Dreams - Directed By (1990)

Ye Ge Dou Bu Neng Shao (Not One Less) - Directed By Zhang Yimou, 1999

Wei Menzhi, is a 13 year old girl living in the rural, tainted streets of China. She goes to a primitive school on a mountainside, that is extremely impoverished. The school teacher, Gao’s mother is on her death bed so leaves the school to accompany her. The village mayor’s only option is to make Wei the substitute teacher who, mind you is only thirteen. Her abilities are poorly reciting 1 to 2 songs and copying text. Before Gao departs, he stresses the importance of being economical with chalk and to try and not lose any students, as 9 of them have already have dropped. Zhang Huike, troublemaker in the class, doesn’t show for class, at which point one of the female students get scouted by a sports sponsor for running and she never returns. While investigating Zhang’s appearance, Wei finds out he was forced to abandon school to work in the city, as he and his mother are in extreme debt. Wei is infuriated by this and sets out to find and bring Zhang back. The villiage mayor refuses to giver money to buy a bus ticket to the city, so she has the remaining students help. They do so by moving bricks for money. The students are given mathematical exercises along the way. Wei asks them questions on finding out how much money they need to earn for the bus tickets, how many bricks they need to move, and how much time it will take. Through all this, the relationship between Wei and the students develop. After earning the money, Wei finds out, on her way to the bus stop, the price of the ticket was actually more money than she had though and ends up walking. In the city, Wei finds the people that Zhang was supposed to work with, only to find out that they lost him in a crowd at the train station. Wei goes to the train station, with no such luck finding Zhang and is compelled to wait outstide the transition for the night in hopes of finding the manager. In the morning, the station manger lets Wei in and is interest in putting her on a televison show about rural education. When she is on the show, Wei doesn’t say much but luckily Zhang, who is now wandering the streets, sees the show. Once Zhang and Wei are reunited, the station manager schedules them a ride back to the small village. The ending scene gives somewhat of an anecdote /commentary the Chinese caste system, the unnecessary mistreatment and how the latter ultimately receives the short end of the stick.

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Bombay - Directed By Mani Ratnam, 1995

The film opens, with Shekhar, a journalist studying in Bombay, who is son to a traditional Hindu. Shekhar meets a young woman, Shaila Bano who is Muslim. Unfortunately, in India, it is not honorable for Hindus and Muslims to interrelate. By fate, the two fall in love and want to marry. Both father disapprove with great judgment and ultimately Shekhar leaves Bombay leaving Shaila, who is arranged to marry a Muslim man. Shaila, being pressured by her father, leaves home and follows Shekhar to the city. The two get married and move into an apartment. They raise to twin boys as Muslim and Hindu. Shekhar and Shaila have yet to recognize just how complicated these two opposing dogmas will soon cause for them. The film then cuts to around actual events that occurred in Bombay from late 1992 into early '93. After years of having settled down in their nice new apartment, with Shekhar continuing work as a journalist and Shaila at home raising the kids, now find themselves in the midst of religious extremism. Religious riots break out in Bombay, leaving hundreds of Hindus and Muslims dead. Now oblviously the livelihood of the entire family is in jeopardy. They are constantly under threat. The two boys ate later separated from their parents in the heat of thus tragedy, and eventually the boys lose each other as well. Now the family must cope with being divided.

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Inter-religious relations and religious riots remain futile but factual. This film criticizes and directs the blame of unnecessary tragedy onto the Indian government, who is rendered manipulative. The hierarchy of the Indian government seems to be the product of the tragic event in Bombay, as well as the influence of hatred between the Hindus and Muslims for their own ravenous reasons.

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I am not too surprised about the events in this film. I find politics to be distasteful and ironically unfair to its causes. However, I do believe this is a great film to show the world. There are people who believe that assault is appropriate, given the circumstance. I don’t believe anyone would openly admit that but I do believe I see it for myself every day. The film Bombay does just that. It shows us the extreme assault that is derived from how greedy and selfish people are; people who create excuses to specifically get what they crave. Religiously, I found the conflicts and its ultimate use in the film to be accurate but as always shameful. I have never been outside of the United States but even in this country, I find that I am judged for being a black female, who speaks proper English. Some people will never accept myself as an equal but hopefully I will never be killed for being born that way.

