Film Festival

[Anonymous]

OK, Rashomon is an excellent Kurosawa film that gets to the point that diiferent people can see the same event and interpret that event in significantly different ways. This is a film that involves rape, so it is NOT for a typical World History class, but I show after-school films for kids, and this one is making the list. It is so very difficult to get kids to understand the subjectivity of personal memory, let alone the bias of memiors. The movie can springboard into a discussion of what history is. Who writes history? Whose version is accepted as fact? How can a person use critical thinking and analysis to determine more and less riliable primary source documents?

A great film in itself. No, a GREAT film in itself, and also useful for teaching about perspectives in history!

Chris Carter

[Anonymous]

For those who are interested , there is a Korean TV Series called "SEOUL 1945" on KBS (try channel 44 though I think this number may vary) every Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 p.m. It is subtitled in English! It's a historical drama about the events surrounding the Japanese occupation, independence, and the Korean War. It traces several characters and their lives, childhood friendship, love, betryal, and their fates marked by political events and their involvements sourrounding the events. Tonight's episode ended with the conflict between the Korean Socialist Party and the American backed what is to be Democratic Party with Rhee Sung Man and Kim Ku. One of the female characters (a famous pianist whose father partnered with Japan to prosper under the Japanese occupation) was trying to befriend Rhee Sung Man to seek revenge on those who she believes killed her father when Korea was liberated from Japan.
This series has been on for a while now so, if you are interested in watching in from beginning, you can find the videos at any Korean video stores. If not, you can start watching and recording next Saturday. It is very entertaining and inforamtive.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed this action packed movie that revolved around Chinese astrology. For those like myself who didn't know, SPL is the English translation for Sha Po Lang which are 3 stars in Chinese astrology. Near the beginning of the movie and in the bonus features of the DVD it mentions this. However it doesn't go into detail about what those stars mean, and since it was the title of the movie and what seemed to drive the path the characters took, I decided to research these stars myself to see how they might relate or influence the characters actions. Apparently, the stars astrology ties together the characters and effects their destiny and the paths they take and choices they make. Here are some explanations for each star.
Sha- Power star
Po- Ruinous star, general or army breaker
Lang- Flirting star
I wish I could have found more explanation because I got the sense that the Asian audience for this movie knew this background information as a given. The movie opens with a detective driving with a family who is going to testify in court that day against a crime boss. The crime boss sends someone to kill this family and their little girl and the detecive survive. He feels so awful he adopts the girl and has it out for the crime boss know released since there is no one to testify any more. This is probably where the astrology takes part because he finds out he is dying of cancer and is going to retire. In the meantime he starts taking the law into his own hands. His team at the police station end up taking a huge bag of money that belongs to this crime boss during a raid and don't turn it in. They plan to give it to the head detective to help raise the girl when he dies of his cancer. The crime boss is obviously furious over this. In the meantime he and his wife have been trying to have a baby for years and finally has one. It is time for the head detective to retire and the new head detective shows up to meet the team. This character is played by Donnie Yen. I was definently impressed by this actor. I looked into what other movies he has been in and perhaps he is more well known than I realized (even for an English speaking audience). He has been in Blade II, Iron Monkey and Hero. All movies I have heard of!
He follows around the retiring head detective and his team for the day and catchs on to what they are up to. They frame the crime boss for a murder of one of their undercover agents even though they know he didn't deliever the death killing blow. They have the evidence (a video tape) altered. However, this same night that the crime boss is arrested, he has one of his men go and kill each detective that was involved in stealing his money. The killer finally comes after Donnie Yen's character (the new head detecive)and who is trying to return the money and thus ensues a fighting scene this movie is probably known for. It was amazing. Their weapons were a knief and a baton. Their reflexes were so fast! In watching the extra features on the DVD and through word of mouth, I heard this scene was not even choreographed! Yen's character goes on to have another extrodinary fight scene with the crime boss himself that ends in a great twist that I won't spoil.
I would definently reccommend this movie for entertainment and enjoyment of a good story line and impressive fighting sequences. I think I will watch one of Donnie Yen's other movies now. If you watch and enjoy this movie, I just read the other day that they will start production for a sequel next month!

[Anonymous]

This film can lead students into discussions about woman characters in films, anime, artists, and types of stories used. In my opinion, I didn't like how the characters were drawn but I'm sure the story was pretty good. This is however a film that children and adults can like.

[Anonymous]

Since this movie is readily available and current, it can be used in class to draw comparisons of how Japan was and is today. There are some shots of modern Tokyo and some of its culture. Most students probably know about this movie and it could probably spark some interest in them.

