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The Journey (Iraq) – Get to Know a Suicide Bomber

The Journey Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

How much do you know about the Iraq War? Chances are, you’re picture of the war is made up of news footage and films like American Sniper. You’ll rarely see the Iraqi perspective of the war, which is inexcusable as this war happened in Iraq. So do yourself a favour and check out The Journey and learn about the effects of the Iraq war.

Why Watch The Journey?

See how the war has affected Iraq and the people living there
To see the Iraq war from the Iraqi perspective as opposed to the western perspective shown in The Hurt Locker and American Sniper
You’ll also get to know and understand a suicide bomber
It’s a perfect companion to Ahlaam

The Breakdown

The Journey starts with our protagonist, a woman walking along train tracks to a train station. As she gets closer she pulls off her hijab and throws it away and joins a group of schoolchildren to disguise herself as a teacher. In this disguise, she gets past the security checks and through to the station.

In the station, she stands silently people watching. You quickly see two kids cleaning shoes, a man loudly talking the phone, and hear the sound of a busker nearby. As life goes on, the camera cuts to a close up of her hand wavering over a detonator. She’s wearing a bomb vest!

The story was spawned from a news article that Mohamed Al-Daradji saw about a female suicide bomber in Iraq. Just before she was about to detonate her bomb vest, she went to the police station. But later on, she still blew herself up. What’s interesting is that she went to the police; possibly a moment of regret or doubt. Her uncertainty inspired Mohamed Al-Daradji to focus on a suicide bomber, to explore what could be going through their minds.

Image result for the journey film iraq

The Conclusion

The Journey is a must watch for everyone who remembers the Iraq War. It explores the side of the conflict that is rarely seen: the Iraqi perspective. It shows normal Iraqis carrying out the lives infected by the trauma of war. You’ll also meet a suicide bomber and become her friend.

A War – Experience the Pressures of Army Life

A War Film Difficulty Ranking:3

If you enjoy watching people try to deal with high pressure scenarios then check out A War. A husband and wife face two uniquely high pressure situations – the husband in organising his squadron in Afghanistan, and his wife in bringing up 3 kids on her own. Unfortunately the husband is the first to crack and the consequences are bad.

From: Denmark, Europe
Watch: Trailer, Netflix, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: Hurt Locker, Manchester by the Sea, The Insult

Okja (South Korea)

Okja Film Difficulty Ranking: 1

At last, a film on Film Root that you can watch with a large popcorn and coke. It’s just like the Hollywood blockbusters you are familiar with and you can watch it on Netflix! It has a recognizable cast, action, clear demarcations between good and evil, and drama. You’ll also get Film Root points for watching this, as it is made by Korean Bong Joon-ho and features a bit of Korean! So have a day off from the art-house and slow films usually on here and enjoy!

Here’s a teaser trailer (no spoilers this time)

Why Watch Okja?

It’s a Hollywood film, it’s mostly in English, and it’s on Netflix! It’s an easy way for you to say you’ve watched an international film!
To see more from Bong Joon-ho, the great Korean director behind The Host and Snowpiercer
Learn about the brutal side of the food industry (to learn even more check out Food Inc)
If you like cute pigs!

Breakdown

You’ll see the high heeled Lucy Mirando (Tilda Swinton) open the film with a swanky presentation that is one part Steve Jobs and two parts Pop Idol. She introduces Mirando (a rip on the real life Monsanto) and their latest innovation that will solve world hunger: a Super Pig.

For the Pop Idol twist, Lucy Mirando introduces a worldwide competition. She will send a bunch of Super Pigs to the best farmers from around the world and see who can raise the best Super Pig.

Sure enough, one of these Super Pigs is sent to Korea. As next we follow Mija, the young farm girl who takes care of Okja.

From the scenes with Okja and Mija, the director makes it clear that Okja is more than just a piece of meat. Okja helps Mija catch fish and harvest fruit and even saves Mija’s life in one of the opening scenes. These early scenes with Mija and Okja establish that Okja is a sentient and intelligent being.

However, Mirando, like the real life Monsanto and any good capitalist business is all about profit margins. Despite the best PR attempts of Lucy to hide her company’s lack of responsibility, it is obvious to us that they are bad!

Conclusion

Okja brings the ugly corporate controlled food industry to Hollywood with style! It has everything you want if you’re used to Hollywood blockbusters and you can watch it at home on Netflix!

Favourite quotes from the film (the first is also a personal goal of mine):

“Learn a new language – it opens doors!”

“Translations are sacred”

Mysterious Object at Noon

Mysterious Object at Noon Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

Are you looking for something new? If you’re tired of watching films which all look the same then we have something for you here. Mysterious Object at Noon explores the role of storytelling in film by creating a game of Exquisite Corpse (where you create the start of the story and get different people to write the next lines). People from all across Thailand give their input, through a range of storytelling devices. If you’re a fan of creativity, give this film a go!

Why Watch Mysterious Object at Noon?

Have you seen a Thai film before? If you have, great to hear, here’s another one, if you haven’t hears something interesting to start you off!
To see the parts of Thailand that you probably won’t see from the tourist resorts
To see the debut from innovative Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Explore the world of storytelling through a wide range of arts: music, theatre, sign language, writing, and spoken word.
Did you know after the war

The Breakdown

Once upon a time… Mysterious Object at Noon starts with the famous four letter opening. It marks the fine division between non-fiction and fiction that the film will follow. The camera starts at the front of a vehicle driving along a highway in the Thai capital, Bangkok. Whilst Thai music blares through the radio, the driver takes an exit and within a few turns is in what could be the country. We hear a voice on the loudspeaker:

“Fish sauce for your curry…Tuna fish is coming…steamed of salted”

The camera then cuts to a woman sitting in the back of the fish sales truck and the director starts interviewing her. We learn that her father sold her to her Aunt and Uncle for the price of a bus fare! She never went home again. The shots of the lady telling the story are cut with shots of election posters with men in smart suits. Is Apichatpong implying this hardship was the fault of the government?

After she tells her story, Apichatpong asks the lady if she has any other stories to tell us, true or fake. This question sets up the game of Exquisite Corpse that Apichatpong plays for the rest of the film. He travels around the country asking the next person or group of people he meets to add a few more lines to the story he starts with. We hear parts added from kids at a school, from a theatre production, an old woman, and more. In this regard it is a celebration of the creative process, and the imagination of people. However, the myth/story they create is a mess. As put by one lady:

“My story is not really connected. I just made it up in an instant”

Conclusion

Once you realise that Apichatpong is playing a game of Exquisite Corpse the film gains meaning. It is a puzzle of stories from across the country. It is also a puzzle of images collected from his tour of Thailand, introducing us to a country that isn’t obvious from the guide books. Film needs innovators like Apichatpong to show others what is possible with this artistic medium. Film also needs viewers open to innovation, so go watch this!

White Shadow – Life as an Albino in Africa

White Shadow Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

Maybe you’ve heard about persecution against people with albinism in Tanzania and other parts of Africa. Witch doctors believe their body parts will grant their customers prosperity so they’ve butchered some people with albinism for their magical powers. It’s pretty horrific. White Shadow follows one teenager with albinism as he tries to escape persecution and live a normal life.

From: Tanzania, Africa
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon, Kanopy
Next: War Witch, Beasts of No Nation, I Am Not a Witch