Film

36

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.

37

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”

38

Divorce: Iranian Style – Battle of the Sexes

Some of the cast from Divorce: Iranian Style

Divorce: Iranian Style Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Who said you can’t learn from film? Show them this documentary, and I guarantee you’ll know more about Iran by the time the credits appear.

From: Iran, Asia
Watch: Trailer, Watch on YouTube, Buy on Amazon
Next: Divorce: Italian Style, Beauty and the Dogs, Flesh Out
Continue reading “Divorce: Iranian Style – Battle of the Sexes”
39

Food Inc. (USA)

Watch on Netflix or click the poster to buy on Amazon

Food Inc. Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Food INC. is one of the great documentaries to watch to open your eyes to the giant that is the food industry of the United States of America. You’ll learn what makes a McDonalds burger and how almost everything in Walmart contains some form of corn. But along with all the bad stuff you’re going to here (which will make you think twice about what you buy) you also learn how you can make a difference (which will also make you think twice about what you buy).

The simple answer: You can change the food industry and the world when you go to the supermarket and buy your food. Everything you buy is a vote for that product!

Check out the trailer below to find out more before you head to Netflix, YouTube, or Amazon to watch!

Why Watch Food Inc?
  • To learn where your food is coming from (mostly you America, but relevant to the whole world)
  • See how the food industry has been monopolised by a few big companies
  • Learn how you can change the world with what you eat
  • It’s on Netflix!
40

After the Battle (Egypt)

After the Battle Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

Like me, you may have heard of the Arab Spring (2011) and the protests at Tahir Square in Cairo (documented on Netflix’s The Square). But do you know what happened afterwards? After the Battle explores the aftermath so you can see how life has changed (or stayed the same) since the Arab Spring. Ignore the bad reviews (yes, the film is a little bit cheesy in parts) and go watch it!

For all those not sure – check out the first 45 seconds of this trailer (then turn it off unless you want spoilers!)

Why Watch After the Battle?
  • To learn about the political climate and quality of life in Egypt following the Arab Spring in 2011
  • Explore gender politics and class structure in Egpyt – lots to discuss!
  • It’s not hard to watch – it has the tone of a TV series so all of you can watch it without getting lost in any pretentiousness
  • For a great post-Arab Spring viewing companion to Asmaa
The Breakdown

On February 2nd 2011, Tahir Square protestors were attacked by camel and horse riders from the pyramids. This event became known as the Battle of the Camels. Footage of the event shows horse and camel riders riding into protestors armed with whips (and nothing else). One of the riders falls off of his horse and is beaten by the protestors.

Mahmoud is the rider who falls from his horse in the Battle of the Camel. He is a poor horse rider from Nazlat (a suburb of Cairo near the Pyramids) who made his living from tourists. However, a great wall was built to separate the horse riders from the tourists, so he no longer has a job. He has to rely on the ‘good-will’ of his relative/local boss to get by. He is the one who lets him and his family live in their house and provides them with a little income when needed. Mahmoud represents the lower classes that were not represented in the Arab Spring, that have continued to be exploited by their ‘superiors’.

Rim is the woman we follow throughout the film. She is a liberal middle-class woman and a strong activist for the Arab Spring. She is marginalised just like Mahmoud. However, instead of class prejudice, she experiences sexism. After being groped whilst protesting, she is told that the place for a woman is at home, not on the streets. However, her revolutionary ideas meet a challenge when she meets Mahmoud – her antithesis.

Conclusion

Another interesting exploration of Egypt in the aftermath of the Arab Spring (also see Asmaa). The film tries to cover a lot, from gender politics to class, but ultimately manages to cover it all without appearing vague.