Just another day...

Ek Din Pratidin (Bengali, A Day Like Any Other; 1979)
Written & Directed: Mrinal Sen

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079098/

Most reviews will say that Mrinal Sen was among the first to address the topic of a working woman. It is not solely about empowerment but also connected to many societal expectations. Much is expected from a working woman that is not demanded from a working son. Nobody worries if the son comes home late or does not return home. A woman who returns late into the night is automatically assumed to be involved in something sinful. No evidence is needed; the evil eyes immediately take it to be so.

This film accurately depicts all the challenges a close-knit middle-class family faces when their working daughter, who is incidentally the sole breadwinner, fails to return home until late at night. Residing in a rented estate where interactions between neighbours are inevitable, the situation can become more distressing when well-meaning comments appear harsh, inadvertently adding to the tension and confusion.

Kollywood films often focused on this issue, albeit in a more dramatic manner, as they were produced for mainstream Tamil cinema rather than more artistic ones like this. Off the top of my head, I recall Arangetram (1973), where a lady is praised highly when she contributes financially, but is discarded quickly after discovering the nature of her work. Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, released in 1974, also addressed the same situation, where all the family burdens fall on the working daughter, while the brother lounges around. Still, the mother tolerates the useless son.

Ek Din Pratidin provides an hour-by-hour account of what the family experiences when a working daughter fails to return home at the usual time. Initially, the family assumes she is working late, but when a call to the office goes unanswered, anxiety begins to grow. This was a time when even having a landline phone was a luxury, so forget about mobile phones. Father waits at the bus station to discover she was not on the last bus either. Meanwhile, neighbours offer support, but some of their remarks only make things worse. The brother reports the matter to the police and also checks the hospitals. There was a minor scare when someone matching the daughter's description was found seriously injured, but it turned out to be someone else.

The real reason why she is missed so dearly gradually becomes apparent. The family discusses the rent payments, the education of the younger children, and how they rely on the daughter's income. Meanwhile, the unemployed son just runs around but isn't really contributing much to the family's daily expenses.

The missing daughter finally arrives unceremoniously. Nobody questions why she was late. The daughter is surprised that everyone is waiting up for her. Meanwhile, the landlord insists that the family vacate their room. The colony is for decent people. The whole fuss about the missing daughter suggests she is somehow wild and sinful.

 

The film won the 1979 National Awards. In an interview, the director, Mrinal Sen, was asked why the reason for the protagonist's absence was not revealed till the end. He replied that his film was to highlight the insecurity of middle-class life and the claustrophobia of middle-class morality. The reason for her absence is irrelevant. Not all working women are financially independent. The burden of family responsibility is placed upon them, and she is caught in an emotional trap. 

At the end of the film, a new day begins, yet for the mother of the previous generation, it is merely another day spent doing the same chores: cleaning and cooking. Nothing truly changes. Despite the modern world around her and the liberties the new era offers to younger women, she, like many others, remains caught in the monotony of another ordinary day.

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Same Script, Different Backdrop!

The Ugly American (1963)

Director: George Englund

https://www.excaliburauctions.com/auction/lot/lot-50---
the-ugly-american-1963---uk-quad-film-poster/?lot=41051&sd=1

This film was regarded as Marlon Brando's favourite, but unfortunately, it was made when Brando's movies did not sell well, as they failed to engage the American audience. The ending of this film reveals everything; this was how the American public saw it: too preachy. As the American Ambassador delivered a long, verbose speech on TV, viewers simply switched off the TV halfway through his speech.

The message behind the story was genuine, but those in power were not willing to admit that foreign policies were the leading cause of most international conflicts. At a time when Hollywood was producing films that praised America as the saviour of the free world, this was a new perspective. When John Wayne's westerns justified the invasion of Native American lands and the killing of Native Americans, this was different. During World War II, it was necessary to portray the Axis Powers as the axis of evil; however, in the Vietnam War and the resulting unnecessary casualties, the public began to question. Why interfere in fixing a political situation in a country that does not want help? Was the desire to save the world from communist ideology so intense that it justified the collateral damage?

