Kaneto Shindo Onibaba 1964 Review

 

Next month, on April 22nd, is Japanese director Kaneto Shindo's birthday. Before we celebrate more of his work next month, we can all glimpse his master storytelling with this old classic here...

The first movie I had seen of the director was The Children of Hiroshima, which is entirely different from Onibaba and is more direct and realistic about the sufferings at Nagasaki and Hiroshima perhaps because it was made in 1952 very close to the tragedy. Instead Onibaba although about modern events sits on the framework of the past.

 I had seen the movie, Onibaba, referenced here and there and was curious about it. Since horror is really not my genre I had been hesitant in the past (also because I am a scarredy-cat, not because they are beyond my taste). So finally today I had the chance to watch the movie.  

Japan has an old and enduring culture of horror stories. When I first came across it I was not very keen to check it out. You see, my knowledge of horror stories comes from the recent set of horror movies that focus more on supernatural entities and gore.

While I enjoy a good story here and there, for the most part I stand at "from the time I discovered what monstrosities humans could commit, I stopped being scared of the monster under my bed." But it is by sheer accident that I discovered the movie, Ugetsu, which has certainly piqued my interest in this genre. Onibaba is a film followed by that. Like Ugetsu, Onibaba is also a jidaigeki, meaning a period drama. While it is a period drama, this story is an analogy for the modern war, and especially the world wars which destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Onibaba, the movie is set in fourteenth century Kyoto, where wars between factions of samurais has led to a civil unrest. The story is centered on two peasant women who are pushed to manage on their own, as their son has left for a war. One of them is the older woman, and the other is her daughter-in-law. The film portrays their struggle for satisfying their most natural instincts. While hunger remains a constant struggle and no one hesitates to kill.

While hunger is not hardly met, sex becomes another struggle which for the younger woman is a matter of instinct, it is a matter of survival for the older woman. While there are few who could actively pursue the daughter during the wartime, the return of their dead son's friend starts a challenge for the woman. She is forced to watch her daughter in law being drawn to the new man and fears that this would leave her alone.

The Symbolism

Onibaba

The character of Onibaba is drawn from old Japanese folklore, which means a "demon woman" or an evil hag. The story itself had emerged out of the Kyoto region. An Onibaba is a woman who feasts on the flesh of a young pregnant woman and is depicted as carrying a knife or spindle. There are many alternative stories. The Onibaba of the movie is inspired from a Buddhist fable. What I loved about Onibaba is how myth is easily woven into such a realistic story.

The Wilderness

The wilderness is a very potent symbol used throughout the movie. A wilderness is a sign that the soil is fertile, not barren, however it also depicts that no one can be bothered to look after it. It is also a projection of the people living in it. It is possible the older woman is not that old at all but looks older due to the extreme poverty. Her own loneliness she can share only with a tree that is standing barren in the wilderness.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h07e53ckhEc]

The Mask

The mask of the devil is yet another symbol that in a single scene conveys the real villain of the story, that is those samurais. The samurai is supposed to be a gallant and royal person, but underneath the mask is a rotten person. This "losing face" by losing the mask we realise has happened to quite a few people in the story's setting.

Although the element of magic and myth is present in the movie, it does not take away from its stark reality. The woman becoming an Onibaba is due to necessity more than anything evil inside her.

Like me, if you have hated the horror genre, you should definitely check out Onibaba, definitely a classic fare.

She Said Movie Review

Negotiating this man-made world is a challenge women face everyday. Until recently, women were not even telling their own stories. She Said is a women's story narrated by women, screenplay written by Rebecca Lenkieweicz and directed by Maria Shrader based on the book, She Said by Pulitzer Winning journalists, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey.

The movie opens with Jodi Kantor already investigating the story and we do not know what her intent is behind chasing it.

Even before I ever became interested in the field of journalism, I had already come to know the names Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. All this despite being so far in place and time from the two people. And yet how is it that in these times when I was fully aware of the impact of the #MeToo movement and despite relishing in the bringing down on powerful men like Weinstein and such, why was I unaware of the names, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey?

