Geography In Film

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-05T21:11:00.000-08:00

South Dakota Pheasant Hunting at Kurt's Lodge

Aaron, Scott, B.Row-Doug, Jesse, Adam, Travis, Rick

South Dakota state map and location of lodge.

Recently my family, Scott Murtha and my brothers' girlfriend Kista Coleman, as well as the Williams family (minus Alisabeth) all traveled to a newly erected Hunting and Fishing Lodge on Lake Sharpe. The lodge is owned by my uncle, Kurt Grosshans and is currently for sale. It lies just 15 miles east of Pierre, South Dakota.

Rick, Scott, Travis, Adam, Aaron, Doug, Jesse.

We arrived the night before Turkey Day. We hit it hard the next morning until about 3pm, returning for Thanksgiving dinner. Not to blow my own horn, but I was the leader in pheasant kills to this point, with two birds. There were several runner ups including Travis, Aaron, Rick and Doug.

Jesse, Aaron, and Adam flushing birds.

Jesse and Travis.

Aaron

The next day Adam got one, as well as Scott and Travis. Some injustice was served due to the fact that Travis and Scott aquired their kills strangely enough, near a commercial hunting outfit that raises birds;). All in all, we each had shares of opportunities that our bag numbers don't show, those damn roosters seem to fly just a lot faster than the clays!

Doug, Scott, Travis, Jesse, Aaron, and Adam

Travis shows this rooster no mercy as he cleans it in record time!

Throughout Eastern Nebraska when the name Christin Williams comes up, you know the talk is of turkey. She has long been the best cook in the area with secret German recipes passed down from generation to generation. The Thanksgiving meal was no let down with several dishes out of this world in the taste bud dept.

Chris displaying her very tasty and moist Turkey!

A close up is much needed to do justice here. Can you say perfection?

The finicky crowd was well pleased.

Left to Right; Kimberly, Scott, Doug, Kay, Jesse, Rick, Aaron, Adam, Travis and Kista.

Alex and the four homemakers, (Chris, Kay, Kim, and Kista) all did a wonderful job on the dinner. It was the Grosshans and Williams traditions in combination that had every palate pleased and each stomach in pain from the levels of consumption taking place. Competition was fierce too with the large number of heavy eaters in the crowd and so few delicious candied yams to go round.

Even after all the hard work, Alex and the women got up at four am the next day to beat the crowds in the phenomenon known as Black Friday! This is a scary undertaking to say the least where shoppers risk life and limb to save outrageous amounts on their favorite items.

Scott and his Winchester X3, wins the award for best gun.

Scott attended 'Black Fridays' at Cabelas one year for a meat grinder and was able to save some 75% of the $100 regular price! The group on this trip arrived with several good buys and they all seemed exhausted but with a hint of accomplishment. The money they saved should allow much more cheer under the trees on that special day.

Alex, Kim, and Kista watching the boob tube.

Kimberly, practicing for a modeling career.

Later that night, Kimberly would realize that her older brother Jesse, is the most skilled beer pong player she has ever seen, and she has seen a lot! Travis was the current champion whose skills were developed in garages, basements, and even the occasional kitchen table, over the last few years. For this type of domination to take place on the first game is either beginners luck or pure talent. Only the future holds the answer, because everyone was too tired to continue!

A view of the Lodge from the highway.

The Lodge is a marvelous place overlooking Lake Sharpe, with beautiful views at sunrise and the occasional deer or pheasant to greet you. The group was in awe over Kurt’s creation. Everyone would love to come back again and again. No one wanted to leave and the place sure felt empty when we did. Sure you could stay at a hotel, but nothing beats waking up in the morning with a beautiful lake and 14 foot ceilings all in clad in wood as you prepare for a hunt. That’s heaven.

Aaron, Adam, Doug and Jesse taking a breather.

Scott and Trav with their tallies.

Adam with his loot.

"The Twins"
Rick, putting his shoes on. Doug, eating his favorite breakfast,Biscuits and Gravy.

Adam - Elmer Fudd's long lost cousin

Adam, dreaming of a new rabbit-fur hat or maybe slippers.

Adam and Aaron.

Adam, Travis, Jesse and Aaron

Thanks Kurt, from all of us. We had a great time. And a special thanks to Rick, Doug, Chris and Kay for all the hard work to make this happen!

2008-11-07T22:31:00.000-08:00

Into The Wild

(Appendix, 6)

I. Overview

Sometimes true stories make the best films. This was definitely the case for the film, “Into the Wild.” Chris McCandless Led a life of responsibility and structure until graduating from Emory University in 1990. He then gave away his reaming college savings of $24,000 that was originally given by his parents, to OXFAM International. He hit the road and left behind worldly possessions during a journey around North America.

During school he was an excellent student and graduated Emory with honors as well as a successful athletic career. In high school he was the cross country captain and motivated his teammates to run against the corrupt ways of society. He had a younger sister and the two were the result of an affair that would later turn into a troubled marriage. They had siblings from their father’s previous marriage whose existence was kept secret for many years. The parents were very successful yet could not find happiness together. They offered to send Chris to Harvard with a new car so he could continue his education before he left.

II. The Story

1. A Summary

He started heading west with $500 in his pocket and ended up in Lake Mead, Arizona in July. He was in a flash flood rendering his car useless so he left it. He spent time in Northern California and hooked up with a hippie couple traveling on the road for a while before heading to Eastern South Dakota in September. He worked for a farmer there before heading back to the Southwest. Along the way he kayaked a section of the Colorado that was against the law and followed the river all the way to Mexico where it cascaded into a maze of irrigation canals. He met up with the hippie couple again in an old torn down military facility called ‘slab city’ just north of Mexicali in December of 91. The next encounter was during a stay in the Anza Borrego Desert in New Mexico. He met an old widower who tried to influence Chris into staying. He was un-swayed and the man offered all the help he could to get him to Alaska despite his disposition. In March of 92 he finally set out for Alaska.

2. A Cold Trail

Police notified his parents in September of 91 that they had found Chris’ car and believed it was abandoned, giving hope that he was still alive. They hired a private detective to find him but it was too late. Chris had given up all forms of identification and was going by a different name coined by the 1908 novel, Autobiography of a Super-Tramp, written by William Henry Davies, one of his favorite authors. His new self proclaimed name was Alexander Supertramp.

3. Change of Heart

During a stay in L.A. he seems to have a change of heart about the whole situation. He is harassed at the border about not having any i.d. and later asks a desk clerk at a mission about the method of acquiring one. He then asks for a bed as well and checks in under his alias, Alexander Supertramp. After checking in he leaves for unknown reasons and stops outside of a bar to gaze upon the socialites. He sees a young man in a suit and tie and envisions him as himself. This yuppie version he sees motivates him the way he was motivated by his parent’s offer of a new car. He promptly checks out of the mission and never looks back. He had talked to each person he met about someday going to Alaska to live in the wild and referred to it as an ‘Alaskan Odyssey.’

(Appendix, 7)

4. The Last Interaction

A man named James Gallien gave Chris a ride from Fairbanks, Alaska in April of 1992 to the head of Stamped Trail where he set out on his adventure. Chris found an abandoned bus along the trail near Denali National Park where he stayed for approximately 200 days. His supplies included a .22 caliber rifle, 10lbs of rice, a book on local flora and fauna, limited camping supplies, and a pair of rubber boots given to him by Gallien. The bus was left by a mining company in the 50’s as a hunting outpost.

(Appendix, 3)

5. The End

After a few months of fulfilling his ‘Odyssey,’ he began to hike back and was stopped by a much higher waters in the river that what he previously passed. He was now locked in with winter approaching. Shortly after this he passed away in late August. Hunters found his body after a couple weeks and it weighed only 67 lbs. The cause of death is thought to be starvation yet a few other theories exist such as the one in the movie with the poisonous potato root. During his time there he kept a journal and the last entry included a poem by Robinson Jeffers torn from its publication, titled "Wise Men in Their Bad Hours":

Death's a fierce meadowlark: but to die having made
Something more equal to centuries
Than muscle and bone, is mostly to shed weakness.
The mountains are dead stone, the people
Admire or hate their stature, their insolent quietness,
The mountains are not softened or troubled
And a few dead men's thoughts have the same temper.

This gives the impression he realized that he made a mistake and added to the poem, "I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!"

In addition to this there was a note on the bus that read;
“S.O.S. I need your help. I am injured, near death, and too weak to hike out of here. I am all alone, this is no joke. In the name of God, please remain to save me. I am out collecting berries close by and shall return this evening. Thank you, Chris McCandless. August?”

Map of Chris’ Journey
(Appendix, 1)

III. Society

1. Chris’ View

Chris was an intelligent man, and could see the under pinning’s of society and how we have become our own victim. There are so many things wrong with it that no one can pretend to have answers. Everyone who goes about their life in ignorance and obliviousness to what has taken place in the past that enables them to enjoy their life style, adds fuel to a fire of disdain for someone troubled by this irony. Many of these things happened long ago but are similar to events such as the war on terrorism and global warming that continue to take place.

