The Kiss of the Spiderwoman

'...what this world offers me...is the struggle.’....

-Internet Movie Data Base *

In this life, men are born with different coping mechanisms when it comes to dealing with the harshness of reality that we call life. Some men opt to escape and immerse themselves into their self-created fantasy of a world while others choose to stay behind and battle on. One can never tell which method is right or wrong because it really depends on the person’s preferences. This is what the film “The Kiss Of the Spider Woman” tried to convey.

The 1985 film that was based on Manuel Puig’s novel of the same title (Spanish: El Beso de la Mujer Araña) dealt with men’s constant battle between reality and fantasy. The two characters, Molina and Arregui represented two ends of the spectrum, each with their own reasons why their side is better than the other. As the story progressed, we can see the gradual change in each of the two characters as both influenced the other. Molina, who represented escapist fantasy, eventually learned to “spin the spider web that he has kept to himself for the longest time and interweave it with others” and Arregui who represented harsh reality found himself pining away in his own fantasy symbolized by his death and reunion with Marta.

 

The film tried to show the contrast between fantasy and reality so strongly that the viewers cannot help but be captivated with the plot as Molina relates the story of his life through the film. Although set in  a very small prison cell, the characters in the movie were able to explore the wonders of humanity and the imperfections that each person possesses through the narrated  stories that tried to explain each character’s personality. 

The imagery of the film was quite convincing. The use of the “movie within a movie” tactics made it even more effective in conveying the message because it exemplified the central theme through the juxtaposition of reality (i.e., the prison cell) and fantasy (i.e., black-and-white movie). Moreover, the movie was able to show what Molina really felt through the use of Leni and the Spider Woman. He was indeed a woman trapped in the body of a man, bound by society and his own restraints. The spider woman represented Molina being trapped in his own web of fantasies and the former’s escape was Molina’s redemption from the strings that stopped him from discovering a greater sense of purpose in life, which perhaps was the joining in the resistance outside. The softening of Arregui’s resolve on the other hand, was a product of his interaction with Molina. He was able to see the relevance of leaving the real world behind at some time and immersing himself to a self-made reality where all struggles do not exist and happiness is the only known emotion.

The film moves in a very slow pace, carefully sending the message to the viewers that the answer is not really choosing one over the other but learning to strike a balance between the two and knowing when to use which depending on the situation presented. Too much of each option may have harmful effects. Too much of reality may make you a cynic and hopeless that may lead to your destruction while too much of fantasy may eventually lead you to helplessness. 

*http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0089424/usercomments?start=10

2:09 AM

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Les Quatre Cents Coups (1959)

Directed by Francois Truffaut, this movie is a part of the French New Wave. The literal translation for this one is "THE 400 BLOWS" which in French stands for "raising hell".

 

Angel faces hell bent for violence

- Internet Movie Data Base *


The 400 Blows is a story that tells us of the events in the life of a 12-year old child and his premature struggles against the norms that have been set for him even before he was born. It is a fictional movie with an uncanny touch of reality, not only because of the plot and brilliant acting, but also because of the issues that it involves. The film tries to show the viewers in a very subtle yet piercing way, the life’s battle of a young boy against society and norms. As we can see in the movie, Antoine tries to do his best to be part of the world that he sees while also unleashing himself but every time he does, someone or something will stop him and immediately force him back to the line. Punishment is inflicted to him by an adult (teacher, parents) for every single mistake that he does without the latter explaining why it is wrong. The classroom scenes where Antoine was caught with the pin-up of a woman and the teacher blaming another student for whistling or talking show how arbitrary rules and punishment can be in the world. These incidents show inconsistencies in life for Antoine and these make it harder for him to understand and follow rules. With no adult to set up a good example and guide him, Antoine eventually turns to himself and relies on his own judgment in the way he will conduct his life.

As the movie progresses, you will see Antoine’s alienation towards everyone; his family, his classmates, the adults around him. Everyone is preaching about goodness and discipline but no one is practising what they preach. The mother tries to tell Antoine to be a good boy but Antoine sees her kissing another man. It may not be as serious for Antoine as it should be but Antoine sees it as a “bargaining chip” to get away from his wrongdoing (not going to school).

