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Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

‘Minari’ makes the personal feel universal

by Michelle Siegel on

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Minari, the latest offering from production company A24, presents a complicated yet touching portrait of a South Korean immigrant family through a holistic lens. The film follows the Yi family, who try to establish their lives on an Arkansas farm during the 1980s. The story, written and directed by Lee Isaac Chung, is a semi-autobiographical portrait of his early family life and upbringing.

While David Yi (Alan Kim), the youngest child of the family, is Chung’s proxy character, the film does not take place solely from David’s perspective—it switches between the perspectives of David, his strong-willed and determined father Jacob (Steven Yeun), and his patient but suffering mother Monica (Han Ye-ri). The arrival of Monica’s mother, Soon-ja (Youn Yuh-jung), creates a subtle wrinkle in the fabric of the narrative, and she quickly develops into an integral and beloved companion to the children. 

Every member of the cast is phenomenal in their roles, but Yeun, Youn, and Kim stand out. Yeun in particular gives a controlled and nuanced performance, treading the delicate balance between nurturing his family and fulfilling his own ambitions. This is highlighted in the many scenes where Jacob and Monica fight over their family’s living situation. On one night, the two come to blows over Jacob’s decision to move the family as a hurricane passes through the state. While Monica believes that the best thing for their family would be to move back to California and regain stable work, Jacob insists that it is best for them to stay so that the children can see him succeed. Jacob parallels other iconic cinematic patriarchs, such as Walter Younger in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, who is forced to reconcile his personal goals and dreams with the greater needs and desires of his family. 

The film somewhat neglects the eldest daughter Anne (Noel Kate Cho) as a character, presumably because she is not old enough to provide an impactful perspective as the adults in the film do. This is one of Minari’s few missteps, as the exclusion of Anne feels like a missed opportunity for a further exploration of the siblings’ relationship. Besides this slight narrative hole, Minari comes together in virtually every other aspect: The entire cast has natural chemistry and sells the differing perspectives and relationships within the family dynamic. The film’s score, composed by Emile Mosseri, is also a perfect undertone to the film, sounding at once hopeful, whimsical, and melancholic. 

Although some may find the plot slow and uneventful, the quiet struggles and mundane routines of the family are far from boring. The authenticity woven through Minari unveils the subdued calamity of the family’s trials and tribulations. Chung’s semi-autobiographical work is filled with love and respect for his story—Minari never appears as a sanitized portrait of immigration, opting instead to depict Chung’s recollections of his childhood and his current perception of his parents’ experiences in that setting. 

The real magic of Minari is the universality of the story. The film is deeply personal to Chung, yet its intimacy allows the audience to experience its shared truths. The story’s themes are relatable in many regards, whether in reference to the immigrant experience, the sometimes grave and other times humorous antics of childhood, or the broader notions of failure, family, and faith. Even viewers who are oblivious to the symbolism of the minari plants that David and Anne plant with Soon-ja will be moved by the tenderness and determination of the Yi family. While Chung’s story may not specifically reflect that of every person who watches Minari, the heartfelt emotions and strong relationships between the family members make the movie an unforgettable experience. 

Minari is available for viewing on A24 Screening Room as of Feb. 12. It is scheduled for VOD release on Feb. 26.

Out on the Town, Student Life

Ghost kitchens: How Livia Sweets has stayed afloat during the pandemic

by Antoine Guimbal on

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Just over a year ago, Livia Café was a vibrant, bustling, and health-driven coffee and matcha bar. Their Peel St. location had become a go-to spot for matcha-lovers and an indispensable part of the Montreal food scene, welcoming both office-workers on lunch break and students looking for a place to study.

In March 2020, however, Livia Café was forced to close temporarily as the government implemented stay-at-home orders across the province. The industry froze as restaurant groups, chains, and smaller independent businesses were no longer allowed to host their customers in-house, and the consequences were dire: 10 per cent of Montreal restaurants have permanently closed since the pandemic began, with around half at risk of shutting down for good.

The new restrictions forced restaurants with the means to stay operational to adapt. Among them is the Instagram-worthy bakery Livia Sweets, Livia Café’s sister company. Their business model: A ghost kitchen and e-commerce.

Ghost kitchens are delivery-only restaurants: Before COVID-19, the model offered attractive economic benefits for business owners, reducing costs by limiting the need to hire service staff and provide a physical space for customers. During the pandemic, however, ghost kitchens have become the norm.

Frustrated with the limited pastry options on delivery services, Livia Sweets owner David Dayan saw a place for bakeries on the e-commerce market. Knowing they could eliminate substantial costs by operating out of one of its parent group’s other restaurants, Ryu, the project was brought to life. 

