imageIt’s hard to figure out just who the protagonist is in the Ballad of Eliot Spitzer, and director Alex Gibney’s film, Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer, makes the task no easier. The film’s narrative should already familiar to New Yorkers, or anyone with a passing interest in politics (or who reads the newspaper, for that matter). Bronx-born, Princeton-educated Spitzer targets the mob as a New York City district attorney; gains political heat as the New York Attorney General following a streak of successful prosecutions focusing on white collar crime; then rides to the Governor’s mansion amidst a wave of populist energy. Spitzer’s political ascendancy came at a time when New York state residents were increasingly disillusioned with both the economic disparity neatly symbolized by Wall Street excesses, and a corrupt and dysfunctional state legislature that had largely abandoned the practice of good governance. Gibney shows us all of this, as well as the incredibly powerful enemies Spitzer accrued along the way, among them Home Depot co-founder and investment banker Ken Langone, New York Stock Exchange President Dick Grasso and AIG CEO Hank Greenberg.

Where Client 9 excels is in ferreting out the previously unknown details of Spitzer’s story. While much of the press attention surrounding Spitzer’s extramarital dalliances focused on escort Ashley Dupre, Gibney reveals that he actually had a much more substantial relationship with another escort, identified in the film only as “Angelina.” Gibney also lays out a pretty good case for the idea that the federal investigation into the Emperors Club VIP escort service that eventually brought about Spitzer’s fall was a political hit orchestrated by Republican enemies (although it must be noted that all of the evidence pointing to this conclusion is circumstantial at best).

(photo: director Alex Gibney, courtesy of Cathryne Czubek)

Spitzer’s popularity, at its source, was based on the moral authority earned by a man once lionized as the Sheriff of Wall Street. He ably transmuted his status as a government outsider and reformist into enough political capital to win the governorship. But, as shown in Client 9, the confrontational, and somewhat autocratic style that had served him so well as attorney general clashed horribly with the Byzantine politics of the state capital. And regardless of how one might feel about the practice, the fact that Spitzer paid for sex ineluctably undercuts any moral legitimacy he might have had, and—in turn—decimates his political credibility. His continued reluctance to publicly address the reasons behind his infidelity in Client 9 perhaps leaves Spitzer reduced to a tragic hero, but still a man for whom it is hard to feel any empathy. Following the screening STF Artistic Director Thom Powers spoke with Gibney.

STF: Talk to me about getting Eliot Spitzer’s cooperation for this film. What did that take?

Gibney: Honestly, time. There was no deal made, there was no quid pro quo. But Peter Elkind and I—Peter is the guy who wrote the book [Rough Justice: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer], and he also appears in the film—he had known Eliot from before. He had done profiles on him and known him actually at Princeton. And we approached him rather early, and there was a period of time I think for about eight months he was under the cloud of the federal prosecution, so he wasn’t going to talk to anybody. The day after the election, miraculously, the Department of Justice said they weren’t going to prosecute. And we had a number of informal meetings and said, look, in order to move forward you’re going to have to reckon with the past. And we’re going to do this film and this book whether you cooperate or not, but I think you’re going to want to have your say, and ultimately I think he just agreed with that. So we had a number of informal conversations before he agreed to participate on the record, but ultimately that was the argument.

STF: In the informal conversations, was he quizzing you?

Gibney: Yeah, honestly, I think he wanted to know that we would be fair, and I think he was also intrigued by the idea that it wasn’t just about the scandal, that it was a rise and fall story. So for him it was a way to have his say. The only deal we made—and I guess there is kind of a deal, but it’s the kind of deal that any journalist would make as a matter of course in terms of fact-checking—was that he said if you discover anything that hasn’t been publicly known please share it with me so that I can comment. He had no control over it, but I thought that was perfectly fair.

STF: Did that happen, did you come across anything that you had to go to him with?

Gibney: Well, Angelina would be one. I think everybody thought that Ashley Dupre was the key person, the central player. It turns out that she was really a bit player, and Angelina was really much more the center. And the center in a way that was, I think, relevant to Spitzer’s character, but also to evidence about the way that the investigation that took him out was conducted. So she turned out to be a very central character, but one that I think Elliott probably would have preferred that we didn’t discover.

STF: How did you get to her when all these other journalists that covered this story didn’t?

Gibney: Well that’s a good question. I think in part because, and this is something that’s interesting about scandal—I think that Ashley, as Angelina said, fit the bill. In other words everybody had the hooker. See, she’s the hooker, she’s the hooker in the story, we’ve got her. She likes to have her picture taken, she’s got big breasts, it’s all good—it’s perfect. So they weren’t motivated in some way shape or form to look past that. Now, we had access to a lot of records, and a lot of informal stuff—both websites that we were able to discover, and then ultimately, a cell phone of one of the bookers at the Emperors Club. And also, we talked to a number of people who gave us clues that there was this other person that was a regular. That made us want to dig a little bit further. I managed to find out what this person’s name was—her real name—through Facebook. Through Facebook I was able to find friends that we had in common. And I reached out to one of them, they made an introduction, we sat down and I said,I know who you are, would you talk to me? And she said that she would be willing, provided I keep her identity a secret, which is why we did what we did in terms of the device [an actor plays Angelina in the film]. I think the reason I found her, and I don’t claim to be the world’s greatest investigative journalist—I was motivated to find her. In part because Ashley Dupre didn’t want to talk, and I pursued her for a long time. But it left a hole in the film because I was convinced that she was very central. And it motivated us, but it was interesting to me that no one else was similarly motivated. As Angelina herself said, her number was clearly leaked to people, but she never answered the calls. So whether it was through perseverance or luck or whatever, we managed to find out who she was and managed to get her to—well not to appear—but at least get her testimony.

STF: Has the film’s release shaken loose any other bits of the story? What have been people’s reaction to the film who are caught up in the story?