The movie explores the protagonist's own womanhood with a gentleness, it does not get preachy but it still expresses how it becomes their silent strength, such as through their motherhood, their changing bodies. It also explores the challenge of having women against the cause and having men as allies.

She said is a narration of the journey that ultimately led to these two New York Times journalists exposing Weinstein and the enablers around him. Rightfully though the story revolves around the women, the victims, and there is some of form of poetic justice in the fact that the movie never shows his likeness in the full. The story is about the women who found themselves all alone and in position to share their stories. It is amazing that even when it seems like a powerful voice like NY Times will be telling their story they still take time to gather their strength. As one of the women, Laura says, "It is like Harvey took away my voice just when I was about to find it."

What the movie could have explored further is the power structure themselves and how they can be stopped from forming and how law could have some way of creating this. 

We specially need to mention the scenes with Rowena Chiu and the difference in culture. Rowena's husband seems uninformed about his wife's extreme trauma and even while he talks to Jodi Kantor you can sense that this news is going to impact their dynamics in a significant way.

Nonetheless "She Said" takes the phrase away from the undertone of gossip and places it in a place of authority where a woman's voice is heard and responded to. In that the movie seems juxtapositioned to the world of All The President's Men. And while actors Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan shine in their roles as the two journalists, all other characters are not mere characters but equally important pieces on the chess board of this democratic game.

Chicago Fire Series Season Overview

We all know Chicago is a very #NoFilters beautiful city where Harry is meeting Sally and Ferris Bueller is having a field day. But did you know there is violent side to this city? I mean could be so dangerous that living Home Alone wouldn't be a Child’s Play you would have imagined? 

Some professions are popular for totally different reason than mere glamour, professions such Police, Lifeguards or in this case Firefighters. These are the people who fight danger to save lives. Just everyday heroes who appeal to the survival instinct in us. They are different from movie stars or models. No wonder there are series upon series celebrating their adventures.

One such series is Chicago Fire which has been running for more than eleven seasons now. And why not? It is in the name, firefighters. People fighting the elements!  What could be more badass? The drama practically writes itself. 

Add to it the background of picturesque Chicago and you would think it is one of the most happening place on earth. Either that or the people from Chicago really struggle with the basics of fire safety. Say whatever it is one of the topic that keeps people coming back for more. 

The characters of the show are predictably handsome, their features toned with all the running around and being on toes. So it would definitely be great to watch the dynamics between such people. Not a slow moment, not a contemplative mood. There's no aptitude for that here. 

Fires one of the greatest man-made hazards of our world, before nuclear disasters became a reality. The London fire or the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire are some of the history-altering events. There is no wonder people see their heroes in these firefighters. At your place, in a moment of extreme crisis. 

Set in a beautiful locale like Chicago this show that has run for eleven seasons continues to sore in popularity. It is not hard to see why. Thus fastpaced series is full of drama and personal stories (containing gorgeous people) and it appeals to people like us who do not have to fight for our lives when we go to work. The characters are interesting and go through their personal hardships. These physically strong people who find themselves weak in their emotions just have a way to appeal to us. 

Fans of Chicago Fire are overjoyed since the Season 11 of the series has been green lit. There have been no official announcements as yet though if the entertainment buzz is to be believed, fans will still have to wait till September 2022 for the Season 11 to be rolled out.

So what can we expect from the Season 11? It goes without saying that the themes of Season 10 are likely to continue. But before we wonder what follows, let’s look at how the story has unfolded so far.