Established in April 2020, Livia Sweets is unlike Livia Café in a key way. While the café is driven by health-consciousness, the bakery embraces decadence with a vast array of desserts that can help bring a little more joy to birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestone celebrations dampened by the pandemic.

“The bakery was launched with the intention of flipping the culture from the Livia Café,” Victoria Alexander, the marketing manager for Dayan’s restaurant group, said. “Despite the pandemic, people still deserve the fun.”

Livia Sweets aims to prioritize its customers’ interests and demands. Sporting the same logo as the café, Livia Sweets’ brand pays homage to neighbouring Montreal cafés, restaurants, and pastry shops. Their selection of lively, colourful cakes on its website is reminiscent of Christina Tosi’s Milk Bar. The bakery has also worked hard to eliminate food waste. 

Third-party delivery services such as UberEats or Doordash offer a client-friendly platform, but charge businesses a substantial 25 to 30 percent fee from every order. As a result, some large chains have launched their own delivery services, and other restaurants have turned their waiters into drivers or ultimately decided not to offer delivery at all. 

“Our biggest challenge was to find a logistical way to become profitable,” Alexander said. 

Their hybrid e-commerce model, including third-party applications and an in-house delivery platform, proved to be the best solution. Customers can order from the bakery’s rotating menu through Uber Eats and DoorDash for delivery, or directly from their website for orders to be picked up between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

By offering a selection of menu items on delivery applications, the online pastry shop hopes to relieve the cravings of its clientele five days a week. Simultaneously, their one-day-a-week, in-house delivery model provides the bakery with the flexibility to optimize the week’s baking schedule by planning deliveries in batches. 

“We have been encouraged by the success of Livia Sweets, and we have begun exploring additional e-commerce opportunities, such as the delivery of at-home matcha kits from the Livia Cafe,” Alexander said.

Livia Sweets’ success using the ghost kitchen model exemplifies the resourcefulness that food-service businesses have used to survive during the pandemic, and might also foreshadow a long-term shift in the way restaurants operate. In the future, students can expect to see more ghost kitchens on their delivery apps, as the model has proven itself to be a flexible and economical alternative to in-house dining during these uncertain times.

Editorial, Opinion

Race-based data is essential to combatting COVID-19

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Advocacy groups such as Montreal’s Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR) have been pushing for Quebec to collect and publish race-based data on COVID-19 transmission since the onset of the pandemic. Although the government has refused to even acknowledge the existence of systemic racism in the province, independent studies demonstrate that the pandemic has taken a disproportionate toll on racialized individuals. With vaccine distribution underway, it is vital that the government recognize these racial disparities in order to develop an equitable immunization effort. Students should support advocacy to promote awareness of this issue and put pressure on the province to collect racial data, but it is equally incumbent on McGill to leverage its platform as a research institution and amplify calls for change.

When the pandemic first began last March, pandemic “hot-spots” were observed in neighbourhoods with high proportions of racialized residents. Consider that as of July 30 in Toronto, 83 per cent of reported cases were concentrated amongst BIPOC individuals. Even though Quebec Public Health Director Dr. Horacio Arruda pledged in May to begin collecting data on infected persons’ ethnic and racial backgrounds, the government has reneged on this promise. Instead, officials blamed poverty and overcrowding without recognizing that these factors are inextricable. Neighbourhoods like Montreal North are particularly crowded and predominantly inhabited by low-income and racialized people. 

These residents often work in essential fields that are not conducive to a remote alternative, increasing their exposure to the virus and spreading it throughout their communities. Furthermore, many of these residents are immigrants, and the government’s failure to widely translate communications may hinder their ability to understand constantly changing public health ordinances and other measures. Similarly, those with precarious immigration statuses may be exploited relentlessly by their employers and refrain from seeking aid, treatment, or vaccination out of fear of deportation. In light of these barriers, such marginalized communities should be the focus of the provincial vaccination campaign.

Montreal’s unhoused population, which is disproportionately composed of Indigenous people, is at acute risk because of the curfew in effect from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Unsheltered individuals in areas like Milton-Parc are forced to crowd into shelters, where they are more likely to be exposed to the virus. Many have been accosted for nothing more than their lack of a place to call home. Although the housing crisis is an issue of poverty and class, it is fuelled by underlying racial inequities that cannot be ignored. 

Quebec’s resistance to publishing statistics on the pandemic’s racial trends is ethically irresponsible. With this information, public health officials would be able to make better decisions on vaccine distribution and provide financial support to help people comply with safety measures. Especially with movie theatres, retailers, and other formerly closed sectors reopening, the absence of such information could be devastating as the pandemic inevitably worsens due to the influx of new variants of the virus. 