Gibney: Ken Langone has been talking it up. He likes the film. And the other thing that’s interesting is that there have been some materials released. There was—in between the moment when we showed the film as a work in progress at the Tribeca Film Festival—mysteriously the suspicious activity report of Eliot Spitzer was leaked to the newspapers. It’s funny how that happens. And we’ve since also submitted a [Freedom of Information Act request], so we’re hoping to find out a little more about the federal investigation. But by and large I think the reaction to the film has been pretty good in the sense that I don’t think we got too much wrong. No one’s really come out and said you really goofed on this one.

Audience: Was the actress’s portrayal based on the actual interview, or just a written transcript. Did she have an opportunity to hear or see the woman herself?

Gibney: She didn’t for reasons of security, that is to say the promise I made to the real Angelina, I couldn’t share [recorded material] with the actress. I didn’t videotape the interview with the real Angelina. I did audiotape it, but her voice is distinctive, so I couldn’t share that with the actress. So it was purely from a transcript. I did two very long interviews with Angelina. We transcribed them, cut them down and then asked [actor] Wrenn Schmidt to perform. When we’d get to certain parts in the text I would say,Angelina found this funny. She was dismissive here. And so I would direct her so that she would have the same kind of affect as the real Angelina.

Audience: Did you make an effort to interview Eliot Spitzer’s wife?

Gibney: I did. I reached out to her directly, and she declined.

Audience: Were you interested in further exploring why people do things like this to seek comfort?

Gibney: To the extent that it was relevant to Eliot as a public figure. In other words, here was a guy who had a lot to lose by doing what he did. And why did he do what he did? So I pursued that avenue. Ultimately, and obviously I flicked at it to some extent and I’m interested in it and part of what this film is about is fidelity, infidelity, marriage, men and women. That’s part of what the film is about. At the same time, I felt that I was somewhat constrained in terms of going too far, because there are some aspects that I think are private. So I tried to walk that fine line between investigating what is private, but relevant to the public sphere, and that which is purely private. I felt I took it about as far as I could, or should.

Audience: Before you screened the film initially in public, I’m assuming that you screened it for Eliot, and what was his feedback?

Gibney: I did not screen it for Eliot, I did not screen it for any of the participants before we showed it in public. We showed it once at the Tribeca Film Festival as a work in progress. It was a bit longer than this. It contained some other details, but by and large, it was more or less the same film. And I felt it was unfair for me to screen it for anybody who was involved prior to the first public screening. Once that happened—I invited Eliot to that screening but he didn’t come—then I did show it to Eliot. Eliot’s view was he felt that it was fair. Not to say between fair and good, but fair and balanced. And his only remark was that he wished I had changed the ending, but that was a joke.

Audience: What influenced your decision to include [performance artist] Karen Finley in the film?

Gibney: I was somewhat criticized for including Karen Finley, and I think unfairly criticized. People were saying, well what is Karen Finley doing here? I like Karen, and she did a really interesting play about this called The Impulse to Suck. But it is an interesting play and there was an earlier cut of the film where I included a great deal more of the play in the rough cut because she mused about these issues that the gentleman back there was asking about. Why do we do these things? What about prostitution? Is prostitution a good thing or a bad thing? What about men and women and their relationships and infidelity and all of that. The other thing that I found interesting about Karen was that she was one of the few people who was frank, open and honest about sex. It’s difficult to talk about sex for many people, and she was one who I found very candid about it. Even the remark that she makes in the film, this idea of the whole sex scandal and of course we’re all intrigued by a sex scandal when you have a public figure, and particularly when details start to come out. Whether they’re true details or false details like the black socks. And the perniciousness and the seductiveness of them is that we see someone’s face and then we imagine in our mind’s eye, some salacious act. And it becomes part of this very intriguing dance that we all do in our imaginations, and Karen was one to point that out. And then at the very end of the film she has that wonderful statement about how we want our politicians to be like gods. So I found what she had to say to be very smart. And smart about a subject that a lot of people don’t normally like to talk about. And I thought it was important. I put her in that section of the film finally because it seemed to be about the culture of the whole scandal and that seemed to be where she fit. I think she’s an important component of the film.

Audience: Was a set used to interview Spitzer?

Gibney: I interviewed Spitzer five times, but I asked him to wear the same tie each time so that it would have the appearance of the same interview. It was the apartment of one of my producers. So we had access to it, and it was near his home, so it was easy for him to get there. So it wasn’t a film set, it was a real apartment, but it was one to which we had ongoing access, which was important because I felt that we might interview him a number of times.

Audience: Was Angelina supportive or defensive of the industry that she worked in? And can you shed any light on her becoming a commodities trader?

Gibney: Angelina was very proud of what she did, she felt it was a calling. And so she was very unapologetic about it, even though she was concerned about revealing her identity because there were members of her family who probably wouldn’t share the same view. As far as her becoming a commodities trader, it won’t surprise you to learn that she had a number of high-net worth clients, and they taught her very much about the financial industry. And so that ended up becoming one of the things that she then used to make a lot of money as a kind of sideline.

[Q&A has been edited for length and clarity]

Related Film

CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER

0 responses to “CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER”

  1. Bud Parr says:

    Congrats! This is exciting.

  2. Pamela Cohn says:

    I have a wonderful conversation on my blog with Astra—talented, talented woman!

    http://stillinmotion.typepad.com/

  3. Bud Parr says:

    Great essay, Thom. Many of us who write about books, serious literary fiction and literature in translation in particular, feel the same way; it’s a complaint commensurate with the shift/decline in print media.

    Don’t discount blogs though. At least in the book world there are a lot of avid writers not only picking up where the old mainstream media left off, but finding new ways to critique and engage books (and pushing the blog format) – new online literary journals are popping up too, for the very same reason that there are more filmmakers: technology has reduced the barriers to entry. And now, former professional critics are becoming online critics, paid or not, and enjoying the freedom of the format and the connection with their audience that rarely existed in print. The result is an eclectic and vibrant mix of voices and I’d assert that if there’s an audience for doc films, which there is, then there’s the potential at least for the same sort of renaissance in doc-film criticism.

    Bud Parr, blogger,
    Chekhov’s Mistress
    Words Without Borders

  4. David Van Taylor says:

    Nice going, Thom!

