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Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Why do people disappear from society? These travel stories hold the answer
Shreyansha Ghosh For Namrata, founder of Keemiya Creatives, 2014 was the year that changed everything. She quit her job and embarked on a solo journey across continents, severing all ties with her old life. 'For the next three years, I wandered – physically, mentally, and emotionally. I found solace in solitude, and a sense of freedom in being unreachable,' she told 'Every city, every village had a story. The chaos of foreign capitals, the silence of remote mountains, the wisdom of ruins, they all shaped me.' Eventually, she relocated to a Tier-3 city, where she knew no one. 'Starting from scratch was both exhilarating and humbling. I had no job, no network. But in rebuilding, I discovered the true meaning of independence,' she said. The weight of the world is a silent killer. It creeps in like dust collecting in corners you forgot to clean. Your mind hums with doubt about every decision you've made. Slowly, you start resenting the life you've built. You carry on with that weight until you snap. You retreat from the world, hoping to come back transformed. For many, travel becomes the escape of choice. People disappear because, sometimes, it's the only way to stay sane. They seek complete detachment from jobs, responsibilities, and endless to-do lists. To outsiders, this disappearance may appear to be escapism. However, it's often a necessary act of survival. Remember Liz Gilbert, played by Julia Roberts, in the movie Eat Pray Love? After a breakdown, she walks away from her marriage, a rebound relationship, and her job, setting off on a year-long quest through Italy, India, and Indonesia. Driven by desperation, she searches for happiness and finds peace instead. In a hyper-connected world where expectations are relentless, Gilbert's story resonates. Today, many people are choosing to disappear from society for psychological survival. 'According to the Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan), human beings are driven by autonomy, competence, and relatedness. When these needs go unmet, when life becomes overly controlled, disconnected, or draining, people seek out radical change. Disappearing can feel like reclaiming autonomy. It's not just about running away; it's about returning to the self,' Shruti Padhye, a senior psychologist at Mpower, told This behaviour is depicted in Nomadland (2020), the Oscar-winning film about Fern, a woman who embraces a nomadic life after personal loss and financial ruin. 'Many aren't just fleeing society,' said Padhye, 'They're looking for authenticity, for space to grieve, and for simpler ways to live.' She also said that these disappearances are often driven by emotional exhaustion, identity crises or burnout. Travel, in such cases, offers a reset, a chance to reconnect with one's true self. Chirag, a student of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), shared his story of a monsoon road trip through Meghalaya. 'We drove from Guwahati to Shillong, Cherrapunji, Laitlum Canyon, Mawlynnong, Dawki; the clouds and rain never left our side,' he said. One night, past 1 AM, they found themselves deep in a forest. Heavy rain. Zero visibility. The brakes slipped. 'No signal, no help. But we didn't panic. We trusted each other and inched forward until we found a tiny rest stop. We cooled the car, fixed the brakes, and drove on, almost laughing at the madness of it all.' When asked if this break from society was worth it, he said, 'Moments like that crack you open. They strip life down to its raw edges — survival, trust, awe. Stepping away from the world, even briefly, reminded me how alive I could feel. Out there, lost in the rain, I found something real. Was it worth it? Every drenched, broken, breathtaking second.' 'It's a natural response,' said Padhye. According to her, 'It's the mind's way of hitting pause; a reset mechanism that reflects a need for emotional recalibration. Disappearing into nature or travel can lead to higher psychological fulfilment.' 'Travel can not only offer a change of scenery, but also push a person to step out of their comfort zone to adapt and reinvent,' said Vaishali Arora, a clinical psychologist at LISSUN mental health platform. But is it healthy? 'If the decision is conscious and reflective, it can represent post-traumatic growth. But if it's impulsive or sudden, it may point to underlying mental health challenges—chronic stress, anxiety, or trauma,' said Padhye. Shreyansha Ghosh was an intern at
Muscat Daily
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Muscat Daily
New Slayer rises as Buffy the Vampire Slayer set for revival
