Movie director Yorgos Lanthimos captures New Orleans in a hauntingly beautiful photography book

Arts & Culture, Books

Yorgos Lanthimos, the acclaimed film director behind cinematic masterpieces like The Favourite and Poor Things, has produced his second photography book – I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully.Published by Mack and released in late 2024, this linen-bound hardback coffee table photography book offers a haunting visual experience shaped by Lanthimos’ distinct, suspenseful aesthetic – one that has long captivated audiences in his films.The book comprises a series of photographs taken in New Orleans during the production of Lanthimos’ recent film, Kinds of Kindness, which features an impressive cast that includes Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Plemons and Hunter Schafer.Yet, the images in I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully are not just behind-the-scenes glimpses of a film set. Instead, Lanthimos crafts a separate narrative through these photographs, one that exists in the liminal space between reality and fiction.Yorgos Lanthimos, from I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully (Mack, 2024). Courtesy of the artist and Mack (Image credit: Yorgos Lanthimos)This isn’t Lanthimos’ first foray into photography books, as early in 2024 he released his debut monograph Dear God, the Parthenon is Still Broken – an exquisite collection of images made on the set of Poor Things.That book, created in collaboration with actress Emma Stone, marked the beginning of a new creative venture for Lanthimos, blending his filmmaking process with intimate, dreamlike photography. It’s a collaboration and approach he has continued with I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully.All the images were shot in 2022, in and around New Orleans. There’s an undeniable noir influence running through the work, reminiscent of Raymond Chandler’s fiction and the photography of Henry Wessel.The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox!The juxtaposition of New Orleans’ lively streets with a sense of eeriness creates a mood that’s both familiar and strange and creates a sense of foreboding not often associated with the area. This feeling has become a hallmark of his cinematic style which translates effortlessly from screen to print.Yorgos Lanthimos, from I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully (Mack, 2024). Courtesy of the artist and Mack (Image credit: Yorgos Lanthimos)There’s something extremely suggestive about the way Lanthimos navigates the eerie and mundane in his imagery, as his photographs – much like his films – find themselves on the edge of absurdity and melancholy.In I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully, this tension is as present as ever. The streets of New Orleans are enveloped in both light and shadow, transforming into a stage for a narrative that feels both timeless and contemporary.Although not specified in the press material, on his previous project Lanthimos revealed his preference for shooting with an 8×10 film camera. This choice adds to the stillness and tension present in each image.There’s a degree of intention to the compositions that carefully strikes a balance between location, character and observer. After all, that is how it feels to be shown the window into Lanthimos’ world – observing a reality that feels just out of reach.Yorgos Lanthimos, from I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully (Mack, 2024). Courtesy of the artist and Mack (Image credit: Yorgos Lanthimos)Many of the characters in the book are often shot from behind or captured in fleeting glimpses, providing a level of intrigue and mystery. These images demand a second and often third look, and after each viewing new layers of meaning and emotion emerge.The title of the book is taken from a text by Sappho, whose fragmented poetry mirrors the book’s narrative structure, leaving space for interpretation and reflection.What makes I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully so compelling, however, is its ability to stand on its own, independent of the film it was created alongside.While the photographs were initially part of Lanthimos’ process in shaping the world of Kinds of Kindness, the book transforms them into a unique visual narrative that exists beyond the frames of the film. It is not a companion piece but a story in its own right.Yorgos Lanthimos, from I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully (Mack, 2024). Courtesy of the artist and Mack (Image credit: Yorgos Lanthimos)Lanthimos is a storyteller, first and foremost; his photographs, like his films, invite us to ponder and reflect. There’s a sense of liminality in how the images unfold and a narrative path that’s never fully revealed but lingers in the mind, demanding more attention. His ability to translate this style into still images is unlike anything I’ve seen recently in the photography space.Priced at £35 in the UK and $40 in the US, I Shall Sing These Songs Beautifully by Yorgos Lanthimos is published by Mack and is available now. It’s a book that demands to be experienced slowly, each image revealing layers of meaning and emotion leaving you with more questions than answers.Yorgos Lanthimos, from i shall sing these songs beautifully (MACK, 2024). Courtesy of the artist and MACK. (Image credit: Yorgos Lanthimos)You might also likeCheck out my article on Lanthimos’ previous book Dear God, the Parthenon is still Broken along with our guide to the best coffee table books.

