Chrispatid

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No jury can declare a man guilty unless it is sure. Wherever you run into it, prejudice always obscures the truth.

12 Angry Men

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Silence-Movie

Jan 20th 2018, Chrispatid

     “To help others is the way of the Buddha. And your way –Christianity- too. Two religions are same in this. It is not necessary to win anyone over to one side or other. When there is so much to share,” says Japanese translator.

     “But, even if God had been silence my whole life, … everything I’ve done speaks of him,” the Martyr confesses.

     “I was born into this world to share men’s pain. It’s all right,” says Jesus.

        One thing Japanese failed to understand is love of God. That love so deep, does not mind being stamped, spitted or cursed.

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The Silence of the Lambs-Movie

Jan 20th 2018, Chrispatid

     5 trophies in Academy rewards. There is no further explanation required to describe excellence of “The Silence of the Lambs”. Beyond the greatness of the characters, visual and audio technique, I want to talk about a question we all have in mind after watching: did screaming of sheep stopped? On top of that, why is there a moth on Clarice’s mouth on a poster? Here are my personal thoughts.

     Moth is a symbol of change as Hannibal said. If we look closer in poster, there is a skull drawn on moth’s back. It is, actually, Salvador Dali’s work called ‘In Voluptas Mors’, that means “Voluptuous or pleasurable Death”. It was arranged with seven naked women. Equally on a movie, Bill was about to murder seventh victim and peel her skin off. Grotesque moth is positioned over Clarice’s mouth, where mouth is one of few organs where sound passes through.

     Therefore, it seems there will be silence when Clarice arrests Bill. It is further strengthened when it happens. Bill follows Clarice in complete darkness, wearing infrared ray glasses, however, he was shot first because of the sound he made with his gun. Simultaneous to his death, window breaks and light comes in. Henceforth, Clarice becomes proper FBI agent and congratulated by her boss as well. Then, she gets a phone call. “Well, Clarice. Have the lambs stopped screaming? ... I am having an old friend for dinner”, says Hannibal the Cannibal.

I am afraid I should say it did not stop. Since people such as Hannibal keep fulfilling their desire, there will not be any silence. Even at this moment, there will be screaming somewhere.

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Little Forest-Movie

Jan 16th 2018, Chrispatid

     I like Japanese film for there is particular tranquility in it. It is worthy to be called “the beauty of mundane life”. Little Forest represents Japanese tranquility excellently. It is mostly about a woman farming, harvesting, and cooking for herself. However, every moment she cooks, she thinks of her gone mother. She wonders how her mother had made the best dishes every time. Throughout four seasons and two movies, we have to wait her to get the answer and steps closer to maturity and solidity. Let us keep our worries away for a moment and calm ourselves in sedateness.

     She ran away from Tokyo. That is the reason why she is living in a countryside. She could not face city lifestyle. However, the weight of burden did not change even she came back to her home. It took a year to realize what her mother wrote in a letter when she left. Because her mother did not keep a promise that she will tell her daughter the recipe, she has created her own recipe. Slowly, she faces her problem.

     Nowadays, we are forced to take responsibility of our lives. But world is never easy. We might struggle and stumble. Little Forest tells us that everyone has their own timing and one day we will find the solution with strength. Just as her mother wrote in a letter, “I thought we all live a circle and I could not bear it. However, I learned that even if it seems circle, it is actually spiral. It has broadened, albeit I could never detect.”

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45 Years-Movie

Jan 11th 2018, Chrispatid

     There is a saying in Korea that “Man’s first love will always be in his heart”. Maybe it is an universal quote. “45 Years” is a movie about a week of old couple’s 45th anniversary of marriage with unexpected guest, man’s first love who died 45 years ago.

     Can we say that Geoff, a husband, truly loved his wife Mercer? Actually, we know he did not. There are numerous symptoms such as smoking, cancelling appointment, can’t have a sex with his eyes opened, etc.. Maybe it is us, watchers, who try to deny cruel fact. After several days of depressed days, Geoff shows himself as usual as he was before. Too normal that makes Mercer think.

     “All who love are blind. When your heart is on fire, smoke get in your eyes. Today I am without my love. Cannot hide my tears, so I smile. When a lovely flame dies, smoke get in your eyes.” Exact same song they danced at 45 years ago and now. Now, Mercer denies Geoff to hold her hand and tells everything with facial expression. Geoff smiles. Smoke gets in their eyes

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The Complete Persepolis- Book

Jan 9th 2018, Chrispatid

           It never stops News channel broadcasting situation of Middle-East. Most of the time, it may say, “thousands of innocent people died after hospital bombing of….” Though it may sound too cold-blooded, this phrase does not make me feel guilty for them anymore. Numerous innocent Korean died in the period of Japanese colonization as well, millions of people died during World War; I learned too many instances of casualty.

