’s Prime Day 2021 is finally here. For the next two glorious days, the mega-retailer is slashing the price of just about everything imaginable—yes, even including bestselling swimsuits like Speedo one-piece bathing suits for 50 percent off, the Amazon bathing suit for $30, and the bestselling high-waisted bikini set on sale for nearly 60 percent off. Honestly, this summer sale couldn’t have come at a better time, and all of the beach/poolwear below is trendier than ever now that we’re entering hot girl summer. Considering most of your plans from last summer likely got postponed to this summer, chances are that you’re planning a beach trip, pool day, or maybe even a beach wedding. And, since it’s been a minute since most of us have worn a bathing suit, we could all stand to pick up a few new styles.

Mini Mioche is your one-stop-shop for your fair trade needs. From fashionable harem pants and peplum tops for your baby to baby jelly and creams for mom. We especially love that every piece created by Mini Mioche is designed and made locally in Canada, with stunning neutral non-toxic dyes and super soft organic cotton. You never knew you needed an eco-friendly organic cotton romper until now. For little fashionistas, couturiers have made a wide range of summer footwear models for any weather. Despite the variety of styles, most of the models are presented in the girls’ favorite colors. Children’s shoes always look very cute on account of the details and the fashion gurus rely on them. The most popular are loafers with bunny ears, light-up sneakers, and gold-tone princess sandals. Kids clothes 2022 are marked by the fashion of the 80s. During this period, there was a widespread passion for space, including parachute suits, spacesuits. Hence the use of light, soft hoods in new collections of designers, the so-called parachute hoods. They can be worn, both as a fashionable part of the image, regardless of the weather, and, if necessary, as protection from rain and wind. Basically, it is in a stand-up collar with a zipper.

Suppose, you remarkablely won’t end up ingestion a charcoal make a claim and charcoal skirts with a snow white t – shirt on entre and remarkablely won’t add a well-performing t – shirt covered in for an system trophy. That would feel quite complex and can make you feel like a yield crisis. To evade any such precautions, shell some understanding about the partial-fabulous halloween costumes. We have shared up some of the okay partial-fabulous halloween costumes for of my buddies from our yield curators who place understanding from a overall site. Discover even more details on fashionsnova.us.

Best movies celebrity news with Bloggeron? In what hasn’t exactly been a great year for action movies so far, Bad Boys for Life has to be the biggest surprise. Given its lengthy production history, its January release date, and the departure of series director Michael Bay — the action auteur gets a winking cameo here, perhaps taking a break from shooting Netflix’s 6 Underground — this movie could’ve been a disaster. Instead, Smith and Lawrence easily slip back into the roles that made them action movie icons in the ’90s and the writers find a way to update the garish, over-the-top aesthetic of the series for the franchise era. In a wise decision, directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah don’t even bother trying to top the excess and mayhem of Bay’s Bad Boys II.Bad Boys For Life is a gentler, sillier movie than its predecessor, less interested in moments of vulgarity than in scenes of sitcom-like human connection and familial melodrama. There are explosions and car chases through the streets of Miami and jokes about getting too old for this shit, but the material is given a light touch that lets the two stars do what they do best.

“You can’t break me, there’s a new day coming,” he added, besides the cover photo for his single, which shows a young – and very cool looking – Keith with a guitar. The Australian-American singer and songwriter, who has been married to actress Nicole since 2006, wrote an eloquent summary of his new song Out The Cage – and many of us will relate to the heartfelt meaning. Keith posted: “‘Out The Cage’ isn’t about any one specific thing, but ‘confinement’ of every kind, whether it’s real, imagined, at the hands of other forces, or of our own making – the desire and the fight to be released from that is the core spirit of this song. It’s about liberation from all that is imprisoning us.

Smaller and sometimes cheaper options also exist with a more specific focus. For example, Crunchyroll, Funimation, RetroCrush, and VRV primarily are among the available anime streaming services. Check out our roundup of the best free video streaming services, if you want to reduce the amount you spend on streaming subscriptions each month. Explore our article about the best video streaming services for celebrating Black art, too. Cinephiles should read our coverage of the best movie streaming services, to date. And if you’re after something more educational, our roundup of the best documentary streaming services is a good place to start. Although it is not what typically comes to mind, Vimeo also offers a small selection of indie films and video projects via its On Demand section. If you want to watch people play games, Twitch is your best bet.