2. Environmental Problems

The environmental issues we face today are being brought to our attentions more and more everyday. Global warming is the main topic used as a catalyst for gaining attention, but the underlying issues causing the problem, are far from new. Recycling has been taught in the school systems for at least two decades now and little to no actions are being taken towards this lifestyle change. Consumerism is higher here than anywhere else in the world and the way of life in regards to pace, gets faster and faster every year. The result of this pace is similar to government spending, in that each creates more numerous and much bigger problems. The population has doubled in the last fifty years creating an even greater need for conservation and an eco-minded government. The only likely way to change the current throw-away society mindset is by creating policy and enforcing it requiring recycling and similar steps towards reducing harmful effects of society towards the environment.

3. War

The current war on terror has damaged the opinion of the U.S. on the forefront as well as worldwide. George W. Bush said the reason for the invasion of Iraq was that they possessed “Weapons of Mass Destruction.” No such weapons were found and many people question his true intentions and disprove of US involvement. Many people believe that a person vendetta of revenge was at the root of the strike. Both George Sr. and Jr. went to war in the Middle East and many believe it’s due to their financial interests such as oil. Nonetheless, terrorism has decreased since the beginning of ‘The War on Terror,’ but the cost in USD is higher than any other war to date and the current objective has now turned into determining if the newly arranged democracy is stable enough to withdrawal from. People have begun to lose faith in the purpose of the current war and favor an immediate withdrawal.

A. A New Found Patriotism

For soldiers who lost their life and those injured, it is unfair to them that the purpose and reason for this war has become obsolete. When 911 took place the country united and came together in a way that may not be rivaled in the last century (other than actions such as the labor Unions forming after the Depression). The unity is starting to fail though due to the current presidential campaign pitting everyone against each other in a near 50/50 split on what action is best. The current recession has now taken lead in the debate topics though with everyone worried about

4. The Recession

Historically speaking, the current economic situation isn’t that bad. As a society we have become spoiled and accustomed to a way of life that makes us inflexible and reluctant to adapt to change. Everyone is looking for an easy way out and the government is being proactive in their involvement by bailing out many financial institutions reflecting a socialist type of policy rather than a democracy. China has seen this action as a weakness of capitalism and many now fear that the system will not work there.

Americans need to buckle down and the government needs to let the economy right itself. One of the major models of capitalism shows that there will be a depression occurring every 70 years and this one is right on schedule. The current Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, spent the majority of his life studying the Great Depression, how it happened and why; yet shortly after being appointed the economy is headed into another one. Not to say that is his fault, it just shows that the fate of our economy is beyond the control of government. The National Debt continues to skyrocket and with the major bailouts taking place, it is getting even worse.

5. Conclusion

There is definitely a snowball effect in place here that even global warming cannot stop! The fate of this nation cannot be predicted but no one seems to care what happens. The same downward spiral happens in Washington no matter what party is governing, and meanwhile you have other countries looking at the U.S. as a role model of success. Both of the current candidates preach about how each has Roosevelt mentality, one Teddy and the other Franklin. The two Roosevelt’s were presidents during much more optimistic times when it was possible to make a positive influence on the future. Today, a president has the ability to make positive influences, but only if it’s in the interest of those who pay the bills. Most special interest groups that are involved with environmental issues don’t have the right type of pull or enough notoriety in the White House to make a substantial difference.

It seems the only time a change is made is when it becomes a necessity. This isn’t how either of the Roosevelt’s worked. Everything today seems to be about popularity and is probably a byproduct of the democratic system. China is emerging as a new free-market society and will eventually be the new world economic leader. The U.S. cannot sustain it’s over consumption and greedy lifestyle at the current level for long because there will be no one to bail us out.

Perhaps something will happen that brings about a time of unity like never before and possibly a level of positive change that inspires hope and security for new generations.

IV. Chris McCandless’ ‘Alaskan Odyssey’

1. Motivation

While there is much to concern someone today about the U.S. society as a whole, during the events in the film there wasn’t much to rebel against. The problems he faced were mostly on a personal and on an emotional level. He did see faults in modern society, but he mainly blamed the mainstream materialism for the corruption of society. His distaste for this is shown many times, but perhaps the best examples are the suit and tie version of himself that he envisions at the bar L.A. and the dissatisfaction he displays when his parents offer to buy him a new car.

He was an idealist who decided that rebellion was the answer. Many people feel powerless towards the current socio-problems in the world and take no stand. Chris’s stand was that he would not give in to it. This was the ultimate freedom. He was happiest without money and altered human contact with times of solitude. The authors that influenced him, Jack London, Leo Tolstoy, William Henry Davies and Henry David Thoreau, inspired these actions greatly.

2. Planning

When James Gallien picked up Chris outside of Fairbanks, he noted the small amount of gear that he carried. The idea was to live in the wild for a few months and Gallien wondered about the sanity of Chris and the intentions of the trip. Perhaps Chris was just another impulsive Jack London fan wanting to live out a half-baked fantasy he thought. After three hours with Chris he decided to help him in anyway possible. He had this power over everyone he met.

While in South Dakota he got advice for smoking meat in non-traditional ways to the Alaskan wilderness that failed him when he killed a moose. He described the event in his journal as the greatest tragedy of his life.

A. McCandless Phenomenon

After the media attention, a Ranger in the area reported about what he calls the ‘McCandless Phenomenon.’ Mostly young men who travel to the area to test their will in an unforgiving area where rescue is unlikely and locations are not easily accessed. He claims that Chris’s planning was ridiculous mainly due to the fact that he didn’t even have a map. There is a tram that crosses the river just ¼ mile away that would have saved his life. He also criticizes the lack of general knowledge Chris had about the area and ultimately that he committed suicide.

This is one of the issues that people have with the movie, afraid it will cause similar tragedies. Chris should have known better but was perhaps overconfident and caught up in the moment. He had decided on fulfilling his vision and convinced himself that it was possible.

Since the movie there has been a wave of visitors to the area who wish to visit the bus at pay homage to McCandless. Although some see him as young and irresponsible, many view him as a renegade or even a profit.

3. Sense of Adventure

Everyone has a side of Chris in themselves. Few indulge the desires that he did but many wish they could. The grind of everyday life can wear on anyone and is a reason for vacations, parties, and the like. Chris wasn’t able to find that inner peace that everyone seeks. For him, inner peace was only to be found in Alaska where it was up to him to survive without the comforts of modern life. Jon Krakauer, author of the 1996 best-selling book, Into the Wild, supports Chris with the notion that there are no formal rights of passage in modern day society and could be to blame for Chris’s ‘Alaskan Odyssey,’ and that he could not be content without full filling such a feat.

(Appendix, 5)

V. Reviews

1. Pros and Cons

Given that this is a true story, it has gained a lot of criticism. If it were just a fictional story, it could be easy dismissed by viewers. The fact that Chris had every opportunity in life and a very supportive set of parents has views split nearly fifty-fifty. There is the side that praises the film and the idea of soul searching and sees only the joy that Chris experienced along his travels and the other side seeing all the wasted opportunity.

The film is captivating and the scenery is beautiful and ever-changing. The characters he encounters are all very colorful and his adventures are unforgettable, and he is likeable in a way that draws compassion. It seems as though he knows what he’s doing in the way of self fulfillment and that he is in complete control.

The control is lost however when he reaches Alaska. This is the point that draws the most criticism as there were several foolish mistakes made. The first and most noted by locals is the existence of a tram across the river near his camp. Many people feel that he died a reckless and self-righteous death that could be harmfully inspirational to young people. The Alaskan bush is a very dangerous place and he set out into it without even taking a map. He also wanted to live off the land yet he stayed in a bus with a stove and mattress.

There is very little to no empathy that circulates within the crowd of critics. When investigated, his trip into the Alaskan wild was not very well prepared. His efforts were not enough either. Many feel he wouldn’t have made it without the bus and are appalled that he never tried to fish in the nearby river.

2. Positive Evidence

The diaries that he left behind are the only insight anyone has to his true intentions. He seemed to be making progress only towards the very end. After 189 days, he decided to leave but was blocked by the higher waters of the Teklanika River. This coupled with help from the family members in the making of the movie, alludes to the fact that closure could have been possible.

(Appendix, 4)

3. Family Communication

Heavy criticism also comes from those who would love to have the opportunity to go to Harvard with a brand new car to boot. His parents loved him despite any relationship problems and so did his sister. It seems unfair to them, to leave without contact or at least an idea of what he was doing. He never seemed to address the underlying issues involving his family either. His disposition on society was the same way. Instead of fighting, he just decided to run from it. Many people view his actions after college as cowardice, childish, and foolish. He was unfair to his family as well as all of the people he could have influenced in a more positive manner.