    I’ve bemoaned the sad state of docu criticism on many occasions, but never really considered that there might be an alternative.  Reading your piece made me realize what a boon reliably in-depth and insightful criticism would be to my work (and others’). 

    Maybe you should contact Pat Aufderheide.  Now that she’s successfully revolutionized copyright, perhaps she can help fix things up in this arena.  But seriously, I bet her Center could make a real contribution.

    Thanks for opening eyes and pushing the field forward.

    dvt

  5. Bill Jersey says:

    Thanks for the thoughtful analysis.
    Problem is that we are dealing with “the Tyranny of Large Numbers”
    When I was doing Network television in the early 60’s there were 4 channels- and a push from the FCC to do “ed B’castin” How does one do justice now to the abundance of programming bombarding us.
    and more importantly-What in our contemp society encourages reflection, much less contemplation- we believe the lies because it’s easier than searching out the truth- and if they confirm our assumptions- so much the better.
    But I, like you ,and thousands of others soldier on
    —because even if unwanted or ignored- the pursuing of truth beauty and justice is our way of being in the world and I for one have no intention of changing course.
    Bill Jersey

  6. Sean Farnel says:

    great essay Thom.

    As a smalltown boy my own love of cinema was heavily reliant on film criticism. I didn’t have access to many of the films I was reading about (via by Pauline Kael, Ebert, and especially J. Hoberman, when I could find a Village Voice in Northern Ontario), but the writing fueled my interest and passion, and eventually led me to film school.

    In Toronto, our best film critic, Geoff Pevere, become quite addicted to docs, and wrote incisively about them. I tangibly noticed what a difference it made in developing audience interest for the form here. Unfortunately we lost him to the Book Section!

    But, I agree with Rosenbaum that sites like ROUGE (which is excellent) are picking up the critical slack, even if industry gossip sites continue get most of the hits.

  7. Robyn says:

    Wow, this sounds great. Wish I had been there. Ever since I read her autobiography Dust Tracks on the Road, I have been obsessed with ZNH!

  8. Andrew Berends says:

    Also deserving a mention: the first Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund Awards. Perhaps the fanciest documentary party ever, or, as one of the grantees commented, the scruffiest Gucci party ever. Not scruffy at all though.

  9. Shashwati says:

    Hey Thom, when are you going to head East and check out all the great stuff being made in East Asia? can’t you come to the Iron Horse, the Golden Horse or something?

  10. Brian says:

    Here’s a look back at the STFs I attended this past year:
    http://www.thefilmpanelnotetaker.com/2008/12/thom-powers-top-10-favorite-doc-events.html

    As well as my own top 10 list:
    http://www.thefilmpanelnotetaker.com/2008/12/reflections-on-2008-and-top-10-favorite.html

    Looking forward to the new season!

  11. Nigel Beale says:

    I spend most of my time reading and reviewing books, and interviewing authors. Engaging with the printed word is simply much more stimulating than watching 90% of the movies that are currently served up to the public..of the 10% that are worth thinking and writing about, I’d say most are documentaries…

    This is, as you say, an interesting field in which to practice criticism; given the state of today’s media however, few are likely to be hired based on any particular knowledge of the documentary genre.

    Good criticism is a function as much of what is criticized as of how the critic writes…and talented critics, when they have a choice, will always seek out the most challenging material, regardless of which medium it may appear in.

  12. Tom Hall says:

    I saw VSPRS in Paris in October 2007 (on my honeymoon), and its was GREAT; I had no idea this was happening! Big fan of Sophie’s… glad to see PERVERT’S GUIDE get a run… and no idea she had done a VSPRS film…

    Thanks for the update, Thom!

  13. Deanna Kamiel says:

    Great piece, Thom.  Essential.  A new doc criticism is necessary if only to encompass documentary filmmaking in countries like China, India, Africa and eastern Europe.  Jia Zhangke, for example—Useless, 24 City—says he makes non-fiction films to stop the disappearing of images and stories and landscapes, endemic to postwar Chinese history.

    Many thanks,

    Deanna Kamiel

  14. paula longendyke says:

    Thanks Raphaela for your account of the festival.  I read evey word and felt like I was there.  You and Thom are the best.  Hope Kevin and I will get to see you soon at IFC for a screening!
    Happy New Year
    Paula

  15. Sean says:

    Beautiful evening. I especially enjoyed the screening of the 12-minute short on “The First World Festival of Negro Arts” I loved how Greaves captured the optimism of that early period of African independence so well.

    Sean Jacobs
    http://theleoafricanus.com/

  16. Naomi Woddis says:

    just read it – now am in tears. Britical you write so bloody well, I want 1000’s and more to read your words !

  17. james says:

    nice enjoyment had taken place i m feeling jealous.

    motorcycle insurance quote

  18. tully says:

    It was initially disappointing to see so many empty seats in that room the other night, for this will certainly turn out to be one of the real cinema-going treats of 2009, but the post-film Q&A;felt more intimate because of it (although that one dude telling Peter Davis what he did and didn’t stage was… well, I would rather not get into that right now).

    Lucky for us, and shame on everyone else for missing out (though maybe Cannes had something to do with that?). It sounds like there are no immediate plans for Icarus to release the Middletown series in a more affordable DVD boxed set edition, but maybe if enough of us complain it will kick them/someone else into gear. After having only seen Seventeen and Second Time Around, this already stands tall as the Decalogue of nonfiction. I might consider lopping off a finger to see the others. Hopefully it won’t come to that.

  19. Nick says:

    It was mildly disappointing, I suppose, that the theater wasn’t jam-packed, but the real disappointment is that these films aren’t available on DVD.  In an age when EVERYTHING is available for download or rental or Netflix, it’s inexplicable that we shouldn’t all be able to order up these six beauties with the touch of a button (and, okay, maybe a credit card).

    As for the so-called ‘argument’ about what was staged and what wasn’t—with all due respect, you missed the point.  It wasn’t that anything was staged, and no one, not I, who got the conversation started, and not the other dude in the row behind me (who I think is the dude to whom you’re referring), was suggesting that any scenes were staged, but merely the rather obvious fact that the actions of the subjects of documentary films are of course altered by the presence of the camera. 

