Central Asian Wrap Up

In our last movie of the semester, I feel as though all these movies now have an overall meaning. Which I apparently missed beforehand.

Being an orphan during the war was not something that was unheard of. And to me that really sucks because it shouldn't be. At a time when you're life is uncertain, you should be able to take comfort in your loved ones. And know that everything is going to be okay. Most of these children in these films do not have that security.

I think it's a recurring theme that really needs to be addressed because war is a terrible time to lose your family. Wars are going on all the time and we rarely take the time to think about the children that are left behind with no parents and no family to care for them.

Hitting The Nail on the Head

I am beginning to think that film makers coming out of Central Asia have a better understanding of their people and their struggle than anyone out there. I say this because Central Asian films are all about the story; the emotions behind the struggles. That's not to say they don't reek of cinematic genius, because they do. Movies like Mongol, Orator and You Are Not an Orphan, speak to that. I'm talking about the fact these movies are heartfelt and not just for show.

Now, perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself and I apologize if I am, but I think major filmmakers in Hollywood could learn a thing or two from these producers in Central Asia. Americans have made some truly moving picture depicting the human struggle. Recently on the ReLife channels, Schindler's List and The Pianist have been playing. Now these movies were about a time that my generation wasn't able to experience firsthand, but the emotions we see in them is real enough for us to understand those personal struggles. Central Asia has that ability in spades. The ability to draw you into their movies because of the human emotions that are so prevalent. I might be bored sometimes watching these movies becauses, well to be honest they tend to confuse me a little bit, but I always find the relatioships in these movies terribly fascinatiing because they seem so real and so raw. I find myself paying more attention to how they interact, rather than the actual plot of the movie. And sometimes that's ok! Because the human condition, the ability to love and hate and sympathize and conquer our fears; the ability to feel such opposite emotions at the same time; it's intriguing to watch. And that is why Central Asian films, even though I may not like all of them, are able to keep my attention. They get human emotions and aren't afraid to go there.

Central Asian Films

I must say I am beginning to really like these films coming out of Central Asia. There are very different from the flashy Hollywood films I'm used to and I think that has a lot to do with it. These films provide a sort of honesty and in that honesty you find yourself wanting to be a part of the story. It's intriguing in a different way.

I must say out of this entire series I favored Mongol and White Mountains. Yes, Mongol was a flashy film but it wasn't the action I was drawn to; it was the man and the woman. Their love was strong from the start and that love was able to conquer so much its inspiring. White Mountains just had an incredible story of an orphan just really trying to figure out what he was supposed to do with his life now and what his purpose was.

These movies are all about the underlying message.

USSR or bust!

The more I read Apples, the more I want to visit Kazahkstan. I want to see those apple orchards. I want to see those people who know more about their own family history than I know about anything. I want to experience that whole other world!

Their culture is so rich and filled with mystery it certainly could have given birth to so many great things here in the 21st century. I am in awe of what these people have accomplished and I empathize with the ones who are terrified of losing their identity. It's scary to not know if your children will be as free or as knowledgable as you. Some of the men Robbins talked to were certain their children would learn Russian and not Kazah. And it's really sad that things like that are happening. I can only hope that they have found/find a way to keep up their traditions and not lose themselves along the long journey to self-discovery.

Kazah Movies

Second week in a row I opened up real player and was like "WTF, another one?" However, you shall be shocked to hear this movie made a lot more sense to me than Land of our Fathers. Why? I don't quite know yet. Perhaps writing will help me figure that out.

I was still bored. Well, I can't say bored because it's not like I was aching for the movie to be over. It's just not what I'm used to. Hardly any action. No one's running around trying to rule the world with big tanks and throwing people off piers. Here, with White Mountains we have an honest to God movie. It involves complex characters, some pretty scenery and some heavy conflict. Now, I was thoroughly thrown when Ulzhan's mom agreed with Mukash in him taking her daughter away to the city. I was sitting in my chair, huh? She's letting her go? But some parents grow up faster than others and realize what was right for them isn't necessarily right for their children. Ulzhan was destined to just be another wife, have some children, blah blah blah. I think it's wonderful that sometimes people just seem to know that their lives are theirs to live and that they need to start making decisions in order to live it to the fullest. Mukash's confession on why he wanted to learn and how badly it ached to not know anything really threw me. You often think that people can't miss what they've never had, but I guess in some cases those basic rules don't apply. Mukash wanted to learn more than anything. He felt it wasn't right that he had no knowledge of anything; it scared him I think. And sometimes fear is a terrific motivator.