There is only one moment where Chris attempts to reach out to his sister but instead gives up his quarter to a man who seems to have more urgent problems. This symbolizes a full commitment to solving whatever turmoil exists within him on his own. There is a notion that his problems have not justified his pain giving reason to continue his travels.

A. Unfair Punishment

He did not put any effort into mending his differences between his parents and alienated his sister who cared deeply for him. A lot of people don’t understand how parents who offer to send their child to Harvard could be treated so unfairly. It was almost as if Chris blamed materialism for his relationship problems or was upset that his parents couldn’t see his distain for that way of life.

VI. Chris’ Mentality

It seemed to be Chris’s goal to be immersed in nature similar to the stories by Jack London with only himself and no society to interfere with personal insight. Even in modern society where everything is readily available, people brave the elements for activities in nature such as hunting and fishing, generally as a pastime. Genetically, survival is in our blood and Chris felt confident that he could handle anything. This story signifies the feeling of many young American’s who seek emotional fulfillment rather than financial.

(Appendix, 2)

VII. Grizzly Man

Another current controversial movie that has attracted similar attention is ‘Grizzly Man.’ a true documentary showing a man camping in the wilderness near a group of bears who claims to have developed a relationship with them. Over time he interacts with them and it seems that he has gained their trust and confidence. There is one bear that gives him a hard time and tension is visible towards the man. Un-phased, Timothy Treadwell continues to try and evolve the relationship.

After five years of documenting his experiences, Treadwell and his girlfriend were killed and eaten by a bear. The producer of the movie explains that Treadwell had a death wish towards the end and nearly everyone who sees the footage feels the same. Not unlike McCandless, Treadwell felt confident in his actions and expressed in a convincing way that he had in fact developed a strong bond with the animals.

IIX. Irony

During his travel Chris has to take up employment to raise money for his trip contradicting his earlier actions of giving away his savings and burning the remaining cash. His whole adventure that he plans seems to be about living off of the land and self growth until he finds the bus. Staying in the shelter seems to contradict his goals and makes it seem that he is hiding from society. Nevertheless, he was showing promising signs that he could return to society and that he made peace with himself in the end before he was blocked by the river.

(Appendix, 8)

IX. Conclusion

1. Purpose of the ‘Alaskan Odyssey’

All in all this is a story of epic proportions. Although it ultimately is centered on one man, the scale of experiences is astounding. From the suburban streets that lead to Harvard, to the relentless Alaskan wild, Chris McCandless journeys to find inner joy so trying only to live a life of happiness. Leaving his family and changing lives along the way, he gives up his worldly possessions in hopes of finding higher meaning. What he finds is a bus that housed him during his last months while he was alone for miles in the Alaskan wilderness.

2. Troubled Soul

Chris was a wonderful person who was very intelligent as well. It is unfortunate that not for a lack of trying that anyone he encountered couldn’t instill a felling of self-worth inside of him. They were all drawn to him due to his kind nature and mysteriousness. He portrayed in a sense that he was troubled, yet always had a knack of putting others first by putting his feelings aside allowing relationships to blossom. In a way he always knew how to fix the lives of those around him while ironically, running away from his own.

3. Martyrdom

In the end he paid the ultimate price to find sanctuary. People can criticize him for his actions and/or the way the story is portrayed, but the fact is that it was his choice to do what he did. Questions and doubt remain about what could have been had he not set out on the road. His intentions were not to perish but to return and possibly write a book about the adventure. He did not ever take into account that it could cost him his life only that it would give him a better understanding of himself and life.

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Appendix

________

1.Image from the book Into the Wild (1996), by Jon Krakauer.
2.Self Portrait of Chris that was taken in the summer of 1992. The film was undeveloped and found in his camera.
3.The actual bus where Chris stayed in the summer of 1992. 63°51′36.13″N 149°24′50.62″W
4.Photo taken by James Gallien on Tuesday, April 28, 1992 before Chris trekked into the wild.
5.Self Portrait taken after shooting a porcupine.
6.Phot from official movie cover of Into the Wild.
7.Screen capture from the film Into the Wild, of Emile Hirsch as Chris McCandless in the Colorado River
8.Screen capture from the film Into the Wild, of Emile Hirsch in Alaska.

Israeli Film - Comparison

2008-11-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

The Band’s Visit (2007) & The Syrian Bride (2004)

The Syrian Bride and The Band’s Visit, are two films that originate from the same region and deal with similar issues in different ways. Israel is the setting for both films, political problems have isolated it from neighboring countries and they disrupt the lives of people inside and outside of the border. Several examples are shown in each film dealing with border disputes, cultural barriers, and political turmoil. The area filmed includes Egypt, Syria, as well as Israel, and shows views of people breaking political, social, and religious barriers with bonds formed on intimate social levels.

In The Band’s Visit, an Egyptian Police Orchestra is on its way to Petach Tikva, Israel when communication problems put them on a bus to a small town somewhere in the Israeli desert. Upon arrival, Tewfig (The Conductor) asks the first local (Dina) if there is an Arab Cultural Center? She says no and he asks, “No Arabic Cultural Center?” She responds with, “No culture. Not Israeli culture, not Arabic…no culture at all!”

There is an atmosphere of desolation and the place looks like it has been cut off from society. The town as well as the highway leading away from it is virtually empty with no life; similar to the members of the band in regards to the mood they create. The town is probably a by-product of an emerging market society in urban areas and is likely to have high unemployment, crime, and just plain boredom as displayed in the film.

The band decides to stay the night when Dina explains that it is no trouble to take them in. As the eight members of the band spend time with the local Israeli people, awkward situations of prolonged silence are the norm. Egypt and Israel were enemies until a peace treaty in 1979 and now these people struggle to find common ground. There is no real tension that develops between anyone and relationships begin to grow slowly throughout the story. The relations spawn from common bonds of humanity as everyone becomes a person; not a band member, a father, or a dinner owner, throughout the experiences shared together.

The arrival of the band was exciting and music is carefully threaded into the story in a sparing effort that proves to be a meaningful tool in defining the characters as well as connecting them. It seems to be a last resort in situations where all else fails in holding conversations. There are several scenes where this is the case although the band members never use it as a crutch. They also never seem proud of their mission or talents, except perhaps for Tewfig, who carries the responsibility as the commanding officer. Modesty is shown by all of them including Tewfig, possibly with the occasional exception of the young ladies-man, Haled. The band is shown as proud and disciplined during the concert and before hand when Tewfig gives a speech about honor and integrity in representing their country.

Ultimately language barriers were the cause for the delay and cultural differences were all but nonexistent over a period of time. 75 miles northeast of Petach Tikvan, in the Golan Heights, cultural differences have led to a forty year territory dispute as a result of the Six year war. Druze living in the area are not allowed to vote unless they assume Israeli citizenship, and they are not allowed back into the country if they travel to Syria. In Syrian Bride, a young woman plans to leave Golan Heights to marry another Druze who lives in Syria, a man she has never met. Once she crosses the border, she will not be allowed to return to Israel where her family lives. This story is a reminder to those who are not faced with such persecution that it still exists in many forms and affects lives everyday.

Actual Druze wedding similar to The Syrian Bride
yalibnan.com/.../2007/03/just_like_syria_1.php

Current border disputes between Israel and Syria have placed the bride and her family in a bad situation. She sits behind a gate that cannot be opened while the groom and his family wait on the other side, all of whom she has never met. Details of new passport stamps bring about uncertainty with the local authority, placing a delay on the wedding. Each family has gathered for the ceremony, the hours grow late, and the evening is approaching. It’s a Thursday afternoon and no one with proper authority to give clearance is anywhere near a desk when called upon. Tensions grow high with the threat of postponing until the next day, and are only compounded because of the bride’s situation of not being able to return to her country once she leaves.

The six day in 1967 war has left the Golan Heights in a state of turmoil. The 100,000 Druze who fled the Golan area for refuge, were not allowed to return after the war. Israel inhabited the area directly after and occupies it to this day. Controversy also remains today with both sides negotiating deals and U.S. involvement to encourage a settlement. Israeli citizenship is offered in the area although the majority of Druze refuse, rendering themselves ineligible voters.

Early there was a protest going on in the Bride’s town and the amount of political tension in the area is seen when the father of the bride joins in the protest risking severe legal penalties due to a salty past. One of her brothers shows up with his family at the same time and the cab driver makes them walk from a distance to avoid possible vandalism to his vehicle from the protesters. The couple hasn’t visited yet since marriage eight years ago due to the fact that she is Russian and not a Druze. Marrying a non-Druze is discouraged for political, religious, and historical reasons and conversion into the faith is not allowed. The father refuses to engage his son and his wife in the beginning. At the border he forgives his son after he saves him from being arrested. The moment allows the father to see his son as a man, and successful lawyer, not just a rebellious son.

