Love thy neighbour, they say!

Fauda (Chaos, Hebrew/Arab; 2015-2019)
(Miniseries S1-3)

Is it not ironic that the Western nations want to police the whole world but failed miserably at finding peace at the heart of the Judeo-Christian stronghold. It seems that the brothers of the Book perform poorly when it comes to showing brotherly love. Also funny that a place that four great religions of the world look up to as their holy land cannot be protected by their Protector. A land hardly larger than 30,000 square kilometres, but this piece of land had not seen peace since time immemorial. 

The feud has lasted so long that nobody can remember who drew first blood. Both parties, the Palestinians and the Israelis, claim legitimate historical rights on that piece of land. Looks like all that talk of the religion of peace, the religion of love and the religion of compassion is mere rhetoric. The reference to 'brotherhood' is only offered to the brethren of the same faith, not of the whole of mankind.

I am sure God must be in a quandary. It is like the old Indian saying or maybe an old movie dialogue. It is akin to asking a mother which child she wants to support; she would say, "you are asking me whether I love my right eye more than the left eye. I love them both." Probably that is why there are no permanent solutions here. Let both brothers fight it out till both exhausts each other. The trouble is that their course has sympathisers from people elsewhere. Everybody else is drawn into the bottomless wormhole. 

This miniseries shows, from an Israeli viewpoint, is about a group from an Israeli counter-terrorism unit in the Israeli Defence Force. They are often referred to as Mista'arvim, meaning living amongst Arabs. They speak Arabic and assimilate into the local population to collect intelligence on the latest Palestinian terrorist activities. In the series, we find a power struggle between the Palestinian Authority (PA), Hamas and the newbie around town, ISIS. It looks like PA wants to maintain law and order, but everyone else has their idea of which brand of Islam should prevail on their land. They want more possession of land, which they assert was theirs anyway, to start with. To die for such a course is divine; they have been indoctrinated and have the rest of Palestine (and the world) follow suit.

This is, of course, the Israeli perspective of things. The Palestinians should rebut with their own version of the ground situation, but then, there will be confusion on which version is acceptable. Each faction of society would insist theirs is correct and proclaim their claim is a pursuit worth dying for.

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Where does the fault lie?

Dahmer: Monster - The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022)
Netflix miniseries

I was curious growing up in the mid-70s and watching all those American documentaries about serial killers. I often wondered why all serial killers came from a developed nation like the USA. According to the FBI, the USA currently has 2,000 active serial killers (325 million population @ 0.00006%). On top of all that, it has the most number of its citizens locked up in prisons. Is modernity directly correlated to mental illness? Perhaps the country's vastness makes one go cuckoo or makes it easy for them to think they can hide their trails and get scot-free. Now experts are telling us that the fact that many families who end up with single parenthood end with this problem. In keeping with rising costs, single parents have to leave their children unsupervised and work two jobs. Children have to learn things on their own. In the century of the self, prioritising individuals rather than communal or extended family living may have perpetuated these many behavioural deviants.

On the other side, a country with such deep pockets has the luxury of re-investigating old cases periodically with newer technologies to smoke out perpetrators. Hence, an apparent increase in the number of instances and discoveries.

Or maybe documentaries and podcasts are scavenging deep into the crypts into the police files to meet the insatiable appetite of crime nerds, and they succeed in making every American look like a potential serial killer in the eyes of a non-American.

Jeffrey Dahmer is an infamous serial killer who lured young men and even a 14-year-old boy to his abode, drug, tortured, mutilated, drilled their skulls to infuse with drugs, dissolved their bodies in acid and even consumed their internal organs.

These miniseries try to tell how this quiet boy turned into a cold monster, tracing his childhood and the family environment in which he grew up. One particular thing that struck me is the frustration that Jeffrey Dahmer's father, Lionel, had to go through throughout his life. He was trying desperately to balance his work as a scientist and his emotionally unstable wife and trying very hard to be an excellent father to Jeffrey. All throughout his life, Lionel is searching for where he went wrong.

Even before Jeffrey was born, his mother was popping pills like they were M&Ms. There was a concern about whether these powerful tranquillisers and anti-emetics had long-term ill effects on Jeffrey. The postpartum depression took an enormous toll on his mother. Jeffrey saw his mother overdosing on pills, and he even had to call 911 when his mother was unresponsive one day.

His parent quarrelled all the time. Still, when Jeffrey was six, his mother delivered his brother. His mother became more distant. His father was frequently away at work, making Jeffrey a loner and left to his own devices. Lionel, as his father, tried his best to live up to his role as a father. The parents separated when Jeffrey was 18, and by then, Jeffrey already had a severe drinking problem and was having issues in high school.

