Federal officials have issued a recall alert for meat products containing jalapeños due to potential salmonella contamination.

A recent salmonella outbreak linked to the peppers has affected at least 345 people across 27 states, predominantly in Minnesota and Colorado. No deaths have been reported, but 36 individuals required hospitalization.

The FSIS said Saturday August 8 that customers across the U.S. should check their fridges and freezers for red meat and poultry products containing jalapeños, because they may also be contaminated with salmonella.

It released a list of 18 recalled products affected by the alert, with brands including Taylor Farms, Ready Meals, Meal Simple, Higher Harvest and Deli Kitchen.

Products include Deli Kitchen’s Chipotle Cheddar Chicken Wrap and Cajun Chicken Mashed Potatoes & Corn stocked at Kroger/Dillons, with use-by dates ranging from 08/07/2026 to 8/13/2026.

The affected Taylor Farms products include its Classic Beef Burrito, Chipotle Chicken Wrap, Chicken Verde Burrito and Chicken Enchilada sold at Hannaford and Kroger. Use-by dates on the products range between 08/07/2026 to 8/16/2026. You can find the full list here.

The agency said in a statement that it “expects additional downstream products will be identified as this ingredient recall progresses.”

The first illnesses in the salmonella outbreak were reported in June, and were linked to jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico. The peppers are distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to wholesalers, restaurants and food service companies, according to the FDA.

The USDA said that so far “there have been no confirmed reports of illness” from products regulated by FSIS that contain jalapeños that were sourced from Sinaloa.

Data compiled by the CDC found that of 191 patients who were interviewed about their illness, 93 percent reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before falling sick, including popular chains Chipotle and Qdoba.

Chipotle announced this week that it had pulled jalapeños from some of its restaurants, and Qdoba did the same shortly after.

“Given their actions to remove product from their stores, neither of these establishments are considered a current ongoing risk to consumers in this outbreak,” CDC officials said in a statement.

The FDA is investigating whether any of the jalapeños went to grocery stores. The agency may announce additional actions on its recalls webpage, health officials said.

On August 8, grocery store chain Albertsons announced that it was voluntarily recalling four items containing jalapeño products, including salsa and corn salad, supplied by Taylor Farms.

Symptoms for salmonella can include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.

Young children, elderly adults and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for more severe illness, according to the CDC.

Sir Christopher Nolan’s latest cinematic endeavour, The Odyssey, has sailed past the one billion US dollar mark at the global box office, cementing its place as the highest-grossing film of his illustrious career. This monumental achievement comes less than a month after its highly anticipated release.

The blockbuster, which premiered on 17 July, is a sweeping adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic. It stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, chronicling his arduous 10-year journey home following the Trojan War.

Garnering strong critical acclaim, the film has amassed an impressive 1.104 billion dollars (£819 million) worldwide. This figure surpasses Nolan’s previous record-holder, the 2012 Batman instalment The Dark Knight Rises, which earned 1.085 billion dollars (£805.70 million). Its 2008 predecessor, The Dark Knight, had previously grossed 1.005 billion dollars (£745 million).

Oscar-winning filmmaker Sir Christopher has directed blockbusters such as Tenet, Dunkirk and Interstellar, with his movies having now grossed more than seven billion dollars (£5.198 billion) globally.

The 56-year-old wrote and directed The Odyssey, which he also produced alongside his wife, Dame Emma Thomas.

The film features a star-studded cast including Damon, Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson – and has become the highest-grossing of all three actors’ careers globally.

The three-hour-long epic also stars Zendaya, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron and Lupita Nyong’o.

The Odyssey debuted at number one globally and it remained in the top position for two consecutive weekends both domestically and internationally.

It was made with production companies Syncopy and Universal Pictures, and is one of three Universal films to have grossed one billion dollars globally this year, alongside The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Michael.

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Universal also produced Oppenheimer, the 2023 thriller starring Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh about the scientists behind the top-secret Manhattan Project.

It is the fourth highest-grossing film of Sir Christopher’s career globally.

Jim Orr, president of domestic theatrical distribution at Universal Pictures, said: “Christopher Nolan has earned audiences’ trust by consistently delivering must-see theatrical events, and The Odyssey is him operating at the peak of his powers.

“Nolan’s epic film has been at the forefront of culture, with audiences seeking out premium formats and repeat viewings for this once-in-a-lifetime cinematic journey.”

Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of distribution at Universal Pictures International, hailed the film as “a global epic that has resonated with audiences everywhere with its massive scope and uncompromising vision”.

The Odyssey had a reported production budget of 250 million dollars (£185 million), excluding marketing costs, making it one of the most expensive films of Sir Christopher’s career.

He showed up at Weatherfield police station ready to tell the truth

Coronation Street fans think Gary Windass might be bidding farewell to Weatherfield after a shock confession at the end of Sunday night’s episode.

Gary Windass made his first appearance on Coronation Street back in 2008, played by actor Mikey North. Gary and Sarah Platt broke up in 2019, after she dumped Gary when discovering his dangerous involvement and lies concerning loan shark Rick Neelan, bringing their relationship of three years to an end.

Since then, the former flames have had a close friendship even when Gary’s relationship with Maria Windass became strained because of it. However, this was put to the ultimate test recently when Sarah requested Gary’s help after she accidentally killed Theo Silverton.

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As viewers will recall, Theo was one of five potential victims of “murder week”, including Jodie Ramsey, Maggie Driscoll, Megan Walsh and Carl Webster.

It was poor Betsy Swain who discovered Theo’s dead body the night of her mum’s, Lisa, and Carla’s wedding. It was then later revealed that Sarah Platt was the one who killed him after an argument on the scaffolding of Todd Grimshaw’s flat led to her hitting Theo over the head with a pole.

In a panic, she called Gary who rushed to help her, telling Sarah to find an alibi as he dealt with hiding the murder weapon. Sarah eventually confessed everything to her almost-fiance DC Kit Green who then became determined to protect her from prison.

However, DS Lisa Connor-Swain had her arrested after finding Theo’s blood on the clothes she was wearing that night. Since then, Sarah confessed to killing Theo in self-defence, but has remained determined to keep Gary’s name out of it for the sake of his family.

Kit has become increasingly jealous that Sarah called Gary that fateful night instead of him, and has become desperate to find a way to pin the death on Gary instead.

After promising the scrape their phone of any evidence, Kit kept a copy of Gary’s data and is now using it against him to show the potential location of the pole used to kill Theo.

On Sunday’s (August 9) trip to Weatherfield, Bethany let slip to Sarah that Kit was planning on getting Gary to confess that he told Sarah not to go to the police straight away to support her self-defence statement for a lighter sentence. Sarah convinced Kit to drop it, but Gary had already sought legal advice from Adam Barlow who told him to come clean.

Although Kit tried to get Gary to not go ahead with a confession, Gary was then seen being interviewed by Lisa at the police station as he swore to tell the truth.

Now, Corrie fans are wondering if this could mean a potential exit for Gary after 18 years on the ITV soap. On X (formerly known as Twitter), @britifyx wrote: “Gary Windass looks set to seal his own fate in Coronation Street, if tonight’s episode is anything to go by” as @lornawatts added: “Gary what are you doing?!”

Under the Instagram teaser from Corrie that was posted earlier this week, one viewer added: “Hope this isn’t lining up for Gary’s exit”, as another replied: “Gary could say bye to weatherfield here oops”.

The Johnsons were shocked to discover they had landed in Gran Canaria, without being told their luggage was still at their home airport

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A family holiday got off to a “nightmare” start without clothes and vital medicines after their departing airport was hit by baggage problems.

Jamie Johnson, her two children and mother, were told their luggage would be manually loaded onto their Gran Canaria-bound flight by airport staff On Friday (August 7).

But passengers were left angry when they landed at Las Palmas and learned that dozens of suitcases, including four bags belonging to the Johnsons, had not arrived, reports BirminghamLive.

The Staffordshire mum was then told by EasyJet to register delayed bags individually on their portal and with Menzies.

By the time they had finished, Jamie, 48, her children aged 15 and 20 and 70-year-old mum, missed their bus and faced another one-hour wait for transport.

When arriving at the resort, Jamie said she made multiple calls and spent up to 30 minutes on hold trying to reach EasyJet.

She said: “I had to make a dash to a local supermarket when we got to our accommodation to get basic overnight toiletries such as toothpaste.”

On Saturday, she spent €400 on clothes, toiletries and medication.