While at the border, the father speaks through a megaphone to converse with another son on the other side. The son is attending college in Syria, probably due to the free tuition. Soldiers on each side of the border seem completely ignorant to the wedding and fairly laid-back in regard to composure. The only real tension on either side is within the wedding party. The imagery of men standing on hillsides above the border fences with megaphones as their only means to communicate makes this political dispute look in-humane. The separation is not one of dangerous criminals but rather innocent people. The wedding also achieves the same feeling, especially considering what the bride is sacrificing just to cross the border. The groom was also celebrating with song and dance near the gates in front of militia with friends and family creating a strong contrast in surroundings.

The female U.N. official is the only sign of humanity at the border. She showed compassion for the family and employed everyone she could in an attempt to rectify the situation. She was appalled by the actions of local officials who would not overlook such a small detail, signs of tensions or prejudice that still lingers from the war.

The movies are each about the triumph over underlying issues and the bonds shared by humanity that allow feelings of compassion, trust, and friendship to disregard these issues. They don’t emphasize agendas and ideology, but rather display them in a way that shows the human desire to look past these things in an effort to enjoy life. While the band waited in front of the dinner for their bus, a sense of general acceptance is also shown. This is seen by the groom in Syrian Bride, when he talks to the bride with the megaphone. He doesn’t seem anxious anymore about the situation. The bride displays the same emotion when she walks towards the Syrian border after coming to terms with the situation as well.

Many barriers are broken in the films including cultural, religious, and political. Characters are put into uncomfortable situations that require adaptation and flexibility. New relationships emerge and traditions are modified or coupled with new and old. The area in general is reluctant to give up its past. Israel is a place of political unrest and change is slow to come in the Golan Heights. With Syrian opportunities creating immigration from the area and international involvement with the border disputes, it’s only a matter of time before a compromise will be made. For now citizens are faced with uncompromising decisions and only hope of resolution.

Yesterday (2004)

2008-10-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday

The AIDS epidemic has become one of the greatest problems in modern day society. In this film, the audience is shown a family struggle with the HIV virus. It’s a common scenario where the husband is in the nearest mine working while the mother and daughter live in a Zulu village in the rural countryside. The nearest healthcare clinic is half a day’s walk. Yesterday is sick and it takes several attempts, each resulting in a rejection, before a friend arranges for a van to take her. She quickly learns that HIV is the problem.

Yesterday travels to the mine where her husband works to give him the news. After she tells him, he beats her for several minutes while a security guard looks the other way completely un-concerned. The two return home together and are avoided by the local villagers whom are like family. The people talk about not letting their kids play near them and much discomfort is felt by everyone.

Surprisingly, no one in the village seems to know that AIDS is transmitted mainly during sex. The women are awestruck during an educational seminar dealing with related issues to the disease. Even after the seminar there is a lot of tension felt by Yesterday from other villagers.

AIDS has been recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1981. Since then it has been a large concern across the globe. It’s hard to believe that there are people who don’t know about it in the most influenced region in the world. In Johannesburg, businesses have free condoms in the place where you might expect to find candy if you’re a westerner. The fact is that the population growth is rapidly approaching 0% and life expectancy is only 49 and it is dropping. There will probably be negative growth numbers for South Africa as well as many northern neighboring countries. Political folly is part of the problem while crime and poverty are also major factors.

Education is the best defense for this disease and it’s no coincidence that poor economies with low educational standards are home to massive outbreaks. Since the inception of the ANC, progress is being made towards public awareness. It’s just too bad that this couldn’t have happened sometime sooner. Just the idea of an apartheid system until 1994 is hard to conceive.
Organizations such as the National AIDS Co-ordination Program (NACP), have been set up but delayed for years due to political reasons. The NCAP in Zimbabwe was developed in 1987; there was no national policy written until 1997! Current education efforts include teaching from grade school and up. Public seminars and advertisements as well as condom distribution is common. President Bush also signed for a $15 billion dollar plan that will aim to prevent 7 million new infections as well as treat two million. The plan will also provide for orphans and people who need financial assistance that are affected by HIV/AIDS.

1000 deaths occur everyday because of this disease and the entire Southern part of Africa is suffering heavily from it. Education is the main weapon to control this pandemic. This was one of the main points of the movie after Yesterday returned to the village. Her name is also perhaps symbolic of a way of life that is disappearing in this region. Her father explained to her and her daughter that he used to run through the countryside like a leopard. At that time he could only take a few steps under his own power displaying the irony upon him.

In reality, mineworkers are one of the most at risk groups categorized alongside prostitutes. Drastic measures are needed today so that this region as well as the world, has a chance to win the fight against AIDS. Ideally it could be contained over time and careful measures could prevent anyone carrying it into future generations. For now it will continue to devastate the lives of the 5 million or more in South Africa alone that are infected.

The movie showed a very realistic story that probably takes place time and time again. People are dying horrible and painful deaths from this disease in profound numbers most without adequate care. The clinic was also typical and added a nice example of reason for the current rise in infections. Schools are not to unlike the clinic although nothing is really addressed in the film. An antiquated way of life has been displayed that struggles to maintain form amongst a world of contempt, as Yesterday continues to smile and hold out hope for her daughter as villagers turn away from her.

TSOTSI!

2008-10-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

The film starts out in a way that glamorizes Tsotsi’s way of life as a criminal. After the murder took place, the rhythm started to change into one of soullessness except for the upset Boston who is quickly disciplined by Tsotsi. Reality is soon brought back into the picture when Tsotsi realizes that there is a baby in the back seat of the car he had just stolen for joyriding.

Crime in South Africa has become a growing concern in the last several years. A current trend of emigration has begun from the cities to suburban areas that have proven safer and have been modified for this purpose. Johannesburg is the leader in this trend and is used as the setting for the film. The young boys travel to the city from their nearby township to perfom crimes. Even closer than the city, is a typical gated community where many commuting middle-class citizens are common targets in the current crime wave.

This photo illustrates a current township approximately 10 miles from downtown Johannesburg. The houses near the bottom are typical of the area and actually surround the above township. These scenarios are common throughout the city and allow easy access for criminal activity.

Crime rates in South Africa are high and rivaled by very few locations. “This country is one of the three most dangerous in the world, including Iraq and Columbia. Every day, more than 300 murders and violent attacks take place (BBC, 2007).” Murder rates here gather negative attention worldwide and the numbers have been a major concern since the seventies. It was thought that the first multi-racial elections held in 1994 would lessen the increasing crime, but it had no impact. The removal of the apartheid government was a positive action for the country regardless of the crime rates as it has allowed for more economic opportunity for many.

Economic factors are the root of most crimes and are committed mainly, by young males like Tsotsi and his friends. There is a high level of desperation felt by young men in poverty-stricken areas especially when 3 out of 4 deaths for 15-49 year olds are due to AIDS. These factors play a big part in persuading youth to commit crimes. There are also many organized crime cells throughout the country similar to the automobile chop-shop shown in Tsotsi’s village making it easier to become involved in criminal activity. Competition for honest work is high and many people end up in dangerous mining jobs that have high accident rates. Mining entities have just recently begun to make conscious efforts towards safer working environments throughout the last decade.

Perhaps the worst crime of all is rape. It’s the most frequent and contributes greatly to the number of AIDS cases, thus compounding its severity. Approximately 1 in 2 women will be raped in South Africa and 30% of adolescents experience this act as their first sexual encounter. Part of the problem is the male disposition and another is that only about 30% of all cases are reported, with only 15% of those ending in a conviction. The result is only four to five convictions for every one hundred reports.

Ultimately the rape issue is becoming larger here than any other country and is even worse due to the AIDS epidemic. The rate of 300 violent attacks including homicide, takes place on a daily basis. The number is staggering, but is overshadowed by the 1,000 deaths every day due to AIDS. The current population is just under 49 million and the growth rate is rapidly approaching .0% with more than 10% of the total population infected with HIV.

Three out of four deaths associating with middle aged citizens are because of AIDS. Several negative by-products are related to this situation. Many wage-earners pass away leaving behind families with no means to support themselves financially, elderly people are left behind by a younger generation with no one to care for them, and thousands of children become orphaned. The rate of orphans has been on a rapid rise for years reaching 1.4 million recently. Tsotsi was an AIDS orphan who had to fend for himself, and there was an example of young orphans like him when he visited the concrete pipes he lived in as a child.

The current life expectancy for males and females alike is around 49 due mainly to AIDS. Most people attend more funerals than weddings and rarely go two weeks without attending at least one. This trend is leading to a decline in population while most countries such as the U.S. have seen numbers double in the last fifty years. Area government has just recently begun to take action regarding AIDS. The movie addressed a similar division that still exists today regarding law enforcement. The scene where police describe Tsotsi’s township as a place where finding a stolen car is impossible, let alone a stolen baby. The problem here was a lack of communication and respect for government authority. South African action came late to addressing the issue of AIDS due to the apartheid that was finally dispersed in the 1990’s, nearly fifty years since inception. The newly appointed, ANC (African National Congress), addressed the issue quickly and proactively and now has the respect of its nations’ citizens.