    (My point, and I am happy to make it again, and complete it, is that the scene where the couple talks about how much money the guy spends on his stamp collection was in particular affected by the camera’s presence; that without a camera there, it is likely these two may not have recognized how silly and wonderfully trivial the conversation was; that they might not have laughed so charmingly about the whole thing… I think it’s one of the strongest scenes in a very strong film, and the moments of acute self-consciousness on both their parts contributes to the scene being so terrific.)

    And by the way, not that it matters (and it doesn’t), but I happen to know that Peter Davis agrees with me on the larger point.  Other families talked politics at the dinner table; as much as Dad may like to think we talked about politics too, what we really talked about was stuff like this.

  20. John G says:

    Nice synopsis of the panel. It’s interesting that journalists trapped in the world of mainstream media have a very difficult time of portraying the news and the underlying message due to the pressures of the companies they work for. grand rapids lasik

  21. sooran says:

    <a > thancks </a>
    this post very very helped me !

    Good Time

  22. Peter Davis says:

    My vote for a great sports documentary goes to Blood, Sweat and Gears directed by Nick Davis

  23. Nina Seavey says:

    4TH AND GOAL – Coming soon. Sometimes the best is yet to happen.

  24. Sloane Cooper says:

    Best Sports Doc?  Blood Sweat + Gears Directed by Nick Davis

  25. judith Helfand says:

    Thanks Thom for creating the CLIFF NOTES for the new indie distrib frontier. much much appreciated!!  xo

  26. Sarah Miller says:

    I was at that IFP conference panel too and found it really fascinating. Thanks for filling me in on the TIFF and MoMa events. This is such a hot topic right now!

  27. Andrew Catauro says:

    Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait would be near the top of my list; and maybe Speedo! (Why not)

    Racing Dreams would also be worth some discussion—a great recent entry in the motorsports doc canon.

  28. Patti Villegas says:

    One of my faves is Quantum Hoops directed by Rick Greenwald.

  29. Eddie Rosenstein says:

    How about that little diddy, “OLYMPIA”, by Leni Riefenstahl?

  30. Admin says:

    STF should start a dvd/streaming video platform!

  31. Admin says:

    “The box office on MRS GOLDBERG should be higher – except most of the tickets are at senior citizen prices.”

    Hah! Great piece, Thom.

  32. Laura Poitras says:

    Raphaela & Thom,
    We are all so happy for you both and expect to be updated on the big news. 

    Raphaela was radiant last night!

    Laura

  33. Carolina says:

    CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!!!

  34. Rabbi Eva Goldfinger says:

    What do you mean ‘uncharacteristic’ profanity.  Don’t be fooled by that sweet face smile.  Bez looks like he’s saying “Thank you very much, but I would have preferred the warmth and comfort of ‘inside’ rather than being forced to endure the cold wintry American weather.  Ah, but in the last two photos he seems more reconciled and perhaps comforted by being embraced in dad’s arms and snuggling up against mom’s warm breasts.

    What an amazing production!  Hope you will reap lots of benefit from your work…..

    Looking forward to seeing you in Toronto (I hope) later this year.
    Love,
    Eva

  35. Dima, Anastasia and Nica says:

    Congratulations! Having recently concluded similar negotiations, albeit with the use of drugs (on the part of the father of the deal), we are glad to hear that yours was successful and not especially protracted, though, it probably did not seem that way at the time.

    Congratulations to Thom, Raphaela, Bez and the Powershausen families!!!Wishing you health, quick recovery and the occasional bit of sleep.

  36. Cristina and Dominique says:

    What a production!!!!!
    Without a doubt the best STF experience! Besos to both and congratulations!!!!

  37. Shelley Powers says:

    What a cutie! (no Thom, I was talking about Bez)This newest little addition is oh-so-lucky to be on board with a such great team.  Welcome Bez!!

  38. Daphne :0) says:

    What a beautiful baby!!

  39. Kyla Dunn says:

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!! What wonderful news! Welcome to the world, Bez! Well, if you’re not ready to compete with Nina Davenport on the home-documentation front, maybe you could just do a Nikita Mikhalkov and film him once a year on his birthday! smile xoxo

  40. ale and danish says:

    !!congratulations to the powershausen clan!!  fantastic work on the delivery, rafferty of my heart!  can’t wait to meet Bez soon

  41. Annemarie Jacir says:

    Congratulations to both of you!! Wonderful news! Mabrook!!

  42. Mark Crilley says:

    Congratulations, Thom and Raphaela. That lucky little guy’s got an incredible life ahead of him guaranteed, courtesy of two of the coolest parents he could’ve hoped for.—mark

  43. Teri says:

    You used the BEST Doula in all of Brooklyn. Congrats on the birth !

  44. Heidi and John Hood says:

    Pleased to meet you Bezalel!
    You brought your charms into a really terrific family…AND you sure will woo your singing Grandmother.
    We wish all of you lots of love and hugs!

  45. Erin Donovan says:

    Too cute! Congratulations to your family smile

  46. Maureen O'Shea says:

    Congratulations and Best Wishes Welcome Bez

  47. Grandma and Pappa Powers (Thom's mom and dad) says:

    We sit here with tears streaming down our faces as we first see our beautiful grandson, Bez, held by his daddy and mommy.
    How blessed you are, Thom and Raphaela, and both families too, to have this precious gift of life in our midst.  We laughed out loud when we saw the doula’s name was Meghan, the very Irish name we’d chosen had a second daughter been added to our family of Thomas, Patrick, Jr and Maureen. And so the greatest journey ever begins for Bez and his parents.

    With hearts bursting with joy and gratitude to God, we send you our love.

  48. Uncle PJ says:

    Congrats, bro and sis! Such a beautiful baby. Shelley and I can’t wait to see him in NY in a few weeks.

    Is it true that there is a bidding war for the Director’s Cut of the Bris?