She blasted the poor communication at Birmingham Airport and said she would not have boarded her flight if she knew she would be without her belongings, which included vital thyroid medication for her mum.

Ms Johnson said: “We are away for 10 nights, although today is night two, so I feel I’m slowly losing my holiday to this nightmare.

“I am absolutely furious, but also baffled how this can go so wrong.

“Passengers should be given a choice because I 100 per cent would not have boarded that flight if I knew my bags were not with me.

“I simply want to know where my bags are, and furthermore, when we will receive them, and not one person can tell me that.”

It is now Sunday, and Ms Johnson said the tracking app is still displaying “tracing”.

READ MORE: Family of tragic Minnie Merriman ‘left with nothing’ as they try to ‘rebuild life’

READ MORE: Fake doctor accused of conning patients out of thousands of pounds at bogus clinics

A spokesperson for Easyjet said: “We’re really sorry that the Johnson family have been without their luggage during the first few days of their holiday.

“Due to a baggage belt failure at Birmingham Airport, their luggage was not loaded onto their flight on August 7.

“We have been working closely with Birmingham Airport’s baggage handling partner to reunite them with their luggage as quickly as possible.

“While this issue was outside of our control, we have contacted the Johnson family to offer support and apologise again for the delay.”

In an update posted at 7.20am on Sunday (August 9), BHX said: “Whilst issues are remaining, the vast majority of baggage is travelling as planned with passengers.

“We are working with our airlines and third parties to reunite luggage with passengers as fast as possible and we are sincerely sorry for the inconvenience and stress this has caused some of our passengers.”

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If you thought the past year has been toxic, there is far worse to come

The Welsh Rugby Union has a long and, by now, pretty remarkable history of turning difficult situations into catastrophes.

It goes back decades. There was the attempt to seize 51% of the clubs in 1996; the player strikes; plans to force Welsh rugby down to four professional teams in 2023, followed by the inevitable retreat to five; more threats of player action and the all out civil war of the Roger Lewis era.

If there is one thing the WRU has consistently been able to guarantee in the professional game, it is chaos.

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To be fair, the current administration inherited an appalling situation from the disastrous reign of former CEO Steve Phillips.

The finances were already in a parlous state, and the relationship between the union and the four professional men’s clubs was barely holding together.

Although, strictly speaking, that last point is not entirely fair. The WRU does have an excellent relationship with one of the four clubs, given it owns Cardiff

Which brings us to the question that now hangs over Welsh rugby; how does the WRU and its CEO Abi Tierney get itself out of this mess?

The financial numbers appear to point inexorably towards reducing the number of professional teams but the problem of money is not a new one.

The Oakwell report of 2022 identified many of today’s structural problems years ago, as did other external consultants before them. The WRU commissioned the advice, listened to it, and then largely ignored it.

The union, it seems, has always preferred to believe that it knows best, but it has become incapable of devising a coherent plan and, more importantly, sticking to it.

Take Dave Reddin. He arrived with considerable fanfare and championed a two-team solution, accompanied by a dossier intended to make the case.

Yet the WRU subsequently retreated from that position, having apparently rediscovered an inconvenient fact: it is contractually committed to provide four teams in the United Rugby Championship until 2028.

So, if the WRU could not simply reduce the number of Welsh teams, perhaps it could replace them.

At various stages we heard about American involvement while Ealing Trailfinders, London Irish and South African outfit the Cheetahs were mentioned as a possible replacement for a Welsh side.

The details changed, but the underlying message remained the same; somehow, someone else might solve the problem.

At one point, the WRU reportedly paid Portas Consulting £800,000 for expert advice on the future of the sport.

And yet, many months later, Welsh professional rugby appears to be back where it started: four clubs, a financial crisis and a governing body that still seems unable to settle on what it actually wants to do with them.

By XANTHA LEATHAM, EXECUTIVE SCIENCE EDITOR

Published: 07:56 BST, 9 August 2026 | Updated: 18:55 BST, 9 August 2026

If it feels like your home has suddenly become overrun with flies, you’re not imagining it.

Horrified Britons have complained of an ‘invasion’, with many sharing hilarious videos of themselves trying to swat the insects away.

Experts have revealed the recent warm weather speeds up a fly’s life cycle, allowing populations to explode in a matter of days.

With the summer holidays in full swing, the increased presence of barbecues, picnics, overflowing bins and sugary drinks means homes and gardens have become an irresistible feeding ground.