Thai Script

The story recounts a fictitious nation called Sarkhan experiencing civil unrest. The citizens are dissatisfied with their Prime Minister and hope to bring about change. The northern part of Sarkhan (North Sarkhan) has adopted communist ideology, strongly supported by China and the Soviet Union. This references the Vietnam situation. The Americans, along with the ruling government, are constructing a new highway. The people believe it will not benefit them and openly voice their resentment. There have been a few explosions and killings. The American ambassador (played by Marlon Brando) is determined to continue, as it serves their interests in keeping the communist North in check. All these details mirror what was happening in Vietnam.

Vietnamese - New Script

For the keen-eyed, it is evident from afar that the shooting took place in Thailand. The protestors' placards all display Thai script. As is well known, Thai script is quite distinct from Cambodian or Vietnamese. The Thai and Cambodian scripts both evolved from the ancient Khmer script, itself derived from the Pallava script of South India, which is rooted in the Brahmi script. Historically, the Vietnamese used Chữ Nôm with Chinese characters. Still, later Chữ Quốc ngữ, a Latin-based script introduced by Portuguese missionaries, became the standard for both public and private communication.  

Vietnamese - Old Script

60 years later, in 2025, the world remains burdened by the interference of major powers in the local affairs of smaller nations. In the post-WWII era, the Cold War was a significant factor. The self-appointed leader of the free world, the USA, had to ensure that the communist influence was reined in. Now, geopolitics and the need to provide the uninterrupted availability of supplies of power, minerals and trade are the main reasons. Come to think of it, it was the same when the European East India Companies first set sail to the spice islands. One went the wrong way and insisted it had reached India and started calling the Natives of the New World Indians!

P.S. Surprise, surprise. There appears to be a subtle connection between the individuals leading the Gen-Z revolution in Nepal, specifically Hami Nepal, and the US-funded NGOs. 

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Time to unwind?

The Naked Gun (2025)
Director: Akiva Schaffer

https://thatnerdshow.com/the-naked-gun-2025-
review-by-marcus-blake/

Sometimes you need to break away from it all and immerse yourself in something away from what is expected of you. All the decorum, needing to behave in a particular manner and displaying an appropriate demeanour, can be quite tiring. This is the time we indulge in something stupid, something like slapstick or farce comedy.

One particular comedy in this genre that I enjoy is the ones made by Mel Brooks. 'History of the World Part 1' was not literary stuff. The moviemakers never had the students of history in mind for them to learn history. It was just a salad bowl of overlapping worlds, without considering anachronisms. Alexander of Macedonia appeared in the same timeline as Julius Caesar. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082517/

For so long, I thought that Alexander's horse's name was Miracle. I vividly remember the scene when some thieves, escaping from the Roman court and harem, get cornered. When they realised that their goose was cooked, one of them uttered, "Now only a miracle can save you!" Sure enough, a majestic white horse materialised out of thin air, ready to take them away. That was supposed to be Alexander's horse. History tells us that Bucephalus, Alexander's horse, was probably black, with indentations on the head like an ox.

Another memorable scene was when the thieves were hiding amongst the eunuchs. The king's men had an idea to weed them out. He summoned an exotic dancer to strut her stuff before he uttered his iconic line, "If all goes well, nothing should arise!" Sure enough, the thieves failed the test.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095705/

The 'Naked Gun' franchise has churned out three feature films, a TV series (Police Squad!) and even a computer game. Leslie Neilson used to appear as a spaced-out cop, despite being aloof of everything around him and causing destruction, he still ends up solving cases and gaining praise from everyone.

Neilson, who began his career as a serious actor, discovered his niche in the role of Frank Drebin, a bumbling police detective, in the TV series (1982) and on the big screen (1988-1994). Neilson died in his sleep in 2010, aged 84.

The fourth instalment of the Naked Gun had been in the pipeline for quite a while. After much delay, it is finally out, with Liam Neeson, known for his no-nonsense, scorned father roles, starring as a father whose daughter was kidnapped (in the 'Taken' series). This swashbuckling actually did a good job at deadpan comedy. His 'partner-in-crime' and love interest is 'Baywatch' babe Pamela Anderson, who proved that she is more than a red swimsuit donning lifesaver, running in slow motion against sunset coloured beach. The chemistry between the two is palpable. Liam, Leslie's son, is continuing his father's job of busting criminals.