‘The Sabarmati Report’ Movie Ending Explained & Summary: Did Amrita Leave EBT News?

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

The Sabarmati Report is a dangerous film, to say the least, and though I can talk in detail about why I feel that way, I believe that I will keep my thoughts and my opinions to myself (at least, unlike the film, they’re based on real facts). I say so because I believe that, in today’s time, it is extremely difficult to override a narrative that has been triggered by emotions using factual proof. The truth was, is, and will always be in front of us. There are many documentaries and reports that talk about the real reason behind the Godhra riots and why over 1000 people ended up losing their lives post the Sabarmati incident (which the film blatantly chooses to ignore). I understand that in such incidents, “facts” are always fabricated, and I don’t deny that lies would have been spread from both sides. But what the creators of The Sabarmati Report do is close their eyes, conveniently abstain from talking about anything that does not suit their narrative, and, at places, make sure to alter the truth in the name of creative liberty. All I can say here is that sometimes the world can do much better with one less opinion, and so in this article, we will just follow the events shown in The Sabarmati Report and find out if our protagonist was able to achieve what he set out to do.

Spoiler Alert

Why was Samar fired from EBT News? 

Samar was a Hindi reporter, and he was finding it very hard to make a name for himself. He always said that Hindi reporters didn’t get the respect that they deserved. But our protagonist did not lose hope, and one day, he got the opportunity he had been waiting for. The most popular prime-time anchor for EBT news, Manika Rajpurohit, asked for a Hindi journalist who could translate whatever she wrote. Manika was being sent to Godhra to cover the incident that had shaken the entire nation. Samar was a cameraman, and he was extremely proficient in the Hindi language. So, he was best suited for the job, and he went with Manika to report from the site of the accident. Now, the moment Samar and Manika reached Godhra, they realized that though people were calling it an accident, it was not. For some reason, the truth was being hidden, and the politicians were trying to use the situation to their advantage. However, only the politicians of the opposition were trying to do that, and as bizarre as it might sound, the sitting government had no role to play in the entire incident. Why? Because the makers of this film said so. So, Samar told Manika that there was a lot of evidence that pointed towards the possibility of the incident being a pre planned operation, and she agreed with him. But Manika’s bosses got a call from the politicians of the opposition, and they asked Manika to call it an accident and not tell the truth. After Manika left Gujarat, Samar stayed back for a few hours, and he recorded footage of the victims admitted to the hospital. Later, he went to his office in Delhi and showed his boss the recording. They were quite impressed by his work, and they told him that they would show whatever he had recorded on the news the next day. But obviously, that didn’t happen. Samar was quite hurt when he saw that his bosses were trying to hide the truth and present a false narrative. He went to his office and created a scene, and ultimately, he was fired from his job. After that, Samar couldn’t find work anywhere, as his bosses blacklisted him and made sure that no media house hired him. 

What did Manika want from Amrita? 

Almost 5 years have passed since the Sabarmati incident, and nobody has talked about those victims. Samar had never imagined that he would have to pay such a huge cost just to tell people the truth. He became an alcoholic, and he survived by doing some dubbing jobs. Around that time, Amrita, a freshly graduated and extremely enthusiastic media student, joined EBT news. Like every other girl, she idolized Manika Rajpurohit, and she dreamt of having a similar career graph to hers. Manika and her bosses got to know that an independent inquiry commission had been made to investigate the Sabarmati incident and bring the truth to light. The EBT news management knew what lies they had peddled back in the day, and they wanted to make sure that the situation didn’t get out of hand. So, the management, together with Manika, met the Gujarat CM. The CM sent his spokesperson, who made it very clear that he wouldn’t interfere in the investigation carried out by the commission, and that he would make sure that the truth came out. Manika realized that they would need to get ahead of the story, and in order to do that, she decided to put all the blame on the state government. But Manika didn’t want to be the face of the program, as she didn’t want to take any sort of risk. Hence, it was decided that Amrita would be made the scapegoat, and if anything went wrong, then the news channel could shrug off all the responsibility and pin all the blame on her. 