  49. Anna Kreditor says:

    Raphaela looks beautiful and glowing:) Great job, guys:)

  50. roger Berkowitz says:

    Welcome Bez! And Mazel Tov to your parents. WE can’t wait to see all of your joyous faces in person

    R

  51. Joe Terrasi says:

    Tremendous! Congrats.

  52. Maria Luise says:

    I have a feeling……. that Bez was already very present at our lunch last Sunday and – even more so -in the afternoon.
    Please come soon to the farm and stay long!

    Abbracci,
    ML and Horst

  53. Nina Davenport says:

    OHMYGOD THAT IS THE SWEETEST THING I’VE EVER SEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    i love the name!!!!!!!
    so feminist too!!!!
    can’t wait to meet him!!!
    jasper loves him already.

  54. Alex T says:

    Dear Bez,

    Mazel tov! You couldn’t have picked a finer pair of parents to, er, represent you. Or to develop you? Make you manifest, express you—whatever they did, Powers and Raphaela did it beautifully! We can see that you’re a serious fellow, but we do hope you take the time to savor these first few days.

    I’m so excited for you both, you all three, and I can’t wait to see you. Congratulations and love.

  55. Helen Leis says:

    Raphaela and Thom—Congrats and so glad everyone is doing well!  Can’t wait to meet Bez and welcome him to the world—enjoy your precious miracle!

    Love,
    Helen

  56. Brian Geldin says:

    Congratulations Raphaela and Thom! Will Bez be moderating the next Q&A smile

  57. Suni and Stephan says:

    We are absolutely thrilled for you three.

    Welcome to the world little Bez—many kisses await you.

    Suni and Stephan

  58. Jeanne says:

    Congratulations! So much has happened since I was first introduced to you two. I can’t imagine two better parents for this lucky boy.

    Best,
    Jeanne

  59. Ry says:

    A big big congrats!!
    I look forward to meeting him.

  60. Andrew Rossi says:

    So cute! Congrats!

  61. Russ Baker says:

    Marvelous accomplishment! My best to baby, mother, and father. Also my nomination for “best press release.”

  62. Stella Fitingof says:

    Welcome Bez!  Warm congratulations to your parents Raphaela and Thom, and the PowerHousen families!

    Being a parent requires a sense of humour.  I would like to share with you a wonderful editor’s message from a Toronto parent magazine.  It goes like this:

    A parent’s job description, if it was advertised:

    Parents Wanted – Apply Within:
    Long-term team players needed for challenging permanent work in a chaotic environment.  Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work days, evenings, weekends and 24-hour shifts on-call.

    Responsibilities:
    The rest of your life!  Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.  Also, must possess the physical stamina of a buck mule and go from 0 – 60 mph in 3 seconds flat, in case screams are not someone crying wolf.  Must maintain character and coordinate homework projects.  Must be willing to be indispensible one minute and embarrassed the next.  Must assume final; complete accountability for the quality of the end product.

    Possibilities for advancement:
    None!  Your job is to remain in the same position for years, constantly updating your skills without complaining.

    Salary:
    None!  You pay them.  A balloon payment is due when they turn 18, of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left.

    Benefits:
    While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays, and no stock options are offered, this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, lots of laughter, and free hugs and kisses.

    Raphaela and Thom, you are obviously up for the job!  Mazel Tov!

    All our love,

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  63. James Longley says:

    How wonderful! The world is already a better place. Congratulations, Thom and Raphaela!

  64. Irina Konon says:

    The fruit of creation of your love that you have for one another is the perfect joy of having that baby boy cuddling warmly in your arms. Congratulations on the birth of your baby boy, BEZALEL!!)

    My Best wishes!
    XOX

  65. Debraj Ray says:

    Dearest Thom and Rafaela

    Warmest congratulations!

    Thom, your fathering an infant truly puts this event in the STF category. (You would probably respond that it’s Bezness as usual.)

    Much love to both of you and Bez.

    Debraj

  66. Zeva (mother of twins) says:

    Congratulations Thom and Raphaela!
    He’s beautiful and best of all—he’s only one!

  67. Veronica Velez-Burgess says:

    felicitaciones! i hope our boys can meet one day soon!

  68. Ilona & Andy Mack says:

    Congratulations to you all – what wonderful news! And big big CHAPEAU for doing it all without silly interventions and drugs!!!

    Welcome to the beautiful exciting world, Bez!

    Lots of love from London

  69. Helen Erlich and Barry Razmov & Families - Thorn says:

    Mazel Tov !!!!!!  We are all very excited by this wonderful news. Way to go Raphaela and Thom. We know that your parents, grandparents and all family members are elated. We look forward to seeing you in Toronto later this year.

    Best wishes !!

  70. Auntie Marianna says:

    BRAVO FOR BEZ!!!!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to all 3 of you!!!!!!

  71. Amelia Hanibelsz says:

    What a brilliant article and an even more brilliant ending !!!

    Can not wait to see you both and I am so very happy for you – congratulations .This is very exciting !!!

    STF Groupie and Filmmaker

    amelia oxoxoxoxo

  72. Almudena Carracedo says:

    Raphaela and Thom, CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a beautiful baby. It’s so awesome, just 9 months of production… 20 years of distribution though!

    We’re next in the production pipeline -hoping for an equally auspicious premiere!

    Our best wishes,

    Almudena and Robert

  73. Jennifer says:

    Mazel Tov!

    I remember reading a story in religious school in the ‘70’s about a kid with that name (the gentile teacher wanted to call him Butch or Buzzy), but google-fu is failing me as to who wrote it.

  74. Theresa Loong says:

    Dear Thom and Raphaela,

    I love the blog post and the photos!  I was distracted by my first visit to Sundance (spectating and meeting folks) and arrived home to read about the great news.

    Congratulations and best wishes.

    -Theresa

  75. Madlena says:

    My warmest congratulations, Raphaelochka! Molodetz!
    Your new Commander in Chief is great! Lots of joy, happiness and strong health for little Bez and his wondrful parents!
    Very happy for you,
    Madlena, Dima Kroshka’s mum.