I don't know how I'm feeling about him dying at the end. Jumping to his death? Was that really necessary? I don't know yet.I'll have to ponder it for a few days and get back here and let ya'll know if I think it was the perfect ending or stupid. I'm leaning toward stupid perfect ending, which really isn't all that helpful. Hmm....

Expectations Screw You Up

Land of our Fathers. Once I saw the title for this movie and once I understood that the film was in black and white I was annoyed. Again, I was thinking, "Bjorn, really?" And, I don't really know how I feel about it. It was...boring? I feel bad to say it was boring but I can't think of another word to describe it accurately. It wasn't the best movie about pride and family I've ever seen. It was actually, funny. I think. I feel weird about LOUF.

Bayan and Egor were my two favorite characters. Egor was funny and fell in love with the lady on the train. Although she ended up in the middle of nowhere to dig for Uska with the old man. Go figure. Bayan was just, being a little boy. I liked what he said about not wanting to cry for his father. I didn't really get it at first, but I think I see his point. His father was a great man. Well respected and from Bayan's story, he died doing something he believe in. So why mourn him? What would the point be. I guess to some people crying over death is pointless and serves little purpose and in this case I see the point.

Overall, I think I may have missed the point of this movie. Sorry, Bjorn.

Mongol...A Must See/Have

So this week we watched Mongol in my COMM 430 and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Once I saw the full title of the film my immediate reaction was "WTF, really Bjorn? Genghis Khan?" But I had to watch it so I pressed play and folded my arms and began what I thought was going to be two hours of torture. HOW WRONG WAS I? This movie is about a man who was great in so many ways it's astounding. I am surprised he lasted as long as he did. Being captured, walking across miles of terrain, being help captive in a cage. He went through it all, and he never stopped fighting. Not once did he ever think to give up, and that made me feel, inspired almost.

Near the end of the movie, once Temudgin has bascially just kicked all Mongolian ass, he's with his "brother" and Jamukah asks him about why he wasn't scared when the thunder came. (All Mongols are suppose to be afraid of thunder). Temudgin answer is "I had no place to hide from the thunder so I wasn't afraid anymore." It was during this conversation that I realized that this movie is so much more than it starts of being. You think it's going to be all blood and war and action. Not to say that those things weren't present, but Temudgin is something I have never really seen before. HIs work like enhances his lovle ife, which enhances work life, etc. It's all one big circle and it's so interesting to watch as he fights like hell for both of them.

Borte, Temudgin's wife, is probably the most patient woman on the planet. His disappearences for years at a time his going on to battle to become Khan. It was absolutely ridiculous. But the fabulous part about that is that he kept coming back. When he was captured all those times, his main goal was to free himself and find Borte. At the age of nine he told his dad that Borte was his wife. Plain and simple. And he always found his way back to her. Or in some instances, brought her to him. It was just amazing the connection he felt to her and how, even when death was certain, he was not willing to give up.

Apples...Really?

Apples are from Kazakhstan seems like a joke, right? Who would name their book that? It's seems like a joke, especially if you are under the impression that Kazakhstan is a made up place from a really weird movie. But....drum roll please: apples really are from Kazakhstan and the history behind them is fascination.

