Jeanne Powell
Jeanne is a published poet and essayist. She holds degrees from Wayne State University and the University of San Francisco. Jeanne has taught in the CS, UB and OLLI programs at universities in the City. Her books in print include MY OWN SILENCE and WORD DANCING from Taurean Horn Press.
Film Review: ‘Perfect Note’ tells uplifting story about San Francisco’s Café Jacqueline
Café Jacqueline, near the intersection of Grant and Union in San Francisco, has been a culinary legend for 27 years. This tiny restaurant in the heart of North Beach is the subject of a short documentary Perfect Note, Perfect Taste screened at the 2018 Napa Valley Film Festival.
Chef Jacqueline grew...
‘Ask Jane’ a riveting independent film based on true events
Ask for Jane is a riveting independent film shown recently at the Napa Valley Film Festival. Written and directed by Rachel Carey and produced by Caroline Hirsch, the movie tells the story of a Chicago-based underground collective which provided pregnancy terminations for thousands of middle-class women in the late...
A Private War: “You only cry when you bleed” (Review)
Rosamund Pike stars as celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin.
First Look Fall Arts: ‘Green Book’ to open Napa Valley Film Festival (Nov. 7 – 11)
Welcome to the eighth annual Napa Valley Film Festival (November 7 – 11), just 47 miles north of San Francisco. Less than a month after the devastating fires which swept across wine country, the Festival moves forward to create a memorable week of the best in cinematic storytelling.
Of particular...
Film Review: ‘Nutcracker and the Four Realms’ perfect for family holiday time
With drawbridges, castle moats, marching tin soldiers, fog, ravens, shooting stars, and a truly mesmerizing Mouse King, along with a mysterious godfather scientist wearing an eye patch, there is plenty to interest viewers of all ages.
Film Review: ‘Time for Ilhan’ is about the village, building it, believing in it, sustaining it
Of the many fine documentaries featured in the 2018 Mill Valley Film Festival, Time for Ilhan stands out for its sheer excitement and joy as we watch an essentially shy refugee embark on an amazing journey from wife and mother to an elected official in the city of Minneapolis.
Ilhan...
Film Review: ‘Whistleblower of My Lai’ a memorable fusion of opera and documentary
Jeanne Powell reviews The Whistleblower of My Lai, an outstanding documentary from the 2018 Mill Valley Film Festival.
Connie Field is the director of this remarkable fusion of opera and documentary about the massacre of 500 Vietnamese civilians by American troops in 1968, and the courage of one young helicopter...
Spike Lee and ‘Blackkklansman’: We cannot move forward until we can agree that the U.S. was built on genocide and robbery
Recently at the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco, celebrated film director Spike Lee made an appearance. Favorable word of mouth and substantial press reviews of his latest film, Blackkklansman guaranteed a good turnout for his interview and subsequent showing of the film, already released nationwide.
The Castro Theatre is...
‘The Old Man & the Gun’: Robert Redford shines in true heist account (Film Review)
The Old Man & the Gun is a sweet film, based on the true story of serial bank robber Forrest Tucker. David Grann’s article about Tucker appeared in The New Yorker in 2003 and is the inspiration for the movie. Grann describes Tucker as "one of the most notorious...
Fahrenheit 11/9 Film Review: Democracy takes work
Filmmaker Michael Moore fears the consequences of a loss of faith in our country, and says it could be the death knell of democracy.