[Anonymous]

Gie is a 2005 Indonesian film by Riri Riza. It is about the life of a student political activist named Soe Hok Gie based on his journal entries and the political events of 1960s Indonesia. Apparently, he is a much admired student political leader who had a great part in awakening political involvement within university students. He is said to have written as a student journalist that since students are the lucky group who was able to get better eduation compared to others, they were the ones who had to fight for the nation so that those suffering wouldn't have to commit anything to put their lives in danger.
This movie reminded me of THe Motorcycle Diary about Che Guevara's life. It is rather long (about 148 minutes) and slow but, I enjoyed seeing the Indonesian culture and the countryside in this movie, not to mention the historical facts behind this figure I had never heard of. I really admire him for being true to himself and sticking to his principals when a lot of his friends left him for money and power. He worte in his journal " I'd rather be isolated than surrender to hypocrisy".
He was also a mountain climber, so you get to see a lot of beautiful Indonesian mountainscapes in this movie.
This movie also has some great music it. I don't understand Indonesian but, I would buy the sound track just for the sound of it. You can hear the theme song when you visit the site:

http://www.milesfilms.com/gie/

This site also has scenes from the movie, historical context, the trailer and more.

[Anonymous]

I just purchsed a film on-line that I've been wanting to watch. I thought some of you might be interested in it as well. It is a documentary film about North Korean refugees hiding underground awaiting an opportunity to flee their hunger striken country. Here is a part of the synopsis from the website:

http://seoultrain.com

Synopsis

With its riveting footage of a secretive “underground railroad,” SEOUL TRAIN is the gripping documentary exposé into the life and death of North Koreans as they try to escape their homeland and China.

SEOUL TRAIN also delves into the complex geopolitics behind this growing and potentially explosive humanitarian crisis. By combining vérité footage, personal stories and interviews with experts and government officials, SEOUL TRAIN depicts the flouting of international laws by major countries, the inaction and bureaucracy of the United Nations, and the heroics of activists that put themselves in harm’s way to save the refugees.

Today, there are an estimated 250,000 North Korean refugees living underground in China. They escaped a food crisis and other persecutions at home that have claimed the lives of approximately 3 million in the past 10 years. As the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stands idly by, the Chinese Government — in direct violation of international laws to which it’s a party — systematically arrests and forcibly repatriates hundreds of these refugees each month. Defecting from North Korea is a capital offense, and repatriated refugees face human rights abuses ranging from concentration camps and torture to forced abortion and summary executions.

For a lucky few refugees, however, there is hope. A group of multinational activists has taken it upon themselves to create an Underground Railroad. Via a network of safe houses and escape routes, the activists — at great personal risk — help the refugees on daring escapes to freedom over hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of miles of Chinese territory. This is an odyssey where betrayal and deceit lurk around every corner, and the price of getting caught likely means death. It’s an epic tale involving years on the lam living in underground shelters, North Korean and Chinese agents, double-crossings, covert border crossings, and the terror of what happens if they get caught.

[Anonymous]

I am in San Diego alot.
For anyone interested there is going to be the 7th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival October 12-19 2006. I believe it is put on by the San Diego Asian Film Foundation. A web site listed on the flyer I read is http://www.sdaff.org.

[Anonymous]

I saw this movie for a variey of reasons. 1) It has been on my list of movies I wanted to watch 2)I read the book, and 3)It was nominated for 6 academy awards (it must have done something right).

I definently enjoyed it. I found it very informative. I had allready read the book and others on geisha so I noticed that it did cover many aspects of the culture in a way for "westerners" to become more aware of the culture. My husband watched and realized himself that no...they (or least many) are not prostitutes, but that they are educated in the arts. It was very sad but interesting how the main character's family sold her, and the path her life would lead because of that. I liked how they showed how one becomes a geisha, and how one becomes proud of their art. I was absolutly facinated with their customs. I thought the story flowed well. Apparently one concern that has caused controversy was that the main character was Chinese, not Japanese. This did not bother me at all, but I am interested to research more why it is an issue. One item I came across was if the lead character could really understand and represent the character she was playing. I know this is not nearly enough, however, on the DVD there are the extra features I love to watch when the movie intrigues me enough to be curious about things behind the scenes.
The DVD includes these extra features:
The look of geisha (Wardrobe, hair & Makeup) ( There are meanings behind how this is done that tell you certain things about the geisha- such as if she has lost her virginity which they refer to as mizu-age, if she is apprentice, real,etc...) (This is also described in great detail in the book.)
Music
Geisha BOOT CAMP- how the actresses became geisha
Geisha dance
COmmentary

