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Reminiscing grandmother during days of coronavirus – Hurriyet Daily News

If there is something that is common to a big number of people right now is fear. Fear is always there, of course, and it is part of our existence. But usually, fear is accompanied by the object of fear. I am afraid of The more specific the object of our fear, the more we could rationalize and gather strength to combat it. The less specific it is, the more difficult it becomes for us to organize ourselves to fight it.

For example, my grandmother was very practical about it. She was always religious, attending mass when she should and when her neighbors would see that she did. As a widow for over forty years, with two living children of the three that she brought to the world, she had to care for her social integrity as well as fending for her family. So, for most of her life, her relationship with God, death, afterlife, and all the rest, was more let us say, practical. She attended all the rites she had to, lit candles for her lost third child who died at the age of five of meningitis, for her husband and her in-laws. She fasted throughout the 40 days of Lent before the Orthodox Easter and never missed weddings, baptisms and funerals.

When she stepped into her 80s, she became more philosophical. Having attended only the first three years in a primary school, her reading capacity was limited. Yet, like all women of her age in their 80s, they know the New Testament almost by heart and there is nothing more that they need. The rest of her intellectual needs was fulfilled by her enormous capacity to recite rhyming proverbs and fairy tales full of poetic imagery and philosophical perceptions. It was during that period, the last decade of her life when she took death seriously. I mean as a logical possibility. And she devised a daily method of dealing with it, a method which was connected with the time factor. So, she started a ritual of daily prayers of thanks that she would do twice a day - one after waking up every morning to thank God for she is alive, and the second before she went to bed for having lived one more day. Even at her very end, she kept at least part of this ritual alive although her brain had already abandoned her.

Why did I think of her? Obviously, because of our current relationship with the fear of COVID-19, a constant underlying fear of being the next victim of this creature, which looks like a surreal colorful sea urchin, and can choose any of us at any moment to put an end to our life. And it is not a real fear that we feel. It is also not a deep feeling of the unavoidable human fate like the one that my grandmother felt and tried to exorcize through her daily prayers of thanks.

The worst is that we are not even afraid of being the next victim; we are in that middle-of-the-road situation where we cannot organize our psychology. We have become desensitized to it but are sure of our self-importance and immortality in this world, unlike my grandmother, who thought that every extra day in her life was a gift.

coronavirus,

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Astronomers Spot ‘Fossil Galaxy’ Buried Within Milky Way; Could Revolutionise Understanding of Our Galaxy | The Weather Channel – Articles from The…

An all-sky image of the stars in the Milky Way as seen from Earth. The colored rings show the approximate extent of the stars that came from the fossil galaxy known as Heracles. The small objects to the lower right of the image are the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, two small satellite galaxies of the Milky Way.(Danny Horta-Darrington

While astronomers keep discovering one peculiar galaxy after another every other day, the latest study shows that we missed one ancient galaxy, much closer to our home. Scientists have now discovered a fossil galaxy hidden deep inside our Milky Way galaxy. This newly discovered ancient galaxy has been named after the ancient hero Heracles, who, according to Greek mythology, received the gift of immortality when the Milky Way was created.

Scientists say that the results of this discovery can alter our understanding of how the Milky Way evolved as a galaxy and could explain some of its peculiar properties. However, the location of this new mystery galaxy was buried within our galaxy in such a way that the astronomers failed to spot it for so long despite the Milky Way being the most studied galaxy yet.

Larger galaxies evolve by merging smaller galaxies over time. The remnants of the older galaxies are often spotted on the outer haloa large cloud of scattered stars enveloping the main galaxy. The build of the Milky Way is inside out and hence to find the earliest merger of galaxies scientists look at the central part of the halo, which is deep within the disc and the bulge.

As per the study, the fossil galaxy is said to have collided with the Milky Way ten billion years agoa time when the galaxies were still in their infant stages. This might have been an important event in the history of the Milky Way as stars that were originally from Heracles makeup around one-third of the mass of the entire Milky Way halo today. This also points out that the Milky way is probably much different than the other galaxies, as most of them are known to have a less-chaotic early life.

The data from the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys' Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) was used to discover the fossil galaxy.

For the research, the scientists took spectra of stars in near-infrared light, as visible light gets obscured by dust. Observations were made for ten years and more than half a million stars across the Milky way were measured, including those in the core that was obscured by dust previously.

