Dances with Wolves by Kevin Costner

Dances with Wolves is an interesting movie where it happened during the American Civil War. The movie started with the Lieutenant John J. Dunbar, who suddenly known as a hero because he rides up to the Confederate front lines and they win the battle. He then choose to transfer to western frontier and he then realized there is noone there at his new post, Fort Sedgwick.

The movie surrounds mainly in two races, American White and Sioux, which shows two contrast cultural context. American White emphasizes on the greed on the power, war, and being stereotypical. It can be seen that the Timmons, the wagon driver who helped with Dunbar’s transportation, told Dunbar that all Indians are beggars and thieves. Besides, White behaves violently throughout the movie, first is war, then is the extortion of confession of Dubar about the location of Sioux. Whereas the Sioux people emphasizes harmony, fellowship and also respect where you can find it in the movie. For example, the dancing tradition for the hunting celebration by Sioux.

Racism is shown in this movie where white men trying to occupy the land of the natives.

At first I thought the movie is boring and no climax, as the movie is too long, there is two parts which shows the loyalty and friendship. Firstly, I am impressed by the loyalty of the wolf, who named as “Two Socks” by Dubar, has been killed by the white soldiers. The wolf has been following Dunbar for so long since the arrrival of Dunbar. Another part is when the Sioux people trying to save Dunbar from the white men. It touched my heart and I am impressed by the loyalty and friendship exist between animals and people, white and Sioux. Also, love can be seen in this movie when Dunbar falls in love with the white girl, Stand With A Fist, who known as adopted daughter of Kicking Bird, the Sioux.

Overall, the movie is great however I dislike the long-winded parts.

Cry Freedom by Richard Attenborough

Cry Freedom is a film which talks about discrimination among White and Black people in South Africa. In this movie, a White South African, Donald Woods, became friend with Steve Biko, who is a Black activist. He is been banned by government for not allow to leave his defined banning area. Biko invites Woods to the black township to witness everything happened around there. Woods agreed with what Biko did and he even gave assistance to his Black maid when the polices were forcing her to show her permit.

I can see the existance of true friendship between White and Black when Woods trying to publish his own book of Steve Biko after Biko died. They believed that Biko’s death is not because of hunger strike. However government hide his death’s reason and banned Woods for leaving his banning areas as well after Woods trying to expose the pictures of Biko’s body. Biko actually get beaten by polices and died because of sever brain injury. It can be seen that discrimination towards Blacks of the government, full of hatred and violence.

There are several climaxes in this movie, first is when Biko died, then is when Woods family trying to escape to England, just to expose the dirt and lies that made by South African government. The ending turned out to be a good ending as expected, that Woods is able to publish his book and voice out for Biko.

Throughout this movie, what makes me feel terrified is the law which is so fragile and artificial, even Woods went to get assistance from the high level of government, even the government itself is doing the illegal action to the people who against them. Also, the movie inspires me to become a good person, for not having prejudice and discrimination towards other races.

Mississippi Burning by Alan Parker

If you ask me what makes me think that people are ugly, Mississippi Burning by Alan Parker truly shows the another side of the human, ugliness. The movie describes about the racism among black people and white people occurred during 1964, started with the three civil rights workers are being murdered by the members of Ku Klux Klan. Two FBI agents, Anderson and Ward were being assigned to investigate the murder.

Stereotype can be in negative way, neutral way or positive way . For example, Asians tend to known as family-oriented or women are capable to do physical-related jobs. In this movie, White characters are being negatively stereotyped that Black characters are dirty and they are uneducated. Prejudice and discrimination can be fostered by the initiation of negative stereotype.

Prejudice is a negative belief  towards an individual based on their social group. In Mississippi Burning, black people are not allowed to vote even they have the rights to do so.  You can barely see the white people talk to the black people in the movie, they are conforming to the social norms of Ku Klux Klan which they should not let black people invade their homes or country.

Discrimination as in treating a group of members unfairy and putting them at a disadvantage. And also they have given brutal intimidation such as burning their houses or churches. In this movie, black characters are living in a miserable life that they always have fear of what’s coming next to them.