Children of Heaven - Directed by Majid Majidi, 1997

Ali and Zahra are siblings who live in an unfortunate surrounding. Their financial status is vastly poor. Little sister Zahra has a pair of pink shoes that need fixing. Ali graciously takes them to be repaired. At the grocery store, Ali puts down the repaired shoes, subsequently losing them, from a man who I might have put them in a bag by accident. For fear of telling his parents, on account of their financial status, Ali begs Zahra not to break the news to them as well. Zahra understands and the two deal to share Ali’s converse sneakers. Zahra wears them in the morning and Ali at noon. This however causes obvious discomfort and Ali to be late excessively. Soon the principal prohibits him from coming back to school without a parent. Ali’s teacher convinces him to give Ali another chance. Shortly after, Zahra discovers her pink shoes on another girl’s feet and follows her home. She and Ali go to the girl’s house one evening and finds out that her father is blind, thus the two leave. Zahra later hears the girl with her shoes, threw them out. Desperate for money Ali and his father take a ride to the wealthy parts of town to do guarding. The two eventually find their way to a mansion, where a boy and his grandfather live. After a hard days work, The grandfather is extremerly generous to Ali’s father. Ali gets a chance to win back a pair of shoes in a foot race if he won 3rd place. He won 1st and unfortunately did not get the shoes.

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This film depicts misfortune but with it family and moral fiber. It is a tale of secrets and sadness that is triggered by compassion. It teaches the audience that in life, one can be penniless or somehow underprivileged but if, by some chance we can overlook the tragedies in our lives, we would see that love is all around, and it can come from a family member, teacher, or whorever. Compassion is what counts.

Reaction
I didn’t know how to feel about this movie until I sat back a while. At first I felt hurt by how in ruin Ali and Zahra’s lifestyle were and how tragic their family was. But it made me realize how close they really were to each other and how much love and strength there was in such a tragic place. It taught me to not dwell on my own faults and trouble and focus on the people in my life who try their best just to make me smile.

Y tu mamá también (And your mother too) - Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, 2001

The film begins with two Mexican teenagers, Tenoch and Julio, who are having sex with their girlfriends, before the girls leave for a summer trip to Europe. Tenoch comes from a rich decent, whereas Julio resides in a middle-class ranking. Regardless, the two teenage boys are soon left behind, and grew to be very bored. At a wedding, Tenoch and Julio meet Luisa, the wife of Tenoch's distant cousin Jano. Although Luisa is 10 years older than the boys, she is attractive and play character. Julio and Tenoch decide to impress Luisa by inviting her to an isolated beach called la Boca del Cielo, (Heaven’s Mouth). She at first decline but later accepts, after her husband cheats on her. Although the boys have no clue of how to get to the island, the three depart on their journey through the poor streets of Mexico. Throughout the drive the boys talk about their sexual accomplishments, while Luisa talks about Jano and her first love that died in a motorcycle accident. When stopping at a hotel for the night, Tenoch catches Luisa crying. She consequently seduces him and the two have sex. Mad at the fact, Julio angrily tells Tenoch that he had sex with his girlfriend. The following day, Luisa tries to settle the tension by having sex with Julio. When this happens, Tenoch tells Julio he had sex with his girlfriend. The boys begin to fight until Luisa threatens to leave. Coincidently, they all find the beach and set out to enjoy the scenery and local natives. The y eventually all get drunk and grope one another. The next day, Luisa leaves before Julio and Tenoch awaken. When the two come to, they are both ready to to go home. The narrator explains to us that Luisa stayed behind in la Boca del Cielo, Julio and Tenoch’s girlfriends break up with them, they later find new girlfriends and lead separate lives.

