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Reviews
Wadjda (2012)
"Wadjda" is a film about raised voice in a highly oppressive society, about courage and hope.
This movie depicts the story of a 10-year old girl named Wadjda who lives in the capital city of Saudi Arabia. She, as a girl, prohibited to do many things, and yet she does not comply with the given limits. Instead, she is the one who always pushes the boundaries of her limitations. One day she promises to buy a bike to beat her neighbor friend in a race. After mom's prohibition, she decides to raise money by herself. A Quran recitation competition at her school with a money reward becomes a perfect opportunity for her and she joins a religious club to learn the first five parts of the Quran - a literal transcript of God's speech, revealed to Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel.
The directors of the film could depict a real society and life in Saudi Arabia and gave access to see a big part of Saudi culture, where religion is presented in every aspect of individuals' lives. For example, every house has a portrait of the president of Saudi Arabia, schools are divided by gender, and all girls and boys are taught what females can do and what can not from an early age. And there is religious police that monitors and controls gender segregation in public spaces and dress code.
The patriarchal society the main character resides in is full of restrictions that are considered normal. For instance, her mother always restricts her to speak loud when men are around. Her teachers and school principal do not allow to be outside when there are men, saying "respectable women should go inside of school where men can not see them with uncovered head." There are many rules at school: girls can not bring pictures to school, share a letter of love and admiration, and are prohibited to hold each other's hands. And, girls can not ride a bicycle because they will be infertile. Also, they are married off at a very early age. Gender discriminative taboos also present in society: men believe that women can not be smart, play video games as good as they can, and be a part of a family tree only because of gender.
In contrast to generally accepted norms, Wadjda runs her own business by selling handmade bracelets, listens to rock, sings songs, wears sneakers, and rides a bike. Other girls from her school like to wear nail polish and sometimes go out with boys. This shows how females are cut off their freedom to do what they would like to, but somehow break rules. There are also contradictions that make you question the norms. For instance, all women wear an 'abaya' robe-like dress that covers every part of the body except the eyes. Contrastingly, shopping malls sell "Western-styled" dresses that open shoulders. In my opinion, this signifies double standards that exist in such society.
The film also effectively explains how Muslims' beliefs and religious traditions are practiced in Saudi Arabia. All people do rituals like praying 5 times a day as it is should be. Every student brings her own Quran to school. Females are not allowed to touch the Quran - the sacred scripture of Islam - when they are on their period but, allowed to touch it with the issue. They also believe that the Quran should not be left open because the devil might spit into it. It is also believed that if someone dies for God, he goes to heaven where 70 brides await him. This shows how Muslims believe in the idea of heaven and hell and reward for dedication to the belief to only one God - monotheism, which is the main feature of Islam. And, the whole film presents the importance of recitation of the Quran and the reasons behind the revelation of verses in it are put in the focus. Recitation of the Quran was said to be done out of heart, with conscious mind and soul - important teaching that the mother explains to Wadjda. So, it can be recognized that the messages in the Quran for Muslims are not only for informing people in the ordinary sense of the world but moral and psychological impact.
The directors raise some other popular issues connected with Islam today except gender discrimination too. The issue of polygamy is at the center of it. The film criticizes patriarchal Islamic society through the mother of Wadjda who lives with a lack of attention from her husband. As young girls and boys are not allowed to talk to each other, there is a problem of secret dates that are not allowed in society and considered a shame as well. Another issue that was quickly mentioned in one scene is the radicalization of Islam: people hear news of a martyr who was an acquaintance to the neighboring family. Talking about martyrdom with calmness shows that people are used to such news. These are the problems that the director probably wants to gather our attention: something that went out of order in society where order must be followed everywhere.
Finishing watching this film, I experienced two opposite emotions - happiness and sadness at the same time. On the one hand, there is a mother in sorrow being replaced by a new bride. Sadness, because I hoped until the end that in a film like this, there is no place for injustice. On the other hand, you see a happy child, who finally achieves her goal. So, this film shows the current hardships that female has to experience throughout her life in Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia. However, there is a huge hope for the brighter future that the main character presents here. Wadjda is a symbol of the modern new generation of Saudi girls and a little spark for women empowerment in Islamic countries.