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And it could be about to get even worse thanks to a recent decline in the number of wasps – which prey on the insects – across the country.

‘I feel like I’m going mad,’ one person said on TikTok. ‘They’re so jarring. I’m trying to cook and you’re swarmed by an army of them in your own home.’

Another complained: ‘These flies are taking the p***. Why are there so many?’

While another added: ‘I think I’m going insane at this point. We can’t have the back door open without being swarmed by flies.’

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‘I feel like I’m going mad,’ one person said on TikTok (left). ‘They’re so jarring. I’m trying to cook and you’re swarmed by an army of them in your own home.’ Another (right) added: ‘I think I’m going insane at this point. We can’t have the back door open without being swarmed by flies’

Gardening expert James Higgins, from Grass247, says there are several simple ways to stop the pests ruining your summer.

His first tip is to use scented candles containing citronella, which helps mask the smell of food while producing an aroma that flies dislike.

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Candles scented with lavender can also help deter the insects, although he said pet owners should avoid pine essential oils because they can be toxic to dogs and cats.

Another surprising trick is to make your garden more attractive to bees.

‘When you want to get rid of flies, a natural way is actually to attract other insects – especially those that aren’t as bothersome in the garden, such as bees,’ he said.

‘Flies will avoid bees, so planting bee–friendly plants will not only help your garden’s ecosystem, but will also keep any flies out of your garden.’

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Bee–friendly flowers include lavender, verbena and catmint, he explained.

Meanwhile, encouraging wildlife such as spiders and frogs can also help because they feed on flies and other garden pests.

Horrified Britons have complained of an ‘invasion’, with many sharing hilarious videos of themselves trying to swat the insects away

For people looking for a more immediate solution, he recommends hanging sticky fly traps near areas where the insects are most active.

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Flies often land to rest before searching for a snack, making the traps particularly effective if they are replaced regularly.

The insects are attracted to exposed food, overflowing bins, pet waste and standing water.

So keeping outdoor bins tightly sealed and clearing away leftover food after eating can make gardens and homes much less appealing to them.

Experts also recommend regularly cleaning barbecues and outdoor dining areas to remove food residues that attract flies.

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While flies are mostly a nuisance, they can carry bacteria picked up from waste and transfer it onto food and surfaces.

By doing this they can spread dozens of serious diseases including food poisoning and salmonella.  

How to keep flies out of your home and garden

Light a citronella candle: Citronella helps mask food smells and produces a scent that flies dislike.

Plant bee–friendly flowers: Lavender, verbena and catmint attract bees, which flies tend to avoid.

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Encourage natural predators: Spiders, frogs and some birds all feed on flies, helping to keep numbers down naturally.

Hang fly traps: Sticky fly tape or traps placed away from seating areas can catch flies before they reach your food.

Keep bins tightly closed: The smell of rubbish is one of the biggest attractions for flies, especially in hot weather.

Clear away food quickly: Don’t leave barbecue leftovers, fruit or sugary drinks sitting outside after you’ve finished eating.

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Clean your barbecue: Grease and food residue can continue attracting flies long after the cooking has finished. 

Get rid of standing water: Bird baths, buckets and clogged gutters can attract insects, so empty or refresh water regularly.

Pick up pet waste: Dog mess is a major breeding and feeding site for flies, particularly during warm weather.

Use mesh screens where possible: If you’re entertaining indoors, fly screens on doors and windows can stop insects following you inside.

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Liam Delap restored parity from the penalty spot shortly before half-time, but missed a golden opportunity moments later to put Chelsea ahead. The striker made amends after the break, converting another penalty to give the visitors the lead. Chelsea, however, were unable to see out the game. JDT struck twice in the closing stages to turn the contest around, only for Mykhailo Mudryk’s cross to be turned into his own net by Antonio Glauder as Chelsea snatched a late equaliser.

The item is believed to have been an unexploded WWII device, police said

A Cambridgeshire man who discovered a “suspicious device” at a nature reserve while with his family said it was a “close call”. Cambridgeshire Police confirmed a “suspicious device” was discovered at Fen Drayton Lakes at about 11am on Sunday, August 9.

The item is being treated as an unexploded WWII device, the force said. Locals were warned to “avoid the area” and the nearby guided busway was closed between Swavesey and St Ives while emergency services responded.