Quebec’s reluctance to collect race-based data is particularly egregious considering that the provincial public health system continually fails BIPOC individuals, as in cases like Joyce Echaquan’s death due to racist negligence. Although some statistics on the ethnic breakdown of COVID-19 cases already exists through independent resources—including Colors of Covid, an independent database—official statistics would empower activists’ calls for government attention towards marginalized communities. 

Students should recognize the work of advocates such as McGill Social Work assistant professor Alicia Boatswain-Kyte, joining her in urging the government to take action to address the pandemic’s racial discrepancies. Likewise, they should donate to Colors of Covid to fund its mission and lobby their representatives to demand race-based data. But at the same time, it is crucial that educational institutions like McGill fund research to expose the pandemic’s disparate impacts on marginalized communities. Quebec’s reticence perpetuates ignorance, and universities have a duty to hold the government to a higher standard by spreading awareness of the intersection between systemic racism and the impacts of COVID-19.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

Celebrating Black artists from Montreal’s music scene

by Deana Korsunsky, Katia Lo Innes, Matthew Molinaro, & Vanessa Barron on

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Montreal is home to a famously vibrant music scene, one that is indebted to Black culture and music. Black musicians have made major contributions to the local music community, especially in the realm of jazz in the 20th century and continuing in all genres today. In honour of Black History Month, The McGill Tribune’s Arts & Entertainment staff highlights four notable Black musicians from Montreal who made great music.

Hanorah 

If Amy Winehouse and Snoh Aalegra had a “voice-child,” it would be Hanorah. The texture of her vocals is the aural equivalent of feeling silk and lace in one sweep of the hand. Committed to a graceful and empowered vulnerability, Hanorah’s lyrics could easily stand alone as poetry. Yet, the lively tempo of her music does not succumb to the emotional gravity of her lyrics. Hanorah’s music, while seemingly grounded in soul, is also not confined to it. “Long Road,” for instance, with its steady, sauntering beat and guitar instrumentals, has the faintest twinge of country combined with pop-soul hybrid vocals. With an indomitable voice and poignant lyricism, Hanorah, without a doubt, should be on your playlist.

Backxwash 

A longtime fan-favourite of Montreal’s underground community, Zambian-born Backxwash should be on everyone’s radar—and for good reason. Snagging the Polaris Prize in 2020 for her album God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It—effectively achieving the highest honours available to Canadian artists—Backxwash is at the indisputable forefront of not just hip-hop and rap, but the very state of contemporary music production. Layering punchy flows on topics ranging from gender identity, racism, and witchcraft over warbling industrial beats, Backxwash takes listeners into her beautifully horrific world. Beyond being an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime talent, Backxwash is also pretty funny on Twitter, offering quips on motivational speakers and insights into her wildly inventive creative process.

Harold “Steep” Wade (1918-1953)

Wade was a legendary Canadian jazz musician in the 1930s and 40s, sharing his musical gifts on the piano and saxophone. Born to a musically disinclined family in Montreal, Wade combined his self-teaching and study under Milton Smythe to successfully navigate the then-duelling classical and jazz styles. He played alto saxophone for Myron Sutton’s Canadian Ambassadors and later performed on the piano with Louis Metcalf’s International Band at the Café St-Michel. As a member of Wilkie Wilkinson’s Boptet, Wade helped create Canada’s first known bebop recordings. At Café St-Michel, Wade befriended and mentored a young Oscar Peterson, extending his own legacy in jazz through his mentee—Peterson would continue to become one of greatest jazz pianists in music history. Despite racial tensions in music in the post-Depression era affecting his commercial and recording abilities, Wade’s deep devotion to music brought him respect as one of the greats of Montreal’s growing jazz scene.

(http://blueshamilton.blogspot.com)

Kaytranada

If you’ve ever attended Igloofest, Osheaga, or any house party in the Milton-Parc neighbourhood, there’s a good chance you’ve grooved along to Kaytranada’s beats. Born in Port-au-Prince and raised in Montreal, the DJ/producer and 2016 Polaris Prize winner has a signature sound that is warm and reserved, but always danceable. There are no dull moments on either of his two LPs, 99.9% and Bubba, and his 2013 Boiler Room performance continues to live in infamy as both a stellar DJ set and as a fascinating documentation of club social dynamics. While Kaytranada’s drum beats vary in complexity and tempo, their pitch sounds hollow and deep, giving the digitally produced dance tracks an analog feel. Combined with airy, warping synths, an always-moving bass line, and killer vocal features, Kaytranada has mastered the perfect formula for producing Grade-A Bops.