The word Tsotsi actually means ‘gangster’ or ‘thug,’ and he was shown in several different ways. The two collages that Miriam had made seem to symbolize the two different sides of him that are portrayed. One is rough and weathered while the other is bright and colorful. Without the baby, Tsotsi resembles the rough weathered collage and when he has the baby, he is warm and caring. He asked Miriam what her motivation was for each and she simply said it was feelings of sadness for one and happiness for the other.

Tsotsi’s sense of curiosity was shown while he was with the man in the wheelchair. He was rude towards him early on, but compassionate towards the end. His humane side was shown the morning after he had taken the baby. When it came time to feed and change it, he went to great lengths to comfort the infant. His actions gradually changed as well leading away from a corrupt life into ultimately making responsible decisions. This is similar to the ANC’s approach to the AIDS epidemic.

All in all, the film does a nice job of portraying individuals who commit crimes as likable or at least understandable. The current issues facing this region are addressed in a way that relates people in different classes on new levels. Overall, the movie speaks for a generation that is mainly a victim of circumstance.

Middle of the Earth

2008-10-28T16:06:00.000-07:00

The Middle of the Earth - 2003

This film takes place in Brazil starting in the sate of Paraiba where one family sets out en route to Rio de Janeiro for better economic opportunity. The opening scene takes place in front of a sign that reads, ‘Middle of the Earth’ due to the location on the equator being 0’ Latitude. The family ponders the meaning and the audience is shown their innocence as well as general character as they set off on the road.

(Middle of the World)

Poverty is the focus of this movie and the struggle to survive that one particular family must endure in the search for economic security. The father is a righteous man with high standards and only requests enough income that will be sufficient in feeding his family. He believes that the late Father Cicero, a famous local priest, will grant him salvation in the form of steady work when they arrive at Rio de Janeiro, after completion of a superstitious ritual involving the statue of the priest. 2000 miles of road separate Him and his family from the city so he collects four bicycles and they set off. The family’s journey to prosperity proves long and dangerous with famine a common occurrence.

(Singing to the locals to raise money)

Although poverty is the main focus, seen on a larger scale when the family arrives to visit the Statue of Father Cicero, it is approached in a romantic way that portrays the family as calm and collected without negative emotions. The only one who is different is the hormone-bound Antonio, who struggles to break out of boyhood to become a man. When the family arrives in Rio de Janeiro, hundreds of people line up to kiss the statue and there is almost a sense of pandemonium due to the crowd of people.

Violence and other issues such as illegal deforestation are not addressed in the film. Statistically Brazil ranks as one of the top countries for violent crime and has been compared to war zones by the media. Figures of 150 deaths each day in 2006 actually exceeded some combat zones at the time. Neighboring Columbia is said to be one of the top three most dangerous countries in the world including South Africa and Iraq.

The controversy of deforestation is shared by different countries including Brazil. South America is home to 40% of the world’s total rainforest, the Amazon. Although the majority of the Amazon is located in Brazil, it stretches into eight other countries to the north and west. Current logging and slash & burn farming are taking a toll on the forests. It is hard to glance at current satellite images of the area without seeing several highly affected areas. A popular place used as a common example of this is the state of Rondonia, just north of Bolivia. Currently an area of approximately 30,000 square miles has been cleared in this state alone. Slash and burn farming techniques employed by natives, have been destroying the rainforests for decades now with little progress made in the name of prevention. Even in places where logging is banned, middle management easily makes it look legitimate in order to turn profits.

Google Earth has an example of this outlawed logging in a layer called ‘Global Awareness; Greenpeace.’ (Greenpeace = sub layer) What makes this issue so important is that the soil being exposed isn’t capable of sustaining crops for more than a few years forcing a revolving ‘rob Peter to pay Paul’ scenario.

(The line represents 300 miles. El Beni is to the south with another larger area.)

The trip is a modern day version of the Oregon Trail. Although less eventful than most of the actual trip taken across the great plains of North America in the 1850’s, it took the same amount of time and covered about the same distance. The family only ran into real trouble one time when Antonio, was cut for defending his mother in an effort to prove his bravery and manhood to his father. This trip in reality could prove to have far worse consequences due to the amount of crime in the region.

Singapore Dreaming - The 5C's

2008-10-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

Singapore Dreaming (2006)

This film takes place in the city-state of Singapore in modern, Southeast Asia. It’s a story about a man’s life that is drastically changed when he wins S$2 million in the lottery. He works as a repo-man and is in a nicer house than his assessing what needs to be repossessed, and the next day he is deciding what top-dollar condominium to buy. Winning the lottery was his dream and he showed a great deal of excitement when his son picked numbers for the upcoming jackpot. He also had newspaper clippings of the lottery drawings and ads for new condos and sports cars that he would buy if he ever won. Ironically he passes away a few days after winning, before an interview at a prestigious country club.

The local culture is portrayed well with a mixture of dialect that includes Singlish, English, Mandarin, Hokkien. The official languages for the country are English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. English is used the most in the country, is taught in the schools, and it acts as a cultural bridge. Singlish is the combination of English and other dialects and is a common throughout this film. The level of diversity is not rivaled by many other places and is due mainly in part to unrestricted immigration during the 1800’s. There are many different races of people with language becoming the last thread that connects the current population with their heritage. Although English is becoming the most widely used and accepted of all the languages, it is customary for children to learn native dialects from their mothers.

Singapore has been a strong economic force in the world today and for the last several decades. It is included as one of the four Asian Tigers along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan. These four countries had the most impressive development rates since WWII and influenced trade routes significantly. Singapore is known for having the busiest port in the world with 1.15 Billion tons shipped from in 2005 alone. This amount increased the prior year’s amount and previous world record by 10%. The country has maintained this lead since 1986.

It’s not by coincidence that this city-state has become a known for their port and trading. In 1819, a man by the name of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, landed in Singapore and realized the potential as a possible trading location. He quickly signed a treaty with Sultan Hussein Shah to enable British trade. The British would soon take over the island thanks to John Crawfurd who got the sultan to sign another treaty giving the island over to the British. Stamford is remembered and embraced today with a statue at the location of his arrival on the island.

The country is one of the four remaining sovereign city-states in the world. The others include the Vatican City, San Marino, and Monaco. London, Washington D.C., and Hong Kong are the current non-sovereign city-states that exist today. These cities are all unique and represent major influence not only to their countries that they reside in, but also world-wide. Respectively, Singapore and the non-sovereign cities are more known for their roles in a global sense.

The island is located along the southern coast of Malaysia with two man-made connections between each other. There are several small islands around a mainland that is Singapore. This main island is small at approximately 20 x 10 miles and mainly urban. There is a small woodland area near the center with three man-made lakes. The land area has grown, due to conservation efforts made in the 60’s and will continue to grow from its current size of about 250sq miles for years to come. Other than the small section in the center and along the west coast, the island is the textbook definition of a concrete jungle. The city is dense and the coast is littered with shipyards.

The climate is moderate, and temperatures range from 70-90 degrees annually due to the location along the equator. The only real distinct season occurs in November and December when monsoons ravish the area. The annual rainfall is just less than one hundred inches with the majority being received during monsoon season. South East Asia as a whole is the leader in annual rainfall as illustrated in the following map.

There is definitely a superficial trend towards materialism that shows through in this movie. The son nearly attacks the lawyer when he finds out he won’t be receiving any money and the father acted with pride as though he was someone who earned, rather than won, the money. The mother had forgotten who she was after getting married due to ignoring her own needs while being constantly devoted to her family. Her character is the core of the story and symbolizes traditions that are being lost in the fast paced Singaporean lifestyle race, to attain the 5C’s.

Once Were Warriors

2008-10-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

‘Once We Were Warriors’ 1994

The film may come off as offensive to someone of Maori descent as it only portrays a stereotypical type of lifestyle. The story deals with the native heritage in New Zealand and how it meshes with modern everyday life. Many places throughout the world have similar issues that the movie addresses. Violence is common throughout the film, heritage is embraced in many forms (as well as left behind), and the setting is a poverty stricken area of low-rent government housing. There is a hint of positivity in regards to native culture in the end during the funeral, and also when the younger brother learns self-discipline in reform school.

The film portrays a family in the ruff area of South-Auckland, New Zealand. Jake ‘The Muss” is a tuff father, quick to his fists and has earned a reputation that gets him free beer at the local pub. His wife Beth struggles to maintain balance between Jake’s lifestyle and her family values. She also has to taking a beating from her drunken husband Jake, whom her traditional Maori family highly disapproves. The oldest son struggles to find his identity and joins a local gang (TOA), and is seen by his father afterwards who calls the gang losers. During a bar seen Jake says, “You should learn to stand on your own two feet, be more like your father.” The younger brother gets mixed up in trouble, and sent to reform school where learns self discipline and respect. The daughter is raped by a drunken uncle, and later commits suicide after her homeless friend kisses her with no ill-intent, only bad timing.