The most exciting thing that struck me from the miniseries is the frustrations the father had to go through trying to put Jeffrey on the right track. At no point did Lionel give up on his son. He also felt guilty that perhaps his genes were the ones that caused his predicament. Anyway, Lionel had had occasional thoughts of killing in adolescence. He wondered whether his father-son outings of dissecting roadkill made him cut up his victims later. He blamed himself for being an absent parent. Still, someone had to bring in the bacon. Should he take the blame solely for how Jeffrey's mother turned out? Was he wrong in taking a new partner? But then, Jeffrey's brother turned out normal. Lionel tried to put Jeffrey back on the right track in so many ways. Oh, how much he tried, unsuccessfully.

This is the curse of having a person with mental illness in the family -so much guilt, finger-pointing, and so many frustrations. Not able to get to the bottom of it, they may resign to the fact that this situation is a curse carried on from previous births, and karma is full throttle in motion.

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A relook at global warming/climate change!

FALSE ALARM
How Climate Change Panic Costs Us Trillions, Hurts the Poor, and Fails to Fix the Planet
By Bjorn Lomborg

There is no denying that the world is getting hotter by the day. If we go by our life experiences, we do not remember feeling fearful of staying outdoors in the heat of the afternoon tropical sun. Fans were luxury items, and air conditioning was opulent at its height. 

In the early 1990s, I had the pleasure of meeting some guests from Dubai during a family function. I was surprised when they started complaining about the Malaysian weather, specifically the heat. Living in a desert country, they were complaining about the Malaysian heat. When enquired, they unanimously admitted that because of the architecture and setup of their infrastructure, they were nicely shielded from the blazing desert sun. That carries a significant weightage in how we handle climate change, according to this book which gives a different outlook on how the world should looking this problem. 

True, human activities and fossil fuels are contributing to our degradation of the environment and the loss of the greenhouse effect and all the things we are familiar with. The approach to dealing with it is the author's bone of contention. 

Take the instance of the yellow jacket showdown in Paris. They are the unhappy product of the European carbon tax system. The French ruling party believed it was criminal to use fossil fuel as it polluted the environment at this time and age. The government imposed a high levy on petroleum to discourage people from using private vehicles. It was their wish for the public to use Government-subsidised public transportation. Well, it worked fine for urban dwellers. For the farmers in the outskirts who solely depended on their beaten-up cars and tractors for work and transportation of their produce, it was a hit before the belt. At such challenging times when production costs are already so high, the rise in petrol price is a double whammy. Hence, the uprising. 

Generally, humans tolerate heat better than extreme cold. Around the world, more people die from cold than heat. People have to spend more to keep themselves warm. Coincidentally, fossil fuel is needed for this purpose. If poor people resort to burning wood for cooking and keeping themselves warm, their health will be affected by the emitting soot.

What people need is resources (read finances) to uplift their lives. They must improve their living conditions to keep themselves cool when their living space becomes warmer. They need money to be able to afford air conditioning, fans and other means to make their living area bearable. People at the lower rung of society bear the brunt of the effects of climate change. They can ill-afford houses on higher grounds to avoid the impact of rising sea levels. 

If rising levels of our oceans are going to flood many low-lying areas, it is up to governments to build dykes, like the ones in the Netherlands, to protect the affected people. For that, countries have to prosper. 

If cutting carbon emissions is implemented so strictly, it will prevent newly industrialised countries from catching up with the rest of the developed nations. Wealthy nations handled adversities better than despotic third-world countries. The very nations that need assistance to pull themselves out of poverty will be trapped in the quagmire of poverty.

Chincha Island, Peru.
Pregnant with guano.

Sometimes, the world forgets that the human race is a resilient lot. They would not have become the most dominant species on Earth if not for their resourcefulness. Just see how fast we come up with solutions for any problem. Some time ago, we thought profound starvation would hit the world as the soil gets progressively depleted of its nutrients. The only known nitrogen-based soil fertiliser then was the progressively depleting bat-dropping reservoir on Guano Islands off Peru. In came Haber, who literally plucked nitrogen from thin air to make fertilisers via Haber Reaction. Of course, that led to other disastrous outcomes too. Now, we have malnutrition of the overfed kind.

With time, humanity can come up with ways to combat weather change. They can migrate to temperate countries. Different crops may be grown. In time to come, rice may grow well in Europe, or wheat may grow in what is now tundra land.