Commentary, Opinion

Let’s stop waiting for social housing

by Adam Gwiazda-Amsel on

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Over the past three years, McGill students have stood at the forefront of the movement for affordable housing. From commissioning high-quality studies to participating in yearly discussions around tenants’ rights, McGillians clearly understand the critical role that access to quality, affordable housing plays in determining one’s ability to live safely and with dignity. Now, this community can play a key role in society’s shift toward not simply affordable housing, but social housing. 

Agencies and institutes differ in their definitions of social and affordable housing. In Montreal, the terms are understood to mean, respectively, housing that is accessible relative to income and housing that is accessible relative to market rates. This delineation can be grossly misleading, since “affordable” housing refers to rents at 80 per cent of the market rate. With average studio apartments renting for $935 per month in Montreal, such housing is by no means affordable. 

Prior to COVID-19-driven vacancies, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported that Montreal’s vacancy rate had dropped to a 15-year low of 1.5 per cent. This shortage means lower-quality and less affordable housing, as landlords gain bargaining power when tenants have fewer options. Across the country, the CMHC is tasked with coordinating the Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy (NHS), a $55-billion plan to address low vacancy rates by supporting homeownership, affordable housing construction, and providing various targeted subsidies. Unfortunately, while the CMHC claims to prioritize non-profit and co-operative housing partners, their affordability targets are indexed to median market rates, which were steadily on the rise before the onset of the pandemic.

In addition to the illusory promise of truly affordable pricing, the CMHC argues that an increase in the supply of quality housing will contribute to the goals set by the NHS. This is an entry-level economist’s fantasy solution to the housing crisis: Increased supply, decreased price. But a concerning proportion of this increased supply is purchased by investors, who take the units off the rental market with intentions to flip them for a profit. In 2017, this practice decreased vacancy rates in downtown Vancouver by as much as half a percentage point, at a time when the city’s overall vacancy rate stood at 1.1%. Landlords and speculators have no reason to undercut rents when they know they can squeeze tenants or flip the unit on the speculative market. 

There are a few ways in which McGillians are well-positioned to start thinking about their role in these larger policy debates. First, students need to stop defending landlords. Investments incur risk, and given how willing the private sector is to price-gouge and prioritize profits over helping people off the street, it is baffling to witness the outpour of sympathy for those whose investment returns take a turn for the worse during rent strikes or when tenants refuse rental increases. 

Aside from direct action, pushing for further government support is also essential. Although the NHS seems a good start, it is woefully inadequate given the heavy housing needs facing Montreal and Canada more broadly. The “Empty Homes Tax,” which Vancouver introduced to discourage purely speculative units, is a great example of how targeted policy can eliminate some of the more nefarious behaviours of the private market. Taking from Vancouver, freezing evictions, mortgages, and rent payments in Montreal during the pandemic might have curbed the steady increase in the city’s unsheltered population. 

Ultimately, students’ work toward the decommodification of housing should lead to more leadership on affordable housing. The Milton Parc Citizen’s Community famously took six blocks of prime real estate off the rental market by establishing a Community Land Trust, including collective ownership of the land and buildings. Residents now enjoy non-profit costs of as low as $300 per month, with adjustments based on income, without additional administrative fees that come with government-run housing. This and similar models represent extraordinary solutions by ordinary people. They require time and dedication, but they offer a real chance to make safe, affordable housing into more than just words on a page.

Student Life

How to spice up nights under curfew

by Lucy Keller on

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While Montreal’s lockdown restrictions were partially lifted on Feb. 8, the citywide curfew persists. After months of binge-watching the same Netflix originals and rewatching classic series, the monotony can be unbearable. As nights spent alone or with roommates blur together, many students are searching for ways to spice things up after a long day of studying. The McGill Tribune has compiled a list of at-home activities to help switch up students’ nightlife and spark some joy during these cold evenings. 

        1. Take advantage of online events

Whether students are looking to get involved in the McGill community or the broader Montreal context, they can find a wide array of virtual events hosted on Zoom or similar platforms. Just recently, the AUS Event Planning and Involvement Committee (EPIC) organized a virtual dating night for Valentine’s Day and is currently planning a St. Patrick’s Day event in collaboration with the Science Internal Committee (SIC). Students can visit either committee’s Facebook page for more information. Gina Spiridaki, U3 Arts and co-chair of EPIC, spoke with The McGill Tribune about the success of their virtual events and plans for future activities. 

“We want to give the McGill community the ability to connect despite the challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic,” Spiridaki said. “Our next event will be a virtual Montreal bar crawl with the SIC and it is going to be super fun.”