The Native people to New Zealand came from Polynesia around 1000 A.D. British settlement caused devastation for the Maori people similar the US and Australian Natives. The Maori were alone until the 1800s when British colonization began. They were quickly forced to rural areas and would stay there segregated, until after WWII when they sought work in the cities. One of the main traits associated with the local culture is the Haka dance. It is commonly performed as a war dance with the object of intimidating an adversary. This dance has many other forms and is not gender specific.

The issues faced throughout the film, are similar to those in the US in regards to the Native Americans. Each is a culture is grasping for air as it struggles to carry on its heritage. Violence abounds in low income housing areas and suicide is not uncommon. Alcoholism is at the root of many problems and unemployment is high. This is the case for many Indian Reservations throughout North America.

Rabbit-Proof Fence

2008-10-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

Rabbit-Proof Fence 2002

Although titled “Rabbit-Proof Fence,” the story depicted is that of racial prejudice and oppression. This is a film based on a true story of three young girls, who escaped from a reform-school 1500 miles from their home in Australia. In 1931, three Aboriginal girls, 14-year old Molly, her 8-year old sister Daisy, and their 10-year old cousin Gracie, were taken into government custody due to their half-caste status. Forced into a life they didn’t want, Molly choose to risk solitary confinement and brutal lashings in an effort to return home. She led the other two girls away from the camp towards home. During the trek, Gracie was captured and returned to the camp, but the two sisters made it home after several months of drudgery. They never saw Gracie again.

The girls are part of a group of Australian natives as well as mixed children (half-castes) known as, ‘The Stolen Generation.’ This group consists of young children who were stripped from their families by law enforcement and church missionaries between the years of 1869 and 1969. There were government policies in place that allowed this genocide to take place. Many researchers believe it was a plot to eradicate all the native people, similar to the Nazi plight in regards to the Holocaust.

The first settlers in Australia, one hundred-fifty years prior to the beginning of ‘The Stolen Generation’ era, nearly wiped out the native people with disease similar to what happened in North and South America. Small pox alone killed about 50% of the Aborigines. Before British settlement the population is estimated at 720 thousand, and in 1986 it was 227,593. The current population is 455,028, but Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders only account for 2% of Australia’s overall population.

Newly appointed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, gave an apology speech February 13, of 2008, to try and mend the relationship between the government and those affected by the genocide. There has been a national ‘Sorry Day’ held annually for the last decade, due to pressure from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. This Commission spent 17 months researching and reviewing cases concerning separations and a report called ‘Bringing Them Home’ was released to parliament. Another report, ‘Telling Our Story,’ documented individual cases and is currently available to download online. The first report was sent to parliament and became a major topic of debate. Many felt it was not the responsibility of the current staff to apologize for others’ actions and feared it would open up the door to more and more lawsuits against the country. The national ‘Sorry Day’ and the speech given by P.M. Rudd, are the only major actions of government to reach out to the Native People so far.

The girls used the Rabbit-proof fence to find their way home to Jigalong. It’s the largest fence in the world with the main section reaching from the northern shore to the southern and totaling 1900 miles. It took seven years to complete and multiplied from one into three sections. It proved extremely difficult to maintain due to the harsh landscape and length. The rabbits soon found ways under, through, and around the fences during their spread from the east to the west. The three fences were built to guard croplands from these multiplying rabbit populations that were a result of mismanagement by British settlers who brought the rabbits with them as a food source. The fence combined with the genocide, offer subtle irony as the people try to control not only the rabbit population, but the Native’s as well.

In the end, it seems that the fence was much more successful as a tool for the girl’s survival than its original purpose. It was built to keep rabbits out but served as a navigational tool for two young, unwavering girls who made it home. Approximately 100,000 others were captured and not returned. This incident may be small compared to events such as the Holocaust, but the importance is the same and its occurrence more recent. Public awareness is probably the best outcome of this film and the media is quick at ninety minutes as well as entertaining.

Eat, Drink, Man, Woman.

2008-10-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

Eat, Drink, Man, Woman.

This family is tied together by a weekly ritual of a lavish dinner cooked by the father, who is the head-chef at a very large and upscale restaurant. He’s on the brink of retirement after the passing of his thirty-year partner and friend, and finds himself suffering from a failing palate. His friend’s death was work related and caused a lot of doubt and question about how he should spent the rest of his life.

At home, his three daughters give life to the house as well as to their father. Each has her own life and individual ideals. The father is strong and has his daughters respect, but nonetheless, they view him as an old badger. He always remains passionate about his cooking and seems to be the most revered chef around. Governing his daughters and staying active are his only other passions. He is fun-loving with strong morals and pride, jogs against doctor’s orders, and has a girlfriend half his age, who also has a daughter of her own. As their relationship progresses, he spoils his girlfriend’s daughter with meals in school he delivers himself everyday during lunch. He then eats the lunch his girlfriend made in order to keep her from becoming suspicious.

The plot in not far from one you might see on a midday soap-opera. Food is used as a communication device in a ritualistic manner. The Taiwanese family seems to honor only this weekly dinner tradition that can relate to a large audience. Food and community is core in our society, and though it is not necessary to converse with others while you dine, it is customary. The weekly meal is the epicenter of the movie and everything seems to take place around it. The relationships are the main focus, and each characterizes a topic relative to life in general as well as in Taiwan.

The daughters are all old enough to live on their own, but due to different circumstances they don’t. The father seems to enjoy their presence though he is stern, and the girls seem to enjoy living there even though they don’t admit it. The father has spent many years raising and looking after the girls and now they are all at the turning point where the girls look after each other and for their father. His palette is failing as are traditions around him.

The fact that the youngest daughter ironically works at a fast food restaurant shows the changing culture and way of life. Her father seems to approve of her job, but only because it isn’t a means to an end. As a college student it’s a common job to have as well as living with a parent or parents is as well. The job symbolizes the modern day Taiwan and the fathers cooking, symbolizes the older and slower paced version. The two generations live close together but each is very distant to each others way of life.

The oldest daughter is a successful business woman in the airline industry who seems to prefer to be a chef. The father taught her everything he knows but wouldn’t let her become a chef due to cultural reasons. The success of her current career has allowed her to hold on to the past by purchasing her father’s home even after a bad venture with an apartment complex where she lost a large amount of money. She seems to be extremely happy afterwards and as luck would have it, she was the one complaining about wanting to move out.

The oldest daughter has converted to Christianity and has recently fallen in love with a man, marries him (due to a pregnancy), and says he will convert as well. The official religion is Taoism with 33% of the population and then there is Buddhism with 35% while Christianity only holds 4.5%. This puts it in third place in the overall ranking and gives an alternate choice to the two traditional religions of the country. This represents a cultural diffusion taking place as well as infusion. The melting pot that is the U.S., seems to be taking form again and again in other countries. Though infusions may not be of people, they’re of ideas and a western way of life that seems immune to the culture and traditions of any place.

Beijing Bicycle

2008-10-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

Beijing Bicycle 2001

Beijing Bicycle depicts the struggle that is faced by many young rural men, as they travel to the city to seek better employment. This story may have been a bit exaggerated, but it does get some points across nicely. The transportation, economic state, and the pace of the city are all shown in the movie. Guei, a young-man from the countryside has just got a job as a bicycle-currier and will earn the new delivery-bike after a few weeks of work. Unfortunately it is stolen just before he has earned enough credit for it and he proceeds to search Beijing, a city with 9 million bicycles, to recover it (The street signs even have bicycle outlines in the lights.). His boss is impressed at his persistence and offers him his job back if he can find the stolen bike.

Qin, a school-boy now in possession of the bike, used money that was to pay his younger sister’s school fees to purchase the stolen bike. Qin’s friends have it out for Guei and the group struggle to find a solution after Qin’s father gets involved. They decide to alternate ownership on a daily basis. After Qin got the bike back, everything suddenly seemed ok. The bike was a source of freedom that allowed him to forget about everything bad in his life. This was similar for the Geui as well, except for his delivery-situation. It was his livelihood and even a right of passage for his hard work.

There is definitely going to be culture shock of some type experienced by Geui, and it’s illustrated when he’s forced to take a shower at a SPA before entering to see a client that turns out to be the wrong one. He is a soft-spoken, humble, stubborn, and determined, all traits that can be assumed to be shared by the majority of countryside immigrants who look to the city for work. He shows steadfast dedication after receiving the job as a delivery boy. He talks with his friend at the convenience store and the friend encourages and admires the position Guei is in. He describes it as a, “Dream Job”, as he gazes at the shiny new bike. It seems that the battle is already over instead of just beginning.