What was interesting to know is that "Wadjda" is the first film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and the first female-directed Saudi film. Being amazed by the conveyed message and plot of the film, not saying of perfect actors play, I totally recommend watching this amazing film, which gives you mixed after-taste with a pinch of hope.
The Yogis of Tibet (2002)
Focus on the reality, mind and body
The documentary film introduces harsh history of Tibet, its cultural traditions and drastically different world, world of yogis - Dhrama practitioners. «The Yogis Of Tibet» includes stories, teachings and narration of yogis' experience giving an interview for the first time. It includes a basic content of Buddhism, it's main purpose and practices. In addition, the film shows an importance of yogis in preserving the traditions of the Tibetians and the problem of their extinction. Finally, the film shares an interview of some foreigners who also probably follow the Buddhist teachings.
History of invasion of China into Tibet made me think about the value of almost dying spiritual heritage of the Tibetian culture. It is amazing how belief became a signature of their culture. The land of snows conceals deep mystery about the yogis. These people impressed me with their physical ability: total control over their body can be seen from the part of the film where a yogi shows a regular training which is actually unusual for me. Such unique and may be paranormal abilities of controlling body through concentration of the mind are total masterpiece for me because such ability needs lots of practices and persistence. Some scenes of the film the yogis practice their skills make me jealous because I understand a hardship of the way they have gone through to reach such achievements. That is why there are may mysteries about the yogis. A life of yogi is a whole course of training on the body and mind: they work to discover the purest nature of consciousness. They strive for the excellence of the purity of their mind and to empty their mind from conceptual thoughts. Two yogis tells stories which amazed me and introduced me to completely different life and environment.
It is interesting to watch the way of achievement of their wish, but their wish is to be happy: to conquer negative emotions and seize happiness. This goal of all followers of the Dharma makes me to analyse my goals too. This film helps to realize the main things or at least to get rid of unnecessary things in life. It helps to find a focus on reality: many commodities that we posses are actually cause an attachment to materialistic things which is personally bad for me.
I was unfamiliar with life of the yogis before, but it is more clear about them and their retreatment from the movie now. Their perspectives towards the life significantly influenced me. The yogis' lives teach me to rethink and arrange values of my life. I suggest to watch the film to everyone who constantly seeks a purpose in these life and simply are not satisfied with the current state. I guess I will often think about this movie and try to generate only positive energy every time when I go off the road. I concluded for myself that materialistic things are not real source of happiness. It is your turn to make your own conclusions by watching the film.
Buddha's Lost Children (2006)
Teaching and appreciating
A movie directed by Mark Verkerk describes a life of a monk named Khru Bah who dedicated himself to teaching of children to basic knowledge which life demands. In addition, «Buddha's Lost Children» tells a story of every children becoming a monk. Thru Bah and his novices live in Northern Thailand, the Golden Horse monastery. A films shows a regular life of the monk and his teachings. Thru Bah is the one who spend 15 days and nights to find peace and calm of soul.
A death of his close friend followed by a vivid dream made him to be a monk and spread knowledge and experience with the ones who demands it. The film shows how children lost in poor family lives and who are living with no purpose met an opportunity to develop and experience a warm, inner and outer warm of the mind and body.
«Buddha's Lost Children» teaches people to good things. Here a monk and the children make a good to their environment: rebuild a temple, share with a knowledge to improve people, help materially to poor families. Also, close link between humans and people is represented through respect to horses.
This movie teaches to appreciate everything we have now. A monk's influence to the relationships between the children, their perceptions of life and love let every viewer to rethink about these things. Love is defined from the another side: tough love makes us even stronger to overpower weakness. Besides, appreciation of the current condition is also one of the teaching of the film because it emphasizes harsh and poor conditions of hill tribe people.
«Buddha's Lost Children» shares with not only monk's lives, but also teaches us that every difficulty is another opportunity to make a good. The film is definitely must watch, especially for families with children.