Examining such large numbers of stars is important to identify unusual stars in the centre of the Milky Way. To categorise stars into that of Milky Way and Heracles, the team measured chemical compositions and velocities of stars using the APOGEE instrument.

An artists impression of what the Milky Way might look like seen from above. The colored rings show the rough extent of the fossil galaxy known as Heracles. The yellow dot shows the position of the Sun.(Danny Horta-Darrington

Of the stars examined, a few hundred stars possessed chemical composition and velocities drastically different than the others. The only possible explanation for this peculiarity is that they belonged to a galaxy other than the Milky Way. By a detailed study, the scientists were able to detect the precise location and history of the fossil galaxy.

Though the stars and gas from Heracles constitute a large percentage of the halo, its hidden location inside the Milky Way made its discovery difficult. "To find a fossil galaxy like this one, we had to look at the detailed chemical makeup and motions of tens of thousands of stars," says Ricardo Schiavon, a member of the research team from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).

This experiment examines the centre of the Milky Way much deeper than ever before and provides new insight into the formation of our home galaxy Milky Way. The results serve as testimony to the fact that our galaxy is much more complex than previously thought and could behold numerous such secrets buried within itself.

The study was published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society today and can be accessed here.

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‘Fossil galaxy’ found deep in the Milky Way – Cosmos

An all-sky image of the stars in the Milky Way as seen from Earth. The coloured rings show the approximate extent of the stars that came from the fossil galaxy known as Heracles. Credit: Danny Horta-Darrington (LJMU), ESA/Gaia, SDSS

Astronomers say they have discovered a fossil galaxy hidden in the depths of the Milky Way that may alter thinking on how our galaxy grew into what we see today.

They have named it Heracles, after the hero of Greco-Roman mythology who received the gift of immortality when the Milky Way was created, and say it may have collided with the Milky Way 10 billion years ago, when our galaxy was still in its infancy.

The remnants of Heracles account for about one-third of the Milky Ways spherical halo, the researchers say in a paper in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, so this newly discovered ancient collision must have been a major event.

That suggests, they add, that our galaxy may be unusual, since most similar massive spiral galaxies had much calmer early lives.

To find a fossil galaxy like this one, we had to look at the detailed chemical makeup and motions of tens of thousands of stars, says Ricardo Schiavon from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) in the UK.

That is especially hard to do for stars in the centre of the Milky Way, because they are hidden from view by clouds of interstellar dust.

To differentiate Heracles from the original Milky Way, the team used chemical compositions and velocities of stars measured by the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE), which takes spectra of stars in near-infrared light.

Of the tens of thousands of stars we looked at, a few hundred had strikingly different chemical compositions and velocities, says LJMUs Danny Horta-Darrington, the papers lead author.

These stars are so different that they could only have come from another galaxy. By studying them in detail, we could trace out the precise location and history of this fossil galaxy.

Because galaxies are built through mergers of smaller galaxies across time, the remnants of older galaxies are often spotted in the outer halo of the Milky Way, a huge but very sparse cloud of stars enveloping the main galaxy.

But since our galaxy built up from the inside out, finding the earliest mergers requires looking at the most central parts of the Milky Ways halo, which are buried deep within the disc and bulge.

Cosmos is a quarterly science magazine. We aim to inspire curiosity in The Science of Everything and make the world of science accessible to everyone.

Theres never been a more important time to explain the facts, cherish evidence-based knowledge and to showcase the latest scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs. Cosmos is published by The Royal Institution of Australia, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. Financial contributions, however big or small, help us provide access to trusted science information at a time when the world needs it most. Please support us by making a donation or purchasing a subscription today.

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New Lord Of The Rings Book Announced, Will Reveal Who Can Grow Beards – GameSpot

A new book feature the unpublished writings of Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien is coming in 2021. Harper Collins has announced "The Nature of Middle-earth," and it will shed light on a number of particulars about Middle-earth and its inhabitants.

Specifically, the book will provide more details on the creatures who live in Numenor, Elvish immortality and reincarnation, and the powers of the Valar. But all of this pales in comparison to the most important fact that the book will confirm: who can grow beards.

Harper Collins said the book represents a "veritable treasure-trove offering readers a chance to peer over Professor Tolkien's shoulder at the very moment of discovery: and on every page, Middle-earth is once again brought to extraordinary life."

The Nature of Middle-earth is edited by Tolkien scholar Carl Hostetter and it's due for release on June 24, 2021.

