HERO

The Chinese film, Hero, combines some of the finest elements of Chinese culture. The film revolves around Chinese history and the attempted assassination of the King of Qin. What is most impressive about the film is not the storyline even though it was full of mystery, intrigue, and wonder but rather the cinematography. The cinematography of the film is some of the best I have seen. The Chinese are well known for their martial art skills. What is truly amazing is how they are able to choreograph the intricacy of the fight scenes especially since wires are used for most of the fighting scenes. The director and choreographer were able to capture the beauty and fluidity of the fight scenes. The martial arts scenes were more rhythmic and dance like than traditional American fight movies. All the fighters are composed of specific characteristics such as composure, dignity, and honor all of which were translated into their fighting style. Not only where the fight scenes gracefully choreographed but also the background or setting captured the mood of the scene perfectly. The wardrobe of the characters, which included matching colored kimonos, changed with each different perspective of narrative being told. The vibrant colors of the kimonos were breath taking and really helped to bring and tie the audience into the scene. Color was an added special effect that put me in awe. The most brilliant scene in the film was when the two women were fighting and the falling and swirling of the leaves moved and danced around the movements of the characters. The scene also incorporated the use of color. The color of the leaves changed depending on the emotion the audience was meant to feel. It was truly brilliant. Too bad, reality is not quite as colorful as this film makes you feel.

NOT ONE LESS

This was a touching, heart wrenching, true story based upon the depressing lives of Chinese youth in the rural countryside. The hardships being faced by individuals that young is hard to believe especially considering I am still learning how to take care of my self as a college student. This film spoke to me in pro founding ways. I realize that we, as affluent individuals, are really not doing our part in helping the problem. Watching Zhang Huike begging for food in the city was heartbreaking. I could never imagine letting my children pay for the mistakes and financial burdens that resulted because of my poor decision making. The film was at times slow but if the audience is able to get past the slowness of the film and look deeper at the text of the film it really allows the audience to think and process what is happening before them on the screen. This film provided as a reminder of how giving back to those less fortunate can do to help change around there lives. When the television station found Zhang and the people of China heard his and his teachers story donations and money flowed in to help support their plight. This was a beautiful story of a country’s peasants struggling to survive and continue the education of a future generation that is going to be condemned to the hardships of life faced by their parents.

SWADES

Swades, depicts the importance of family values and cultural traditions. Even though the film had a strong message to its audience, I never the less felt like I was dieing softly in my seat. Maybe its because of the way I’ve been raised but the only time you go see a production that is four hours long is well basically never. Additionally, I don’t go films to learn valuable life lessons through song. Not all of the matters and problems that are being faced on a daily basis can be solved through vibrant song and dance. I might be partially biased because I am not a fan of musicals. If you are into musical you will probably enjoy the film greatly. However, for those of us who don’t find them quite as entertaining will find the film long and at times very tedious. The main point that the film addresses is sometimes you receive the greatest reward when helping your fellow countrymen; knowing that you are doing all you can to help make their lives more successful and productive. Swades, is about making a difference in the lives of those who are struggling to prosper due to hardships like famine. The film addresses many issues that plague specific areas of India. Such issues include poor, uneducated children, the caste system and how it has segregated the population, and the lack of technological advances being achieved (most of the smaller towns and villages do not even have electricity). I believe the film made it clear that the need for individuals to rise up and become leaders is necessary.

Monsoon Wedding

Monsoon Wedding was a thoroughly enjoyable Indian culture film. The director and producer, Mira Nair started her film career in documentaries. It is only fitting then to see her incorporate her documentary background into her films. This is clearly seen in Monsoon Wedding. Many realistic aspects of Indian life and culture are mixed with various western influences and universal issues. The film discusses the hardship of paying for a traditional Indian wedding, the emotional hardship of an arranged marriage between two strangers, and the complicated relationship that exists between extended family. The film flows in such ways that all the myriad of characters present are able to really connect with the audience. The audience is able to feel the hardship that the characters are experiencing and going through. Additionally, Monsoon Wedding is not what would be classified as a typical Bollywood film. That is entirely due to the fact that it is not a Bollywood film. Many individuals who are unfamiliar with Indian cinema would not know that not all Indian films include song and dance, which is traditional of Bollywood films. I think that is why I enjoyed the film so much. It was very similar to traditional independent films found here in the states. It is a deeper, more intimate account of family values and troubles that are faced on a daily basis. Monsoon Wedding is a truly touching story and is definitely worth seeing. Thus far, it is one of my favorite foreign films.