Major Theme
This film is about escaping the harsh realities of life, however terrible the times may be. It’s therapy for the soul and in choosing the next course of action is believed to be the effect of recovery. Julio and Tenoch have obvious issues as friends, and an even more obvious idea that their girlfriends are just as damaging. The same goes for Luisa, who runs away from a faulty marriage. All of them share a harsh reality to which they each agree to forget. But who can live on vacation forever? It is up to the individual to choose the next step. Luisa chose to stay and live on vacation, in her dying condition. Tenoch and Julio part ways, realizing the trust in each other had been gone. However, who could not remember such a trip, one that helped each of them speak of their troubles, and decide on a plan?

Reaction
This film kept me emotionally drawn to the next scene. It was full of passion, laughter and life, which made me feel as if I were right there with the cast. It reminded me to take time out to do something spontaneous and fun so that I may never forget who I am. We all need a break from the world and sometimes being in a quiet place is just not enough. It makes me think of my friends, who I can share all my secrets and enjoyment. The therapy of fun is what I really get out of the movie; the actualization of me after I let loose and then come to, newly restored and ready to take on the world

Eat Drink Man Woman Directed by Ang Lee

Tao Chu is a widower, master chef and father of three Chinese girls, Jia-Jen, Jia-Chien and Jia-Ning. Jia-Jen is a high school math teacher, who has converted to Christianity after breaking up with her college boyfriend years ago. Jia-Chien is a successful airline executive, who later reveals she has invested her life savings on an apartment. Jia-Ning is the youngest daughter, who works at Wendy’s. All three girls including Tao Chu, live in a typically average Chinese home. Chu prepares restaurant-sized meals every Sunday for his daughters. Though they barely eat anything, Chu included, the ritual never dies throughout the film’s entirety. Chu’s taste bud’s no longer work so he has is assistant Wen decide what is delicious and disgusting. He soon after, retires. He confides to Wen, that he would like his daughters to move out so that he can live in peace. For the moment Jia-Chien has been having an affair with an ex-boyfriend. Jia-Jen starts receiving love notes, from which she feels she has a distinct notion to which they are coming from. Jia-Ning is caught in a love affair between her co-worker and her co-workers ex-boyfriend, Guo Lun. She become attracted to the Guo and soon after gets pregnant with his child. She reveals this at the next Sunday dinner, and informs Chu that she will be moving out. Jia-Chien makes an announcement soon after about the status of her apartment. She invested her money in a fraudulent corporation, that has got flown the country, and now all her savings is gone. Chu offers graciously for he to stay at home. She accepts. In the mix of her meeting up with her ex-boyfriend, for an afternoon “session,” Jia- Chien finds out he is getting married. She is obviously no longer interested in their arrangement. Jia- Jen, grows tired of getting love letter’s. She finally puts on something attractive and walks into school, in bright red lipstick. Over a loud intercom, Jia-Jen demands the culprit to come clean. We find out that it was all but a practical joke played by her students. She is distraught but finds comfort in the arms of someone who would like to take her on a date. Jia-Chien also finds comfort in the arms of a co-worker. At the end of the film, Chu sits at the dinner table waiting for soup Jia-Chien has prepared. Chu tries the meal and informs Jia-Chien that his taste buds have been restored. Also, Jin-Rong is shown to be pregnant with Chu’s baby (implied), the fourth daughter.