[Anonymous]

I found my whole focus on the grandmother and what she had to endure, not only from her grandson and her daughter, but from the harsh conditions in which she lived. She seemed to be all alone before her daughter brought the boy to her. Her daughter was fully aware of how her mother had to toil day after day, just to put food on the table and bring water up from the steep trail. No wonder she walked stooped over from all the years of carrying water back and forth, day after day. We all agree the boy was not a big help to her. He was a pain in the butt. Through her unconditional love, patience and strength of will, she was able to help him grow and flouish. The hard part to watch was when the mother had the nerve to come back for him after such a long time. He was beginning to blossom in his grandmother's care. He was also helping her and making her life easier. She wasn't lonely anymore. She had a purpose in life. It burned me up to think of older people being treated and used like this. I think of my own father who was 86 years old and passed away this past March. I would give anything to have him back on this earth. I treated my father with respect. All grandmothers and grandfathers should be treated with kindness and love, even when they are cranky! A bit of true love goes along way.

[Anonymous]

Look at this recently published report!

"China Slaps Director With Five Year Ban
Monday, September 4, 2006 8:34 AM EDT
The Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese director Lou Ye has been banned from making movies in his home country for five years because his film "Summer Palace" was screened at Cannes in May without government approval, state media said Monday.

The main Xinhua News Agency said Lou's film would be confiscated and income from the film seized. The movie is a sexually explicit love story set against China's pro-democracy protests of 1989, which led up to the brutal Tiananmen Square crackdown.

Producer Nai An was also banned from making films in China for five years, Xinhua said.

Lou attended the premiere of the film at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France in May without first obtaining permission from China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.

Hong Kong media reported earlier this year that Chinese authorities had ordered local news outlets not to report on "Summer Palace" at Cannes.

In 2000, when Jiang Wen's "Devils on the Doorstep" showed at Cannes without government approval, censors kept the movie off the Chinese market, angering investors. And in 1997, China pulled Zhang Yimou's film "Keep Cool" from the festival competition. And

Lou has said his film is somewhat autobiographical.

"I wanted to tell this story, because in 1989 I was myself a student at Peking University and was involved in a romance," he said earlier this year, referring to his similarities to the characters in "Summer Palace."

The student protests ended with the crackdown at Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, which left hundreds if not thousands dead. Chinese authorities still maintain the demonstrations were counterrevolutionary riots."

[Anonymous]

I found this movie to be very moving, and very good. It would be good to show video clips of this movie to a 10th grade World History or World Cultures class. I definately wouldn't show the entire movie, it is too long. Also, there are a couple of questionable scenes. Otherwise, this video offers some good historical information when teaching about China.

[Anonymous]

A few weeks ago, I was in a teacher's store and found a three-video series on Modern China. The first video covers China during its Revolution. For the second video, it discusses and highlights the Mao years. Finally, life in China under the "red flag" is the topic of the third video.

This video set would be wonderful for an IB or AP World Cultures/World History class. The videos go into great detail regarding each of the three main themes.

If you were to show each video completely, it would take you six hours. So, I do not recommend you do that. However, as you cover the California state social science standards, as well as the IB standards, you could use video clips from each of the videos to highlight or illustrate those standards specific to China during the modern era.

My favorite of the three videos was "Born Under the Red Flag", the third video. I felt this video did a great job at exemplifying life after the Revolution. How things changed for the people, etc.

[Anonymous]

I found that my response to the video "The Way Home" was similar to yours. I followed the grandmother and her plight. The fact that she let her grandson ride the bus home after a day of selling at market, while she herself walked. Many grandparents throughout history have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for their grand children. My own grandmother used to take me to her home in Burbank when I would get sick. When I got sick, it would linger for a month or more. So, for a whole month, she would take care of me no matter what I needed. If I had to go to the doctor, she would drive me back to Redlands, take me to the appointment, pick up any prescriptions I needed in Redlands at my Pharmancy, and drive me home to her house. If I needed specialized food, she would get it. The amount our grandparents are willing to sacrifice is astonishing. Just as the grandmother in the movie is continually sacrificing for her grandson. I loved this movie. With the grandmother's love, the boy finally realizes what it means to be a person.

[Anonymous]

This Film Festival sounds great! I wonder, though, how much it costs?

[Author]

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