There are even more events to choose from for students hoping to break out of the virtual McGill bubble. Ranging from free Masterclass events to Nikon photography tutorials, there are endless classes and events hosted online to keep students busy. In a local context, the free events section of Eventbrite is a great place to find online events hosted by Montrealers, as is the Events tab on Facebook

     2. Invest in a deck of cards

In today’s digital world, it is easy to forget how entertaining and time-consuming it is to play cards. From solo games such as Solitaire or its variant Devil’s Grip to group games such as Cabo or Palace, hundreds of options are easily adapted for students who live alone or with several roommates. While fun sober, try spicing up a card game night with a cocktail or a drinking game for a surely eventful night. There are many entertaining ideas online; however, tweaking the rules to an existing card game with friends is also a great option for those willing to muster up the creativity.

      3. Cook through the recipes in a cookbook

Inspired by the 2009 hit movie Julia and Julia, cooking through a cookbook can be a combination of fun, tiresome, and gratifying. Whether you choose more complex cookbooks such as Samin Nosrat’s Salt Fat Acid Heat, or a more simple student oriented one such as The Ultimate Student Cookbook, you’re bound to find a great option for your taste, budget, and skill level.

Cooking is also an easy and delicious way to learn about different cultures, especially during a time when students cannot meet new people due to COVID-19 restrictions. Whether students hope to master the skill of making dumplings or concoct the perfect stew, there are hundreds of recipes available to students online. Different recipe websites cater to a variety of cooking priorities: For budget-friendly recipes, check out Budget Bytes; for beginner recipes, check out Bon Appetit’s Basically; and for recipes fit for food science enthusiasts, check out Serious Eats.

      4. Take a digital museum tour 

Since the onset of the pandemic, museums across the world have struggled to keep their doors open. To adapt to the new normal, many museums have created virtual exhibits including behind-the-scenes tours and in-depth talks. While many of the tours are included as a part of monthly memberships, there are many world-renowned museums and local gems, like the Canadian Museum For Human Rights, Manitoba, Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, and Montreal Museum of Fine Arts offering free visits.  

News, SSMU

J-Board discusses SSMU services’ ability to adopt stance on BDS

by Sophia Gorbounov on

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On Feb. 19, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Judicial Board (J-Board) held a hearing to establish whether SSMU clubs or services would be permitted to adopt a stance on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, apart from the SSMU Executive Committee itself. 

In a final ruling released in January, the Board ruled that criticizing certain actions of the Israeli government and voicing support for Palestinian liberation is permissible under the SSMU constitution given that such statements would not amount to a position against a specific country. BDS is a Palestinian-led movement that advocates for financial action against Israel to end international support of Palestinian occuption. It was created in response to a 2005 call from the Palestinian Civil Society. The movement targets Israel financially to pressure it to comply with international law and universal human rights. 

In a 2016 reference, J-Board ruled that it is unconstitutional for SSMU to adopt an official position on geopolitical issues that do not directly affect students and events on campus. The Board did not allow SSMU to support BDS in lieu of the Israeli-Palestine conflict because it reasoned that such stances would breach the SSMU’s equity policies. 

Brooklyn Frizzle, SSMU Vice-President (VP) of University Affairs, represented the SSMU Executive Committee at the hearing. In their opening remarks, Frizzle argued that adopting such a position would improve the livelihood of queer individuals. Frizzle believes that Queer McGill adopting a stance in support of BDS is well within their constitutional rights as an activist and anti-oppressive organization. 

“The Queer McGill constitution states that it is within its mandate to take stances on relevant queer-related political issues in order to heighten student awareness [and] actively promote queer issues to the best of its ability,” Frizzle said. 

Bryan Buraga, a student advocate for Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill (SPHR), and Ghida Mawlawi, a member of  SPHR, acted as intervenors of the petition on behalf of SPHR. Buraga cited a need for SSMU services, especially those with political mandates like SPHR, to have their own political autonomy. 

“We’re specifically worried about how [the 2016 reference] would be applied to services,” Buraga said. “If it were applied to its full extent to services, especially those with a political and an activist mandate to advocate for its members, we worry this would create a precedent that would affect SPHR McGill, as well as other activist clubs.” 

Mo Rajji Courtney, outreach coordinator of the Union for Gender Empowerment (UGE), also expressed their support for the motion. In 2018, Courtney recalled being informed that the UGE would need to strike their support for BDS and SPHR from their mandate and training, and that they would not be allowed to adjudicate the matter. 

