THE VIEW #1 – Peter Asher: Everywhere Man
To most music fans, his name would mean very little. Depending on your age, there may be vague memories of a few hits in the mid-60’s as part of the British duo Peter and Gordon. But after that, well, that is when Peter Asher began to leave his now legendary mark on the music industry. That journey is the story of the fantastic documentary called Peter Asher: Everywhere Man. It begins in the early 60s with a teenage Asher growing up in London and making occasional appearances as a child actor alongside his sister Jane Asher. Within a few years, she was dating Paul McCartney, and young Peter Asher, along with bandmate Gordon Waller, had a number one hit song on both sides of the Atlantic called A World Without Love. As the duo faded, Peter Asher became the first head of A&R at Apple Records (owned by The Beatles), and then, almost by accident, he moved to the role of Music Producer, producing albums by such artist as James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Lyle Lovett, Natalie Merchant, Marianne Faithfull and Barbara Streisand. One of the fascinating elements of this film is how it lays out Asher’s professional life as it weaves its way through some of the most legendary, timeless music of the last 60 years while helping to define a generation of singer-songwriters. There are also wonderful thoughts and reflections from other well-known artists in Asher’s life, including Steve Martin, Robin Williams (Asher worked with both of them), Eric Idle, Twiggy, and, of course, Paul McCartney. For music fans, this is a must-see film which will bring back many musical memories. Peter Asher: Everywhere Man is in theatres across Canada July 3rd. www.filmswelike.com

THE VIEW #2 – Romeria

From Spain, a film called Romeria, which is Spanish for pilgrimage. It’s 2004, and 18 year old orphan Marina has just arrived in the seaside town of Vigo to obtain a signature for a scholarship application from the paternal grandparents she has never met. For the next few days, she meets aunts, uncles, cousins, all with varying degrees of warmth and distance. She learns more about the father she never met and is able to add more layers – and contradictions - to her late mother’s diary of the time, 20 years earlier. Secrets and old wounds surface amongst this large family, and for Marina, she does her best to hide the moments of pain and sadness. She’s family, but a stranger, trying to navigate it all. Written and directed by Carla Simon,Romeria is a touching, tender and beautiful film led by the performance by actress, Llucia Garcia, as Marina, while also serving as a poignant exploration of memory, identity and the lingering impact of family secrets. Romeria is in theatres across Canada July 3rd. www.filmswelike.com

THE VIEW #3 – Inspector Ellis: Season 2
From Britain comes another sharp, well-written police drama from Acorn TV called Inspector Ellis. Detective Chief Inspector Ellis leads a team who are dispatched to troubled (and often small town) police forces across Northern England to take over investigations that for some reason have stalled or gone off course. With that, often comes resistance from locals, biases and a reluctance to assist “outsiders”. But Ellis – played by the award-winning actress, Sharon D. Clarke – is shrewd, highly skilled and determined. She’s also compassionate, and caring for her team, including her loyal sidekick/partner DS Chet Harper. Unlike other shows in this genre (for which the British excel), Inspector Ellis has no permanent home base, no single police station. Each episode involves a new location, a new police force, and a new mystery to be solved. For us, that’s a key part of the show’s appeal. The other is the cast, led by the gifted actress Sharon D. Clarke. Inspector Ellis: Season 2 is available on AcornTV as of July 6th. www.acorn.tv