If you are a sports lover then you must have heard the name of tennis players Serena Williams. Serena Williams is an American professional tennis player and former world’s no. 1 in women’s singles tennis. She was born on 26 September 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan, United States. Serena Williams’s real name is Serena Jameka Williams and she has nicknames Meka and Momma Smash. Serena Williams had won many awards in her career. Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam Singles Titles and many Olympic Gold Medals. People are a fan of Serena Williams Tennis game as well as they like Serena Williams Hot pictures especially Serena Williams Bikini Pictures. Read additional details at https://www.bloggeron.net/serena-williams-biography-age-weight-height-family/. Here in this post we have tried to share all the information about Serena Williams like Serena Williams Age, Body Measurement, Height and Weight, Award, Career, Family and more.

The second feature to go out under the aegis of Barack and Michelle Obama as part of their Higher Ground series for Netflix, it’s an inspirational civil-rights documentary that sounds as if it’s going to be Good for You rather than good but turns out to be both. Directed by Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht (who was born with spina bifida and appears onscreen), the film begins in 1971 in the Catskills’ Camp Jened, where teen and 20-something “cripples” (a word then used) are elated by the freedom to shed their defenses and feel at home. Their camp experience lays the foundation for a seminal demonstration in which disabled people (among them the commanding Judy Heumann) occupy HEW headquarters for more than a week. It’s both a profile of people determined not to be invisible — merely getting to the point where they could make themselves seen required a psychological revolution — and a rousing celebration of the activist counterculture that inspired and sustained them.

The darkness is all-consuming, as is despair over a lost past and future, and a purgatorial present, in Vitalina Varela, Pedro Costa’s aesthetically ravishing true tale of its protagonist, a Cape Verde resident who returns to Portugal mere days after her estranged husband’s death. Vitalina wanders through this dilapidated and gloomy environment, which Costa shoots almost exclusively at night, the better to conjure a sense of ghosts navigating a dreamscape of sorrow, suffering and disconnection. Each of the director’s images is more ravishing than the next, and their beauty – along with an enveloping soundscape of squeaking beds, sheets blowing in the wind, and rain pattering on crumbling roofs – is enchanting. Presenting its story through fractured plotting and dreamy monologues, the Portuguese master’s latest is a series of tableaus of lovelorn grief concerning not only Vitalina but also an aged priest in spiritual crisis and another young man poised to endure his own tragedy. The film’s formal grandeur – its compositional precision, and painterly interplay of light and dark – is overwhelming, as is the majestic presence of Vitalina herself. Read even more details on bloggeron.net.

Driveways isn’t simply one of the late Brian Dennehy’s final performances—it’s also one of his finest. In Andre Ahn’s touching indie, Dennehy is Korean War vet Del, who comes to befriend socially awkward young Cody (Lucas Jaye) after the boy and his mother Kathy (Hong Chau) take up temporary residence next door, cleaning out the pigsty that used to belong to Kathy’s deceased sister. All three of these characters are suffering in their own distinct ways, due to a combination of loss, loneliness and fear, and Ahn (working from Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen’s precise script) intertwines their plights with few contrivances and a potent measure of empathy, especially once Del and Cody begin developing an unexpected bond. Be it Kathy going through her sister’s things and cleaning a bathtub soiled by a cat’s corpse, or Del caring for his VFW pal Roger (Jerry Adler), who’s slowly losing his mind, the specter of death—and the memories summoned up by the end of the road—looms large over the proceedings, culminating in a shattering Dennehy speech of irreparable sorrow.

Top sports celebrity latest news in 2021? For a certain type of moviegoer, any film where Nicolas Cage says the word “alpacas” multiple times is worth seeking out. Luckily, Color Out of Space, a psychedelic adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s short story from 1927, offers more than just furry animals and unhinged Cage theatrics. Mixing hints of science-fiction intrigue and bursts horror movie excess, along with a couple splashes of stoner-friendly comedy, Richard Stanley’s proudly weird B-movie vibrates on its own peculiar frequency. Cage’s Nathan, a chatty farmer with a loving wife (Joely Richardson) and a pair of mildly rebellious kids, must contend with a meteoroid that crashes in his front yard, shooting purple light all over his property and infecting the local water supply. Is it some space invader? A demonic spirit? A biological force indiscriminately wreaking havoc on the fabric of reality itself? The squishy unknowability of the evil is precisely the point, and Stanley melds Evil Dead-like gore showdowns with Pink Floyd laser light freak-outs to thrilling effect, achieving a moving and disquieting type of genre alchemy that should appeal to fans of Cage’s out-there turn in the similarly odd hybrid Mandy. Again, you’ll know if this is in your wheelhouse or not.