“When I joined the Union for Gender Empowerment back in 2017, there was a training provided by SPHR about BDS and about solidarity with Palestinian peoples,” Rajji Courtney said.  “This was also part of our mandate. Beyond just being a trans-positive service, we are also very specifically feminist and anti-oppressive. We also hold to a mandate of anti-racism as well as any anti-oppressive views that align with our mandate.” 

Courtney also noted that by not condemning the occupation of Palestine, the issue is subject to pinkwashing, a term referring to a government’s use of queer rights as a distraction from that government’s violence or oppression. 

The Jan. 19 J-Board ruling states that criticisms of the government of Israel are not in violation of the SSMU constitution, nor is support for Palestinian liberation. In this specific case, a new motion that allows the Society to take an official position in support of Palestinian liberation can be introduced to the SSMU Legislative Council. Explicit support for the BDS movement, however, remains unconstitutional as the original 2016 reference remains in force until a conflict between it and the current reference arises. The J-Board ruled that the new reference would supersede the 2016 reference only in areas of dispute, not in its entirety. 

Final decisions from the most recent hearing have yet to be released.

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the results of the Jan. 19, 2021 J-Board ruling applied to the Feb. 19, 2021 ruling. In fact, the Feb. 19 ruling has yet to be made by the J-Board. The Tribune regrets this error.

Soccer, Sports

Champions League update: Predictions for the round of 16

by Reza Ali, Karan Kumar on

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The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is back. Round of 16 play began on Feb. 16, and four of the eight teams have played their first leg. After Feb. 24, all the first legs will be complete. The round of 16 consists of two legs, and the team that wins on aggregate score advances. The McGill Tribune brings its predictions for the round of 16.

Manchester City vs Borussia Monchengladbach 

Manchester City are currently on the top of the Premier League, 10 points ahead of Manchester United, who reside in second place. Recent performances in the Premier League have been excellent, with Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gundogan, and Bernando Silva all scoring goals. 

Borussia Monchengladbach deserve credit for placing amongst the top four teams in the league and earning a Champions League spot this year with tough competition in the Bundesliga. They are currently seventh and have won two of their last five games. However, it is unlikely the German side can advance to the next round with the current performance of Manchester City. The Manchester City Manager, Pep Guardiola, has never won a Champions League title with the team, and this could be the season it happens. 

Bayern vs Lazio 

Bayern were dominant in the last UCL campaign. They won 11 straight games before eventually becoming champions. Incredibly, the same team is mostly intact, with the exception of holding midfielder Thiago Alcântara, who joined Liverpool. Nonetheless, players such as Robert Lewandowski and new signing Leroy Sane mean Bayern is still performing at full strength. 

Lazio, on the other hand, do not boast the same type of dominance. They are currently in seventh place in Serie A, and if they continue their current streak they will not qualify for the Champions League next year. Having a striker like Ciro Immobile makes the Italian side impossible to rule out, but this tie looks to be a shoo-in for the German giants.

Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid 

In his short time as the manager of Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel has proven himself in the Premier League, winning four out of the last six matches in the league. However, the Champions League is a different tactical game altogether. With players like Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic, Tuchel has the firepower at his disposal to defeat any defence in the world if he can get the best out of his players. 

With star strikers Diego Costa and Luiz Suarez, Atletico Madrid will be tricky opponents, as they currently lead in La Liga, six points ahead of Real Madrid with one less game played. Due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions on U.K. flights to Spain, the first leg to be played at Atletico’s home stadium has moved to a neutral location in Bucharest, Romania. With this change, Chelsea might edge ahead of the Spanish team with a home game advantage in the second leg.

Liverpool vs Leipzig 

Liverpool won the first leg of this Champions League tie. Both sides had many opportunities to take this game by the scruff of its neck, even though the eventual 2-0 scoreline does not reflect that. Leipzig’s Dani Olmo hit the post five minutes in, and Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker saved a breakaway opportunity all before the first goal of the game. 

Marcel Sabitzer has been an engine in midfield for Leipzig this year. Unfortunately, it was his errant back pass that played Liverpool forward Mohammed Salah through on goal, who made it 1-0. Salah’s partner on the wing, Sadio Mane, also capitalized on a defensive mistake from Leipzig, bringing the score to 2-0. Despite a convincing win, this tie is far from over. Liverpool have not been at their best, and, most importantly, they are missing centre backs Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez. It is hard to imagine Liverpool fumbling this lead, but with emergency centre backs starting, anything is possible.

