RIFLE RANGE BOY

You (Season 1-4; 2018-23) Miniseries In 'Crime and Punishment', Dostoevsky writes, "If he has a conscience, he will suffer for his mistake; that will be punishment — as well as the prison." The only escape from this personal punishment, then, is to ask forgiveness of mankind and of God. Therein lies the conundrum. If there was no God or Man refuses to believe in the presence of a Higher Being, he has to carry all the guilt of his actions or inactions. As there are no means of cleaning his slate via redemption, his plate will always be full of regret and shame. This burden may be too overwhelming that it may affect his psychological well-being. Religion gives an exit clause option. He can convince himself that he is flawed and carrying his ancestors' sins. In other instances, he tells himself that God forgives. Another door is open when one is shut. Depending on an individual's mental makeup, the wrongdoer may also be reliving the events of his wrong-doings and...

Paanch (2003) Written and Directed by Anurag Kashyap It is funny that a movie that never had a formal theatrical or home-video release went to win international screening, went on to be screened in multiple international film festivals. It was Anurag Kashyap's directorial debut, but all the kerfuffle surrounding the issues with the censorship board actually skyrocketed his career. He went on to make many more films and was in line for many accolades, including 'Knight of Order of Arts and Letters' from the French Government in 2013. 'Paanch's tiff with certification had to do its graphic depiction of violence and drug abuse by early 2000's standard. It is based on actual events. A motley crew of five friends of convenience occasionally perform in a band. They spend most of the time wasted, on booze and drugs. Luke, the domineering de-facto leader of the group, provides accommodation and has a tight psychological and arm-twisting control over the others. The othe...

Pickpocket (French, 1959) Director: Robert Bresson To people who believe that their job is the most difficult one on the planet, this is an eye opener. A pickpocket has to plan his moves, strategise, be imaginative, be supple with his fingers and beyond anything be vigilant with the law man at all times. In this film, the thief even uses a manual (for pickpockets) to enhance his efficacy! He also wants to be a normal individual doing things what most people do in life. However, he is either too weak or too lazy to be getting into the social routines that we are expected to  do. Like getting up early, be at post at a specified time day in and day out, handling the eventualities that come with the job and dealing with the bosses. Perhaps, he lacks the discipline. Michel is a loafer who goes on with life through pickpocketing. The law sometimes catches with him. He has a sick mother whom he rather not see. Maybe, he is embarrassed for being a failure in his mother's eyes or mayb...

I am Fishead (Documentary, 2011) This documentary is currently being shown in Kuala Lumpur as part of their EU film festival. The surprising thing about this entry is that even though being a Czech offering, it was short mainly in US and is narrated in English. It tries to find a simple explanation and solution that we are in right now - financial turmoil. Following the Chinese saying that the fish rots from the head, they are suggesting that the people in power or who control us are psychopaths who manipulate us into submission. The first half of this documentary film dwells on characteristics of psychopathics. It explains that psychopaths are not necessarily the typical ones depicted to us by Hollywood film but very much around us, throughout history, promising us wealth, power and false sense of security. They also introduce the concept of corporate psychopaths who do the same in the corporate world with their own agenda and no remorse. Hitler, Mussolini, Bernard Madoff and ev...