Were Samar and Amrita able to bring out the truth? 

Amrita got to know that a reporter named Samar knew about what had actually happened back in the day. After seeing what Samar had recorded, Amrita got even more intrigued to know what his perspective was. But the man was nowhere to be found, and moreover, he was not willing to go back to that story again. He had moved on, and he had stopped fighting for the truth. However, Amrita told him that she would pay him well if he came with her to Godhra. Samar agreed, and that’s how the investigation was kickstarted. At first, it came to be known that an incident of eve teasing happened at the railway station, because of which an angry mob arrived and burned the train. But Amrita and Samar both knew that things weren’t adding up and that the people were not speaking the truth. They even went and talked to the victim, and they realized that she was being forced to tell lies. It didn’t take long for Samar and Amrita to find out that a man named Habib Kadri was the mastermind of the entire incident. A local NGO worker named Mehrunnisa helped Amrita and Samar to find the truth. 

In The Sabarmati Report’s ending, Amrita left EBT News, and she and Samar had both started working for a different news channel. That didn’t stop them from speaking the truth. Samar was made the news anchor, and that day, on prime time, he spoke about his entire investigation in detail. He told his viewers that the Sabarmati incident was not an accident, but a well-planned operation whose mastermind was Kadri. At the end of the show, he paid homage to those victims who lost their lives in the attack, and he spoke the names of all 59 of them to show his respect. 

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From watts to warheads: Secretary of energy oversees big science research and the US nuclear arsenal

Science and Health

The U.S. Department of Energy was created in 1977 by merging two agencies with different missions: the Atomic Energy Commission, which developed, tested and maintained the nation’s nuclear weapons, and the Energy Research and Development Administration, a collection of domestic energy research programs.

Today the department describes itself, with what some might call understatement, as “one of the most interesting and diverse agencies in the Federal government.” Its annual budget of roughly US$50 billion supports some 14,000 employees and 95,000 contractors.

The secretary of energy advises the president on energy policy and guides energy and nuclear weapons production initiatives. As researchers who study energy efficiency and national security and who work with the Energy Department, we have seen that its secretary needs to be able to think long-term and make strategic decisions, sometimes with incomplete information. A good grasp of science, engineering and energy technology is helpful, as are the abilities to lead a large organization and to work with Congress.

Scientific research and development

The Energy Department’s Office of Science supports a large portion of basic U.S. scientific research, including fusion energy, particle physics, chemistry and material science. Together with the agency’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the agency manages a research portfolio with a budget of roughly $12 billion – nearly as large as that of the U.S. National Science Foundation, the other major federal funder of basic research.

A scientist at Sandia National Laboratories’ Photovoltaic System Evaluation Laboratory, in Albuquerque, places a perovskite module in a solar simulator of LED lights to simulate the sun with a flash of light.
Craig Fritz/Flickr

Many energy secretaries have made their greatest marks by supporting and directing research. For example, during the first Trump administration, Rick Perry recognized potential cyber-terrorism risks to U.S. energy infrastructure and supported research in artificial intelligence. This led to the creation of the agency’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response.

Steven Chu, who led the department from 2009 to 2013 under former President Barack Obama, initiated the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy, or ARPA-E, a division that focuses on new, cutting-edge energy innovations at stages too early to attract private-sector investment. ARPA-E projects have led to the creation of over 100 new companies and to over 1,000 patents on a wide range of energy technologies, including hybrid-electric aircraft, carbon dioxide capture from the air and improved electricity transmission.