The city depicted, is a blend of old and new with a level of coexistence quickly giving way to modern times. Qin wears a school uniform, goes to fancy arcades after school, and returns home to what could be called a shack. Above the store owned by Guei’s friend, a maid loafs around in her employers fancy clothes. The boys with the bicycles practice in construction sites to improve their skills that will make them more popular with their peers. Geui’s friend lives vicariously through him with the ideas of being able to go to all the fancy places in the city. There were a lot of situations where people were trying to ‘forget themselves’ or perhaps, be something better. The students street clothes appeared no different than what you would see in the U.S. This is probably a well portrayed aspect of the youth in the lower economic levels. The violence displayed is also more than likely a result of this.

Guei’s job could be compared to UPS of Fed-Ex on a smaller scale. Bicycle delivery companies exist elsewhere in large cities, but Beijing with its much larger percentage of bicycles than any other city, allows this comparison. The city has relied mainly on bikes for transportation up until the last ten years, with the current trend shifting to cars. President Wang is trying to combat this due to the high concentrations of emissions, as a result of the new influx of cars. The city has spent about 17 billion dollars in the three years leading up to the Olympic Games, in an effort to increase clean air and become more environmentally friendly as a city. Transportation was the main focus with public transportation, the main target. Commuters with motorized vehicles are required to use public transportation once a week and business hours are encouraged to be staggered to avoid dense traffic. Many more changes took place and will continue to take place, it seems as though the Olympics were used merely as a catalyst for the conversion of the city. Comparing Omaha, Nebraska, to Beijing, gives a good example of the density problem causing the heavy pollution. Both cities are laid out in an approximately 100 square mile areas, giving the two similar spatial characteristics. As of 2007, Omaha’s population was 424,482, and Beijing’s roughly 17 million. This makes it approximately 40 times larger than the Omaha. Imagine 10 times more vehicles on the roads in Omaha that is exactly what Wang is facing.

The only time you see a lot of bicycles in Omaha, is at a school and many other smaller cities in the U.S. are the same. With the incline of oil prices, more and more people are risking life and limb, with their two-wheeled transportation. It seems ironic that the people of Beijing who are now able to buy cars are being told no to drive them. It is not going to be an easy task to revert everyone to bicycles, but Wang has done well this far. Of course a plan like this would have to allow for long-distance commuters to use cars, but they would be highly outnumbered by local commuters saving emissions. The main problem is emissions, but even if that was solved, there are just too many people in Beijing to have a good solution.

Veer-Zaara (2004)

2008-09-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

Get comfortable because this film from India’s ‘Bollywood,’ is serious about entertainment. At over three hours long, the movie takes viewers far away from their everyday lives and deep into the story. It’s a mixture of song and dance, native and foreign dialects, people, culture, palaces, and attitude. Winning several top awards and earning the number one film spot of the year for India in 2004, it definitely commands attention. The term Bollywood is a mesh of Hollywood and Bombay, India’s largest city that is now know as Mumbai. The majority of the regions films come from this location.

This film takes place throughout several areas around India beginning in the Punjabi countryside. The area is lush and mountainous and the main characters, Veer and Zaara, are shown singing love songs to each other and dancing in the meadows. Zaara is from Pakistan soon to be unwillingly wed in an arranged marriage Veer is an Air Force pilot from India. The love story that unfolds, deals with political issues, cultural differences, and religious beliefs. Throughout the story, there seems to be a common underlying theme of unity that is spelled out in songs and script to the audience.

When India and Pakistan won their independence from Britain in 1947 there were problems, mainly religious, that caused millions of Muslims living in India to move to Pakistan, and Hindus and Sikhs living in Pakistan to move to India. This was the reason for Zaara having to travel to her grand-mother’s homeland in India to bury her ashes. Once there Veer didn’t think there would be a chance that a Guru would help due to her non-Hindu religion. When the Guru learned of Zaara’s efforts he had no problem performing the last rights for her grandmother.

The song that Veer sang on the way to his home titled, “My Land,” described it as being the same as Zaara’s. The song is very similar to the American youth song, “This Land Is My Land.” Later, after winning his trial, Veer sings about how he looks just like everyone there (Pakistan) and that the country is much like his own. Earlier, when the couple arrived at Veers village, Zaara was dressed in the local Punjabi attire and attended a Lodi Festival where men pronounce their love for a woman. She is accepted very easily by the people in Veer’s village.

Women’s rights were also dealt with. Zaara brings up the topic of female education at Veer’s village, and they decide to build a school for the girls. In Pakistan at the prison, a female lawyer was a new concept for everyone as well as in the courtroom.

Although a lot of exaggeration may have been used to depict this area and the people that live there, the bottom line was accurate; there is a feeling of separation that is felt throughout India and Pakistan. People there are divided by religion, area, history, and education. By using a love story as a medium, writer Aditya Chopra, created a sense of unity in the region with several different things that an audience member could relate to.

This type of movie is one that generally goes down in the history books. Similar to ‘Casablanca’ in many ways, it transcends barriers to create a small bond between people that are more or less divided. It doesn’t matter whether you’re Muslim, Hindu, Christian, or Inuit; there is a good chance that you can relate to this film in some way.

GOODBYE LENIN!

2008-09-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

The fall of the Berlin Wall was a cherished event and marked an end to an era of oppression. The words “tear down this wall!,” coming from President Ronald Reagan during a speech at the 750th Anniversary of Berlin were a direct challenge to Mikhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Reagan was on a quest for world unity and currently had his sights set on the Berlin Wall. He had been slowly gaining the trust of Gorbachev and many people felt this move was a complete betrayal. This same type of betrayal fuels writer/director, Wolfgang Becker’s, film Goodbye Lenin, into an exciting story about one family’s struggle during this era.

It’s an exciting time in East Berlin for Alex as he and his sister watch Sigmund Jahn get to be the first German to fly into outer space. Their mother is a single-mother who cherishes her children and works very hard at being a patriot for her country. After being left by her husband who fled to West Germany, and then battling severe depression leading to hospitalization, she comes home and finds refuge in her homeland (East Germany). She leads a young boy’s organization called the ‘Young Pioneers,” where the ultimate goal is to teach socialist ideology. She tries to instill these beliefs in her children as well to bring them closer. She also writes petitions for women’s rights in the workplace.

When Alex is a teenager he goes to a friendly protest that turns violent. His mother is there and see’s him being arrested when she has a heart attack. This heart attack causes an eight month long comma during which the Berlin Wall was destroyed. Against the Doctors judgment, Alex took his mother home when she woke up. He was instructed that any slight excitement could trigger another heart attack so he constructed the apartment in the exact way it was before she fell into her coma. During her recovery he went to great lengths to conceal the truth about the encroaching western world, so that so could remain clam. It was a good plan until her birthday party where she spotted a coca-cola sign being hung on a building as the group was singing happy-birthday. From there on she questioned this event and requested to watch TV to pass the time. Alex came up with a phony news show to tide her over. Filmed with a friend the fake program dispelled any questions and ultimately builds the GDR (East Germany) into one that they worked for in the past.

Throughout the movie there are little signs that show the diminishing GDR after the fall of the USSR and the Berlin Wall. The cosmonaut turned taxi driver may have been the most significant when Alex was on his way to reunite with his father. The Coca-Cola sign and Arianne’s job at Burger King, as well as the new apartment décor were strong signs of westernization. The the Spreewell pickle and Mocha-Fix coffee shortage were indicators of new avenues of commerce that could now be tapped on a more local level. The currency exchange was another and pseudo-enforced East-West borders where teens would take pictures with the guards as a joke, showed that a new structure was in place. The most dominant of signs, perhaps, was the Stalin statue as it seemingly waved goodbye to Christine (no doubt a play on the title) as in was being transported from the city.

In an era where world unity was the goal and freedom the motivation, it seemed that anything was possible. Men flying into space, Germany being united, and the Soviet Union falling were only a few of the milestones for this quest. Now, however, we face an even more trying time. Global warming, energy problems, terrorism, civil war, nuclear weapon struggles, genocide, AIDS, and countless other problems all combine to cause alarm and the need for change seems even greater. With the problems faced today, the Berlin Wall doesn’t seem too important. It’s nice however, that it isn’t a one of the problems still on the list.

RUN LOLA RUN!!!

2008-09-16T20:58:00.000-07:00

Run Lola Run (1998)

The setting is Berlin, Germany, and the main character, Lola is faced with a life- changing situation. A chain of events takes place. That touches the lives of everyone. It’s a modern day version of Romeo and Juliet with three alternate endings. At the start, the writer teases the audience with questions about mankind, its origins, and its future. The body of the film is similar to a line of youth books called ‘Choose Your Own Adventure” in which the reader has decisions to make that alter the ending. This is true in real life only we cannot go back change our actions as Lola did when she refuses her first two choices.

Lola is a rebellious teen who lives with unfaithful parents. Mani is a delivery-boy for a local gangster with a bad reputation. During a diamond smuggling operation, he gets spooked by the police and leaves a duffle bag filled with 100,000 Deutschmarks on the U-bahn (subway). He has twenty minutes to return the money or he will face almost certain death. From there the plot unfolds into a sort of dreamscape where Lola tries to save Mani. She makes different decisions and runs through every possibility. After one outcome of her decision that leaves her dying, she denies it and is able to go back for a second chance where Mani ends up dying. In the third outcome, they both survive.