This will be just the latest book that dives deep into the extended lore of Middle-earth. Some of Tolkien's previous writings were published in books such as Unfinished Tales, The History of Middle-earth, and Beren and Luthien, among others. These were all edited by Tolkien's son, Christopher, who passed away in January this year.

The Lord of the Rings remains very popular today. Amazon is currently filming a very expensive TV show based on the fantasy series in New Zealand, while there are multiple Lord of the Rings video games in the works, including an MMO and a title featuring Gollum.

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Jersey Shore football headed to 1st state final with victory over Lampeter-Strasburg – Williamsport Sun-Gazette

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shore football players celebrate the 39-35 win over Lampeter-Strasburg in the PIAA semifinal at Lampeter Strassburg Friday night.

LANCASTER As Black and Orange-clad fans rose in excitement, Cam Allison took the pitch and ran right. His blockers perfectly executed and Allison and his teammates ran right into Jersey Shore immortality. The 9-yard first-down run clinched a win which once seemed so unfathomable.

For so long, the state championship was a game that always felt like it was for someone else. For so long, the only way Jersey Shore could reach a state final was in its dreams.

Friday night, dream became reality. Jersey Shore, there is a state final and your gritty, hard-nosed Bulldogs will be playing in it. Your Bulldogs are the Eastern Regions best Class AAAA football team.

Branden Wheary found Cayden Hess for a go-ahead 5-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown, Allison ran for 130 yards, and the defense made a final stand inside the 15-yard line as Jersey Shore captured the Eastern Region championship, defeating Lampeter-Strasburg, 39-35, on its home field in a game that was heart-pounding from start to finish.

A program which won three games in four years prior to 2013 has become a state power and will play defending champion Thomas Jefferson in Saturdays state final. Wheary threw for 252 yards and three scores, Hess caught 13 passes for 162 yards, Owen Anderson topped 100 yards receiving, Dalton Dugan returned a third-quarter interception 32 yards for a touchdown and Jersey Shore (10-0) became the first area team since South Williamsport in 1997 just the fourth overall to reach a state final.

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shore's Cayden Hess (24) makes a pass reception over Lampeter-Strasburg's Ian Herr (81) in the first quarter.

All our hard work, all the stuff we did in the offseason pays off so much. Nobody thought we were supposed to be here but we knew deep down we were going to make it back down here, Wheary said. We knew we had the guys. We knew that we were going to work hard enough to get here. Its just gratification. I dont even know what to say Im so excited.

So were all those Jersey Shore fans who traveled 2 1/2 hours to watch their team make history. Hesss end zone interception ended Lampeter-Strasburgs final scoring threat with 4 minutes, 19 seconds remaining. From there the offensive line and Allison took over as Jersey Shore converted three third downs and ran out the clock.

Allison went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season and scored twice. His final run will long live in Jersey Shore lore. Facing a third-and-four from the L-S 39-yard line, Allison followed his blockers, beat pursuing defenders to the outside and clinched the biggest win in program history.

I just want to present our community the best we can and make it proud, said Allison, who also made a fantastic touchdown-saving pass breakup a play before Hess interception. Not to sound cheesy, but winning this and seeing the support we had just fills your heart. It makes you feel so warm. Its just awesome.

This win was classic Jersey Shore. This game featured four lead changes, 999 yards of offense and enough fireworks to light up New York City. So many times it appeared Lampeter-Strasburg (9-1) had taken the momentum and was threatening to break away. So many times Jersey Shore responded, twice overcoming second-half deficits.

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shore's Owen Anderson (15) stiff arms Lampeter-Strasburg's Matt Weese (30) in the second quarter.

Pioneers quarterback Sean McTaggart threw for 473 yards and three touchdowns. Beau Heyser caught 10 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns, and Ian Herr added 141 more receiving yards. But the defense stiffened in the second half, frequently pressured McTaggart, and allowed just seven more points against a team averaging 47.4 per game.

Jersey Shore trailed 28-21 at halftime, but never wavered. Allison, Dugan and Hess scored second-half touchdowns and the Bulldogs completed a journey eight seasons in the making. Fans and players threw Hersheys Kisses around the field following the game, players jumped higher than possibly ever before and this team created a performance and a moment which it and its community will never forget.