Most recently, during the Biden administration, Jennifer Granholm focused on working with business and industry to deploy clean energy technologies in support of U.S. climate goals. This effort has included offering grants, loans and rebates, filling gaps in supply chains, and promoting domestic manufacturing of components such as advanced batteries and solar panels.

During the Biden administration, the Energy Department offered large-scale grants and loans to promote domestic manufacturing of clean energy technologies, such as advanced batteries.

Research payoffs

Much of the research that the Energy Department funds can take years to produce results with commercial applications, but it has had some notable successes.

Since the late 1970s, the agency has invested significantly in shale oil research. Combined with additional research and development by private energy companies, the Energy Department helped develop fracking and horizontal drilling. These technologies have revolutionized petroleum and natural gas production and made the U.S. the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas.

Energy Department funding supported the commercialization of LED lights, which are highly efficient and long-lasting. It also has enabled breakthroughs in other energy-efficient technologies, solar and wind energy production, battery technology, and geothermal and wave energy. The agency provides critical support for research on nuclear fusion, which promises to be a clean and abundant source of energy, although it is far from commercialization today.

There also are large swaths of U.S. energy policy that the Energy Department doesn’t control. For example, leases and permits for energy production on public lands and in federal waters are awarded by the Department of the Interior.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, an independent agency, controls the siting of oil and natural gas pipelines and interstate electricity transmission lines. Another independent agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, licenses and regulates the nuclear power industry.

Still, energy secretaries often champion broad strategies that overlap with the mission and authority of other federal departments and agencies.

Nuclear weapons and national security

The Energy Department’s other mission – developing and maintaining nuclear weapons – is steered by the National Nuclear Security Administration, a semi-autonomous agency within the department. Organizationally, the NNSA is the great-grandchild of the Manhattan Engineer District – the post-World War II incarnation of the Manhattan Project that developed the first U.S. atomic weapons.

The NNSA is headed by an administrator who also serves as undersecretary of energy for nuclear security, a Senate-confirmed position. When the energy secretary’s background is in domestic energy – like oil executive Chris Wright, President-elect Trump’s choice to head the agency – the leader of the NNSA is likely to be especially influential on national security issues.

Of the Energy Department’s 17 national laboratories, three – Los Alamos, Sandia and Lawrence Livermore – are officially overseen by the NNSA. Others receive significant NNSA funding and play roles in maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

The NNSA also oversees experimental and testing facilities and other sites involved in the design, production and testing of nuclear weapons. It is responsible for storing and securing warheads that are not deployed at military installations, and for dismantling retired warheads.

A separate office, Environmental Management, oversees the cleanup of nuclear research and production sites, some of which have contamination dating back to World War II. The largest environmental cleanup program in the world, it consumes about $8 billion annually – one-sixth of the agency’s entire budget. It handles large amounts of radioactive wastes, spent nuclear fuel, excess plutonium and uranium, and contaminated facilities, soil and groundwater.

The 580-square-mile Hanford complex in southeast Washington state is the largest environmental cleanup site in the world. Plutonium for nuclear weapons was produced and processed there for more than 40 years, generating massive quantities of radioactive and toxic waste. The project employs 13,000 people and will continue for decades.
Jeff T. Green/Getty Images

The NNSA plays a critical role in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and the materials and technologies needed to make them. It is part of the intelligence community with deep technical expertise, and responds to nuclear and radiological threats globally.

Finally, the NNSA designs and supports the nuclear reactors that propel Navy ships and submarines around the globe.

Historically, the NNSA administrator has had a great deal of autonomy. Most administrators bring deep technical and policy expertise to the job. Some are retired Navy or Air Force officers who have worked with nuclear weapons or naval propulsion systems. Others are researchers with long tenures at Department of Energy laboratories.