Tsotsi - Directed by Gavin Hood, 2005

A heartfelt film about a poverty stricken boy named David, who runs far from home, to escape an abusive father, and several homeless children in whom he grew to know and reside with at a construction site. David later changed is name to Tsotsi and grew to be the lead member in an African gang. He and fellow group members, Butcher, Aap and Boston, get into a fix, after a mugging goes wrong, and Butcher kills someone. Tsotsi, soon after, steals a car and shoots the driver, a woman name Pulma. After which, Tsotsi realizes there is a baby in the backseat. He quickly takes the child back to a small room where he lives. Pulma, the mother of the child survives the gun shot and works wih the police to identify Tsotsi. Meanwhile Tsotsi, realizes he cannot take care of a child on his own but notices Miriam, a mother carrying her baby on her back. Tsotsi follows the woman home and holds her up at gunpoint, forcing her to feed the baby. She agrees and wishes to keep the baby in her care. Tsotsi makes it clear to Miriam that the baby is his, and to never forget that. With that said, he leaves the baby in Miriam’s care. Tsotsi returns home, where he looks after Boston, who is still injured from the events of aforementioned mugging fiasco. He learns that Boston wants to get his teaching license but doesn’t have the money to. Tsotsi, decides that to get the money, he, Aap and Butcher will have to commit another robbery. Tsotsi decides to rob Pulma’s house. Tsotsi goes upstairs to the baby’s room, taking food supplies and diapers and other provisions to take back with him, while Butcher takes what he can. When Pulma’s husband, John, comes home, he activates the alarm. Butcher get frightened and attempts to kill John with his gun, but Tsotsi beats him to the punch, killing Butcher instead. He and Aap quickly escape. For fear that Tsotsi might someday kill him, Aap decides to leave the gang and writes off Tsotsi as a friend. When Tsotsi goes back to Miriam, she informs Tsotsi of whom the baby belongs to (as if he didn’t know), and deeply insists he return the child. Tsotsi returns the baby to John and Pulmas’s how and says he’ll leave the baby outside the gate via intercom. A nearby cop, watching the house demands Tsotsi to put the baby down. Pulma and John rush down to the scene and behind the gate, plead for their baby back. Tsotsi carries child into the arms of Pulma. After which he is ordered to put his hands up. The movie ends with Tsotsi surrendering to the officers.


Major theme
This film depicts the life of Tsotsi, as a gang leader, criminal, murderer, but also as a child to grow on his own, making life decisions from his own knowledge. The theme of this movie is the result of what happens when we as people choose. With choice comes justice, corruption, hurt and or comfort. I believe this film gives meaning to the words ‘choose wisely,’ Regardless of our struggles, how poor we are, or how many people are in our lives, at the end of the day, we decide what we do.

Reaction
Like my review, the film Tsotsi is pretty long but I thought it was fascinating. So often I see films that surround the basis of a storyline toward extravagant places or people. This film reminds me of what it means to struggle and to be a lost child. I identify with Tsotsi, through and through. It’s a unique film that faces the tragedies of the real world.

Talk To Her (Hable con ella) - Directed By Pedro Almodóvar, 2002

The film concentrates on an ostensibly vigilant caretaker named Benigno, who‘s fixation over a particular comatose patient, Alicia, becomes an obsession. Benigno also looks after another woman, Lydia, who happens to be an ex-spouse of a man named Marco. Marco, who has met Benigno, prior to the aforementioned events, is a journalist who leaves Lydia, after finding out a month before her accident; of her affair with a previous lover. Despite the circumstances, when Marco comes to visit Lydia, he and Benigno share a similar desperation for their “sleeping beauties to awaken”. Benigno encourages Marco to talk to Lydia, which may consequently result in a miracle of her revival. Marco believes this to be absurd and tries to instill a sense of logic in Benigno’s fantasy-filled mentality. Meanwhile, Alicia is discovered to be pregnant and Benigno is accused of raping her. He is quickly sent to Prison. His plans to in escape, by ingesting a large amount of drugs, backfire when he dies of overdose. Ironically, Alicia gains consciousness soon after. The Film ends with Marco spotting Alicia at a dance recital.


Major Theme
This film clearly shows the impact wishful thinking has on a person in love. To know someone just by looking at them, believing them to be faithful without asking or to be given a definite response is a figment of a lover’s expectation. This film reads a lesson that tells me, love is blind. The mind see’s simply everything you wish to see. And when you can further accept your thoughts to be an advocate to your heart, the result is what is shown in this film; longing, an act of desperation, the will to make your dreams a reality in some way, for the sake of love that may not have been mutual to begin with.

Reaction
I found this film to be overall captivating. It made me care for Benigno, feel his hurt and love. And as the movie twisted, it made me see what Benigno became, what depths he took to feed into this passion, he had created merely in his mind. It made me understand what love and loneliness can do to you. It was an amazing film.