A good vent. 7.5/10.

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Watch your back!

The Little Thing (2021)
Written and Directed by: John Lee Hancock

https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/
The_Little_Things?id=2GatvdJUxY8.P&hl=en_AU

When we watch police dramas, the cases nearly always get solved, the perpetrator is caught red-handed, or they make a full confession. In reality, however, not all crimes are solved. Sometimes, the police believe they have enough evidence to prosecute the accused in court. Other times, cases go cold, or the accused will fight fiercely to clear their name. Occasionally, the accused die in custody due to the methods used to extract information from them. 

This is when things become complicated. The police will see it as the cost of doing business, the business of keeping the city free from crime. However, the public will not view it favourably. They will talk about police brutality, police ombudsmen, and suspensions. The party involved will feel vindicated, believing they were simply doing their job. That is when matters get complicated. Instead of diligently performing their duties, they have to cover their own backs and those of others as well. Everyone is seeking a scapegoat to absolve themselves of their own wrongdoings.

In this film, a seasoned police officer (Joe Deacon) becomes involved in an ongoing investigation into a series of highway murders of young women. Joe has a poor reputation around the county for accidentally shooting an innocent member of the public during an ambush. For that, he paid a steep price, remaining as a deputy sheriff in a small town. The coroner and his superior covered up his mistake. So when Sgt Baxter asks for his help, he agrees. The case leads them to a peculiar individual who might be linked to the murders. Unfortunately, they just cannot pin him down.

The main part of the story occurs towards the end when, during a game of mind, Baxter accidentally swings a shovel and kills the suspect. The problem is that there is no solid evidence linking him to the crimes. That is when Joe decides to bury the whole story.

The message in the story presents a philosophical dilemma. Should a person be punished for taking his job too seriously? If his work defines who he is, and he believes he should dedicate his life and soul to his vocation because it is his dharma, is it fair for him to be punished for being overly zealous? On the other hand, with great power comes great responsibility. In a world that demands transparency and where every move is scrutinised, one must be cautious. Deal with it.

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Merdeka!

https://www.facebook.com/bikebaju.official/

Melburnians often claim they can experience all four seasons in a single day. It might start out sunny in the morning, then suddenly turn windy, cold, or rainy, with hail sometimes following soon after. Melbourne's temperate oceanic climate and its location, where hot and cold weather systems quickly interact, cause this phenomenon.

Well, we, weekend cyclists, experienced the same phenomenon during our small weekend ride. The temperature remained consistently above 25 °C, but we did endure the various climates one would encounter here in Malaysia. We are referring to the BB Merdeka Ride organised by a sports garments company in connection with Malaysia's 68th Independence Day celebration. Yes, we are 68 years old, but we are still struggling to find our way in the right direction. Rather than moving forward, we seem to be walking in reverse!

A ballpark estimate of 1,000 participants took part in this event. Participants could choose between a 50km or 100km fun ride; there was no pressure, no timing chip, but a 5-hour time limit. As it was Merdeka (Malaysia's Independence Day), the event started to the tune of Negara-Ku, at the Selangor Fruit Valley, a tourist attraction located near Rawang. We all regrouped at the Sekinchan Coconut Farm before returning to the starting point, covering 94km and passing through Bestari Jaya. Batang Berjuntai is the former name of Bestari Jaya. The name change, when translated, means 'a dangling trunk'. In 2007, the authorities believed a name change was necessary to avoid the graphic sexual connotations it might imply. 

Pitstop @ Sekinchan

The different climates we experienced were like this. At 7 am, when we started, it was a little still and humid. It was about 25 °C. As riders began riding on the comparable flat terrain, the crosswinds provided a pleasant, cool sensation. The Sun decided to get up late that day. It was aware that many Malaysians would be out celebrating outdoor Merdeka festivities. From a humid environment, it became windy. The joyful ride, overseen by police and marshals, was smooth. We passed through scenic padi fields, serene rivers, and fresh morning air. The halfway point was at Sekinchan. A few stalls were set up selling light refreshments. The organisers arranged to provide drinks and bananas.