The city is depicted as desolate and dreary with little activity or zeal from anyone. The security guard, who is later in the ambulance having a heart attack, was the only one who showed any warm-hearted emotion. The casino scene shows an elite group of people with fancy clothes and very extravagant surroundings. The crowd was silent and watched Lola with full attention as she left after winning her two games. The customers at the grocery store that Mani was planning to rob were also sort of lethargic as well as the lady that Lola passed in the hall of the bank.

The idea behind writer/director Tom Twyker’s film was that nothing is certain. He wrote and directed what is said to be Germany’s first Hollywood-like film. Mankind has always been fascinated with origin, higher power, and a spiritual world or afterlife. Creationism (Religion) vs. the Theory of Evolution divides much of our society and has been controversial lately as to which should be taught in the school systems. He plays on the uncertainty, with the idea that any answer would only bring about another question. . Many of the principles that Greek Philosopher, Heraclitus addressed are the same as what Twyker brings to his audience. Perhaps the most famous saying from Heraclitus that, “Change is the Only Constant,” is the most suited for comparison with the movie. It basically means that ‘change’ is the only certainty. Although this is contradicting the movie, it is true, but it does bring about more questions. In America the answer to what is and what isn’t certain, is a common phrase, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” In this film, Twyker uses soccer to portray his solution, by saying, “The ball is round, a game lasts 90 minutes, everything else is pure theory. Off we go.”

It is as though soccer is religion. Football, in America, has slowly taken the place of Baseball as the number sport with devout fans that follow the season with ‘fantasy football’ teams, replica jerseys, and extravagant parties. It’s one of the biggest industries in the country but soccer fans are much more passionate. Nowadays, players demand top pay and some are individually worth more than small countries. There has always been some form of competition throughout mankind. It is survival for the animals, entertainment for man, and for Lola it’s to keep love alive.

This is a wild ride and a bit off the beaten path. The idea of uncertainty transcends culture, time and location. Philosophy and religion have struggled with this subject for centuries and religious beliefs are directly related. Heraclitus said, “This universe, which is the same for all, has not been made by any god or man, but it always has been, is, and will be an ever-living fire, kindling itself by regular measures and going out by regular measures.” His quote pretty much sums up mans knowledge in a theoretical manner. Some would argue that we have a higher power, that destiny is preordained, and that there is an afterlife. The simple fact is that none really knows! It’s amazing that as a society we can send men to the moon, clone each other, and communicate with anyone at anytime, but if we want certain answers dealing with creation and death that we better not get our hopes up for a good answer.

My Sassy Girl

2008-09-09T19:28:00.000-07:00

In Seoul, Korea, transportation to rural areas is achieved by trains. Once you’re in the city it’s a network of buses and subways to take you anywhere you want to go. Seoul is the fourth largest city in the world and a world leader in technology. Korea is one the oldest civilizations in the world. Seoul grew around the Han River which leads to the Yellow Sea and ultimately, China. This was the trade route that gave birth to Seoul. The area is mountainous and has monsoons in the summer. The cityscape, largely due to the effects of the Korean War, was built fast afterwards and is very dense with continual and rapid growth. The population wasted no time and enlisted engineering help from other countries to improve their city to be as competitive and efficient city as possible. This type of mentality worked and still exists there today. There still exists a blend of old and new thought the city though. The boy’s house in the movie was more traditional style while the girl's was obviously modern.

The girl’s actions towards the old man in the bus and the prostitutes at the restaurant were traditional in contrast with her house. The culture is one where you are taught to respect your elders and exercise good manners in public as well as at home. The boy is still afraid of his mom hitting him for coming home late with whatever household device she is using at the time. The best part was when she has something similar to a dough roller! The hotels have both western style rooms and traditional Korean rooms in addition to the sleeping chambers that are available. These chambers look like large clothes washers but are long enough to lie down in and can be rented by the hour. As with many other eastern cultures, shoes, are taken off outside and politeness is key. The custom about the shoes being taken off came about in, primarily fishing communities as a sanitary precaution. Tae-Kwan-Do originated here also. It was created as a self defense form to defend against invading countries.

Seoul is a place where old meets new and economic progress ensues. An economic leader full of forward thinkers, this city sets a pace and trends for the rest of the world to follow. The people survived the Japanese invasions and later the Korean War. This is a culture that has paid its dues is on the ball, and is looked to for new information.

Train Man

2008-09-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

This Japanese love story reminded me of a short lived reality TV show called "The Pick Up Artist" where lonely introverts were coached to improve their social skills, style, and ultimately more self-confidence. This character was just like the contestants on the show and his internet posse gave very similar advice compared with the US reality show. Both stories show mainstream trends applied to achieve more popularity and each culture very similar. In each case the character becomes more noticeable by peers, being asked to a party for instance in the movie and not being overlooked by the girls on the street passing out male hygiene products.

On major cultural style difference was the purse that he carried on the first date. It reminded me on the Seinfeld episode with the man-purse where Jerry is trying ought a new style called the ‘hand-bag.’ He goes through the whole episode telling everyone, “It’s not a purse, it’s a hand bag!” Then finally at the end he has on a strange fur coat by some Kramer related coincidence and someone steals the bag. When the officer is taking the report, he requests a description of the stolen item. Jerry worked very hard to describe it and the officer responded, “Like a Purse?” Jerry then breaks down and says, “Yes, Yes, it’s a purse!” The movie, “The Forty Year Old Virgin,” has a lot of similarities to Train Man also. Age aside, each character is living in they’re own world. They’re living quarters are similar, littered with toys and gadgets in an extremely organized way. As each meets someone special, he uses the advice of co-workers (40-Y.O.V.), and internet group (Trainman). In the end each character forgoes the advice and reverts back to what he is comfortable with.

Transportation is very different with the Train being the center of it all. Public transportation consists of trains, buses, and bicycles. The trend of communication through internet was well portrayed. The internet allows much more frequent and less expensive communication. Technology is a crutch in a way, too. This is represented several times in the movie, where he's using his PDA and an internet cafe. When one of the internet-friends said "you can't buy a ticket to her house on any damn web site!" signified this. The movie shared similarities with the 40 Year Old Virgin also. One interesting thing was the intimate look at the characters. There was more time spent on defining emotions leading me to believe that Japanese are more patient and caring in general comparison to the US.

Le Grande Seduction, Canada, 2003

2008-09-02T19:14:00.000-07:00

This movie in a small village in Nova Scotia, depicted the human nature to consume every natural resource until it’s gone. The fish population had been decimated, and now restricted for commercial use. The community is now faced with the choice to take government compensation or move to the city for work. A small factory was the goal of several hard-core individuals that did not want to leave. This was the only option to continue to live their way of life, but they had to convince a doctor to live their as a resident to be in accordance with the factories standards.

This story is very entertaining to say the least. After several doctors dismiss the invitation, in laughter, one is on his way home from work and gets pulled over by non-other than the Village’s x-mayor. He fumbles for his I.D. and a bag of cocaine goes flying to the ground. He then rambles about a cricket game and how it caused him to run late. The Mayor’s eyes are wide with excitement as he jots down the word cricket on his notepad. Next thing you know the Dr. is on a boat heading for the village. The town is cricket-themed with not a hockey item in sight. As the Dr. arrives there is a game in progress that gets him extremely excited. The villagers cater to the Doctor and pull out all the stops to win him over. He was furious after finding out what was going on but a relationship problem back home clamed him down, and he realized how much he enjoyed the place and people. It also seems that the Doctor had more empathy and respect for the people after he learned the truth about the ‘replacement.’ It showed how devoted they were to stay in their town as well.

The seduction is sort of like what the TV show Cheers portrays. The show with the song about going somewhere “where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” The villagers were always friendly with one another and nearly always easy-go-lucky. Most people want to belong to something and it should be even more rewarding in a position such as a Doctor where you can contribute that much good. I just wonder if he got a second date with the post office attendant and whether or not the townspeople are playing Cricket or Hockey.

The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun

2008-09-02T18:52:00.000-07:00

This movie was set in Dakar and depicted a run down area that seemed to have a very poor economic situation. The main character symbolized the inner strength that people can have when all the chips are down. Not only being handicapped, the young-lady was not getting any breaks as a female trying to derive an income in the predominately male only work environment.

Her attitude was the key for her success. It reminded me of the women’s rights movement as far as her never quit mentality. She shows sprit that anyone faced with a mountain of turmoil must. She pushes on to make positive steps towards bettering her life. My favorite example was when the newspaper boys knocked her down and she wasn’t at all discouraged by the act, in fact, it just made her more determined to succeed.

Throughout the whole story she stood up for herself, for others, and helped those who needed it. It can be said that it is a story of the true human spirit that dwells in all of us weather tapped or not.