The series is set in a fictional fire station called Engine Company 51 on the dependable shoulders of Chief Wallace Boden Jr. The first season begins with the death of Andrew Darden which strains the friendship between Lieutenant Severide and Lieutenant Matthew Casey, a near death of Christopher Hermann and a new recruit Peter Mills. Severide starts dating Nicki while Casey makes enemy when Detective Voight tries to protect his son over a hit and run case. Peter Mills joins the team but the scenes at his job are harsh for him whose father’s death might be more than what meets the eye. The paramedic team is made up of best friends, Gabriela Dawson and Leslie Shay whose friendship sees ups and downs. Gabriela is conflicted between love interests Casey and Peter Mills. In all of this old-school cop Mouch comes and saves the day. A few accidents and drug charges being disposed the season finale arrives with an aptly titled “A Hell Of A Ride”. Despite their differences and dangers of their duty the team always comes together.

By Season 2, Firehouse 51 is a hotbed of conspiracies and there is a suspicion that it might be closing down with Gail McLeod making a strong case against Boden. Severide has to deal with being accused by an arsonist, and discovers he has a half-sister, Katie whom he saves with the help of Chicago PD. Best friends Shay and Gabriela hit a rough patch which becomes more grievous situation for Shay. Gabriela and Matthew Casey get closer and Shay disappears. Despite the teams’ achievements in rescue such as in managing a derailed train and a blackout, Boden still suspects bad news.

Boden urges the 51 team to unite in the circumstances of a fire explosion which kills Leslie Shay at the beginning of Season 3. Casey and Dawson come together but drift away due to tragic circumstances at the workplace. Brian "Otis" Zvonecek, of Truck 81 looks for investors for his food truck venture, Molly and finally finds some boost during the Chicago Holiday Fest. Joe Cruz brings trouble to 51 by colliding into a local fire company’s truck. When rescuing an owner from the cellar Lt Severide happens upon a suspicious box which can finally help him catch Voight. Casey goes in search of missing Severide but then several others go missing prompting Chicago PD to intervene. Boden is replaced by Chief Pat Pridgen whose derisive ways does not endear him to the crew. Mouch who has been having trouble dating decides instead to meet his child. A warehouse fire brings Boden back to leadership.

Season 4 starts with Casey going undercover while Chief Boden has to safeguard his reputation. Patterson clashes with Severide and question’s Boden’s leadership. Although all the politics must be put on hold because a tornado is forthcoming and Casey while helping the victims to a shelter discovers not all good deeds are rewarded and starts having doubts about his alderman candidacy due to a propaganda against him. However Firehouse 51 crew come together to rescue a building collapse scene. Dawson saves little boy, Louie Thompson.

In Season 5, Boden struggles with Borrelli who is still grieving his brother’s death. Casey is on a disagreement with Severide over an arson case. While Dawson and Casie apply for Louie Thompson’s adoption, Louie’s biological father disagrees. Dawson’s father surprises them with a visit which bothers Casey as he overstays. Hermann celebrates a 100th anniversary bash at Otis’ food truck Molly. While Firehouse 51 faces challenges Casey also has to attend his Alderman duties. Dawson and Brett try to work with a new recruit while Cruz faces a possible suspension. Mouch considers retirement. But the crew has to attend a dangerous warehouse fire.

Season 6 begins with Boden making a risky decision to save his crew trapped under a warehouse fire. He also discovers clue which lead him to believe his wife’s death at an accidental fire at her school may have been act of arson. Otis starts working on the grand opening of Molly to impress Lily. When Severide’s girlfriend Stella Kidd is transferred Severide and Casey become suspicious. However they must first assist the FBI for some undercover investigation. Boden pursues a promotion while Dawson and Casey struggle in their relationship.

Boden faces challenges at workplace, while Casey struggles in his personal life at the beginning of Season 7. Gorsch tries to take over Boden. Severide goes through trauma trying to get over his father’s death and this impacts his relationship with Stella Kidd. Otis and Mouch’s friendship goes through a rough patch. Emily Foster, a medical student replaces Dawson and becomes a team with Brett and Kidd. Foster and Kidd fight over Severide.