The film raises the question of corporal punishment to kids and its effectiveness as well as the justification of juvenile detention facilities for young people to so called “keep the young criminals in line”. Should it really be that at a young age, children will be kept in a place where there is nothing but things that reminds them of their wrongdoings outside? Is it really justifiable to punish a 12-year old like Antoine, put him in prison like a common criminal, just because he tried to steal a typewriter? Is it really right to separate these young men, who, in the first place, are already alienated from society, and alienate them even more? Would it really make them more reformed if they were kept together and reminded that they are undisciplined rascals who should be punished because they went against the rules?

That is a debate that we have yet to ask ourselves. The teenage years are the formative years of a person’s life and whatever happens during those times will mold them to what they will be as an adult. If they feel unwanted and unloved, the initial reaction will be to defy convention just to get the attention of the people who don’t want them. It may also result to a “I’ll just do what I want to do because no one cares” attitude.

The film is an inspiring critic about the justice system and the idea of punishment in society. It perfectly captures the oppressive forces around society, our implicit desire to break away from these forces and our fears about what may happen if we ever do.

* http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053198/

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MAYA LIN: A Strong Clear Vision

I will admit it. I was bored at the beginning. I did not see the significance of the film immediately and thought that it was only a plain film about a Chinese-American who went and conquered the United States with her designs in architecture. I thought that it was just another art /success story of a student and it did not really matter politically or in any other way. But I was wrong. Right after that soldier delivered his disdain and complaints against the committee in charge of the memorial, I saw the story in a whole different light. It became another arena where actors compete with one another to get their own interest more advantaged or prioritized than the others. It was real politik in play and one could not help but be surprised at how politics seems to appear at the most unlikely places when we least expect it to.

What is interesting about the documentary is that it was able to depict what usually happens in the real world. It makes the viewers realize how political things can get just because of conflicting interests of the actors involved in the picture. We can see how a simple creation of a Vietnam War Memorial can gain such clamor and public attention, strong enough to reach the Senate of the United States. We can also see how the protagonist tried as much as possible to still advance her interest despite the many oppositions and criticisms she got from veteran soldiers and media alike. Maya Lin’s strong desire to translate emotions into beautiful works of art worked its way to the top, making the powers that be listen to her and eventually keeping the original design she submitted in the competition.

The only problem with this film --like in almost all documentaries--is that the extent to which it can be considered as narrating reality remains questionable. As we all know, documentaries will always be at the mercy of the editors. What will be shown and what will not be shown depends on what the editors think is relevant to make the story coherent. For example, the story was shown in such a manner that the opposing party in the Vietnam Memorial will look like people who want to stop the design either just for the sake of it or because they could not bear the thought that an Asian is going to design the memorial. Like any other media, the film can be cut and edited depending on how the director wants to portray Maya Lin – a strong woman who rose against her adversaries or a victim of racism and sexual discrimination.

The latter part of the film, however, focused on Maya Lin’s integrity and dedication to deliver people the “best work of art” she could design. These events were information supporting the main theme of the documentary which is Maya Lin’s strong hold of her principles combined with her brilliance in the field of architecture. I can definitely say that the film, albeit the doubt of the degree of truthfulness and consistency with reality, was able to establish the message it wanted to disseminate. It was an inspiration for everyone to stand their ground no matter how difficult and ugly it may become at the end of the day, what would really matter is how you hard you fought to keep your integrity intact.


H.P.

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The Enneagram Test

*this is so true.

Basic Fear: Of being rejected.

Basic Desire: To be accepted.

World View: The world values a champion. Avoid failure at all costs.

Childhood Origin: Connected to mother-figure.

Threes are success oriented and excelling. They are very driven to achieve their goals, and they desire to feel worthwhile, accepted, and desirable. Threes believe in themselves and are often well liked for their positive qualities. They feel that they are "okay" as long as they are successful and others think well of them. At their worst, they feel that there is nothing to do to win the positive attention of the people whose approval they need. At their best, they no longer believe that their value is dependent on the regard of others, and they become genuine and benevolent.

energetic, optimistic, self-assured, and goal oriented.

