And in the naivety of those Chinese films fighting scenes, Bernard discovers the meaning of avenging honor, the message of loyalty and accomplishing the impossible against all odds. I was deeply touched by her candid honesty and trembling romanticism when she "dared" to express her feelings about the "seriousness" and "thrills" she found in those Hong Kong flicks. Because, de facto, the plots and scenario rotated and evolved around the themes of honor, bravery and guts! One expects from a fancy and cosmopolitan New Yorker critic to be more discreet about it, and talks about the complicated plots and cinematographic nuances of a complex film, instead. But NO!, Bernard spoke from the heart. And by doing so, she invited us to walk an extra mile with her on the road of trust, fair judgment and unbiased criticism. I love this ancient Phoenician terracotta inscription  found in Ougarit:  "Simplicity is beauty. And beauty is the supreme truth." You find this beauty and this truth in Bernard's writings.  Jami Bernard is romantic and enchantingly lyrical in the way she discovers hidden beauty in dusty, forgotten and unexpected places, including "those magnificent old  movies theaters, decorated with Renaissance motifs, bas-reliefs, and Italian frescoes on the ceilings", as Bernard, once said. Another statement by Jami Bernard shed bright light on her integrity and goodness. It goes like this: "No movie critic ever stands up and cheers. And this reminds me of one reason I prefer movies to live theater: I don't want that community experience of a live performance. I want the movie's delicious, chemical surface to isolate me in the darkness and pull me in at the same time." True! mon cher ami, very true!

CAN WE TRUST THE ROMANTICISM OF JAMI BERNARD?

One of the most characteristic aspects and  greatest secrets of the abundance of knowledge, wisdom, intelligence, know-how, eloquence, enlightenment and ad infinitum discoveries of great thinkers and men of science like Maimonides, Ibn Sina, Aviroes, Pythagoras and  Cicero was THE critical mind. And I am so delighted to hear Jami Bernard talking about the enormous importance of  rational and critical  thinking in film criticism. Therefore, her romantic approach to appreciate nostalgic beauty and the lyrical intellectualism she uses to explain and or to review a film are to be admired and revered, because Bernard's criticism is built upon an analytical mind and an  intelligent critical thinking. Yes, we can fully trust the romanticism of Jami Bernard.  She goes two steps further to insist upon the necessity and importance of  rational thinking and combating ignorance, not only in film criticism, but also in politics, world affairs, our daily life, responsibilities and commitment, schooling, arts, health and medicine. She expressed her concerns about this alarming reality, when she publicly stated "My feeling about this ties into my huge concern with the lack of critical thinking in America, as personified by the decrease in people studying science and in America's related fall in stature in the worldwide scientific community. Critical thinking and the ability to question and think rationally is important in film criticism, of course, but just as important in world affairs and everyday living and medicine and combating ignorance. That ignorance is prized in movies and in having an incurious, C-student as a president is not only shameful, it's dangerous." I was told, she avoids reporters, but gladly will open up to her public and fans. Mata Hari was like that, and Indira Gandhi tried to be one. Bernard who studied film with Ann Douglas, and writing with Elizabeth Hardwick, has her own perception of the cosmos of movies. Don't argue with her.

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