Aging weapons, sites and workers

The next energy secretary and NNSA administrator will face major technical, economic and management challenges. The NNSA has been working for years to modernize nuclear weapons production infrastructure, which is aging and underfunded. At the same time, the Energy Department is working with the Defense Department to update U.S. nuclear weapons and strategic nuclear forces – bombers, ballistic missiles and submarines – to deter threats from other nations. This effort could cost up to $1.7 trillion over several decades.

Replacing aging Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles is just one component of a large-scale modernization of U.S. nuclear forces.

Many of the NNSA’s major modernization projects are over budget and years behind schedule. The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently reported that the NNSA needs to improve its program management practices in order to control costs and successfully execute these expensive initiatives.

The incoming administration will also have to recruit and sustain a highly skilled workforce for nuclear security programs. Many retirement-eligible employees have already left the agency. More will exit over the next four years, often drawn by private-sector salaries and perceived better working conditions.

While the Energy Department touts its high-tech laboratories and research facilities, the agency’s people are equally critical to its mission.

This story is part of a series of profiles of Cabinet and high-level administration positions.

Senate immigration bill aims to overturn Supreme Court precedent in a sea change for legal system, experts say

2024 Election

CNN  —  Anti-immigrant state officials and federal judges would have new power to dictate immigration enforcement — including whether to detain individual migrants — under a GOP bill that has passed the House and is moving forward in the Senate with bipartisan support. The Laken Riley Act aims to overturn Supreme Court precedent and give…

Madha Gaja Raja review: Vishal, Sundar C’s film takes you on a nostalgic ride

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Imagine it’s the 2010s. You are back from school, and you switch on the TV, you flip through the channels only to land on one showing comedy clips. You know which movie it is from, the dialogue by heart, and yet it brings laughter every time you watch. Now, imagine watching a typical Sundar C film, which is known for its comedy, 12 years after it was actually made. advertisementMadha Gaja Raja follows the story of Raja (Vishal) attending a wedding at his school teacher’s house, where he reunites with his school gang. One of his friends (Santhanam) is going through marriage issues, while the other two are involved in a case that concerns business tycoon Karkuvel Vishwanath (Sonu Sood).Raja is a man who stands up for his friends. Be it his friend’s marriage issues or problems of life and death, he is just there. When he clashes with Karkuvel Vishwanath, who has crazy connections with politicians, he faces an initial setback. The rest of the story is about Raja’s face-off with Vishwanath and how he manages to defeat him and help his friends.Madha Gaja Raja, directed by Sundar C, should be strictly seen from the 2012 lens. Over several decades, director Sundar C’s films have always entertained fans. The major reason is the effortless comedy by a horde of comedians, who are still part of his movies. Madha Gaja Raja is no different. Comedy is its biggest strength. In today’s times, it could be viewed as regressive and problematic. But, even Sundar C’s latest films face similar problems. Here’s the trailer: The 2012-film has many nostalgic templates that will take you on a trip down memory lane. From jumping to destination songs to a separate comedy track, there’s everything you need in Madha Gaja Raja that will keep you entertained. It is Santhanam who powers through the film with his comedy. It is also a reminder of how he has been sorely missed as a comedian ever since he became a hero. Madha Gaja Raja is nostalgic not just in terms of its treatment but also through cameo roles featuring late actor-directors Manivannan and Manobala. The entire stretch featuring Santhanam and Manobala, reminds you of Magalir Mattum’s Nagesh, will leave you in splits. However, when Madha Gaja Raja takes itself seriously, the film falters. The second half, where audiences are forced to watch Raja and Vishwanath’s face-off, drags as the stakes are low.The heroines in Madha Gaja Raja – Anjali and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, are there to pander to the male gaze. Their roles don’t have much agency either. Madha Gaja Raja, even though outdated and politically incorrect, manages to bring much-needed laughs as it reminds you of the good old days when all you needed was a comedy film to unwind. 2.5 out of 5 stars for Madha Gaja Raja.Published By: K JananiPublished On: Jan 12, 2025