What makes me feel relieved is when Anderson and Ward did not give up for helping the black people in fighting the rights. Even though there are racism and violence in this movie, however the ending part is good. The members of Ku Klux Klan, people from Sherrif’s office has been caught and being punished for imprisonment. Also, Sherrif’s wife has been free from the nightmare, finally get to live her own life.

After watching this movie, I personally think that racism still exists in many countries, I do hope people would fight for their rights and racism issue would be solved massively.

Eat Drink Man Woman by Ang Lee

 (Pic credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eat_Drink_Man_Woman)

The movie “Eat Drink Man Woman” by Ang Lee is an inspiring movie by Ang Lee. It is about intimate relationship between people, which surrounds with family of dad and his three daughters. At first I thought it would be a boring movie with expected ending, somehow it surprised me. Mr. Chu, who is the main character of this movie, has treats cooking as his passion and he is a traditional man. Asians emphasize on intimate relationship and also traditional rules where they will have reunion meal always and they take it seriously just like Mr. Chu. In the beginning of the movie, Mr. Chu does not have any interaction with his daughters since his wife passed away. Daughters seem to find difficulty voice out their opinion and matters in front of their family. 

Later on, both of his daughters, Jia-Jen (elder daughter) and Jia-Ning (youngest daughter) has married unexpectedly. Jia-Jen who is very quiet, had a hard time from her first relationship, and she is a teacher for quite some time. One day, She met a volleyball couch in her school, and fell in love with him after a while. In the beginning of the movie, Jia-Jen told her sister, Jia-Chien that she’s going to bear the responsibility of taking care of their father, she felt depressed about it.  Jia-Ning who got married to her best friend’s ex-boyfriend after knowing she already got his baby. Jia-Chien, who is a “superwoman” in her career, never has a stable relationship with any guy. In the end, she finally realized the importance of family and also her passion. She finally gave up her opportunity for the promotion and working abroad. 

At first, I feel very sympathetic towards Mr. Chu, who always put his efforts on his daughters. And three of their daughters seemed not to appreciate what he did. After the death of his best friend, Uncle Wen, he finally willing to speak out his own feeling and admitted his love towards Jin-Rong, Jia-Chien’s best friend.

In the end of the movie, the relationship between the father and three daughters has improved even they’re not staying together anymore. I personally think that the family relationship is the most important thing, there’s a mandarin quote, “树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不待”, saying that the trees may crave calm but the wind keeps blowing, the children desire to take care of their parents yet they’re no longer living.

Strictly Ballroom by Baz Luhrmann

Baz Luhrmann has used the ballroom dancing to express the three aspects in "Strictly Ballroom" movie, which are conformity, compliance and obedience. Conformity defines certain people change their behavior in order to follow the other group. In this movie, the dancers are required to dance in the traditional way like they used to, which is strictly ballroom, no other unique steps, and it has became a norm among them. I found the movie kind of interesting yet ironic because dancing supposed to be an expression of freedom and individual. However, Baz has applied the conformity aspect in this movie, which dancing is rigid and well-behaved. Therefore, everyone has to follow and unique dancing way is not allowed. Main character, Scott Hastings, was the special one, who insisted not to follow the same steps and believe his own steps, even though his family wanted him to follow the rule.

Compliance refers to a response to a request. Compliance is shown when everyone including Scott’s mom, Shirley and president of Australian Dancing Federation, Barry Fife asked Scott to dance the traditional way with the famous former champion of Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Championship. In the end, Scott danced with the beginner, Fran.

In the end of the movie, Scott’s dad, Doug has finally spoke out and asked his son to dance in his own way, he said “A life lived in fear is a life half-lived”. All these while, he was being obedient that he did not dare to speak out for his own, Shirley was being a controller toward his son and Doug did not express his feeling till the end of the movie. Obedience is shown, where an individual acts in response to a direct order from an authority.

Overall, the movie is inspiring that it taught me that, instead of following the rules, believe in ourselves and make changes for what we want.