Will Rixon, 42, from Stapleford, found the item while out with his wife and two young children at Fen Drayton Lakes. During their trip, he spotted a “bit of metal sticking out of the dirt”. He said he was “curious” about what it was so he “pulled at it” and it “all just came out” because all the dirt surrounding it was “bone dry”.

Mr Rixon sent his children about 50 metres away from the “suspicious device” after pulling it from the earth. He then searched Google with an image of the device, and the results said “it might be an explosive”, according to Mr Rixon.

He rang the emergency services immediately and they rushed to the location. After inspection, experts from Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were called to the scene.

Mr Rixon continued: “In the meantime, my wife had gone to the other end to block off to make sure no other walkers came from the opposite end of the path.” The 42-year-old was then told to leave the scene with his family.

He said that at the time “it just felt like I found some unusual thing” and believed it was “very unlikely to be a bomb” but “the police came and said it might be”.

He said “in retrospect, I wish I had been faster than I was”, adding “you never expect these things to happen to you”. He said he feels it was a “close call”.

He wondered whether the dryness lowered the level of the soil and made the device more visible. Describing how it looked, Mr Rixon said: “It was like a foot and a half long”. He said it looked like a “section of very old pipe”.

Cambridgeshire Police said that the busway has since reopened.

To understand the 127 Yard Sale, it helps to start on a back road in rural Ohio, where a 12-foot rooster statue towers before a red barn. Alternatively, route to a two-lane stretch in Tennessee, where a vendor’s sign propped inside an open casket promises a “killer deal.”

For nearly 700 miles — stretching along Highway 127 in southern Michigan down to Lookout Mountain Parkway, Alabama — the nation’s longest yard sale winds through open farmland, mountain bluffs and small towns.

Along the four-day route, tables hold a mix of everyday attic clear-outs and true oddities.

Shoppers sift through classic roadside fare like vintage tools, mid-century furniture, milk glass and car parts, mixed with items you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. Over the years, vendors have set up everything from Victorian wheelchairs and antique farm machinery to full-sized replica dinosaurs and even a vintage embalming table.

“Every year, people ask me, ‘What is it like?’” Josh Randall, the director of media relations for the 127 Yard Sale, told The Independent. “It’s one of those things where, until you experience it yourself, it’s very hard to put into words because it’s on such a massive scale. People think yard sale, they think the Saturday morning kind of thing. But because it’s so big, it’s like you’re going to an event. You’re not just going to a yard sale.”

The event’s origins trace back to 1987, when Mike Walker, then county executive of Fentress County in Jamestown, Tennessee, hatched a plan to lure vacationers off major interstates. The goal was to redirect tourist traffic onto two-lane back roads, giving small rural communities along Highway 127 a chance to show off their local businesses, parks and regional culture.

The local experiment quickly caught on. Neighboring communities across Kentucky, Ohio and surrounding states wanted to be part of it, eventually expanding the route into the six-state corridor it is today.

“Over the following years, Ohio was added to it, Georgia down into Alabama, and eventually the last portion that was added was into the southern portion of Michigan,” Randall said. Next year, he added, marks the sale’s 40th anniversary.

Spanning nearly 700 miles, the event is so vast that even those who run it struggle to capture its magnitude. With no single entry point or gate count to rely on, organizers estimate that participation climbs into the hundreds of thousands, driven by more than 10,000 vendors spread across all six states.

Navigating the sale requires patience and a willingness to abandon strict schedules. Because traffic slows to a crawl through the heavy vendor clusters, driving Highway 127 means surrendering to the pace of the road.

“You might show up somewhere and think you’re going to be there for ten minutes,” Randall said, “and the next thing you know, you’re talking to a vendor and you’re there for two hours.”

For Randall, that unhurried pace is precisely what gives the sale its staying power. Having traveled the entire 700-mile corridor multiple times, he sees the event as a rare reprieve from an increasingly digital world.

“Today, so much of our lives is digital — we’re on social media, we’re doing email,” he said. “Actually being in person and talking to other human beings face-to-face is becoming more of a unique thing. People spend a lot of time talking, and there’s a real community aspect to it.”

That desire to talk to actual people mirrors a broader trend in the explosion of second-hand shopping and secondhand culture. In recent years, thrifting and vintage hunting have transformed what used to be a weekend hobby into a massive secondary economy, fueled in large part by social media creators, digital resellers and content creators looking for unique pieces.