By 9.30 am, it was time to head back. The Sun slowly began to rise. It was mild, though. The ride home was more challenging, as everyone had clearly expended their energy. Most lacked the strength to keep up with pelotons that overtook them. Cramps started to appear. The sweeper vehicles were just waiting to pick up cyclists who threw in the towel, but many politely declined.

Back at the finishing point, all that was left were smiles, laughter, and congratulatory messages. Some lucky ones went home with goodies after winning at the Lucky Draw.

A weekend well spent.

 

(P.S. Why is it that every time the national anthem is played, my insides grow mellow, and my mind becomes all nostalgic with a hint of melancholia? Is that patriotism?)

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Partners in Crime?

The Honeymoon Killers (1969)

Director: Leonard Kastle

https://www.criterion.com/films/582-the-honeymoon-killers?
srsltid=AfmBOooBrXMILjkfWbYvLAPPpo9ZQUaj
ZxWi0VU1etpA94OFZeon-9jN

This film was originally intended to be directed by Martin Scorsese, but he was dismissed early in production. Another director, Donald Volkmann, was suddenly replaced after just two weeks of filming. Kastle, who wrote and developed the script, then took over as director. This obscure production is often praised for its realistic documentary-style filming and has gained cult status.

 

The story is based on a true crime from the late 1940s, famously known as the 'Lonely Heart Killers'. It focuses on Martha Beck, an overweight nursing sister who is also a single mother of two children (not shown in the film), each with a different father. Her friend recommends her to the local Lonely Hearts Club, where she meets a smooth-talking con man, Ray Fernandez.

 

Although Martha is a nurse, she seems to be emotionally quite immature. Ray, who is simply a con artist, was already married with children and expertly manipulates Martha. In the name of true love, he persuades her to pretend to be his sister while he continues his day job of deceiving lonely women for their money and jewellery under the guise of marriage. Martha becomes his accomplice and actively plans their robberies, which also involve murder.

 

It is believed they were responsible for up to 20 murders between 1947 and 1949, but three cases received significant news coverage. In the final murder, a neighbour reported disturbances at the house. However, in the film, it is implied that Martha herself called the police.

The couple was imprisoned at Sing Sing prison and executed by electrocution.

An intriguing black-and-white film set in a period when filmmakers did not rely on gore or Technicolour to emphasise horror.

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Not funny

It was a local cycling event with the usual thrills and frills. It was a fun event. It was not a race. People came in dressed in masks and capes. There was a chap who wore a Viking helmet with cowhorn-like horns to give a fiesta feel to everyone around. 

Close to a thousand riders thronged the much-delayed, newly paved expressway that would bring people all the way from Ampang to Putrajaya and beyond.

For the bystanders, it must have been a sight to behold. Rows of cyclists in tight-fitting gears all going in a single file must have tickled the onlookers to the bones. 

So there were a group of cyclists in front of me who were boisterously rolling along the highway. Manning the traffic was a group of Bangladeshi foreign workers. They, too, were fascinated with the event of the day. They, too, whipped out their mobile devices to record the race.

One of the racers in front of me quipped, "hey, give a good pose. For all you know, you would be appearing on Bangla Youtube!" (closest translation)

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Reproduction-
Viking-Warrior-Helmet/dp/B008E4DFYW

It was an uncalled-for conversation. Just like everyone else, a foreigner or a general worker also has their likes and dislikes. He, too, wants to capture a momentous moment or share a scene that he wants others to see. Just because he is from the working class and is from a country considered to be in the lower rung of socioeconomic status, his action is by no means a justification for mocking. 

Another thing, YouTube is universal. There is no such thing as a Bangla YouTube or a Myanmarese one, but the local language may be. Now, with subtitles and audio choices, the world is one. 

Unfortunately, most Malaysians are like this - condescending and feeling one-up against each other. We suffer from so much insecurity that we pin others down to convince ourselves that we are doing alright. It is a form of cognitive dissonance. 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.