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Reviews
Wadjda (2012)
review
Wadjda is about a young Saudi Arabian girl who challenges the social laws of Saudi Arabia. The movies main plot line is the struggle of Wadjda trying to get enough money to buy a bike. To get money Wadjda scams some people out of money as well as selling bracelets. The biggest sum of money was going to come from the Quran contest that she won However, there are greater problems within this because in Saudi Arabia girls do not ride bikes. Because of this the teachers do not let her keep the money. Another instance where you see injustice is with Wadjda mom, since in Saudi Arabia she can not drive. This leads her to get a driver and causes problems with her job. The end of the movie was very heartwarming because the mom buys Wadjda the bike instead of buying the dress she wants. Then in the closing scene, the guy Wadjda likes asks her to marry him when they are older.
Sufat Chol (2016)
this movie is about an unfortunate love story.
This movie is set in the Bedouin community, this community is off the grid and is not recognized by the Israeli government. This movie is about a girl and her marriage. The main character, Layla, loves a boy, but her father wants her to marry someone else. On top of that the father has found a second wife, who he treats better than the first wife. This adds on to the problems this family endures This creates internal conflict within the family. Layla thinks about running away, but stops because she realizes the implications in her community. In the end, she gives in and marries who her father wants. Each character has to make important decisions throughout the film that impact their lives forever. The director shows the hardships in this community and he makes you want to root for Layla. When watching, I was rooting for Lyala to just escape and run away, especially when she was so close. But, she had to worry about factors that we do not in America and marriage is more than love. Although, it is very sad she is forced to marry Munir and not who she loves, it would have been hard on her to run away like we all wanted her to do, This movie is very different compared to the traditional American film. Do not expect a fast paced film.
Okuribito (2008)
A very good film
Departures is an international film from South Korea. The film is about a Korean man who works in the orchestra as a cello player, but when the orchestra goes out of business, the man, Daigo, is forced to move home. He ends up getting a job where he does the burial proceedings. He is hesitant at first, but ends up realizing that this job is his calling. Overall, this movie was quite good and very entertaining. I would rate this film a 4.5 out of 5. Although, this film is quite different compared to American films. For example it is very slow in comparison, so if you are looking for an action packed movie this is not the one for you. However, this is a very entertaining film and a must watch. It provides laughs, drama, and feel-good moments.
Merantau (2009)
Merantau overall.
Overall, Merantau was a good movie, I rated it a total of 4 out of 5 stars. The movie consisted of an OK plot with amazing martial arts skills. The martial arts was an amazing spectacle which made up for the lack of plot. Even though it seems like a standard, boy tries to save girl plot, it is quite different because since it is a foreign film it allows the viewer to see a different perspective and gain a global perspective. The only problem I had with the movie was the fight scenes were unrealistic allowing the hero to take on 30 plus men and defeat all of them. However, at the end the main character is finally defeated and killed. This is refreshing because in the typical united states movie, the main hero will defeat the bad guy and survive. If you are looking to learn more about Filipino culture and just enjoy a good film I would recommend this movie.
Metro Manila (2013)
My review of the film
In general, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The plot was well developed and kept the watcher engaged in the film. This film was unlike traditional American films, which was very refreshing to watch. It helped to give another perspective on the world and especially third world countries. This film discussed issues such the roles of women and crime in the Philippines. In the end, Oscar has to make a difficult decision in order to save his family and he ends up giving up his life for his family to have a better life. If I were in his shoes I think it would be hard to make a decision, but knowing my sacrifice will help my family live the life they deserve I would also give up my life. Overall, This movie is a must watch due to the fact that it gives you a different perspective on the world and has and intricate and interesting plot that keeps the watcher on the edge of their seat.