AMORES PERROS

Amores Perros is a high action, romantic drama. The cinematography of Amores Perros is similar to the popular styles found in today’s Hollywood blockbuster hits. The film is full of short shot segments. The short shot segments serve several purposes. First off, the quick transition between shots keeps the attention of the audience, while creating moments of brief but intense emotion. Amores Perros revolves around several different story lines. There is no one set main character that the entire film revolves around. Instead several main characters flood the big screen submerging the audience into their problematic and tormented lives. The film bounces to and from the various lives of the characters never showing too much of any one character’s life at a time. The flipping back and forth between the characters also allows the audience to see how the characters lives are indirectly interconnected. The entire film is done in a high contrast cinematic way. The film has a dark, grungy look and feel to it. This touch really makes the film feel so much more realistic. Providing the audience with the impression that the film’s characters would actually live the same way in reality. The lives of the characters, address important issues relating to life and love that everyone deals and struggles with on a daily basis. The universal issues of life, deception and betrayal highlight the movie. As the movie continues to progress to notion that no one truly knows everything about someone else becomes revealed. It becomes evident that everyone has their own secrets.

Violence, Punishment and Corruption of Power

The film industries around the world have the ability to influence and inform their viewers with political, historical, and/or cultural messages. Each individual film has the ability to address specific issues. In the case of the 2003 Academy Award nominated Swedish film entitled, “Ondskan” the universal theme of violence, punishment and the corruption of power is addressed.
The film, “Ondskan”, is centered around a young, adolescence male named Erik, who is having trouble accepting and following the rules bound upon him by the authoritative figures in his life, from his teachers to his parents. Erik comes from an abusive family that has as a result turned him into a violent teenager. His mother remarried and his stepfather gives Erik cruel beatings for no apparent reason. As a result, Erik lashes out in school, fighting his fellow peers. His remissive mother knows that the only way Erik would be able to complete his basic education is to send him off to one of Sweden’s most elite private schools, Stjärnberg. However, when Erik arrives at his new school he is quickly informed that rules are enforced not by the faculty but instead by the students. The school is based on the idea of team spirit, implying a sort of “code of honor” among the student body. The so-called “code of honor” is more of a code of humiliation experienced by the younger, lower social level pupils. Erik had entered a world where the high, upper level pupils are given the authority to haze and humiliate the school’s younger students and the questioning of authority is nonexistent.
The first thing that Erik is told by his roommate, Pierre, is to be ordinary. That the more you stick out the more likely hell will rain upon you. Quickly, Erik sees first hand how order is keep within the school grounds. The first night Erik had eaten at the dinning hall he learns how a council member disciplines the younger pupils. Several methods of punishment exist for a student who is supposedly out of line. The first form of punishment is either a pepperpot or vinegar strike. A pepperpot is when the misbehaving pupil gets hit on the top of the head with the end of a knife. A vinegar strike is when the top of a vinegar stopper is taken and strikes the pupil on the top of the head. If the pupil continues to act out he is sent to the Dunce’s corner. Following the Dunce’s corner the student is sent to serve weekend detention. During weekend detention the pupil is sent to see the council to receive their punishment. All sorts of punishments exist for the pupils. The council has the power and ability to administer any sort of punishment they see fit from polishing shoes to digging a trench.
The theme of violence surrounds the entire plot of the film. Violence is a common theme seen in all action movies over the past decade. “Ondskan” had been compared to American Hollywood hit, “Fight Club” starring Hollywood heartthrob, Brat Pitt. Both movies share a common thread. Both movies use excessive amounts of violence as a way to help the main character discover who he truly is. Erik dealt with abuse and violent whippings from his stepfather for almost all his life and learned to deal with the abuse. In the opening scene of the film Erik sates to the audience, “I know how to breathe and how not to breathe and how to think to stop myself going mad or passing out. He’s been carrying on like this for as long as I can remember.” (Ondskan) This kind of passage is able to grab the attention of the audience, submerging them into the tormented life of the main character.
The violence experienced by Erik at home is an obvious method use by his stepfather as a way of trying to gain respect and maintain order. Hollywood and other national cinemas have produced countless other screenplays revolving around the theme of violence as a method of gaining respect. Domestic abuse is one of the hot topic violent issues continuously addressed on the big screen. Some classic examples include, “Sleeping with the Enemy” starring Julia Roberts and “The Color Purple” starring Whoopi Goldberg. “Sleeping with the Enemy” which came out in 1991 achieved a total box office total of 100.2 million. (Sleeping with the Enemy) “The Color Purple” classified as a period drama reached a total domestic gross of 94,175,854 dollars. (The Color Purple) Issues of abuse and the mistreatment of other human beings is a powerful subject that is able to provoke a lot of human interest, which brings in the big bucks for the film industry.
Domestic abuse is an important global issue that affects countless individuals around the world whether they are Swedish or American. “Ondskan” directly deals with bullying and violent acts experienced by students in educational atmospheres. Bullying is a universal issue and has become a very prevalent and serious issue here in the United States. Take for example the state of Virginia and their public school system. Bullying of students is one of the most frequent discipline problems experienced in all levels of the education system. 26% of elementary, 43% of middle and 25% of high schools have reported problems with bullying. These statistics have increased in recent years (Violence in Schools). Abuse that is portrayed in films like “Ondskan” directly relate to real life problems that need to be addressed and resolved.
The theme of gaining respect through violence leads directly to an adjacent theme seen through out the film of how power corrupts. The audience through the head council member, Otto Silverhielm, at Stjärnberg, directly sees the universal theme of power corrupting those in charge. Otto along with the other council members rule the school with an iron fist. They can be compared to prison guards. The council is the guards, Otto is the warden, and, all the lower classmen are the prisoners. The guards purposely humiliate the prisoners every chance they get. Always looking to provide an example to the other prisoners imposing a reign of terror. Simply, violence is being used to gain respect. The theme of using violence to retain an authoritarian position has been seen in countless Hollywood films, for example, “Equilibrium” to “The Terminator”. Additionally, the theme of power corrupting can be seen through out history from English monarchs to totalitarian dictators. Take for instance, Henry VIII who abused his power as monarch to try and gain a male heir to the throne. He used his influence and power to divorce his wife, Katharine of Aragon, in order to marry a woman capable of bearing him a male heir to the throne. However, time and time again we see leaders fall and collapse under the weight of such power. “Ondskan” creates a functioning but unrealistic society at Stjarnberg. No society would be able to thrive under an individual or group of individuals that have no limitations on their power. Eventually, the suppressed society would rebel, leading to chaos and havoc.
All countries and their film industries use cinema as a source of propaganda. Film is a necessary tool that is required to educate individuals about problems that occur both at home and internationally. “Ondskan” is a great example of cinema propaganda, informing the public about the hazing and violence acts that various young males experience either at home or at school.


