This past week was nice and relaxed. What could be more relaxing than sitting back, munching on goodies and watching some movies with your fellow classmates? That's right, we had movie week! We had to watch a minimum of 3 movies, and the 3 that I watched were 1) Born into Brothels, 2) One Hour Photo, 3) Pecker.
Born into Brothels was... I'm not sure that I can use only one word to describe the movie. It was inspiring, sad, heartbreaking and a million other emotions. I knew that it was going to be a sad movie going into it and expected to cry, but I didn't. Not until the very end when the updates were given on the children. That kind of surprised me, as I am a crier. What surprised me most about the movie was how all of the children wanted to get out of the red light district, because they knew what kind of life awaited them if they stayed. I know that sounds bad, but you know the saying "Not seeing the forest for the trees", well I guess I expected the kids to see the trees and not the forest. But they did and knew the forest well. As badly as their families treated them they still loved them, one of the little boys made a remark along the lines that even though his father wasn't a good one, he was still his father so he tried to love him. I couldn't get over how these children seemed so old, yet so young at the same time. This is totally foreign to my understanding of childhood. What is it like to constantly worry that you will "join the line" any day, will your mother be killed by her pimp or a customer, to be abandoned to family because your mother is unwilling to care for you? One little boy, Avjit commented "There is nothing in my future called hope.". So when Zana Auntie, began to try and get the children out of the brothels, I started to silently cheer along side her victories and feel her keen disappointment when it seemed like nothing would come together. I applaud her for all her efforts in helping these children. That she was able to help even some is a miracle in itself, these kids that she has helped don't have to fear life in the brothels. I was so excited when she was able to get these kids out of the brothels, and when they gave updates on the kids at the end of the movie, my heart broke upon learning that not all of the children remained in the schools where Zana Auntie got them admittance to, and it broke even more upon learning that one of the girls left the school of her own free will. I did a little bit of research on where the kids are now and am pleased to report that 2 of the kids were attending schools in the USA. Avjit being one of them, he was attending NYU studying film. After the movie was over some of us were discussing it and someone remarked that they felt like shit and wanted to hop on a plane over there, right then to help. And while I empathize with the feelings, I came to realize a long time ago that not everyone is cut out for being a hands on advocate like Zana Auntie was, but there are always financial needs, and helping financially is every bit important as being there in person getting your hands dirty, for without the financial support there would be no hope for these kids.
One hour Photo! CREEPY! I have no other word for it, I really don't. Sy turns from a photo stalker to an actual stalker. It made me want to look suspiciously at all photo lab technicians from now on. To become so enamoured with a family through their photos that he felt he had become a part of the family (Uncle Sy) is creepy and scary beyond belief. To believe that he was a part of the family and to have daydreams of what it would be like to be an integral part of that family is disturbing. That he begins to stalk them, trying to relate to them and in a way protect them from the husband/father is mind boggling. Are there really people like that out there? I really have nothing more to say on this film other than I will never watch it again!
Pecker! Oh, Pecker. Stupid, stupid, STUPID movie! But it did have it's funny points, I will admit that, and it did have some pretty funny quotes. My favourite is Pecker to Shelly "Shelly! I love you more than Kodak!". But, I also loved the blind photographer "I feel portraits and smell landscapes!", I loved it! So ridiculous, but kinda true at the same time, in a weird sort of way. I could've done with out certain things in the movie, such as the lesbian strip bar for straight men?!?! Did no one else find that weird? Little Chrissy creeped me out! First the insane sugar highs!, and also referring to herself in the third person, just plain weird. think it is every photographer's secret dream that they will be "discovered" out of the blue and to become an instant sensation in the art world. Alas life doesn't work that way, at least for 99.9999% of us, but it is nice to dream. But we do all have family that support us in our photography adventure, like Pecker did.
Well I think that about sums up my movie week. Now back to my reality of research projects, print auctions and cameras. Blog you later.