Juventus vs Porto 

The first leg result between Juventus and Porto was an unexpected one—Porto defeated Juventus 2-1. The game had some defining moments, the first goal scored by Porto, a result of a Juventus defensive mishap, and Ronaldo being denied a penalty in extra time. The Porto defence contained Ronaldo, who has an impressive record of scoring 134 goals in 175 appearances in the Champions League. Overall, Juventus’ offence was unimpressive with only five out of 12 attempts on target. However, Frederico Chiesa’s away goal for Juventus may be crucial in deciding who advances to the next round. Juventus manager Andrea Pirlo faces the challenge of a one-goal deficit in the second leg on Mar. 9. With an away goal and home advantage for Juventus, either team can advance to the next round.

Real Madrid vs Atalanta 

Real Madrid are the most successful club in UCL history, with 13 titles to their name. Understandably, Atalanta cannot compare to that feat in the slightest. Last year was their first season in UCL, but they shocked everyone when they advanced to the quarterfinals. This current Real Madrid team is not as dominant as previous lineups, but Atalanta are no longer having the same success they had last year either, and losing star midfielder Papu Gomez to Sevilla does not help. Even though this Real Madrid side is weaker than usual, they are still in second place in La Liga and have a strong core of stars like Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos. The Madrid side has a tendency to play well under manager Zinedine Zidane in the Champions League, and it should be no surprise to anyone if they deliver a convincing victory in this tie.

Barcelona vs PSG 

Catalan giants Barcelona lost 4-1 in a dismal first leg to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). PSG looked strong under manager Mauricio Pochettino, even without star striker Neymar and winger Angel Di Maria. Mbappe’s hat trick only boosts the French striker’s confidence going into Camp Nou on Mar. 10 for the second leg. Barcelona are an ageing team with vulnerable defence, reliant on the experience of Messi, Busquets, and Pique. PSG are a relatively younger squad, with a manager who almost won the Champions League with Tottenham Hotspur in the 2018-2019 season. Even with an away goal and home advantage going into the second leg, it is unlikely that Barcelona will recover a three-goal deficit and advance to the next round.

Dortmund vs Sevilla 

The first leg ended in a 3-2 Dortmund win. It took only seven minutes for Sevilla to open the scoring with a deflected strike from winger Suso. Yet, it was Dortmund that eventually took over, led by young striker Erling Haaland. Haaland assisted the equalizer and then scored Dortmund’s second and third goals of the game. The 20-year-old Norwegian now has a remarkable 18 goals in 13 UCL appearances. The Spanish side did fight back, however, with Luuk De Jong netting a consolation goal with six minutes left before added time. This goal gives Sevilla a lifeline going into the second leg in Germany. Dortmund have not been great domestically, but netting three away goals going into the second leg means they should be able to finish this tie in Germany and advance to the quarterfinals.

The Champions League round of 16 fixture is a delight for every soccer fan, as one witnesses the top teams in Europe play one another. This year’s fixtures are no different, with clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and PSG battling to advance to the next round. The league this year is different from previous years, with no in-person spectators and certain games played at a neutral location, but the excitement remains the same, however, for soccer fans across the world.

Ask Ainsley, Private, Student Life

Ask Ainsley: How do I maintain connections with peers virtually?

by Ainsley on

More in Ask Ainsley:

Dear Ainsley,

With most of my days spent indoors without the usual hustle and bustle of campus life, I am finding it difficult to stay in touch with acquaintances. On-campus classes and parties were what brought us together, so it’s been harder to maintain relationships in their absence. What can I do to stay connected with my peers? 

Sincerely,

Missing In-person Acquaintances (MIA)

Dear MIA,

The absence of social gatherings will inevitably mean less interaction with your acquaintances. Naturally, this makes it challenging to maintain these relationships. First of all, it’s important to recognize that these are unprecedented times, and that you are bound to have fewer opportunities to socialize. However, social media and other online platforms are  powerful tools that can help you maintain some of these connections.

To begin, try to play an active role in planning online get-togethers. Try inviting a group of friends from past in-person classes for a Zoom party. There are many online multiplayer games that you can play to spice up these gatherings, like skribbl.io, an online multiplayer Pictionary-style game. Zoom is  a great way to catch up with one another, and bring some laughs to an otherwise isolated day. I recommend inviting a large group so that there is plenty to talk about and catch up on, as this can help to avoid potentially awkward one-on-one chats.

You can also try keeping in touch with your peers via stories on Instagram or Snapchat. Sharing your thoughts and opinions by responding to social media posts can be a great conversation starter––you may be surprised at how many people will appreciate your comments. This will keep your name fresh in their minds and help to maintain your relationship even while campus activities are on hold. Reaching out to people who post thought-provoking content on their stories often leads to interesting conversations that can educate you on new topics while developing your relationships with acquaintances. 