The crew turns up at a mattress factory where a fire has gone out of control in Season 8. Kidd becomes a district representative and has to prove herself National Firefighter Leadership Conference. Severide has to work with first responders when a deadly bacteria spreads over the city. A Reddit post turns the 51 crew into detectives. Kidd is given to handle some new trainees. A group tries to create trouble for Firehouse 51 by threatening to shut them down.

Season 9 begins with the arrival of a new member and Brett emerging as a new leader. However, while Kidd’s personal life with Severide is strained, she solves an office problem efficiently and Boden sees her caliber. Mouch misses a near fatal accident. Brett and Casey begin to get serious about each other. But he begins to doubt about his future at the Firehouse. New recruits Gallo, Ritter and Violet blend in. Hermann and Cruz get trapped in a freight elevator involving a blaze at a storage unit. But news of fatherhood helps him revive. 

An unusual fortuity of a capsized boat sends the 51 team into new challenges in Season 10. Casey becomes an internet sensation when his rescue on a building roof is recorded and shared. While Kidd is promoted to be a lieutenant, new ventures are formed at the firehouse when Brett and Mouch sets up a paramedicine program. The trio, Gallo, Ritter and Violet set up a microbrewery at the Winterfest. Violet develops feelings for Hawkins.

The House 51 is a busy place with many characters coming and going in through the seasons. And despite the crowd the Season 10 has left even the most dedicated fans in a chaotic excitement. 

Chicago Fire, part of the Chicago PD and Chicago Med has remained popular since its advent in October 2012 on NBC which is where the Season 11 will continue. 

The Tender Bar 2021 Movie Review

Movies about writers are one of my personal favourite. There are very few movies about the artistic life that the ones that are made are a delight. The Tender Bar is a movie made by George Clooney based on the memoir of the same name by J R Moehringer. 

Even before I know what the movie is about I clicked on it to see what the Dickens bar was about. Naturally talented boy, Daniel Ranieri, plays the young writer. JR and his mother live their life in the suitcase, moving from rented houses and finally come to settle at his grandfather's house.

Typically, the person who gives you a book is your saviour, that is at least true for a writer. And so it is for JR whose saviour is Uncle Charlie, played by Ben Affleck, who runs the Dickens bar full of the author's books. Affleck himself carries the cool, easygoing vibe that translates on camera as well and he fits perfectly as the street-philosophy serving uncle.

JR which stands for Junior is a name given to him after his absent, drunk father. No one bothers to change it and the name continues to haunt him for life. More so for the older JR, equally in ease on camera, Tye Sheridan. He graduates from Yale, has a promising writing career but what use is this if there are not a few nagging characters that can make it into the book. Those people for JR are his unrequited love, Sidney, and his abusive father. 

This Clooney movie is about the simple beauty of life, so there this human story is told simply with no drama, gently paced, but just about endearing, enduring people, who are all looking for happiness in life. Definitely a movie to be watched for pure storytelling. You can watch it on Amazon Prime now.

Matrix Resurrections 2021 Movie Review

Did the trailer give you ideas of seeing the American military as the Red Queen's foot soldiers? How excited were you for this Matrix movie on the scale of zero to ten? Me? 100!

One thing that can be said with confidence is that if Keanu Reeves goes to the Matrix with a dose of Morpheus, there is a certain set of 90s kids that will show up regardless of the content. And the last couple of years have been a season of recaps of the 90s movies and television, the Spiderman movies did a parallel universe tie-in, Sabrina came back in a darker avatar and of course here, Neo will be meeting Trinity in an Alice in the Wonderland universe. Right from the melting mirror scene this bringing together of those two universes was due. 

It is as if the movie itself treats the last two Matrix movies as a dream and picks up the thread from the first movie and wakes up from an amnesia where the two characters have been leading a "normal" life having erased the apocalyptic scenes of their past. Neo has not forgotten but considers his past escapades as a game reality. Especially considering that the first movie was talking about a world where Artificial Intelligence was becoming an all pervasive presence is quickly becoming a reality, this movie was due for a reboot.