  76. Elizabeth Westrate says:

    Standing ovation. Much love to you.

  77. Anonymous says:

    What was the third doc about Russia?

  78. Dusty says:

    BEZ!!! Congratulations Thom and Mrs. Thom! I have indeed been lost in the Sundance fog, but this is definitely the best news of the week. Very cool. Wishing you the best of luck and at least a little sleep.

    dusty

  79. Howard Weinberg says:

    And the winner for the best photo layout and script introducing a new actor with superb supporting roles for his parents…Bez!  Congratulations! —Howard

  80. Gita Pullapilly says:

    Congratulations! What a gorgeous addition to the family!

  81. Matt Smith says:

    Beautiful baby!  I hope the furniture is ready.  Can’t wait to meet Bez.

    Love,
    Matt, Alicia and family

  82. Pat Aufderheide says:

    Congratulations on the cutest baby ever and pretty much the best baby announcement too! Enjoy every minute!

  83. Roli Chaturvedi says:

    Congratulations once again !!
    This is the most unusual and a beautiful welcome note…would love to see him sometime.

  84. Birender & Kulvir says:

    Wow,  how amazing.  Congrats to the whole family!!  Bez is adorable.  Hold him tight, because he is going to grow up before you know it.  We loved the announcement.  Can’t wait for regular updates.  Hope to catch up with you guys in the summer.  All our love,

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  88. Theresa Loong says:

    I enjoyed watching “The Kids Grow Up” and attending drinks afterwards (I usually have to head home!).  FYI, the nurse in the photo is also documentary filmmaker Claire Panke.

  89. Claire Panke says:

    Thanks for ID’ing me Theresa! I’m a documentary filmmaker AND a nurse – thanks.

  90. julia reichert says:

    Just came across this.  Great idea, especially presenting work from radio, audio, photography, writing etc.  Needed. We have noticed that some festivals are including audio documentary.  Our little Fest in Dayton does that. Will tell our audio buddies out here and in the City to submit work.

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  94. Charlotte says:

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    Happy New Year!
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  95. Diego Mas Trelles says:

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  96. Tom Hall says:

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  111. hejingjoy says:

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  115. Jean Manuel Beauchamp says:

    This article written by Aaron Cael, while well-informed in its correct views of the film, is wrong in the lack of respect shown in its final sentence: “the game of international politics that will likely keep his grandfather imprisoned for life.”

    While my grandfather is currently serving time in Paris, against all Geneva Conventions, without evidence against him, on behalf of the United States Government, the actions currently being taken by the President of Panama Ricardo Martinelli and the current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton make his safe return to Panama imminent. While it was supposedly assumed that the United States should have had no role to play after the completion of his sentence in Miami, all actions point the opposite, and Barack Obama’s current Democratic presidency has to make up for the Republican scheming in the respect of my grandfather’s case.

    Despite the use of the word ‘likely’ in the final sentence of this review, this sentence not only provokes unnecessary drama to my requested participation in the screening, but it also takes part in the deception of the media that the film discusses at length by suggesting a continued lack of justice.

    -Jean Manuel Beauchamp

    .

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  126. fairytale says:

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  131. fairytale says:

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    But the manipulation and lazy political correctness of this TV show shaped my own writing and reporting in the opposite direction. Approach your subject with an open mind, gather information and viewpoints, and THEN tell your story.

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  151. T says:

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  152. TheDocHierarchy says:

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    P.S. Berlinger and Sinofsky were robbed!

  153. Jill W. says:

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  154. Rahul Chadha says:

    Hey Tim. I just tried the Bowers link and it seems to be working now. Thanks for reading all.

  155. Thom Powers says:

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  162. Priyanshi says:

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    I find this hoopla over the NC17 to be quite silly. Here’s the deal: the MPAA is an uanifr organization marked by poor priorities, terribly consistency, and rendered completely stupid by the fact that it’s actually run by the big studios. The application of the NC17 is inconsistent at best and irresponsible at worst, but let’s face it, Shame is very much and NC17 movie. It’s a movie for adults and not at all for young teens or children.The issue then becomes the stigma, which I reject completely. This is a capitalist world and in the end it all comes down to money. The kinds of films that traditionally get NC17 ratings are not big blockbusters. They’re usually films that would get limited advertising for a limited release anyway. And guess what, if Shame gets a lot of awards buzz and a lot of interest from mainstream viewers, advertisers and theatre chains will make sure to get in on that money. The fact is, most ordinary people don’t even know what the NC17 is, so any stigma is crap. Completely manufactured and amplified by the fact that there are so few NC17 movies, they are usually given the rating for sexual material, and the films that get the rating usually wouldn’t play outside of the four or five major markets anyway.

  165. Wail says:

    Hi Wayne,Yeah watching the soduim is, what I think, the first step in the right direction. You should at least feel your pressure in the ear going down by that. I would also recommend you to watch coffee and alcohol. I personally feel a correlation between my Meniere’s and Alcohol more than with coffee or salt. Let’s say, if I drink 2-3 beers on empty stomach (after work) I can bet that my ear is getting worse if not that night, than the next day. So, salt, coffee and alcohol. And smoke. Cigarette smoke is also well known to affect the ear.  About the ringing in the ear: Tinnitus is very difficult to treat. I personally don’t know of anything except   acupuncture. And that’s something, if you read my last article there, I am just trying out. Now with Acupuncture that’s one of these things: 1. You need a good Acupuncturer otherwise the symptoms will not improve 2. In traditional Chinese Medicine they treat Meniere’s with Acupuncture EVERY day   you can guess that this is something very unlikely achievable for us here. So, for the ringing but also for the overall improvement of your Meniere’s I would say find a good acupuncturer and try to create a short, frequent treatment. With that I mean   3 times for 1/2 weeks. I had 2 treatments and my dizziness attacks (I had for some reason 4-5 last week) disappeared and I feel less pressure in my ear. I do still have Tinnitus and hearing loss is pretty bad. But I am going to write an entry about that experience soon   Mate, good luck with that and let me know how you are going and write me your experiences!

