The Island Independent Film Festival begins four evenings of film screenings tonight at Downtown nightspot NextDoor. Two films are on the bill tonight: Director Isaac Chung's filmed-in-Rwanda drama of revenge and reconciliation, "Munyurangabo" (2007), at 6 p.m., and director James Kohn's documentary of corruption, kidnapping and plastic surgery in Brazil, "Manda Bala (Send a Bullet)" (2006), at 8 p.m. Presented by Cinema Paradise, tonight's screenings will be followed by an opening-night party. Admission all night is $10. Call 953-0002 or visit www.whatiiff.com.

— Derek Paiva

CATCH UP ON YOUR FAVORITE 'PEARLS BEFORE SWINE' STRIPS

Fortunately for all of us, cartoonist Stephan Pastis is a sick, twisted man. The evil animals in his daily newspaper comic strip, "Pearls Before Swine," provide the perfect balance for a world of cute and cuddly creatures. You can read him in The Advertiser, but if you need to catch up on the dark side of the comics universe, check out his latest compilation of the strip, "The Sopratos," (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $10.95). The crew of Rat, Pig, Zebra and the crocodiles offer sharp wit, violence, mayhem and a whole slew of laugh-out-loud moments.

— Mike Gordon

FINAL WORD

"Last year was very toxic. It was really our sophomore slump. There were a lot of expectations and everybody was getting used to fame. ... Now I think people have come to terms with that and are getting settled in their lives and back to what's important. And I do think the show is back on track."

Patrick Dempsey | who plays Derek Shepherd (Dr. McDreamy) on "Grey's Anatomy," in TV Guide