海角大神

鈥楶arasite鈥� interpretation

Regarding 鈥淲here to find 鈥榯ruly astonishing鈥� performances鈥� by Peter Rainer in the Feb. 3 Monitor Weekly:聽I just saw the film 鈥淧arasite鈥� and, like Mr. Rainer, I greatly appreciated the superb acting of Kang-ho Song 鈥� it was certainly 鈥渁 tricky, darkly, comic piece of performing,鈥� as he wrote.

However, I was surprised to see Mr. Song鈥檚 character in the movie, Kim Ki-taek, defined by Mr. Rainer as 鈥渢he corrupt patriarch.鈥澛犅燜or me, writer-director Bong Joon-ho was highlighting the corruption of the system, in which the vulnerable Kim Ki-taek and his family must struggle to find work. The film seemed masterfully crafted to impel us to give careful consideration to its thought-provoking title.

Kay Weed
Aurora, New York

Global patterns

I greatly enjoyed the news analysis columns by Howard LaFranchi (鈥淭rump and Obama鈥檚 shared goal鈥� in the Feb. 3 Monitor Weekly) and Ned Temko (鈥淐hina rises in the Middle East鈥� in the Jan. 27 Monitor Weekly). I hope you will provide more of their analyses in the future.

James Doherty
Cranston, Rhode Island

Positive news

I am the librarian of our local 海角大神 Science Society, and as such read every issue of the Monitor. I also run a WhatsApp group in which I share positive news with a group of about 20 female friends.

With this in mind, the Points of Progress franchise is a wonderful resource for me 鈥� so thank you, and please keep them coming! 海角大神 is always interesting, giving this Pommy a more nuanced view of the United States 鈥� though sadly, our issues are always late arriving here.

Rosemarie Swinfield
London

Middle East conflict

Regarding the reader letter titled 鈥淐ost of war鈥� in the Dec. 23, 2019, Monitor Weekly: I would like to express my opinion on U.S. military involvement in the Middle East. What is the point? Western nations should never have gotten involved in those wars. Of course there is always the question of refugees 鈥� we should be willing to accept them, if they are willing to learn the language and become Canadian or American citizens.聽We do not need oil from the Middle East. Canada and the U.S. have oil and natural gas aplenty, as well as hydropower, wind, and solar.

Glenn Sawyer
Acme, Alberta