When first seeing what book we would be using for film class, I was completely thrown. I was thinking, "What in the name of all that's holy is Bjorn having us read? Apples, really? But once I decided to open the book and stop being a baby about it, I was drawn into it. Robbins (the author) has decided to go on an adventure, to what used to be the USSR to find out about these apples and what in the heck that person was talking about when they told him where apples come from. It's sort of like when you hear a truth you've never considered the answer to before and now that you've heard it, you have to go investigate and see/hear it all over again. Well that's what AAFK is all about. Well not technically all about. AAFK is about a lost generation, a lost way of life. It makes you a little sad reading it, because the apples represent how Russia/USSR used to be. How the old man Valivov misses it dearly. I was surprised to know that apples could mean so much to people and how they aren't as important anymore. Wild apple orchards? I didn't know such a thing existed. Kazakhstan has miles of unclaimed history and no one could care less. Flying in apples from Europe and other such places, when the country itself has apples that used to be prized and used as air fresheners and were used practically as money. How could people not want that life anymore? APPLES! APPLES! Who ever heard of something so ludicrous? Well, I suppose I shouldn't call it ludicrous, but it's more...unheard of, I guess. The country has a lot more history than I expected it to, but I didn't expect the story to make me feel sad. And I do feel sad. That this place is disappearing before our eyes. A country (it's kind of big and kind of south of Russia) that we never acknowledged before Borat. It makes me wonder what other countries have this sort of sordid history. Have they got fascinating stories about lost fruits or jewelries? What else are we ignoring, not on purpose, but with the passage of times we just simply, forget they exist. I think it's time we remember that every country has something to offer.

Sexy Time!!

This is the second time I've seen Borat. And to be honest, I was more offended then the first time I saw it, but I also laughed more than the first time. So it was in all, strangely irritating and satisfying. It just blows my mind that a video like this could be educational in the slightest, but the fact of the matter is, it is. Borat touches on not only the cultural differnces American and Asians have, but it delves into prejudices cultures have toward one another, assumptions we make, and most importantly, how different our living styles and values are. Just because we're American we automatically assume what we have going on over here is right. Our way our the highway (sorry to be cliche). Other countries have very successful governments and economies running their lives non-parallel to our beliefs, and who's to say they can't. I mean, certainly there are moral standards that we as a world live up to, and I believe Borat touches on that a little bit. Just because he might do things differently he expects to be respected whether or not you disagree. The movies also touches on how we as a society can sometimes force our beliefs and values on other. In the scene in New York when Borat tries to kiss one of the guys on the street and the man proceeds to run away at top speed with Borat chasing him reminds me that not everyone is going to just roll over and say "bring on the change." If people do intend to change they need time, and if they refuse well then, just leave it be.

Also, Borat touches on many cultural differences that I think people need to stop being so surprised by. In the United States we have people that talk differently, call soda different names, listen to different music. Even here in the US you can't find a Dunkin Donuts on the West Coast to save your life. So why wouldn't life across the ocean be different with all the differences we have happening in one hemisphere. If people could start approaching cultural differences (despite how we feel about them) by the words "that's an interesting way to do it" instead of "holy shit did they just east a mouse?" I do believe we'd find a lot of similarities as well. We're all humans. Besides the moral standards (if they be on the same page) who cares if people in some deep southern jungle in a third world eat catepillars and lizards? They're probably making fun of us for eating something called a "Big Mac." What's normal isn't always what's normal for someone else. I think if you can wrap your head around that, Borat will take on a whole different meaning.

Central Asia, Here I Come!

Okay, so I've always been sort of jealous of movie buffs. I know it sounds stupid but how can people begin those types of journeys? I mean it takes dedication and a lot of discipline I feel to be able to stay with one genre so loyally. I love horror films but I haven't seen close to 3% of the horror films ever made. It makes me feel lazy. But hopefully this class will give me some interesting insight into movies across the Atlantic. Starting with Borat is and will always be the weirdest start to a semester ever, but I can kind of see where it might be going. Over not just in Central Asia, but in Europe in general, there is just a different standard. Their way of life is so laid-back but so successful it makes you wonder why Americans can't figure out how to have their cake and eat it too. We pride ourselves in being tolerant and such, but look at how we look down on others. Okay, I'm sort of off topic. What I mean to say, is that you can tell a lot about a group of people by the way they choose to express themselves. I think learning about Central Asia through their films is going to be an experience like no other. I mean, people like to watch movies. Who doesn't enjoy at least one good film. And if that film can speak to you, well then it should be able to teach you something as well. I'm very excited to be able to have this opportunity to see movies I would never have heard of otherwise. It gives me the feeling I will be learning a lot, and annoying my friends in about two months with all my newly acquired knowledge.