LISA KRISTOFF
What in our environment creates a sense of peace? Places, sounds in nature, music?
How many times have you been outdoors on a windy day to find yourself entranced by the movement of trees as the wind gently rocks them from side to side? As the wind moves the tall, thin trunks of younger trees to brush against one another, the sound is reminiscent of wind chimes – coconut shell chimes on a warm, lightly breezy day … The sounds of birdsong, crickets, a purring of a cat; waves splashing and crashing on the beach and over rocks affect us similarly; these sound frequencies of nature resonate with our souls. We and nature are one.
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Director Joseph Puleo shoots a scene in his documentary America s Last Little Italy: The Hill.
The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on the film business, with movie theaters closed or observing strict capacity restrictions to deter spread of the virus. It also reshaped the film festival circuit, where smaller, independent films have a chance to thrive.
That change may have proven a boon for “America’s Last Little Italy: The Hill,” a documentary film directed by St. Louis native Joseph Puleo. The shift by film festivals to an online format meant that movie lovers from around the world have access to their offerings.
Updated: 10:20 AM CST December 22, 2020
ST. LOUIS In my three years as an Uber driver in St. Louis, the question that was asked the most also produced the easiest answer. We re from out of town, so where should we go first in this town? The Hill. Full stop.
Every time I was asked, the answer flew out of my mouth nearly as fast as the mostaccioli al forno from Zia s raced in. I told them to go to The Hill, which had personality to spare and options for everybody. If you wanted pizza, there was a spot. A pie or something sweet was available at three to four locations. A classic sandwich and Italian salad was basically off every corner. Yes, the Yogi baseball guy who said funny, ultra-ironic things (and won the most World Series titles for a player in Major League Baseball) grew up there. That other baseball player named Joe. A few other guys and gals. Famous and what not, if they were from The Hill, they owned the spot.