White Dog

I was raised on a steady diet of ABC Afternoon Specials and in many ways this movie came across as one: low budget, predictable editing, television level performances (excluding some), with an important social message. But this movie never saw the light of day because of misinformed concerns about it being racist and jumping-the-gun reactions. The director, Samuel Fuller, was so disillusioned by the vitriol against his film that he moved to France and didn’t direct in America again.  It’s a shame that the movie wasn’t released, because the significant message was placed in a readily understandable allegory. White Dog explores racism in a manner that is neither subtle nor timid. It broaches the subject head on and isn't afraid to let the message be told without having to be tied up in a neat little bow.

The allegory was stretched pretty thin at times with some implausible plot points. I needed to remind myself that in order to more fully understand the film’s message, I should let them go. Overall the view on the nature of hatred is disheartening, but I can find no fallacy in it.

The Traveller

A while back someone, I think it was a filmspotter, shared a link to a website that posted pictures from Iran in the 1970’s.   The pictures portrayed modern dressed men and women interacting together. So this was what pre-Iranian Revolution 1979 looked like. I also noticed the same type of clothes and behavior in the film The Traveler. I wouldn’t have known it was an Iranian film, by sight only. Recently, the director Abbas Kiarostami, worked to have two filmmakers released from prison and it made me wonder how his movies differ from one regime to the next.

My first reaction to the main character, Quassem, was, “you little punk." I laughed a little when I saw that the film was made for the Center forIntellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, which Abbas Kiarostami worked for. So, it was a message film. I still think he’s a punk, but I empathize a little more with him after I thought about his life and circumstances. His mother was illiterate and couldn’t help him with homework or real motivation, except to ineffectually yell at him. His father was referred to as someone who beat him regularly. I could see why he looked for escape, namely soccer. With that background, his story became pretty sad.

I didn’t love the movie (nor did I love Certified Copy), but I really loved some of the filming. The corridors Quassem ran down were really beautifully shot and the empty stadium with the papers scattering in the wind was another great visual.

Since Jean-Luc Godard said, “Film begins with D.W. Griffith and ends with Abbas Kiarostami.” I believe I need to see more of his work. What next? Close-Up? Taste of Cherry? 

i am sam

Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting through my open mind
Possessing and caressing me

As much as I would rather continue using John Lennon’s words to describe my experience with this movie, I should actually put down my own thoughts. I Am Sam is a story of limited individuals having to acknowledge those limitations and allowing others to help make up the difference.  

That’s the impersonal description. 

The personal upheaval description is that it's a movie that throws into question what makes a good parent or even more probing, what are our beliefs regarding the worth of a human being.  I felt the whole gamut of emotions, not the least being the scrutiny of my own parenting abilities.  When the film ended, having gone through the wringer, I came out clean and clear. An affirming movie, now and then, is good laundry. 

This is hands down my favorite Sean Penn performance and I believed him for the entire film. Dianne Wiest, Dakota Fanning and Laura Dern were right there with him in talent and performance levels. I wasn’t as enamored with Michelle Pfeiffer and it took me a long time to warm up to her portrayal.

What I was enamored with was all the Beatles references and songs. Although, I would have loved it more if the Beatles did the singing. I was also pleasantly surprised with the Star Trek sightings—Brent Spiner, Ken Jenkins and Rosalind Chao!