  166. Monica says:

    Tarkovsky is my favourite dietorcr so I own all of his movies (all 7 of them) from Kino International to Criterion versions.  I own the book that Stalker’s loosely based on,  Roadside Picnic , and I’ve played the 3 PC games that were inspired by the film. :O)The reason behind why I’m not a Godfather fan is because I don’t like the Italian mob.  Cosa Nostra et all really bother me because of the Italian cliche9s that has resonated throughout the decades and the whole living with your mother who cooks spaghetti for you, etc is an annoyance.  I also hate the you mess with one of us you, mess with all of us ideal because I believe that everyone can fight their own battles, which is why I much prefer the Yakuza; they almost never get into fights because they’d end up in wars and bloodshed.  I’m going to rewatch The Godfather one day just so I could watch the second at one point in my life.  I’m told that the first two films are basically one long movie and that the third’s the epilogue.  Again, I hate the Italian mob so I’ll need to get in the mood.  But Goodfellas is a movie that I love.  It’s not mainly about the riches and the power, it’s about the hard work that goes into being a footsoldier and that I can relate to.I also didn’t like Pacino in the first Godfather film; I thought that his performance was decent at best but also that his character would not have become the Godfather that he turned into because I didn’t see it in his character to become that.  It was lacking the portrayal.  But that’s just me, and now that I’m far more experienced in movie watching I may enjoy it more, especially its cinematogrphy.

  167. Johanna Samuel says:

    Hi Thom- I will also be there acquiring documentary films and selling our doc catalogue worldwide. Just acquired Joel Katz’s WHITE: A MEMOIR IN COLOR, Dani Menkin’s DOLPHIN BOY, Vic Sarrin’s DESERT RIDERS, David New’s TEACHING THE LIFE OF MUSIC, a film called THE LAST NAZI HUNTER, a new feature doc GREENWICH VILLAGE;MUSIC THAT DEFINED A GENERATION, “THEIR EYES WERE DRY”, Gabrielle Pfeiffer’s A POET ON THE FRONTLINE, THE HOUSE OF SUH,…and many more! Love to you and to Rafaella!!
    Johanna
    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)/johanna.samuel@gmail.com   416-566-2994

  168. […] Jump over to the Stranger than Fiction blog to get his Top 10 Twitter Tips for Filmmakers » […]

  169. I saw both documentaries recently and they are absolutely excellent and so accurate about the reasons why so many Thai women end up with western husbands. Thailand is a hard country to live in if you are poor as there is no social service net, so you can’t blame the women doing what they do to help their children hopefully have a better life.

    It was also nice to see a film that really did put the western men it followed in a good light, as it showed they were only trying to find someone to love which, let’s face it, isn’t a bad thing :)

  170. Johanna Samuel says:

    Congratulations!!!! So happy for both of you- Love, Johanna

  171. But if you follow these people, they are not going to follow you. Right? Why would they? We fund writers and filmmakers,@writerfilmmaker

  172. roknnagd says:

    ابحث عن شركة تنظيف لندن التي تلبي الاحتياجات الخاصة بك. في أقرب وقت كنت قد اخترت بعض الشركات، ويذهب أكثر من ملفهم الشخصي، الخدمات المقدمة، ومعدلات والسرعة والكفاءة، والموقع، الأحكام والشروط حتى تتمكن من تحديد ما إذا كانت الشركة التي تبحث عنها. مقارنة بين ميزات والأسعار للحصول على أفضل الصفقات.

  173. SIMA Awards says:

    Don’t forget @sima_awards :)

  174. syanat3 says:

    يعتبر توكيل شارب من افضل توكيلات الاجهزة الكهربائية لانه يقوم بتصنيع اجهزة متكطورة ومبتكرة وحديثة تتماشى مع جميع الاذواق والمختلفة ويتوفر جميع التصميمات التي تتلبي احتياجات جميع العملاء الكرام والاسعار مخفضة ورائعة تابعونا عبر

    http://goo.gl/duUEML

  175. egyhelp says:

    ايقوم فريق عمل كاريير صيانة
    بأستخدام اساليب حديثة ومبتكرة في صيانة الاجهزة وتصلحيها حتى يوفر لكم درجة عالية من الحماية بالاضافة الى انه يقدم لكم قطع غيار مضمونة واصلية ومستوردة هدفنا ان نوفر لكم الحماية للمزيد تابعونا عبر

    http://goo.gl/msyxoS

  176. Mazallat Images says:

    تعتبر شركة السبيعي من افضل شركات جميع اعمال السواتر وبيوت الشعر و مظلات السيارات الفخمة والقوية والمنفذة بتصميمات رائعة ومختلفة عن الجميع واسعارها مخفضة ومغرية تتناسب مع الجميع للمزيد من المعلومات تاعبونا عبر

    0500296699
    – 0112277479

    http://goo.gl/jgK53c

  177. fireplacesbbq says:

    لا تحتار كثيرا وسارع في الاتصال برقم شركة محمد ابو صالح الذي يقدم لكم جميع اعمال الديكورات من شلالات وفاير بليس ومدافئ امريكية و باربكيو وجميعها بتصميمات رائعة و اسعار خيالية ومغرية تتناسب مع الجميع للمزيد تاعبونا عبر

    789896332 _ 790614242

    http://goo.gl/jlN4Iw

  178. swaqny says:

    بمجرد اشتراكك مع موقع سوقنى سوف تتمتع بافضل عروض وباقات مقدمة على جميع اعمال التسويق الاكتروني حيث يقوم فريق العمل بدراسة المواقع دراسة كاملة من جميع جوانبه ووضع خطة قوية لنجاح الموقع للمزيد تابعونا عبر

    002_01008745590

    http://www.swaqny.com/

  179. Mazallat Images says:

    الابتكا روالتطوير والتحديث المستمر في تصميمات مظلات وسواتر الدمام المتوفر لدى شركة السبيعي التي تقدم العديد من التصميمات المختلفة عن الجميع وجميعها بأجود الخامات الممتازة والقوية للمزيد من
    المعلومات تابعونا عبر

    http://goo.gl/VJ5um8

    0500296699 – 0112277479

  180. syanat3 says:

