Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Sad movies - Sue Thompson
Everyone loves a movie wif happy endings. It just leaves you all warm and fuzzy. After all, there is enuf hurt and disappointment in the real world. Watching a feel-good movie is a form of escapism.
But - while I like those feel-good movies - I always held movies wif sad endings in high regard (I can't say I enjoy it - tho I may, being a moody guy). At times, dun you just get sick of the predictable happy ending where they live happily ever after?
Think of Se7en, The Awakenings, Dead Poet's Society (sad but inspiring), Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Saving Private Ryan, Memento, Sunset Boulevard, Braveheart, ... I can go on and on.
I watched a movie tonite - No Man's Land, organised by the European Society.
Pic obtained from Amazon.com
It is a movie in Bosnian language set during the Bosnia Serb war not too long ago. It starts off in a dark hilarious way showing how a Bosnian soldier got trapped in "no man's land" together wif a Serbian soldier.
I love movies like these - revolving around a few main characters in one place, depending purely on the plot, the script (which was excellent - well, at least the subtitles were!), the acting skills and the chemistry between the characters to keep your interest going.
And it was oso so relevant to wat I have been studying lately - the Laws of Armed Conflict and the role of UN - or rather, the limited role they play as peacekeepers.
Perhaps I have oredi inadvertantly spoiled the movie for many who have not seen it - by implying from the very beginning that it was not gonna have a typical feel-good, enemies hugging each other, everyone is happy kind of ending. It just can't.
War is horrible - and perhaps it is a defeatist manner but as international law students, we are told that "International Law has no alternative but to accept war, independently of the justice of its origin, as a relation which the parties to it may set up if they choose, and to busy itself ony in regulating the effects of the relation" (per W.E. Hall).
Anyways, if you wanna watch a movie which can make you laugh and cry (well, perhaps not cry but surely will sadden you) at the same time, watch this movie.
Oh, incidentally, this movie won the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film in 2002 (beating the feel good and fav of many, Amelie)!!!
But - while I like those feel-good movies - I always held movies wif sad endings in high regard (I can't say I enjoy it - tho I may, being a moody guy). At times, dun you just get sick of the predictable happy ending where they live happily ever after?
Think of Se7en, The Awakenings, Dead Poet's Society (sad but inspiring), Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Saving Private Ryan, Memento, Sunset Boulevard, Braveheart, ... I can go on and on.
I watched a movie tonite - No Man's Land, organised by the European Society.
Pic obtained from Amazon.com
It is a movie in Bosnian language set during the Bosnia Serb war not too long ago. It starts off in a dark hilarious way showing how a Bosnian soldier got trapped in "no man's land" together wif a Serbian soldier.
I love movies like these - revolving around a few main characters in one place, depending purely on the plot, the script (which was excellent - well, at least the subtitles were!), the acting skills and the chemistry between the characters to keep your interest going.
And it was oso so relevant to wat I have been studying lately - the Laws of Armed Conflict and the role of UN - or rather, the limited role they play as peacekeepers.
Perhaps I have oredi inadvertantly spoiled the movie for many who have not seen it - by implying from the very beginning that it was not gonna have a typical feel-good, enemies hugging each other, everyone is happy kind of ending. It just can't.
War is horrible - and perhaps it is a defeatist manner but as international law students, we are told that "International Law has no alternative but to accept war, independently of the justice of its origin, as a relation which the parties to it may set up if they choose, and to busy itself ony in regulating the effects of the relation" (per W.E. Hall).
Anyways, if you wanna watch a movie which can make you laugh and cry (well, perhaps not cry but surely will sadden you) at the same time, watch this movie.
Oh, incidentally, this movie won the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film in 2002 (beating the feel good and fav of many, Amelie)!!!
# posted by imissw : 10:37:00 pm