How to Get Along with Me

* Leave me alone when I am doing my work.

* Give me honest, but not unduly critical or judgmental, feedback.

* Help me keep my environment harmonious and peaceful.

* Don't burden me with negative emotions.

* Tell me you like being around me.

* Tell me when you're proud of me or my accomplishments.

What I Like About Being a Three

* being optimistic, friendly, and upbeat

* providing well for my family

* being able to recover quickly from setbacks and to charge ahead to the next challenge

* staying informed, knowing what's going on

* being competent and able to get things to work efficiently

* being able to motivate people 

What's Hard About Being a Three 

* having to put up with inefficiency and incompetence

* the fear on not being -- or of not being seen as -- successful

* comparing myself to people who do things better

* struggling to hang on to my success

* putting on facades in order to impress people

* always being "on." It's exhausting.

Threes as Children Often

* work hard to receive appreciation for their accomplishments

* are well liked by other children and by adults

* are among the most capable and responsible children in their class or school

* are active in school government and clubs or are quietly busy working on their own projects

Threes as Parents

* are consistent, dependable, and loyal

* struggle between wanting to spend time with their children and wanting to get more work done

* expect their children to be responsible and organized

COPYRIGHT:
Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele The Enneagram Made Easy Discover the 9 Types of People HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages 9types.com 

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No Country For Old Men: A Valuation of Humanity Within Desolation And Despair

*this is my post in our film blog back in 2010. You can see the original post here. 

“Whatcha got ain`t nothin new. This country`s hard on people, you can`t stop what`s coming, it ain`t all waiting on you. That`s vanity.” –Barry Corbin as Ellis, No Country for Old Men,(2007)

Adapted from a 2005 novel of the same title, No Country for Old Men is an award-winning masterpiece of the Coen

Brothers about drugs, money and violence. This movie, set in 1980 on West Texas, tells the story of Llewellyn Moss (Josh Brolin), a welder and Vietnam War veteran, who came across a drug deal gone wrong. He found several dead Mexicans and dogs, a stack of cocaine and $2,000,000 while he was out in the desert hunting pronghorns. He took the money which automatically set off a wild goose chase between him, the local town sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones), other Mexican drug dealers and hired killer Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem). Moss sent his young wife, Carla Jean, away and tried to evade the people hunting him and instantly put his life and his wife’s life in danger. Another hitman, Carson Wells, offered Moss his help in exchange for some portions of the stolen money and yet both got killed by Chigurh in the end. Chigurh walked away free and Bell retired from his career.

The film, like any other Coen Brothers film, contained a lot of messages and themes that one had to uncover first in order to be able to understand it. All through-out the film, you can see repeated scenes of gore and mayhem all across the town as each one became both the hunter and the hunted. People were unstoppably murdered like animals (including Moss) all for the sake of the $2,000,000 that was taken. The film was full of vivid images of flesh, bones and blood gushing out of every man’s body like an endless crimson river and lives were extinguished one by one until there was nobody left. It also used very minimal musical score which surprisingly added to the tension that the movie was slowly building as the plot progressed. Only gunshots and rapping sounds of heavy metals can be heard as well as footsteps that made the film creepier than ever. It was disturbingly brilliant and will surely make a big impression on any viewer that tries to watch it.

The character development of the film was well-thought out that the viewers are not made to question the reasons behind the actions and attitudes of the main roles in the film. There was no clear delineation between the protagonist and antagonist, good and evil as well as morality and immorality. It was only violence, death and chaos.

The movie revolves around the theme of nihilism. Nihilism is a philosophy that was popularized in the late 19^th century and was associated with a loose revolutionary movement in Russia (1860-1917). It emphasizes on the idea that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. A true nihilist believes in nothing, have no loyalties and no mission at all aside from the desire to destroy. This philosophy was mostly associated with Friedrich Nietzsche who argued that "its corrosive effects would eventually destroy all moral, religious and metaphysical convictions and precipitate the greatest crisis in human history". 

