Change Your Image
filmnathan
Reviews
Kundun (1997)
How does a Peaceful Culture React to Genocide?
The story is of how His Holiness Dalai Lama was found as a child until teenage years as he he faces exile escaping Mao's invading People's Liberation Army. The pace may be slow but the views stunning and the moral dilemma compelling. Scorsese poses the question: faced with violence, how does a leader fight for survival with Buddhist compassion? With the growing violence we see on the international headlines, this film is highly relevant both spiritually and ethically for all countries and peoples.
Seen on a large screen, with a brush of the sands and my tears, this film changed my life. I support many first nations that have suffered killings and wish we can redress the wrongs. Seven Years in Tibet was also good but this movie changed my life and made me study the different branches of Buddhism and found much peace in meditation. Not bad for a few hours by an under-rated master, Scorsese.
Yurîka (2000)
Survivors of a random act of violence struggle to continue living
It has been almost 6 years since I saw this film, yet this film can stick with me and still offer me things.
After a tragic incident of violence, a bus driver tries to find two other teen-aged survivors, a brother and sister. The sparse black and white camera work provide an insight into the bleak emotional landscape as they just stumble through as "walking dead". Having lost a father, I can identify with the characters. What is touching is the lack of communication and dialogue between the actors (whic includes the lead of the Japanese "Shall We Dance" ). Yet there is love and communication made even by just the thumping on bus walls. Words fail them.
The camera work is bleak yet stunning in composition and texture. Minimal yet just enough to feel the principals trying to find meaning in life. One can also speak of the Japanese economic downturn and the resulting introspective dramatic films such as Hirokazu's "After Life". If have experienced grief or if you'd like to find some insight into it, this may be a film. It seemed shorter than the four hours, but you are forewarned.