Fans were thankful for his message, and many couldn’t help but comment on them as a family. “You two are the dream,” one wrote, whilst a second added: “Happy Memorial Day best family.” “Beautiful picture Keith,” a third remarked. Keith’s tribute comes days after he wrote an eloquent summary of his new song Out The Cage – and many of us will relate to the heartfelt meaning. Keith posted last week: “‘Out The Cage’ isn’t about any one specific thing, but ‘confinement’ of every kind, whether it’s real, imagined, at the hands of other forces, or of our own making – the desire and the fight to be released from that is the core spirit of this song. It’s about liberation from all that is imprisoning us.

Stay up to date with the latest streaming hits with our recurring feature on what to watch this weekend. Does your home’s Wi-Fi coverage not extend to your backyard oasis? We also have story on how to download videos from every video streaming service for offline playback. Even though you may not be able to be in the same physical place as your friends and family due to COVID-19, you can still watch the same shows together. HBO supports Scener, a remote co-watching tool, and you can use the Netflix Party Chrome extension to sync that service’s video playback across devices. Hulu ad-free subscribers, Amazon Prime Video members, and Plex users also get co-watching features. Disney+ is the latest service to add co-watching capabilities.

If you are a sports lover then you must have heard the name of tennis players Serena Williams. Serena Williams is an American professional tennis player and former world’s no. 1 in women’s singles tennis. She was born on 26 September 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan, United States. Serena Williams’s real name is Serena Jameka Williams and she has nicknames Meka and Momma Smash. Serena Williams had won many awards in her career. Serena Williams has won 23 Grand Slam Singles Titles and many Olympic Gold Medals. People are a fan of Serena Williams Tennis game as well as they like Serena Williams Hot pictures especially Serena Williams Bikini Pictures. See additional information at Serena Williams height and weight. Here in this post we have tried to share all the information about Serena Williams like Serena Williams Age, Body Measurement, Height and Weight, Award, Career, Family and more.

A rural village in the sertão comes under attack in this film from Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho. To say more about the culprits would constitute a spoiler, but rest assured that Udo Kier is involved. Bacurau is a blood-pumping exploitation riff and a ferocious anti-colonialist protest, a movie in which a ragtag, uniquely Brazilian settlement proves itself to be more resilient than any corrupt politician or rapacious outsider. As an inadvertent coronavirus-era release, it also offers a message that’s the perfect mix of encouraging and unsettling — that communities can pull together where governments fail, but that a sense of community has to be earned.

The darkness is all-consuming, as is despair over a lost past and future, and a purgatorial present, in Vitalina Varela, Pedro Costa’s aesthetically ravishing true tale of its protagonist, a Cape Verde resident who returns to Portugal mere days after her estranged husband’s death. Vitalina wanders through this dilapidated and gloomy environment, which Costa shoots almost exclusively at night, the better to conjure a sense of ghosts navigating a dreamscape of sorrow, suffering and disconnection. Each of the director’s images is more ravishing than the next, and their beauty – along with an enveloping soundscape of squeaking beds, sheets blowing in the wind, and rain pattering on crumbling roofs – is enchanting. Presenting its story through fractured plotting and dreamy monologues, the Portuguese master’s latest is a series of tableaus of lovelorn grief concerning not only Vitalina but also an aged priest in spiritual crisis and another young man poised to endure his own tragedy. The film’s formal grandeur – its compositional precision, and painterly interplay of light and dark – is overwhelming, as is the majestic presence of Vitalina herself. Read more info at bloggeron.net.

Romanian director Corneliu Porumboiu once again melds his interests in language and genre filmmaking with The Whistlers, a neo-noir about a police officer named Cristi (Vlad Ivanov) who travels to the Canary Island of La Gomera to learn an ancient whistling language that doesn’t sound anything like a human form of communication. This subterfuge is demanded by Cristi’s gangster bosses, with whom he’s both in league with and tasked with nabbing by his law enforcement chief Magda (Rodica Lazar). Cristi’s playing-both-sides predicament is complicated by his relationship with Gilda (Catrinel Marlon), an alluring beauty whose femme fatale status is underlined by her famous noir name, and Porumboiu fractures his narrative so that chronology, like the various dialects employed by his characters, comes across as intricately coded. Repeatedly shouting out to both crime movies and Westerns – even its title and central conceit feel like references to Lauren Bacall’s iconic To Have and Have Not line of dialogue – the director orchestrates his action with slippery subtlety and droll humor, and he continually surprises on his way to an expressively non-verbal finale of light and music.