    اذا كنت ترغب في تنفيذ حملات صيانة لاجهزتك الكهربائية لا تتجه الى اي شركة اخرى وسارع في الاتصال برقم توكيل فريش وتمتع بافضل صيانة وافضل اجهزة تعمل بشكل سليم وامن للمزيد تابعونا عبر

    http://goo.gl/h8HQSe

  181. Movingfurniture58 says:

    لمزيد من المعلومات حول شركة نقل عفش في جدة بأرخ الاسعار , زوروا موقعنا الان . واتصلوا بنا
    0553121777
    http://www.xn—–jtdlp1a8a2dguu.com/

  182. nklafsh says:

    شركة الاخلاص والامانه هى افضل شركة تقوم بنقل عفش فى مكة وبارخص الاسعار , اتصلوا بنا الان .
    0550018083 _ 0565277186

    http://www.xn—–jtd6bya2cendpd.com/

  183. eegazatona says:

    اقوى عروض رحلات الغردقة باقل الاسعار واعلى الخدمات وحجز في فنادق فخمة مجهزة بكافة سبل الراحة والمتعة لك عميلنا العزيز ..

    للاستفسار يمكنك الاتصال على الرقم التالي :
    01227777691

  184. ‫معادلة الهندسة‬‎ says:

    افضل مركز لتعليم معادلة كلية هندسة باقل الاسعار واعلى الخدمات لما لدينا اساتذة ذو خبرة عالية

  185. limitedto says:

    [URL=”http://www.companysaudiarabia.com/menu.php”]افضل شركة كشف تسربات المياه بالرياض[/URL]
    [URL=”http://arabianislandco.com/%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A.php”]افضل شركة عزل مائي بالرياض[/URL]
    [URL=”http://waters-isolate-leaks.com/%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%89.php”]افضل شركة عزل خزانات بالرياض[/URL]

    [URL=”http://www.companysaudiarabia.com/%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B4%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA.php”]افضل شركه مكافحة حشرات بالرياض[/URL]
    [URL=”http://arabianislandco.com/”]اصلاح حمامات ومطابخ بالرياض[/URL]
    [URL=”http://waters-isolate-leaks.com/%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%89.php”]افضل شركة عزل حمامات وخزانات[/URL]
    [URL=”http://www.companysaudiarabia.com/”]عزل مائي وحرارى للاسطح[/URL]

  186. syanat3 says:

    مراكز صيانة الكتروستار تقدم خدمات مميزه جدا لعملاءها ومستخدمي اجهزة ماركتها ومن مميزات المركز انخفاض تكلفته عن كثير من المراكز المعتمده
    للتواصل عبر:
    http://www.maintenanceg.com/Electrostar-Agent-Center.html

  187. fireplacesbbq says:

    تعتبر شركة اجازتنا واحدة من افضل الشركات المتخصصة للكثير من خدمات عروض شرم الشيخ مع شركة اجازتنا لدينا الكثير من الخصومات الكبيرة والاعمال المميزة التى نقدمها الان اليكم من على موقعنا المتميز والرائع, خصومات كبيرة جدا نقدمها الان اليكم رحلات شرم الشيخ باسعار ميمزة جدا تناسب الجميع

  188. fireplacesbbq says:

    تعتبر شركة مثلث الفرسان واحدة من الشركات الكبري المتخصصة للكثير من اعمال وخصومات افضل شركة نقل عفش بجدة باسعار مميزة جدا لدينا افضل الخصومات الكبيرة والاعمال المميزة من على موقعنا المتميز والرائع افضل شركة نقل اثاث بجدة اسعار مميزة جدا نقدمها الان اليكم من على موقعنا

  189. fireplacesbbq says:

    موقعنا واحد من المواقع المتخصصة فى مصر المسؤلة عن شركة امن وحراسة افضل الخصومات الكبيرة من على موقعنا المتميز اعمال مميزة جدا نقدمها الان اليكم من على موقعنا شركة حراسات خاصة خصومات كبيرة جدا نقدمها الان اليكم من على موقعنا المتميز خصومات رائعة نقدمها الان اليكم

  190. fireplacesbbq says:

    شركة الهامة واحدة من الشركات المتخصصة فى اعمال نقل العفش فى جدة باسعار مميزة جدا تناسب الجميع خصومات كبيرة جدا نقدمها الان اليكم من على موقعنا
    http://www.نقل-عفش-جدة.com

  191. نكت جامدة says:

    الشاحنات التى نقدمها اليكم مجهزة افضل شركة نقل اثاث بجدة من الداخل والخارج حفاظا على الاثاث داخل الشاحنة تمتع بخدمة نقل عفش منزلك مع شركات نقل العفش بجدة مع افضل شركة نقل عفش بجدة شركة الخيالة الشركة المتخصصة شركة نقل عفش بجدة فى نقل الاثاث بجدة شركة نقل اثاث بجدة ومكافحة الحشرات

  192. Mostafa Khames says:

    ال صالح لنقل الاثاث

    افضل شركة نقل عفش بالدمام

    اذا كنت خائف على اثاث منزلك من الكسر والخدش فلا تتردد فى الاتصال بشركة ال صالح شركة ال صالح لا تدع مجالا للخطاء فهى لديها فريق مدرب يؤدى عمله باتقان واسلوب محكم انها

    افضل شركة نقل اثاث بالدمام

    تقدم خدماتها ويسعدنا اتصالكم.

  193. Mostafa Khames says:

    شركة ال صالح تقدم الكم خدماتها فهى

    افضل شركة نقل عفش بالدمام

    , تقوم بتغليف وفك وتركيب الاثاث وشحنه الى اى مكان بدون اى عواقب او اخطاء ,حيث ان لديها افراد مختصين وادوات شحن متطوره ,فنحن افضل شركة نقل اثاث بالدمام واسعرنا مميزه لن تجد لها مثيل ,سنصلك اينما كنت لا تتردد فى الاتصال