Our team has worked so hard for this. We deserve it so much, Hess said after becoming the areas all-time leader in receptions with 139. We wouldnt be here if not for the kids in that locker room and the work they put in. Its crazy all the effort everyone has put in.

Its the best feeling ever, defensive tackle Karter Peacock said after playing his first game since Week 2 and collecting two sacks. Im keeping some goodies, some Hersheys Kisses for later in life. I can always look at them and remember what we did.

What Jersey Shore did is win a game which rivaled, and possibly surpassed, the thrills produced in last years triple overtime state quarterfinal win against Pottsville. The Bulldogs erased two seven-point deficits and went ahead to stay in the fourth quarter when they mounted a six-play, 62-yard touchdown drive.

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shores Hayden Packer (44) and Quincey Myers hit Lampeter-Strasburg quarterback Sean McTaggart during Friday nights PIAA Class AAAA semifinal at Lampeter-Strasburg High School.

Although it was early in the fourth quarter, Jersey Shore sensed this might be its last shot at taking the lead and linemen Joe Lorson, Cadan Smith, Eddie Woodring, Lee Springman and Colin Samar shined bright, clearing the way for the games signature play, Allisons 41-yard run to the 12-yard line.

Allison and Wheary ran for 7 combined yards on the next two plays, bringing up a third-and-3 at the 5. Wheary then rolled right and looked for Hess near the right pylon. Hess was covered well, but the line gave Wheary time to throw and Hess improvised, cutting back the other way. Wheary hit Hess between his numbers and Jersey Shore had a 39-35 lead with 9:14 remaining.

Thats one of our go-to plays, the roll out and throw to Cayden, Wheary said after completing 19 of 36 passes. They always say if its not there, find the open space and he did that and I was able to get it to him. It was gratification again because we knew our defense would make the big plays when we needed them.

It did. And it overcome some potentially demoralizing blows to do so. L-S was facing a second-and-16 early on the ensuing series and McTaggart was nearly sacked as three defenders swarmed him. He threw up a prayer high into the night sky and Herr caught it, gaining 26 yards. Later in the drive, it appeared Jersey Shore had recovered a fumble at the 25 when it looked like the ball popped out of the receivers arms before he fell to the ground. But the officials ruled him down by contact and the Pioneers drive continued.

Unfazed, Jersey Shore made its fourth stop over the last two weeks inside the 15-yard line. Dugan forced a hurried incompletion on second-and-10 before Allison extended his body and made a spectacular knockdown in the middle of the end zone.

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shores Dalton Dugan makes a falling catch for a 35-yard gain in the first half of Fridays PIAA Class AAAA championship game at Lampeter-Strasburg High School. Jersey Shore advanced to the first state final in school history with a 39-35 win.

On fourth-and-10, L-S went with one of its bread-and-butter plays, but Hess was ready. Jersey Shore again pressured McTaggart well and Hess intercepted his sixth pass this season in the back of the end zone.

He dropped back and I saw his guy running the slant which had done on the last five plays. I knew he was coming that way, Hess said. All the linemen in there did a great job getting to him and he just threw the ball up and I was there and in a good position.

L-S had all three timeouts remaining when Jersey Shore took over at its own 20, but the Bulldogs shined on third down and started their march toward Hershey. Hess caught a 14-yard pass on third-and-7, forcing L-S to burn its final two timeouts after that. Allisons 9-yard first-down run sealed it and Jersey Shore lined up for its most satisfying victory formation yet.

That game was what high school football is all about. That was two great teams and it was back and forth all night and Im really happy for the kids, Jersey Shore coach Tom Gravish said. They just battled. It was emotional plays on our side, emotional plays for them and as soon as we would get an emotional play they would answer back and then so would we. There was a lot of good football being played here.

Lampeter-Strasburg led 28-21 at halftime, but the Jersey Shore defense forced a big three-and-out before putting together a well-balanced, well-conceived 14-play, 83-yard drive. Allisons 9-yard touchdown run pulled Jersey Shore within a point and, a play later, it had the lead.

MARK NANCE/Sun-GazetteJersey Shores Hayden Packer carries the ball during the first half of the PIAA Class AAAA semifinal on Friday night at Lampeter-Strasburg High School.

Dugan jumped a swing pass from his defensive end position on the Pioneers next offensive play and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown giving Jersey Shore a 33-28 lead. A 54-yard screen pass to Andrew Knapp set up McTaggart for a 2-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter and L-S went back up, 35-33, entering the fourth quarter.