The author highlights that the occurrence of natural calamities has not really increased in intensity or number over the years. The publicity highlighted by the mass media makes it appear bigger than life. Fatalities naturally increase as the world population has jumped in leaps and bounds of late anyway.

The world's obsession with preventing temperature rise has diverted money away from what could have been used to develop industries, increase innovation and improve people's standard of living. After all, our civilisation is deeply rooted in energy. Climate change is real but let us be pragmatic about it.

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Hypnotised to conform?

Old Boy (Korean; 2003)
Director: Park Chan-wook

It looks like we are walking around like hypnotised beings, doing what is taught to us. We were coached to hold specific values close to our hearts because that seems the only correct way to live our lives. Again and again, we are drilled with these ideas to give a sacrosanct feel to it. In a way, we are all zombies walking around doing things expected of us. The funny thing is that nobody knows what is expected from our existence. We are told that, unlike other creations, humans are given that unique sense called consciousness that puts us apart from animals. Hence, there is a need to follow specific rules.

Living life by preset man-made rules must be difficult. Failure to conform carries a baggage load of guilt, and the results may not be most welcoming. Anger toward one's own self may cause malady of the mind. Anger towards others will invoke the very primitive primal desires that we kept suppressed as we become more 'civilised'. That act is Revenge. This film is the second offering of the director's trilogy on Revenge - the first being 'The Sympathy for Mr Vengeance' (2002) and the last being 'Lady Vengeance' (2005).

This story is about the annoying drunk Oh Dae-su, who is caught by the police for unruly behaviour. He is bailed out by his friend. Dae-su soon goes missing afterwards. In fact, he is imprisoned in a hotel for 15 years, where his only contact with the outside world is a TV. He soon realises that he is wanted for killing his wife. Confused with the whole arrangement, he is released one day. Dae-su tries to find his captor and the real reason behind his incarceration.

The convoluted movie deals with many unpleasant subjects like incest and suicide. A thought-provoking one, though. 4.5/5.

(It seems that the 1998 Asian Economic Crisis was a turning point for Korean cinema. When all other industries were down, the government decided to give incentives to its film industry. Pretty soon, the world started seeing quality Korean miniseries and soap operas. Way before 'Paradise' won the Oscars, there were already in existence many avant-garde Korean films which pushed the boundaries of film-making.)

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Only in Japan?

Old enough! (Japanese, since 1991)
Reality Show

For a long time, people in Japan have been in stitches periodically, seeing toddlers who are barely able to walk going off on a journey to perform their first chore. Children between two (yes, as early as two) to five are assigned by their parents, as planned by the documentary makers, to go out of their houses, out in the street to run a list of errands. 

It is thunderous to see these easily distractable cuties wobbling around with bags strapped over their shoulders, out in the streets, looking at buildings around them, reminding themselves how to get to their destinations. The camera crew who accompany them are not allowed to help them out. They act out as mere passers-by. Invariably, the children will end up completing their tasks. Besides seeing the kid's antics, viewers will also have a picturesque panoramic view of the landscape of different small towns in Japan.

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,

Home again, Home again, jiggety-jig.

The first thing that crosses a non-Japanese watching this show is that these things can only happen in Japan. Allowing a young child out in the street all alone to do stuff in the name of making them independent will only be done by the Japanese. Firstly, as I know, young kids do not learn academic things in the first years of their early education. Instead, they are taught skills. They learn about body hygiene, cleanliness, performing house chores, cleaning toilets, cutting vegetable etcetera.

Japan is a safe country. Children do not get kidnapped or harvested for body parts. The Japanese are world famous for their social courtesy, and their road manners are world envy. Their streets are well maintained, devoid of open manholes or potholes. There is ample space and clear demarcation for pedestrians to walk safely. Furthermore, their culture encourages independence. Elsewhere in the world, the police will zoom in, or their parents will be charged with child abandonment. 

(P.S. I had to go out to do shopping at the wet market when I was nine. I learnt the hard way, after an avalanche of earfuls, how to pick fresh fish at a bargain. I, however, never perfected the skill of getting a bargain. I found it too combative and was self-conscious to be mocked at my 'ridiculous' offers.)

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It is all about how we make it!

Last Film Show (Chhello Show, Gujerati; 2021)
Director: Pan Nalin

Growing up in a lower-middle-class Asian family, the last thing we were allowed to do as children was to indulge in too much time watching movies. Movies were considered evil, deterrents that would derail us from our purpose in life. In their eyes, the purpose of life hovers around getting into the fields of law, medicine, engineering or teaching (if you are a female). Anything else would not just cut it.

