The Catholic Weekly 10 May 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 20 10, May, 2020 ENTERTAINMENT ACROSS 3. Fully trained but subject to a limitation perhaps (9) 8. Employer in serious error (4) 9 Swallow mother’s feast (9) 10. Stragglers revealed in street lights (6) 11. They are certainly biased (5) 14. He keeps far too much to himself (5) 15. What one said after reflection (4) 16 Therefore go away (5) 18 It’s about time for a piece of news (4) 20. Take it and go (5) 21. Either way you can play it (5) 24. Company doctor at a fight (6) 25. He doesn’t have to be smart to fool the birds (9) 26. It means no rest to the Italian (4) 27. The growth of a fairy-tale (9) Quick Crossword answers also fit the large grid CROSSWORD DOWN 1. Her charges are usually small (9) 2. Sad bearer of news indeed (9) 4. It could kill though it’s not down as poison (4) 5. There’s a great deal to this game (5) 6. Show touching affection (6) 7. Made-up cheese (4) 9. Wise choice of an original Christmas gift (5) 11 Tied up money? (5) 12. As a personal record, it’s rather fragmentary (9) 13. Anticipate the woods cover everyone (9) 17. Drinking bender (5) 19. Her sisters are not really her sisters (6) 22. Tom comes up with it - that’s understood (5) 23. He follows the account painfully (4) 24. A spring I pass round (4) CRYPTIC CLUES QUICK CLUES SOLUTION FOR LAST WEEK ACROSS 3. Lavishness (9) 8. Genuine (4) 9. Conquer (9) 10. Spare (6) 11. Guide (5) 14. Concise (5) 15. Call (4) 16. Scans (5) 18. Empty (4) 20. Restrict (5) 21. Instruct (5) 24. Subordinate (6) 25. Pointer (9) 26. Fair (4) 27. Witness (9) DOWN 1. Uncivilised (9) 2. Awkward (9) 4. Fume (4) 5. Earliest (5) 6. Untidy person (6) 7. Portent (4) 9. Command (5) 11. Slit (5) 12. Grasping (9) 13. Hopeless (9) 17. Scrub (5) 19. Portray (6) 22. Demand (5) 23. Formerly (4) 24. Attach (4) 15,749 QUICK Across 1 Etch; 3 Activate; 8 Thus; 9 Headland; 11 Misrepresent; 13 Target; 14 Draper; 17 Amelioration; 20 Confound; 21 Base; 22 Derisory; 23 Bear. Down 1 Estimate; 2 Cruiser; 4 Cheery; 5 Industrial; 6 Again; 7 Eddy; 10 Rebellious; 12 Grandeur; 15 Private; 16 Corner; 18 Miner; 19 Acid. CRYPTIC Across 1 Side; 3 Spinster; 8 Rove; 9 Ailments; 11 Person of note; 13 Events; 14 Clutch; 17 Green fingers; 20 Talisman; 21 Fall; 22 Port-side; 23 Eyes. Down 1 Scrapped; 2 Diverse; 4 Prison; 5 No man’s land; 6 Tenet; 7 Rush; 10 Fortresses; 12 Thistles; 15 Therapy; 16 Afraid; 18 Ruler; 19 Stop. SAINTS OF THEWEEK From an aristo A flawed attempt to honour a flawed life ACCLAIMED DIPLOMAT Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was killed in a 2003 terrorist attack in Baghdad, at age 55, accomplished more in his rel- atively brief life than many do who are blessed with longevi- ty. So viewers might turn to the two-hour profile Sergio , streaming now on Netflix, with high expectations. Director Greg Barker ( Man- hunt ), better known for his topical documentaries than narrative films, dutifully packs the dramatisation with action, reflecting Vieira de Mello’s peripatetic and ambitious ca- reer. Yet, while occasionally moving, his biography is large- ly workmanlike and contains some morally iffy material. The Canal Hotel bombing, as the incident that claimed Vieira de Mello’s life is known, frames the narrative, which is based on former US ambas- sador to the United Nations Samantha Power’s 2008 book Chasing the Flame . As Army medics try to res- cue the trapped envoy, played by Wagner Moura, numerous flashbacks recall the journey that led him to this fateful mo- ment. Appearing much younger than 55, Moura fittingly in- vests his character with the undimmed earnestness, de- termination and independ- ence that guided Vieira de Mello in his dual role as the UN’s high commissioner for human rights and its special representative for Iraq. In the latter capacity, he soon came into conflict with the top American