Like it was against Pottsville last year, Jersey Shore was behind in the fourth quarter. Just like last year, Jersey Shore took over and won.

We said at halftime that weve been in these situations before, Gravish said. We told them to just keep battling and sooner or later our conditioning is going to take over and I think it did.

The first half produced an aerial show which likely had Don Coryell smiling somewhere. Wheary, Anderson, Brady Jordan and McTaggart combined for 602 yards as teams exchanged big plays like they Wall Street stock brockers.

Allison broke a 24-yard touchdown run for the games first score and Anderson caught a perfectly thrown Wheary deep ball for a 55-yard score early in the second quarter. L-S scored twice in a row and took a seven-point lead before Wheary found Hess for a game-tying 5-yard touchdown pass.

Jersey Shore was 3 yards from regaining the lead on its next possession, but L-S held and then went 97 yards on three plays with Heyser breaking a tackle on a short pass and going 83 yards for a touchdown.

That turn of events could have doomed some teams, but Jersey Shore is not like most teams. The Bulldogs executed excellent game plans on both sides of the ball and different players took turns producing critical plays which sparked the comeback.

Dugan, Peacock, Samar, Quincey Myers and Ben Webb wreaked defensive havoc in the second half. Linebackers Hayden and Gabe Packer were all over the field, and Hess and Anderson kept making key catches on pin-point Wheary throws.

Yes its a clich, but this again was a team effort. And what a team Jersey Shore has become.

Its incredible. Its years of hard work paying off for all these guys, Allison said. I love my teammates so much.

Jersey Shore 39, Lampeter-Strasburg 35

Jersey Shore7 14 12 6 39

L-S7 21 7 0 35

First Quarter

J Cam Allison 24 run (Allison kick), 2:49

L Beau Heyser 42 pass from Sean McTaggart (Andrew Reidenbaugh kick), :13

Second Quarter

J Owen Anderson 55 pass from Branden Wheary (Allison kick), 11:21

L Heyser 3 pass from McTaggart (Reidenbaugh kick), 8:58

L Berkeley Wagner 35 pass from McTaggart (Reidenbaugh kick), 7:35

J Cayden Hess 5 pass from Wheary (Allison kick), 5:36

L Heyser 83 pass from McTaggart (Reidenbaugh kick), 1:37

Third Quarter

J Allison 9 run (kick failed), 3:43

J Dalton Dugan 39-yard interception return (pass failed), 3:31

L McTaggart 2 run (Reidenbaugh kick), 1:55

Fourth Quarter

J Hess 5 pass from Wheary (run failed), 9:14

TEAM STATISTICSJSL-S

First Downs1919

Rushes-yards34-16728-41

Passing yards318473

Total yards485514

Comp-Att-Int21-38-024-47-2

Fumbles-lost1-00-0

Penalties-yards3-206-50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Jersey Shore, Cam Allison 20-130, 2 TD; Hayden Packer 8-25; Brady Jordan 3-17; Kooper Peacock 1-(-2); Branden Wheary 2-(-3). L-S, Sean McTaggart 16-19, TD; Andrew Knapp 6-15; Giovanni Malatesta 1-4 ; Owen Fikkert 2-2; Drew Harris 3-1.

PASSING: Jersey Shore, Wheary 19-36-0, 252 yards, 3 TD; Anderson 1-1-0, 33 yards; Jordan 1-1-0, 33 yards. . L-S, McTaggart 24-47-2, 473 yards, 3 TD.

RECEIVING: Jersey Shore, Cayden Hess 13-162, 2 TD; Anderson 6-119, TD; Dalton Dugan 1-35; Jordan 1-2. . L-S, Beau Heyser 10-220, 3 TD; Ian Herr 9-141; Knapp 2-59; Berkeley Wagner 2-41, TD; Fikkert 1-12..

INTERCEPTIONS: Jersey Shore, Dugan, Hess.

SACKS: Karter Peacock 2, Hayden Packer, Quincey Myers.

RECORDS: Jersey Shore 10-0. Lampeter-Strasburg 9-1.

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Jersey Shore football headed to 1st state final with victory over Lampeter-Strasburg - Williamsport Sun-Gazette

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Review: Netflixs Over the Moon succeeds in cultural representation – The Charlatan

When I first saw Change, the moon goddess of Chinese mythical folklores, depicted as a singing diva in the trailer for Netflixs Over the Moon, I cringed. I expected another disastrous western interpretation of Chinese culture like Disneys live-action adaptation of Mulan. I had no idea it would blow my mindin a good wayand make me laugh, gasp and even tear up a little.

