Category: Movie
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Rediscovering The Shawshank Redemption: Reflections on Society and Basic Needs
Read more: Rediscovering The Shawshank Redemption: Reflections on Society and Basic NeedsI first watched The Shawshank Redemption, directed by Frank Darabont, on French TV during my youth. Recently, I rewatched it, this time in its original language, English, to see how my memories of the film held up. Memory is fascinating—our brain doesn’t work like a video camera. Instead, it reshapes memories over time, influenced by…
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Battle Royale: A Deep Critique of Society and the Future of Generations
Read more: Battle Royale: A Deep Critique of Society and the Future of GenerationsI watched Battle Royale on the recommendation of friends during my university years when I was studying Japanese. The movie sparked controversy but was also widely praised, notably by Quentin Tarantino, who listed it as one of his favorite films of the past two decades. Set in a dystopian future after a recession, a totalitarian…
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Cool Runnings: A Tale of Culture, Dreams, and Unity
Read more: Cool Runnings: A Tale of Culture, Dreams, and UnityWhile browsing Disney Plus, I stumbled upon Cool Runnings by Jon Turteltaub—a movie that brought a smile to my face before I even hit play. Watching it again (this time not dubbed in French) reminded me of the unique charm that 90s movies had. It’s short, uplifting, and leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling.…
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Brothers: Reflections on Family, Trauma, and Redemption
Read more: Brothers: Reflections on Family, Trauma, and RedemptionToday marks my brother’s birthday—a day that reminds me of the unique bond we share, shaped by family complexities and moments of love, resilience, and reconciliation. Five years my senior, my brother was not only a guide but a model I often followed in childhood. Our family faced its share of challenges, particularly due to…
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Dreams in the Snow: A Reflection on Noi the Albino by Dagur Kári
Read more: Dreams in the Snow: A Reflection on Noi the Albino by Dagur KáriI watched Noi the Albino on ARTE, a unique French-German channel known for broadcasting lesser-known films and documentaries. This film, set in Iceland, tells the story of Noi, a 17-year-old teenager living in a small, remote fishing village. Noi’s appearance, marked by alopecia totalis (a complete absence of hair), sets him apart visually, but it’s…
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Uncovering Truth and Responsibility: Reflections on Spotlight and Societal Change
Read more: Uncovering Truth and Responsibility: Reflections on Spotlight and Societal ChangeThe 2015 film Spotlight, directed by Tom McCarthy, chronicles the Boston Globe’s “Spotlight” team, the longest-running investigative journalism unit in the U.S., as it exposes a decades-long cover-up of systemic child abuse by priests within the Boston Roman Catholic Archdiocese. I became interested in the movie after watching an interview with actor Mark Ruffalo, who…
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Life, Identity, and Euthanasia in Me Before You
Read more: Life, Identity, and Euthanasia in Me Before YouMe Before You, directed by Thea Sharrock, delves into the transformative relationship between Louisa “Lou” Clark (played by Emilia Clarke) and Will Traynor, a once-successful banker and adventurer who, after a tragic accident, is left as a tetraplegic. Though the film falls into the typical tropes of a romantic drama, it raises relevant issues of…
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“Departures” and Life’s Hidden Lessons: Reflections on Work, Death, and Family
Read more: “Departures” and Life’s Hidden Lessons: Reflections on Work, Death, and FamilyDepartures by Yōjirō Takita, originally titled Okuribito (“one who sends off”), follows a cellist who loses his job and returns to his hometown with his wife. He unexpectedly finds work “assisting departures,” which he assumes is in travel. Instead, he prepares bodies for cremation ceremonies. This thought-provoking film examines themes of prejudice, our relationship with…
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Rediscovering Life’s Purpose: Reflections on Living by Oliver Hermanus
Read more: Rediscovering Life’s Purpose: Reflections on Living by Oliver HermanusIn Living, directed by Oliver Hermanus and adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru, Bill Nighy portrays a bureaucrat in a public works office who, upon learning of his terminal illness, confronts the monotony that has defined his life. Once called a “Zombie” by a former colleague—a woman he admires for her lively spirit—he realizes he’s lost…
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The Shining: Alcoholism and Society through the Lens of Horror
Read more: The Shining: Alcoholism and Society through the Lens of HorrorStanley Kubrick’s The Shining, based on Stephen King’s acclaimed novel, has earned its place as one of the most iconic horror films of all time. The story follows the Torrance family—Jack, a writer played by Jack Nicholson, his wife Wendy, and their son Danny—who take on the role of winter caretakers for an isolated hotel.…