Chinese scientists hope advanced laser will open gateway to new discoveries

Science and Health

China has started building state-of-the-art laser research facilities that will enable scientists to directly observe electrons in action, something they hope will open the way for breakthroughs in fields such as new materials, medicine and energy systems.AdvertisementThe Advanced Attosecond Laser Infrastructure (AALI) will operate from two sites, in Dongguan in Guangdong and Xian in Shaanxi, and will generate light pulses lasting billionths of a billionth of a second.These pulses will act as a super slow-motion camera that can capture the movements of the tiniest building blocks of the universe, according to state broadcaster CCTV.It will become the second laser of its kind following the Attosecond Light Pulse Source in Szeged, Hungary.Of the facility’s 10 beamlines, six will be built in Dongguan, with the remaining four constructed in Xian.Advertisement“Dongguan houses several other large-scale scientific facilities that can collaborate with AALI to advance comprehensive attosecond physics research,” Wei Zhiyi, the project’s chief scientist from the Chinese Academy of Science’s Institute of Physics told CCTV on Friday.Meanwhile, Xian is home to numerous universities with robust research capabilities and a well-established technological infrastructure, he added.

Sri Lanka’s Business landscape to undergo a major transformation in 2025

Business News

By: Staff Writer

January 12, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Business landscape is currently undergoing a major transformation, driven by a series of strategic initiatives that are positioning the country for sustained growth.

After successfully restructuring its national debt and implementing an IMF-backed economic program, the country is actively attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to strengthen its position as a regional business hub.

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) of Sri Lanka has projected that the ICT sector will reach USD 3 -4 billion in revenues on 2025, signaling significant growth.

The ICT sector, which has become an essential part of the country’s digital transformation, is also poised to become one of the primary contributors to Sri Lanka’s export economy.

 With over 500 companies operating in industries like banking, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, the sector is the country’s second-largest export earner.

The government’s ambitious goal is to elevate the sector to $15 billion by 2030, reflecting the critical role digital innovation plays in the country’s economic future.

Meanwhile, the apparel industry is set to experience steady growth, with projections indicating a 2.0% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2028.

This growth comes at a time when the country’s real estate sector, especially in Port City Colombo, is seeing significant expansion. The Port City development has positioned itself as a prime location for investment, with real estate growth expected to see a CAGR of 7.5% between 2023 and 2028.

Sri Lanka’s commitment to sustainable development adds another dimension to the economic opportunities available. The government has set a bold target for 2030, aiming to produce 70% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources.

This initiative is not only in line with global sustainability goals but also presents substantial business opportunities in the renewable energy and eco-friendly sectors.

Tourism remains one of Sri Lanka’s largest foreign exchange earners and a key driver of the economy. With over 4% of the country’s GDP generated from the tourism sector, Sri Lanka’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage continue to attract tourists from around the world.

The recent resurgence of tourism has been encouraging, reflecting the country’s recovery from past economic challenges.

Port City Colombo plays a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s economic ambitions, acting as a catalyst for business growth.

The development leverages Sri Lanka’s key advantages, including its strategic geographic position as a logistics hub, a rapidly growing modern economy, and a highly skilled workforce. Businesses looking to expand their operations in the region are increasingly drawn to the opportunities presented by Port City.

As digital transformation continues to shape industries globally, Sri Lanka is focused on equipping its workforce with the necessary skills to succeed. In this regard, the government’s efforts to support the establishment of 750 tech companies and 1,500 IT startups by 2024 will ensure the ICT sector’s continued growth. Approximately 600,000 Sri Lankans are already employed in the sector, which remains one of the most promising for the nation’s future economic development.

The business community’s optimism about the country’s economic future has also been reflected in rising business confidence. The latest edition of the LMD magazine notes a surge in Sri Lanka’s Business Confidence Index, which rose 20 points in December, reaching its highest level since January 2020.

 This increase in confidence is seen as a direct result of the new government’s commitment to driving economic stability and growth. Analysts also noted that sentiment regarding sales volumes, both short and long-term, has improved since the election, adding to the positive outlook for Sri Lanka’s economy.