Nihilism, which was also one of the common themes in most of the films made by the Coen brothers, was very evident in the numerous bloody scenes in the movie. The most prominent thing that can be associated with it is Anton Chigurh, the creepiest character ever created on screen since Hannibal Lectern. Chigurh, who was literally death personified in the movie, is a relentless psychopath armed with a compressed air gun and kills people just for pissing him off or as he terms it “inconveniencing him”. His ridiculous hair cut and witty blunt lines made the film all the more gripping and electrifying as viewers sit breathlessly wondering about the fate of the person who had the misfortune to meet him.

Chigurh symbolized destruction, destruction that may soon take over us given the rate that our society is going right now. With the proliferation of material things like drugs and money, people are starting to lose all sense of morality and are stopping at nothing just to get what they want. It was a critique of the current status quo and a reminder of how alarmingly chaotic our priorities have become due to innovation and scientific discovery. As Sheriff Bell said in the prologue of the movie, he missed the days when policemen and sheriffs didn’t have to wear a gun and crimes were at the minimum. The changing world has brought us a lot of convenience and yet it also brought a lot of ways to hurt and inflict pain to other people.

The movie showed nihilism at its apex, men killing men; it was basically open season for everyone, morals and values set aside and disregarded. It was alarming in a way because if we look at the setting of the story, it happened on a desolate island where people rarely see each other, let alone talk every day. If something as horrible as this can happen in a vast area where people are free not to interact with each other on a daily basis, how much more possible is it in a dense developed city where all people are cramped into small spaces while dealing with the battle for modern survival? It talks about how complex socialization can be and how complicated it is that we are all entangled in these overlapping webs of interaction that results often to conflict and competition.

Another important theme in the story was the concept of free will and destiny. The simple flipping of a coin decides the fate of the life of Chigurh’s victims. His remarkable line “Call it...”can send chills to your bones and makes you realize how important decisions are and how they define one’s life. The contrast between the stories of the gas station owner and Carla Jean emphasized the message more that whatever happens, it is still a choice. The gas station owner’s life was spared because he chose “head over tails”. Carla Jean on the other hand chose not to choose but by sampling opting to not make a decision, she still made a choice and technically, decided for her life. It sends us the message that in this life, we have to pick whichever we want and “call it”; own it. Despite the uncontrollable circumstances that we encounter in our life, it still boils down to the choices that we made.

Lastly, the film tells us at how inevitable changes are and how fast and unstoppable life can be that even if we stop, it wouldn’t hang around the corner and wait for us to grow up. Instead, it will continue to go on and we have the choice whether to go with the waves and stay afloat or give in and drown ourselves in the ocean of challenges that life has to offer.

PARTOSA, H.A.

REFERENCES:

• Internet Movie Data Base. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477348/quotes.
• Keough, Peter. Quiet Men. November 6, 2007. http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Movies/50620-NO-COUNTRY-FOR-OLD-MEN/ (accessed February 25, 2010).
• Pratt, Alan. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Nihilism . May 23, 2005. http://www.iep.utm.edu/nihilism/ (accessed February 25, 2010).
• Tobias, Adam. 'No Country for Old Men' is brilliant filmmaking . November 23, 2007. http://www.wdtimes.com/articles/2007/11/23/screen_scenes/screen1.txt (accessed February 26, 2010).

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Mid-life Crisis

I am a Leo. I dream of grandeur and luxury. I love wealthy things. I love beauty

...and I am scared of failure. 

When I was a child, I have always thought that I am destined for greatness. I will go places, succeed in life and be one of the richest people on Earth. It's not that I am greedy or what. It's just that I love to think of myself as someone who will leave a mark in this world. I am scared to die with a very few people noticing that I existed. I am scared of just passing and leaving. I still am...and I think I will be, for the rest of my life.

Now, I am at the point where I don't really know where I am going. This period of uncertainty makes me question if I really am going to be noticeable in a world where 7 billion people co-exist. It makes me sad that when I look at some of the people around me, I realize inch by inch how mediocre I am. I start to ask myself if I really have it in me or are all those things I dreamt of once just delusions of grandeur? Will I ever be able to travel the world, let alone go abroad? Will I ever be able to do all the things in my bucket list? Will I ever be able to help people and make a difference? The list goes on and on. 