15-year-old Ryan Kiera Armstrong to lead reboot of iconic series alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar The cult classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer is returning to screens in a new revival that promises to honour the legacy of the original while introducing a new generation to the world of slayers, vampires, and dark forces. At the heart of the reboot is 15-year-old American actor Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who has been cast in the lead role as the next chosen one. Originally aired from 1997 to 2003, Buffy the Vampire Slayer became a groundbreaking series known for its blend of supernatural drama and sharp social commentary. Set in the fictional Californian town of Sunnydale, the series followed Buffy Summers, a teenage girl destined to battle vampires and demons while managing the everyday struggles of adolescence. The show redefined genre television and gained a passionate global following, influencing countless series that followed. The new project, commissioned by streaming platform Hulu, brings back original star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who will reprise her role as Buffy Summers and serve as executive producer. Gellar's return offers a direct link to the original series, which continues to resonate with audiences more than two decades after its debut. The revival is being helmed by acclaimed director Chloé Zhao, best known for her Oscar-winning film Nomadland , with writing duties handled by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman. Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who began her career in Anne with an E and has since appeared in Firestarter , American Horror Story , and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew , will portray the next vampire slayer. Her casting signals a fresh chapter for the franchise, while maintaining the core themes that made Buffy such a cultural touchstone – female empowerment, identity, resilience, and the enduring fight against darkness. The original series is credited with transforming television storytelling, thanks to its long-form narrative arcs, layered characters, and allegorical depth. It tackled issues such as adolescence, trauma, grief, and empowerment through the lens of fantasy and horror, offering viewers both escapism and relevance. The reboot is set in 'New Sunnydale,' a reimagined setting that retains the spirit of the original while exploring contemporary themes for today's audience. Though many details remain under wraps, anticipation is high as fans await a series that aims to bridge past and present. For a generation that grew up with Buffy Summers as a symbol of strength and courage, the return of the Slayer holds both nostalgic value and fresh potential. The revival looks to be not just a continuation, but a reawakening of a story that still has much to say.
Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
TIFF to introduce new audience choice award for international films
TORONTO – The Toronto International Film Festival is introducing a new people's choice award for international films. Feature-length films from TIFF's official selection that are not from Canada or the United States will qualify for the new award, which will debut at this year's festival in September. As in the festival's other people's choice awards, audiences will be asked to vote on their favourite film that meets that criteria. TIFF's main people's choice award is considered a bellwether for the Oscars best picture race, with previous winners including 'Nomadland,' 'Green Book' and 'La La Land.' The festival also has an audience choice award for its Midnight Madness program, and last year's winner, 'The Substance,' scored five Oscar nominations. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The addition comes as TIFF prepares to launch a content market in the 2026 festival, which would run alongside the public-facing event to facilitate distribution and funding deals. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.
National Observer
09-05-2025
- General
- National Observer
‘Nomadland': Without real housing action, Canada risks a future where kids grow up in campgrounds
The girl in the fuzzy onesie pajamas with bunny ears looked to be about 12. She examined her face in the campground washroom mirror, and with no inhibition despite the stranger beside her, squeezed a pimple. It was a personal act, typically performed in private. Privacy was a luxury this girl didn't have. Home, for the time being anyhow, was this well-tended private campground in Washington state. She and her mom were living in an RV that their vehicle was not equipped to tow. I won't name the campground: it was run by lovely people who may be ignoring state rules that limit camping in RVs to 180-day stays in most counties. I would not want to cause trouble for any of the people who, judging by permanent flower planters, elaborate outdoor kitchen structures and even some permanent flag poles, I saw during a trip through the Pacific Northwest last week, appear to be living year-round in campgrounds. In case you wondered, I agonized about whether to attend a family event in a country now so hostile to my own. In the end, the family won out and we drove, camping and hiking in the California redwoods along the way. Like Fern, the heroine played by Frances McDormand in the film Nomadland, some of the folks we saw living in campgrounds were on the knife's edge of homelessness, their RVs covered in tarps to keep leaks at bay, their aging vehicles dented and rusting. As the number of unhoused people in the big cities of Washington, Oregon and California continue to grow, affordable housing shortages have similarly worsened in the region's less populous counties. The US, which still ranks among the world's top-10 wealthiest countries, has so far failed the almost 800,000 people who in January of 2024 had no permanent housing. Canada faces similar challenges, albeit on a smaller scale. It's hard to know exactly how many unhoused people there are here — the latest Statistics Canada report is stale. A point-in-time count found that between 2020 and 2022, 40,713 people were living in shelters, sleeping rough (including in encampments) and in transitional housing. The true numbers are likely far higher. A succession of federal governments have done precious little to solve this problem since the 1990s when the Brian Mulroney Conservative government, and then the Liberals under Jean Chretien, wound down construction of social housing. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reversed that trend with a goal to reduce chronic homelessness by 50 per cent and rebooted social housing programs that had fallen by the wayside. But the rollout was slow and the amounts invested couldn't keep pace with the rising numbers. Since 2018, street homelessness has increased by 20 per cent, according to a report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer. Building social housing is hideously expensive and the Liberals' pace of federal investment on homelessness programs under Trudeau from 2018 to 2028 was set to average $561 million per year. Meeting Trudeau's 50 per cent target would require an astonishing $3.5 billion per year more, given current program designs, the PBO report found. Canada's unhoused population grew by 20 per cent under the last Liberal government. PM Mark Carney seems ready to spend some serious money to help. Let's hold him to his promises. @ writes for @ Now, thankfully, with Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canadians have a leader who seems to understand the magnitude of Canada's affordable housing woes and says he's prepared to allocate real money to build more. Carney has promised to double the number of homes built annually in Canada to 500,000. Affordable housing needs will be handled by a new organization called Build Canada Homes (BCH), tasked with overseeing affordable housing construction across the country. Carney has promised it will be richly funded; grants totalling $6 billion will be awarded to build "deeply affordable housing, supportive housing, Indigenous housing and shelters." "We will immediately develop homelessness reduction targets with every province and territory to inform housing-first investments, improve access to treatment and end encampments community by community," the Carney campaign said in a statement. That's an admirable goal and stands in stark contrast to the views of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who routinely demonizes people who have nowhere to live. His punitive solution to homelessness was to give police greater powers to dismantle tent encampments, arrest unhoused people who erect them, and steer drug users to treatment programs. He claimed to have a 'housing first' solution to solving homelessness, but did not actually commit to building any social housing. You can see how well that's working in the US where tent cities proliferate in big cities and campgrounds have become home to those marginally better off. Lest we get ahead of ourselves, Carney is not the first politician to promise to end street homelessness. Former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson, now a newly elected Liberal MP, made the same pledge and was roasted for failing when the numbers of homeless people climbed under his watch. But it's far better to set lofty goals and risk failure than not to try at all. If Carney invests the kind of money he talked about during his campaign, he can make a difference. Without serious investment, our tent cities will continue to grow, and we'll soon have families living in campgrounds like the girl in the pajamas or the mom with her preteen boy who cringed when I met him in the women's washroom the following day. 'He's embarrassed because I make him come in here with me,' she said. 'But I can't let him go to the men's alone. Too dangerous.'
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chloe Zhao's 'Hamnet' set for November release date
Acclaimed director Chloe Zhao's upcoming film 'Hamnet' has secured a prime awards season release date. Focus Features will release the Shakespeare-era historical drama in limited theatres on November 27, before expanding nationwide on December 12. 'Hamnet' tells the fictionalised story of William Shakespeare's son, who died at a young age, and the powerful love story that inspired the creation of 'Hamlet,' as per Variety. The film stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes, alongside Joe Alwyn and Jacobi Jupe. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The film features an ensemble cast and crew, including Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes as producers. Chloe Zhao co-wrote the screenplay with Maggie O'Farrell, whose novel has sold two million copies worldwide. Jessie Buckley will next appear in Maggie Gyllenhaal's 'Frankenstein' spinoff 'The Bride!' opposite Christian Bale, while Paul Mescal is set to play Paul McCartney in Sam Mendes' upcoming Beatles biopic. Chloe Zhao is a critically acclaimed director, known for her work on 'Nomadland,' 'Eternals,' 'Songs My Brothers Taught Me,' and 'The Rider.' She became the second woman to win the Oscar for Best Director for her work on 'Nomadland' in 2020. Meanwhile, 'Hamnet' will face competition from other major releases, including Pixar's 'Zootopia 2' on the same day, and James Cameron's 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' and Paramount's 'SpongeBob: Search for SquarePants' in mid-December. Stay updated with the latest Best Hindi Movies , Best Tamil Movies , Best Telugu Movies , Best english Movies , Best Malayalam Movies