official in the country, Paul Bremer. As portrayed by Bradley Whitford ( The West Wing ), Coalition Provisional Author- ity head Bremer – sporting his signature desert-brown combat boots – comes across as smug and dismissive. “The UN,” he says, “works for us.” Unsurprisingly, Vieira de Mello has different ideas. “Don’t suggest for a secondwe are here to support the US or the coalition,” he tells Bremer. Instead, he insists, the UN’s aim must be to encourage the Iraqi people’s effort to recover their sovereignty. Sergio also focuses on Viei- ra deMello’s 1999-2002 stint as the UN’s transitional admin- istrator in East Timor during which he oversaw that region’s emergence as an independent country after a 24-year conflict with Indonesia. “The first new nation of the 21st century,” as he describes it. His achievements earned the humanitarian the sobri- quet The World’s Mr Fix it . Yet where his personal life was concerned, Vieira de Mello’s track record was more cheq- uered. Long separated from his first wife, he’s depicted as, at best, an inconsistent father. In one telling moment, for exam- ple, he forgets that his younger son, Adrien (Joao Barreto), is allergic to shellfish. In East Timor, he meets a much younger woman, Harvard-trained economist Carolina Larriera (Ana de Ar- mas). Her work promoting microloans impresses the ad- ministrator. The legal status of the re- sulting relationship was com- plex. Morally, however, Caroli- na clearly understands Sergio to be married when they first fall for each other. Beyond the mayhem the bombing engenders, Sergio is also marked by strong sexu- al content, including nudity, as well as some vulgarity and a scene of amputation – ele- ments that make it unsuitable for youngsters. But the cav- alier acceptance of adultery in Craig Borten’s otherwise empathetic and occasionally insightful screenplay makes Sergio doubtful fare even for adults. Vieira de Mello’s question- able personal choices don’t, of course, detract from his ad- mirable professional accom- plishments over a 34-year career dedicated to human rights and the relief of suffer- ing. Nor do they diminish the tragedy of his untimely death at the hands of al-Qaida. But the nature of the couple’s bond may affect viewers’ re- action to Carolina’s loss. Aesthetically, Sergio suf- fers from an overabundance of flashbacks. Their protect- ed length tends to lessen the immediacy of the events they depict. Overall, the film registers as a seriously flawed attempt to honour a commendable public figure who was, none- theless, a far from perfect man. - CNS ¾ ¾ Chris Byrd The television poster for Sergio streaming on Netflix. PHOTO: CNS PHOTO/NETFLIX SERGIO Find the career you deserve catholicjobsonline.com.au SEE OUR LATEST JOBS Born near Toledo, Spain, John was sent by his wealthy parents to study law in Salamanca. But, renouncing such a career, he instead lived as a hermit for three years, and was ordained in 1525, after his parents had died. Though he hoped to be a missionary in Mexico, his archbishop sent him to An- dalusia, where he preached successfully for nine years. He was imprisoned briefly by the Inquisition for rigoristic preaching, then continued evangelizing for the rest of his life. Many of his letters survive. Born in Treme- lo, Belgium, Joseph de Veuster left school at 13 to work on the family farm. Six years later he joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, taking the name Damien. He volunteered for a mission to the Hawaiian Islands, and was ordained in Honolulu in 1864. He served on the island of Hawaii for eight years, then volunteered in 1873 to work at the lepro- sy colony on Molokai (leprosy is now called Hansen’s dis- ease). Father Damien con- tracted the disease in 1884. He was canonized in 2009. S treaming John of Avila 1500-1569 Feast: 10 May Damien of Molokai 1840 - 1889 Feast: 10 May STREAMING ON NETFLIX