My student told me that I will never know what I really want to do unless I try. I need to take the plunge to the great unknown and hope to God that I will find that which I am looking for. I guess he is right...but what if, what if I never come to terms with my own destiny? Some people search their entire life and still fail to know what it is they're looking for. What if I am part of them?  After all, I am unlucky.

If I could just know what the future has in store for me then I guess I will be a little bit more comfortable. But then again, that's the beauty/ugliness of life. Everything is uncertain. 

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Harvest Moon

*This is just a part of a story I am trying to write. It's not edited yet. 



The moonlight shone upon the courtyard. Down below, I could hear the sound of laughter and music made by the villagers as they celebrated the harvest moon. I have no idea where Colt and Maia were. Perhaps Colt was among those laughing people, enjoying the festivities with his friends and Maia must be with Merlin, sharing all of our encounters in the Forest of Death. I traipsed silently around the yard, the hem of my dress trailing on the grass. It was so refreshing to be in clean clothes again, fully bathed and fed. It was even more wonderful to be in the Empress's hanging garden. I have always admired this place and I still couldn't quite figure out how the water from the River of Lethe could flow up without the use of magic (at least that's what Merlin told me) The flowers are now in full bloom. The stargazers and the hydrangeas shone in the moonlight and the trees emitted a faint silvery glow, once again confirming my suspicion that moonwisps could be inhabiting in their branches. 


I inhaled deeply, not being able to remember the last time I was in a garden as beautiful as this one.  I could smell the sweet scent of moonlace in the air.  Their aroma gave me some sense of serenity; comfort and relief as if I was at home, reminding me of happy thoughts and childhood memories. 


"You look beautiful, Chloe" a voice from behind me spoke. I tensed. It was a voice I dreaded to hear now that I am at my most vulnerable. My chest tightened as emotions flooded my gut.  I turned around and saw Jake standing under the tree, his face glistening in the moonlight.  He was wearing his usual tunic, a knife hanging on his side. He was smiling and I couldn't help but fall even more in this bottomless pit that I knew was my doom. "White does suit you."


I felt the blood rush to my face as he spoke. It felt so surreal. I never imagined him complimenting my looks. I stared at him, mesmerized at the smile he so rarely wear on his face and I knew that this was the moment I was waiting for. All of the unsaid words I kept bottled up inside me were screaming to get out all at once. I wanted to run and hug him but my foot kept me rooted to the ground where I was standing.



I smiled back at him, trying to find my voice and mustering up the courage to say the words  that I've been meaning to tell him for the past six months...but how could I tell him everything when words would not even suffice to describe how I feel.  I knew that I also had to steel myself; prepare my heart emotionally for the inevitable because for sure that the worst is yet to come. 

I know I should say it now or my chance will be forever lost. 
A tear rolled down my cheeks as I finally took the plunge. "If I am lovely Jake," I began "...then why don't you love me?"


The smile faded on his face as he tensed and avoided my eyes. There was a silence between us, broken only by the soft hooting of an owl perching on top of a distant tree. I did not know what to do and I just stared at him waiting for an answer that I did not really want to hear. 


"Why can't you love me Jake?" I cried in desperation, all dignity forgotten. 


Then he looked back at me again with that pained expression he always wore. His eyes tried to tell me something but I could not figure out whether it was pity, disgust or sadness and then he spoke and I knew his answer even before I heard his voice. I could feel every word shatter my body into a million pieces. 


"Because you are not her." 


I fell to the ground, feeling all of my life energy sucked out of me. I wanted to scream. I wanted to beg. I wanted to just float away and leave this pain that is slowly enveloping me. 
 And then he walked away , leaving me kneeling on the ground crying my heart out. I would have called his name but I knew it was a hopeless case. I knew it right from the start and I just refused to believe it.  Jake made his meaning clear. 


I am not her.


 I am not Kashme Defriss, the only woman he has ever loved...


...and he will never love me. 

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