Over the Moon is an animated musical film that tells the story of Fei Fei, a 14-year-old Chinese girl who lost her mom at age 10. Her dad is getting remarried and she grapples with the belief that he has forgotten his love for her mother.

The story takes place while Fei Feis family are preparing for the Moon Festival, which is a traditional East and Southeast Asian holiday, almost like a Chinese Thanksgiving. It is held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. As one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, it is the time of the year for family and friends to come together, have a big dinner and give one another blessings.

To prove to her dad that true love lasts forever and stop him from getting remarried, Fei Fei decides to build a rocket to the moon to find Change and prove that she is real.

A modern take

Change is the moon goddess who according to legend, is waiting for her true love, Houyi, after taking an immortality pill and ascending to the moon.

Change in Over the Moon is a modern-day interpretation of this mythical character, rendering her almost an original character with the traditional folklore of her mythological namesake as her backstory.

I fell in love with Changes first song in the movie, Ultraluminary, almost right away. It is performed by Changes voice actor Phillipa Soowho is best known for originating Eliza Hamilton in the Broadway musical Hamilton.

The song is not only quite catchy but also reveals how Change built Lunaria, her city on the moon.

The moon was a desert land of darkness when she first arrived. She gathered her tears and enchanted them with a magic potion, turning them into Lunarians to build up a radiant city of light. The song shows both sides of Change: lonely and vulnerable, but also motivated and powerful.

Changes performance is also an absolute visual treat with astonishing animation, from her dressdesigned by Guo Pei, the genius behind Rihannas trailing yellow gown at the 2015 Met Galato her dance moves, which were choreographed by k-pop group Blackpinks choreographer, Kyle Hanagami.

Change is the symbol of the Moon Festival. I grew up hearing her sad story: she ascends to the moon without her love, Houyi, and spends eternity at the cold, quiet moon palace with Jade Rabbit, the rabbit that lives on the moon, as her only company.

However, Change and the moon palace in Over the Moon are nothing like the legend Im familiar with. Change first appears in the movie as the pop star of Lunaria. Shes fierce, short-tempered, even a little sassy. But she acts this way for a reason: she is desperate to see Houyi again.

The film interpretation of Change makes it easier for the western audience to understand her story, without destroying the beauty in her character. The legend I grew up hearing always ends with Change ascending to the moon, and no one knows what happened to her since.

It was fascinating for me to see the production team let their imagination run wild to present Change and her city on the moon in the 21st century, presumably thousands of years after she ascended to the moon.

While the production team keeps Changes story as true as possible to the original legend with a touch of their own creativity and originality, they did an impressive amount of research into Chinese culture to make every little detail authentic.

The first thing I noticed is how well-constructed Fei Feis hometown is. Based on its architecture and the small rivers running throughout the town, I can immediately tell it is set in Jiang Nan, a geographic area immediately south of the Yangtze River.

The residents daily lives are also accurately depicted. Details like square dancing, lanterns for the Moon Festival, the big round dinner table, and the tradition of the whole family crowding the kitchen to cook together for the occasion are so authentic, I felt homesick watching.

Another thing I found impressive was the Chinese script featured in the moviethey actually make sense! Fei Feis notes on the wall, the store signs, and the posters in Fei Feis classroom are all written in fluent, simplified Chinese and make the setting of the story even more authentic.

A story of love and grief

Over the Moon is a story about grief. Both Change and Fei Fei shut themselves in and refuse to move on after losing their loved ones.

At the end of the film, a touching tribute to Audrey Wells, the movies screenwriter who passed away from cancer in October 2018 during production, is featured. Personally, I see Over the Moon as a love letter from Wells to her daughter and husband. This is made especially clear when Change sings during the climax of the movie: If you give love, you will never lose loveit only grows.

Overall, Over the Moon does an incredible job with cultural representation. Im delighted to see it introducing traditional Chinese culture to an international audience through a warm-hearted and family-friendly story, particularly when the Asian community is so often silenced or white washed in the western media. I cant wait to see more movies like this in theatres and on major streaming services in the future.

Feature image from IMDb.

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Review: Netflixs Over the Moon succeeds in cultural representation - The Charlatan

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