And so it is the shrink Neo is seeing, Neil Patrick Harris, (perhaps a hookah-smoking caterpillar, or the Cheshire Cat, who quotes a philosophy and disappears,) is called The Analyst,  the person who is supposed give you insights into reality is the person who takes you away from it. Mental health concerns are rising all around the world and there is a need for an enquiry into what goes into the making of those anti-depressants and the anxiety pills we are popping!

The movie introduces more characters such as Bugs, the literal rabbit that takes Neo down the rabbit hole and Priyaanka Chopras's Satee (the Indian mythological character who brings back her dead husband from the God of death,) who interestingly handles the Resurrection pods. There is Morpheus, of course, played by Yahya Abdool-Mateen, who has completely morphed into an AI now and unlike the sure and calm Morpheus of Laurence Fishburne, now struggles with his own identity, which is different but endearing. 

The movie gives equal weightage to all its characters although it wastes a significant time on action much like the original.

What I was expecting was more visuals and metaphors alluding to Alice in Wonderland and The Looking Glass. (Even their release date was alluding to that!) America as some sort of Queen of Hearts. And why is Trinity not the Alice that takes Neo to the wonderland? All I am saying is that although we love the black-neon green aesthetics of the original movie, here was a chance to introduce an entirely new imagery to the movie's canon and introduce a classic like Alice in Wonderland to a new generation. Heck there was already a black cat from the Looking Glass! 

This below is not so much a review but a reminiscence of the first Matrix movie, the first time our generation discovered what movies could be! 

When the first Matrix was released we were discovering the extent to which imagination and research

could lead to great movie concepts. The movie opened up several philosophical and existential questions for our generation and led us down the rabbit hole of reality and its myriad manifestations. For the first time we looked at religion as having the capacity to teach us to question rather than just instruct on how to lead a daily life. The words Maayaa and Nirvana were the buzz words. 

The visuals of the movie were more than mere CGI, even they were driving the questions the movie wanted to ask. It made us read books like The Looking Glass with entirely new eyes. The action scenes sometimes took over the narrative but that was not entirely a hindrance.

With movies like Fight Club and Matrix America was considering how truth was being more elusive in the capitalist world that encouraged veiling the facts. 

Although Hollywood had started making profits in India, the popularity of Matrix may not be really apparent to others. It may not have been a popular theatre movie but it was one of first movies college kids discussed constantly, quoting its lines and discussing its ideas. At least the nerdy kids like us did! 

Keanu Reeves who already had a fan following from his movie Speed also became an overnight icon for the rest of us. We read about how he lead a hermit like life and the philosophy that he preached. He was cool in a way no one was. He was not the manly hero that even Hollywood likes, or the romantic chocolate boy, but he was cool by being, in a way, less narcissistic. He was not indifferent but a recluse. He was cool by not wearing something but just by being himself. 

The Matrix is one of the cult classics which will keep on re-spawning with new ideas and concepts.

Capernaum Review Zozo Lebanese Movie Comparison

This is a review of the movie Caphernaum.  I also want to compare it with a 2005 Lebanese movie called Zozo which based on a slightly similar theme. The name of the movie, Caphernaum, is taken from the name of a village in Israel where Jesus is said to have performed most of his miracles. The word Caphernaum simply translated means Naum's Village (Caphar = Village, Naum= Noam). However the village was forgotten and when it was discovered many years later, it was in an absolute state of ruin. Now this movie made by Lebanese director Nadine Labaki alludes to this new meaning of the word Caphernaum, it means when things fall into such a state of disrepair and wretchedness that they can never go back to their earlier state.

The movie is set in present day Lebanon where a 12 year old boy, who has lived in a life of poverty sues his parents for having many kids and failing to love them like they deserve. The child who plays Zain has faced similar struggles in real life, and boy does it show in his work! You have to wonder if this 12 year old is acting or merely reliving his experience. Zain Al Rafea manages to become a child a moment and in the next moment he can be seen struggling with issues of adulthood. His puberty and change in emotions are merely an addition to the other frustrations of life. Despite this depressing sounding ambience, the movie doesn't become pessimistic as Zain's constant struggle with whatever life throws at him keeps us hooked to the plot.

