Between the Mountain and the Sky

Among the ubiquitous and annoying flow of ads on Facebook, one captured Nicola’s interest with one that featured a movie presented by the Duplass Brothers called “Between the Mountain and the Sky.” Nicola likes the Duplass Brothers even though, upon investigation, we’ve not seen a single movie or TV show they’ve produced, created, or directed. So, she thought we should watch it.   

Okay, I think. Nicola doesn’t make a lot of demands on our television viewing except in the negative. I chose, she rings the gong either directly or by directing all attention to her phone. So, unless I’m really loving what I’m seeing (like the Superbowl or Oiler playoff hockey), I generally respond. So, I link to the website on the advertised page and low and behold, we have one day to rent this thing and it’s going to cost us a minimum of $15. (They’re suggested payment is $35.) 

 

Now, I bet you’re wondering if it’s any good. And it is. Not “One of the best films I’ve seen in a long time,” as stated by Edward Norton on their webpage but, pretty good. Basically, it follows an 18-year-old Maggie Doyne who travels to Nepal back in 2006.  She’s doing a gap year before heading off to college.  She spots a young girl by the name of Hima crouched on the edge of a riverbed smashing large rocks with a mallet almost too large for her hands. 

 

The civil war had just ended. Many families were displaced, and child labour in riverbeds was common in the region. Maggie spots Hima engaged in her fruitless exercise and decides she needs to do something to help her. So, she withdraws a few hundred dollars in baby-sitting money to pay for Hima’s school uniform, books, and tuition at boarding school. Then, Maggie starts the BlinkNow Foundation and over the next 20 years, builds a school, a children’s home, a women’s centre, a health clinic, and a girls’ safe house, and adopts 50 kids, all in the Kopila Valley.  

 

Good story, right? But this is not the story presented in the film. The director of the movie does not begin production until Maggie wins the 2015 CNN Hero of the Year award. So, all the footage prior to this time is Maggie’s personal video diaries, staff videos and footage used promote the foundation. Nevertheless, what they do have adds to a compelling movie held together by a tragedy that happens about a third of the way through. You get to know Maggie who appears to be driven, compassionate and as she likes to say and promote, loving. Really not a bad message for this day and age when rage, not love has become the driving motivation for action.   

 

And for a short while, you may be able to watch this movie for free, on me. Press "Watch the Movie." The username is my email and the password is Free4you And, if it works, maybe you can give them a donation. 

 

https://www.betweenthemountainandthesky.com/




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