Joining online social groups on Facebook, Discord, or other social media can help students both connect with people they already know and even meet new people with shared interests. Nowadays, it is easy to see where people are ‘hanging out’ online through posts that they share publicly. You can use this information to find groups that interest both you and your peers. While they may not be the same as in-person alternatives, chatting online can help alleviate the pressure to make a good first impression and help to break the ice. 

Lastly, you can use social media platforms to reach out to classmates directly. Many of them may also be feeling isolated, and sending a Zoom direct message or reaching out to start a group chat or Facebook group can add to the online learning experience while helping you develop study groups and lasting friendships. These platforms can be key to maintaining your old relationships as well as forming new ones. Be optimistic, and take advantage of the internet’s highly accessible communication tools. 

It is important to realize that the transition to remote learning means that many aspects of your social life will also be taken to the web. While the social distancing measures currently in place are temporary, there are still many ways to keep your friends and yourself engaged online in the meantime. You can even use the new reality to your advantage to connect with people in ways you may not have in the past.  Remember, your peers are likely just as interested in maintaining a relationship with you as you are with them. Don’t hesitate to make the first move. 

Best of luck,

Ainsley

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

‘To All the Boys: Always and Forever:’ Cute, but incredibly shallow

by India Blaisdell on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

To All the Boys: Always and Forever is exactly what viewers want out of the final instalment of the acclaimed rom-com trilogy: A cheesy and soapy teen romance drenched in nostalgia and drama. The film follows protagonists Lara Jean Song Covey (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) through the end of their senior year as they head off to college—their biggest challenge yet. Peter, arguably the only character Centineo will ever be able to play well, has been accepted—surprisingly—to Stanford on a Lacrosse scholarship. Lara Jean’s acceptance to Stanford is still pending. But do not worry: Her safety schools are UC Berkeley, UCLA, and NYU. What happens next is beyond predictable. 

“Fingers crossed, I get into Stanford, and we never have to be this far apart again,” Lara Jean writes in a letter to Peter while on a trip to Korea.

Beyond its unremarkable plot, To All the Boys: Always and Forever remains true to the characters developed in its previous instalments, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) and To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020). It is a perfect teen love story, complete with some great Top-40 songs, montages every 10 minutes, strangely placed but pretty intertitles and transitions, endless references to past rom-com greats such as Say Anything… (1989) and Romeo + Juliet (1996), and a flashback sequence over its end-credits akin to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn–Part 2 (2012). Lara Jean and Peter are undeniably in love and Condor does a wonderful job with the otherwise mediocre script. As such, To All the Boys: Always and Forever is perfect material for a casual Friday night movie with friends.

However, for bona fide rom-coms lovers such as myself, To All the Boys: Always and Forever leaves much to be desired. Genre classics like 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) or When Harry Met Sally… (1989) continue to be celebrated for their well-written scripts, complex characters, and dynamic conflicts. In To All the Boys: Always and Forever, the central conflict does not develop in any way beyond its initial setup. The script is burdened by incredibly clichéd lines and clunky dialogue, along with infuriating subplots like Peter and Lara Jean’s quest to find their perfect couple’s song. Thus, the few moments of genuine substance are left critically underdeveloped: Viewers never learn enough about Peter’s strained relationship with his dad; Lara Jean feels disconnected from her Korean heritage due to her mother’s death, yet Always and Forever never provides a resolution to these subplots. On top of all the problems in the script, the film’s garish yellowy-green colour grading throws off its cutesy aesthetic. 

But by far, the most glaring issue is the film’s unintentional dramatic irony. Lara Jean is obsessed with having her life play out like a movie. She already has the fake dating trope from the first film and truly believes that she will be with Peter forever. The setup would be perfect for a simple rom-com, if not for the film’s insistence that Lara Jean accept the reality that her life is not like a movie. The film’s final monologue perfectly outlines this contradiction, when Lara Jean admits her desire for movie romance is childish before being given the most generic, fairytale ending a rom-com can muster.  

“We’re not like those other couples,” Lara Jean confesses. “We’re Lara Jean and Peter.” 

Implausibly, Lara Jean moves to NYC and starts a brand new life away from everything she has known, yet the film wants us to believe Lara Jean and Peter’s relationship will nevertheless work. To All the Boys: Always and Forever would have been far more realistic if both Lara Jean and Peter had matured enough over the course of the story to end their relationship amicably, remain friends, and start fresh chapters of their lives. This ending would be a big departure from Jenny Han’s bestselling novel, Always & Forever, Lara Jean, but the alternative is an ironic, simple-minded film that undermines its own message. 

 

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