A2 - Sunday News, August 16, 1981 ‘Strictly personal Recently, I went to see Caligula. I went by myself, not dragging my wife along because she's teo sensitive a soul. And none of my friends wanted to go. Let me say two things. , First of all, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. And second, it was one of the. most powerful, relentless motion pictures I have ever seen. It was-.a cinematic masterpiece. . ° Certainly, I can't think of any other movie [ve seen in my life that shook up my nervous system like Caligula did. Anybody who says _ it’s “just a pornographic show” either hasn't seen it or can't tell a comic book from a classic. The story is perfectly legitimate. It is the ultimate tale about the corruption of power. It is timeless, in that its message applies to all ages and quite probably to all men and women. At least, that is the horrible implication § of Caligula. Given absolute power, there is none among us who could avoid being twisted or poisoned. With everyone in the world kissing your feet in terror and awe, what would restrain you from finally giving in. to the urge to play God? It was about as convincing as it could possibly be, given that everyone was speaking English, in a modern idiom, while trying to portray characters in ancient Rome. As I said at the beginning that I wouldn't recommend Caligula to anyone. I mean that. It would be like inviting somebody to swallow a potent and dangerous hallucinogen. It ‘left some truly nightmarish images in my. mind that it may take me years to forget. If, indeed, | can ever forget. Tenant power comes to ‘Tenant Power’ has sur faced as a lobbying group on the North Shore, in the guise of a revitalized North Shore Tenant's Association (NSTA). Last week the association presented a delegation to North Vancouver City council requesting — af- fordable rental housing in North Van and specifically that an affordable rental housing project be build on City owned land. Although there has been a tenant’s association on the North Shore for the last couple of years, has not’ been active. ' But. in its most recent form, the NSTA has three announced activities, which are “tenant advocacy, political activism and membership acqutsition.” “Presently all = mayor concerns of the NSTA are being vigorously conducted and pursued.” said Greg Raymond. first vice president of the group. at last week's presentation “Tenants represent 59 per cent of the residents of our City and are saying that our Community Plan has erred in the group pohtcally 21°’ REAR BAG LAWN MOWER $179 BRUT 4-SYSTEM LAWN MOWER $229 S & B Distributors 51 Lonsdale 110 W. Esplanade 980-6811 ‘not providing them = with official recognition for planning,” Richard Blackburn, association president, told council.’ Blackburn said the City should provide leadership in solving the problem of necessary affordable housing. Richmond then went on to propose that council could lease a six acre site just above the Upper Leyels highway for affordable rental housing. Council referred the delegation to a public meeting held Tuesday night by council’s housing committee, on the subject of housing in the municipality soem? worthy weiter arid VN Ve be oT Agee abobe sx pote realty corp GAMBIER ISLAND SEA RANCH Pornedscapreced waiter tre ona feu Rh das ceoeets A ceombbrr dren Coben st ber at FOO) ve ba ocean /i ide by Bob Hunter There is one of a man buried up to his neck in sand in the ampitheatre, whose head is slited off by a gigantic threshing machine manned by naked slaves. The scene was so vivid, the terror on the man’s face so convincing, it is as though I witnessed such an atrocity in real life. I'm a fairly sensitive soul myself, and 1 must admit that I psychologically flinch with pain everytime that scene reappears in my memory. The way his head bounced across the blood-smeared sand before being crushed like a grape.... Yuk. . I emerged from Caligula almost in a state of shock. 1 felt sickened, and in a very risky moral way, weakened. That is, my conviction that human nature is essentially good was shaken. It has to be understood that Caligula is the first truly great historical film to be made. That is, there are no air-brush strokes. Historical accuracy is not: sacrificed on the altar of suburban North American culinary excellence: 926 ~8922 445 ~ 13th Street West ‘Uancouver bs