As we grew up in our own time, we realised that life is neither black nor white. Straying away from the top four noble professions did not make one a failure, and following religiously along the pre-planned path would assure success.

This Gujerati film is a surprise nomination for the 2022 Academy Award Best International Feature Film Category, instead of 'R.R.R.' or 'The Kashmir Files'. This movie, by all means, is not an original one. It is inspired (or plagiarised, depending on which camp one is) by the Italian 1988 masterpiece 'Cinema Paradiso'. Many undeniably familiar scenes give viewers the feeling of deja vu. Suddenly the small railway town in Gujerat feels like the heartland of interior Italy.

A 10-year-old boy, Samay, is thrilled when he is taken by his father to watch a movie at the local cinema. Usually, he does not allow his children to watch movies, but since this is a devotional movie, he makes an exception. He thought perhaps by viewing such a movie, some good values may seep in. He also warned Samay and his sister that this would probably be their first and last film show.

Little Samay is, however, totally captivated by the projection of light and panoramic range of colours that seem to emanate from that tiny hole up in the wall. Besides his school time, when he hardly concentrates anyway, and the help he gives at his father's tea stall at the railway, he spends most of his time in the projection room after befriending and trading his lunch with the projectionist.

In this coming-of-age film, young Samay and his inquisitive friends sneak around, steal rolls of film, get into trouble with the men in blue, and, finally, a big lesson in life. The film's highlight must surely be their effort in screening a movie from an improvised projector made from discarded household items and their voice-over for sound effects. Whatever is said and done, this movie is highly commendable for its creativity.

The other lesson the storytellers seem to impart is the impermanence of everything around us. At once, these projection films were such valued merchandise; they were protected under lock and key with police protection. The next moment, we see that they are worthless. They are discarded with other trash. Even as discards, the film rolls are still helpful. They give joy to many young girls in the form of coloured bangles. The projector and film covers are recycled as cutlery.

An exciting viewing, 8/10.

(P.S. The School of Hard Knocks have taught me that nothing is wasteful. Immersing oneself in the make-believe world of Tinseltown or the mirage of the cyber world will not turn that person into someone he does not want to be. Everyone has the mental capacity and free will to decide the path that he wants to follow. Knowledge has no boundaries and can never be wasteful. The same media that spews porn also teach coding. Films put reality on screen. It mimics life for us to appreciate that life is precious and is malleable to the path we want to follow!)

(P.P.S. Interestingly, the protagonist's name is Samay, meaning time. We can see how Samay @ time evolves with everchanging exposures and challenges that hit upon it. And it is ever ready to change!)

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Just when we think it was safe to be amongst our kind!

The Handmaiden (Korean, 2016)
Director: Park Chan-wook

There was a time that it was a given that a lady would feel comfortable in the presence of another lady when she is facing a potentially embarrassing situation. A. male medical practitioner would be required by law when he is examining a female patient. Lady doctors are assumed not to assert their powers over their male patients. 

The ladies washroom was considered a safe space, and they thought they would be protected. When faced with untoward incidents, especially with a member of the opposite sex, ladies would find solace there. After watching numerous Hollywood high school movies, we know how mean girls can be. If they thought that powdering her nose in the company of those of their kind would ensure non-passage of judging looks on her anatomy, I have news for them. Females are their greatest critics.

The members of the fairer sex think they find security in the company of their kind by travelling in ladies-only coaches and parking their vehicles in pink car parks designated for ladies. It is a defeatist idea of women's empowerment. On one end, feminists scream for recognition and respect. On the other, they plead for protection and padding of their falls. In my books, respect is gained through actions, not legislation or helicoptering.

We forget that Korean movies had a healthy life long before the Academy Awards introduced 'Parasite' to the world. And Koreans make more than lovey-dovey soap operas about lost love. Many of their stories are pretty different, and they dare to venture into territories considered taboo by most Asians.

'Handmaiden' is based on the 2002 novel 'Fingersmith' by Welsh writer Sarah Waters. It was set during the Victorian era. This movie's setting is altered to a time when Japan occupied Korea following the Russo-Japanese War. A pair of fraudsters,  Koreans from the lowest rung of war-stricken Korea. They make an elaborate plan to swindle a Japanese heiress. A con man hires a lady pickpocket as a maid to the heiress. The idea is to marry the heiress, get her committed to a mental asylum and abscond with her money.

Things take a turn. The story of the three characters is told from three points of view and ends with a twist at the end. 

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