The 127 Yard Sale Facebook community alone has grown to more than 199,000 members, serving as a year-round online home base where shoppers post wish lists, vendors share photos of incoming merchandise and property owners rent out booth spaces for about $25 per day.

Yet while platforms like TikTok, Instagram and online marketplaces have introduced a younger generation to the thrill of second-hand treasure hunting, Randall notes that digital hype can only take you so far.

The online space helps build anticipation, but it ultimately serves to feed the real-world experience.

Influencers and content creators now travel the route to document their journeys in real time, drawing viewers into a culture centered on tactile discovery — sifting through physical crates, bargaining over old tools or vintage fashion and connecting directly with the seller.

Beyond individual sellers clearing out attics, the event provides an essential economic lift to small towns along the route. One indoor antique mall in Chattanooga, Tennessee, recorded four-day sales totals during the event that eclipsed its entire previous month’s revenue.

Revenue aside, most people come for the simple joy of the drive.

“You get to experience something you wouldn’t normally,” Randall said.

Throughout Love Me Tender, French director Anna Cazenave Cambet’s new film about a mother’s fight for custody of her child, the audience is reminded of the body at the centre of the story – that of Clémence Delcourt (Vicky Krieps). The camera is almost cloyingly close, presenting her body in lingering shots that offer opportunities for the audience to connect with her real, visceral experience.

It is this body that we follow through the story. From the opening shot of Clémence in the pool to the ending on a bike, hers is a body constantly in motion, with a kind of restless energy. It is no wonder that she feels the need to keep moving: Clémence separates from her husband, and leaves him and her son after realising she is attracted to women.

Clémence tells her ex-husband she has started dating women, and he responds that her son no longer wants to see her. The film follows Clémence’s battle for access to her son and the heartbreak it causes. It’s an adaptation of the autofictional novel, Love Me Tender (2020) by Constance Debré.

At the heart of this film is a tension between being yourself and the demands of society, whether that be the roles of mother or the homophobia still present. Clémence is painted by her ex-husband and her son’s school as “ill” and “violent” and her sexuality is linked with incest and paedophilia. This is nothing new in terms of queer experience. By highlighting these attitudes – and the emotional pain they cause – the film suggests that they should be challenged. At the same time, however, the way the film is shot and paced seems to uphold ideas and stereotypes of queer representation in film.

Clémence is often isolated, both literally and figuratively. We follow her swimming and writing, and when she is with others, she often appears disconnected from the group in some way. She is “othered” throughout the film. This perhaps reflects her isolation, but it also singles her out as different.

A misdirect in the opening of the film also establishes the tone: we see the physical experience of queerness and queer sex as she meets and has an encounter with a woman at the swimming pool. Shortly after, we see Clémence outside, video-calling her son with his father. At this point, there is no clarity about what is happening. Viewers may assume she is being unfaithful, and therefore a protagonist who we are not supposed to morally align with. Even so, the performance from Krieps is striking; I found myself drawn into her emotional world and the sense of solitude that pervades the film.

When Clémence does have sexual encounters with other women, they are often low-lit and tightly shot, creating a feeling of something hidden. While it may be a way to simulate intimacy, it also suggests that queer experience is something to be hidden or something shameful.

The distinction between these scenes and the scenes with Clémence’s estranged son are striking. He appears to be the opening up of her world, and the viewer is left with uncertainty as to what is exactly is happening. We are never shown the father’s argument for why he has been coercing his son into not seeing his mother other than assumed homophobia.

Clémence is shown as promiscuous, unstable, constantly moving between housing and partners, and unable to connect to others. While this may reflect some queer experiences, it’s a frustratingly persistent trope in films. It does, however, raise the question of whether art should reflect real life or offer something else. Should queer viewers see themselves and their struggles reflected or look for hope?

Despite Love Me Tender being an adaptation, there would have been ways to film this that didn’t retread old ground in queer imagery. Given that it is a film about a woman trying to do things her own way, to push against expectations, the visuals do not seem to agree. They were, as the film is, impressive, engaging and compelling, but overall, Love Me Tender left me feeling a mix of emotions. What the viewer is left with is a sense of sadness, anger at the unjust situation, and a recognition that queer experience continues to be difficult for many.

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