Citations:
1. “Ondskan”, Mikael Hafstrom, Magnolia home entertainment, 2003.
2. "Ondskan." The Numbers. March 10,2006. Nash Information Services, LLC. 2 Mar 2008 .

3. "Sleeping With the Enemy." Hollywood. Hollywood.com, Inc.. 2 Mar 2008 .

4. "The Color Purple." box office mojo. 2007. Box Office Mojo, LLC. 2 Mar 2008 .

5. "Violence in Schools." Youth Violence Project- National statistics. Virginia Youth Violence Project, School of Education, University of Virginia. 2 Mar 2008 .

THE WIND WILL CARRY US...

The Tehran film, “The Wind Will Carry Us”, is an intriguing account of life in a typical Tehran village. The film demonstrates how everyone in the village fills a specific niche that is required if the village is going to thrive. There are the young men who work out in the field while the children and elderly stay and take care of the village. The film is almost a documentation of the primitive lives still lead by a good portion of the world today, particularly by those who live in developing countries. The only advances the audience sees towards modern society is the use of a cell phone used by the engineer, who is visiting from out of town. The director really focuses a large majority of the film on highlighting national characteristics of Tehran. The village has no electricity, no appliances or modern devices only good old fashion manpower. The audience sees women washing and hanging clothes, having tons of children (most likely because the woman have never heard of birth control or contraception), and few automobiles. There appear to be no universal themes that many individuals can relate to. Since in today’s technology driven world only a small portion live similar lives to those individuals in this particular small village. Overall, I found the film to be slow and a little repetitive. A lot of the same types of actions were repeated for the entirety of the film. For most of the film the audience saw a car driving up and down a hill to talk on a cell phone while the other part of the film the audience saw the engineer talking to a young boy about a sick woman in town. Simply, the film was unable to hold my attention for the entire hour and forty-five minutes that it ran.