           Furthermore, I did not even know that Iraq and Iran are different countries. To me, Middle East people look same, angry and are frightening. I am sure that some of Europeans and Americans would feel the same. Shamefully, I had never tried to understand their culture while being very proud of Korean history and culture. “The Complete Persepolis” shook me hard. Lovely, liberal, and heartbreaking girl’s story absorbed me into the history of Iran, arousing feeling of empathy for Iran. I feel sorry for their lost now.

           After reading Persepolis, you will find yourself enlightened with passion, confident of yourself, and knowledge of veiled history of Iran. For people who became immune from sympathy towards foreign losses, Persepolis would wake you up.

           Main theme of the book is “remembrance”, as Marjane declares on introduction. She states that “nation should not be judged by wrongdoings of few extremists”, “victims of nation must not be forgotten”, and “one can forgive but one should never forget”.

           Marjane has saw her uncle prosecuted by her nation and many people suffering for their liberty. Therefore, after Marjane had few conflicts with people due to different ideologies, her parents decide to send her to Austria for freer life. The first part of book mainly consists of conflict between herself and her country. Then, the second part of book is about her painful experience of staying in Western country.

          She stumbles a lot while staying in Austria. Western culture which she yearned for destroyed her and she finally understands what her grandma told her: “be true to yourself”. However, it was unbearable for teenager and she had to come back to Iran. After various experiences in Iran, she goes to France. It seems she is implying that she will not come back to Iran because she spends precious moments with her family and remember her uncle and grandpa: rebels. Same events, departure of her own country, are depicted distinctly. On the very last page of book she says, “it was not as difficult as it was before”. Now she has grown.

          The title of the book Persepolis is a capital of Persian Empire (Greek name for ‘Persian City’), located 60 km away from Iran, destroyed by Alexander in 330 BC. Furthermore, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. Besides, in a chapter “Persepolis”, Marjane gives us information about the Shah. The Shah claims he is light of the Aryans (can be translated as Iran), he will make country modernized and regain its splendor, visits Cyrus the Great and wastes nation’s money for useless celebrations. Thereafter, she continuously shows how the Shah did not keep his promises.

          Persepolis is a ruin. Its architectural aesthetic is destroyed. It seems Marjane mentioned the Shah in a chapter “Persepolis” to imply that he will also be ruined. After some time, the world will remember it just as UNESCO did to Persepolis. Most importantly, for it to be happen, we must not forget unveiled history, the one she has given us.

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Another Year- Movie

Jan 9th 2018, Chrispatid

          At the same year when “Another Year” was released, divorce rate in the UK was 11% out of thousand people[1]. As it is in the real life, movie begins with a woman who wants new life due to her unsatisfactory marriage life having consult with a professional counselor, Gerri. In contrast, Gerri’s family is quite an ideal: all family members are respectful and has stable mentality and income. Their stability soon reached out to help others. Gerri’s colleague Mary is one of them. She is desperate for marriage, considering that would solve every problem of her life. Unfortunately, her wish seems not to be happen. Therefore, she keeps visiting Gerri.

            I believe relationship cannot be solved by one’s endeavor. I once had a friend who wanted to be my best friend and willing to give all of him to me. I tried to compensate his efforts, however, he was too different from me. I needed to find something to blame on and I concluded that he is immature to understand circumstances around him. Then, I began to blame myself for not listening to him “more”. When it came to ‘who is right and wrong’, nothing can work. At last, there is no relationship between us anymore after huge quarrels.

           Life is a succession of uncertainty and failure. There are many people who regret what one had done wrong in the past like Mary always reminisces her failed love. There are also numerous people who are short of love and strive to have lovers, but fruitless as Ken in the movie and my friend. Then, where would these distressed people get comfort? Someone like Gerri. However, movie tells us that it will make you worse. Imagine you have nothing but one-way friend who has everything you want.

           So, what should we do? Gerri insists Mary to have a counsel with her colleague, but Mary refused strongly. It is not about counseling. Maybe it is open minded that would lead to happiness. Gerri told Mary who claims Ken could be quite good looking, “He’s got a good heart. Life is not always kind. Is it?”

[1] https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/divorce/bulletins/divorcesinenglandandwales/2011-12-08