Although Zain seems unattached to most of his family, he is attached to his sister, Sahar. And the only thing that Zain knows is that his sister's menstruation could get her married to a much older man and Zain's solution to this problem is to ask his sister to keep it hidden.

Overall, Zain's life is full of struggles for the basics such as food, clothing and shelter. So it is amazing that what he craves for most is love and attention. His want for a parent is so strong that if he doesn't have a caring parent, he himself becomes a parent to a little baby whose Ethiopian mother, Rahil, has gone missing.

(To people who have said that Zain is too young to have used all the abusive, swear words in the movie, take a walk in your poor neighbourhood and discover the language.)

Now I want to compare this movie with another Lebanese movie made in 2005 called Zozo. This movie also has a 12 year old protagonist but his life is entirely different than that of Zain. Although Zozo is not rich, he is born in a middle class family, he doesn't know the struggles of living on the street. And even though surviving in the civil war that devastated Beirut in 19__ , Zozo still has time to fall in love. With only an elder sibling at home, he has received love and attention from his family. And even after his family dies, after a short struggle he is moved to his grandparents in Sweden. There, his struggle is with identity and race and coming to terms with it. It is not an easy life but still better than what Zain has.

Now in connection with these two stories, there is a hidden untold story. Which is how did the Civil War impact on those who were extremely poor like Zain? Is the family's poor status somehow a result of the Civil War? How did Zain's parents who must have been a young married couple at the time cope with the Civil War? Did they go through a post-war trauma like the baby boomer generation of America? Did that make them keep having kids without a stable source of income? As such, answers to these questions could provide an insight into the parents' side of the Zain story.

Despite this one issue, the movie is still a beautiful documentary that manages to capture the essence of what it means to live in a society where your existence doesn't mean anything to anyone, including your own parents.



Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds 1963 Review

 

Humans have always had an odd relationship with nature. We are aware of how it nurtures us and protects us, at the same time, we are aware that it can do a turn-around and challenge us in ways we didn't imagine. Instead of accepting the food chain as it was, we created a food pyramid, where we stood at the apex. We distanced ourselves from nature just enough that we were away from its dangers but close enough to exploit its advantages.

Despite all this distance, we have carried nature within us. Proof of this is how our dreams choose to convey our deepest fears and concerns through elements of nature. The dream analysis websites will inform you that if you dream about a wolf, you are perhaps worried about a sly person, if you see an elephant, you are likely to enjoy some good fortune. What is important is how these elements have become symbols. Great psychologist Carl Jung has called them archetypes. 

Various ancient cultures have special spiritual symbolism, especially with birds. Many older myths, such as Native American or Indian, have stories being narrated by birds. No wonder that they form such as an important part of our collective conscious. Even modern writers like Edgar Allan Poe have built on this symbolism, by making the raven, for instance, a harbinger of impending doom.

It is not a wonder than that a director like Hitchcock, who was deeply interested in the human psyche, would find this topic so appealing. And given the efforts we take to keep nature at a decent distance, birds who resolutely overlook this distance are in a way an urban nightmare.

Birds have an entirely different relationship with us. Even though most animals stayed back in the wilderness, except for those that we willingly domesticated, the birds followed us, sharing our space without fear. And hence they have continued to show their presence in our narratives, be it the folk tales, the legends or our modern movies. 

The movie's name brought to mind the image of the albatross, from Samuel Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". It is amazing how this movie is not a new unknown terror unfolding but it is like an old forgotten nightmare being played out.

It would be interesting to mention of the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore here who had said that the most distinguishing factor between the Eastern and Western culture is that the East views nature to be an ally in the journey of life where as the West views it as an adversary, something that needs to be challenged and prevailed.