Three emotionally moving films

K. S. Sivakumaran

Evidently this column is not for exhaustive analysis of films but mere informative pieces on films I have enjoyed and to encourage cineastes to watch such film for their pleasure and edification.

The films chosen are 'Secret ' (Taiwan-Hong Kong), 'The Song of Sparrows' (Iran) and 'Blindness' (Brazil-Canada-Japan). The films appealed to me aesthetically, socially and emotionally.

Let's take the first film 'Secret' for brief comment. If you enjoy western classical piano music interspersed with a rare kind of love relationship discovered belatedly by the hero, then you would adore this film for the fantastic piano duel between two masters in a competition.

The film gives aesthetic satisfaction in terms of music, portrayal of a poignant secret love the heroine had for the hero but not seen by the hero until at the end when a tragedy occurs. It's psychologically entertaining besides the lovely landscape and sophisticated surrounding in South East Asia.

The director himself plays the main role as the enviable pianist. He is Jay Chou, a Taiwanese, well known in popular music circles around the world. His music videos are available, I am told.

Jay Chou has also proved himself to be a good actor with his lanky frame and remarkably different style of mannerism.

He was chosen to act in a film by China's pre-eminent director, Zhang Yiimon, in his film 'Curse of the Golden Flower', a film I am yet to see.

I loved the piano concerto and melodies that were exhilarating.

Why that is Iranian films appeal to us South Asians? The obvious reason is that it comes from West Asia that has close resemblance to rural Asiatic life. But it is not merely that.

The films produced in that country after 1979 have artistic merits, cinematic technique and more importantly simple narration visual terms of realities of the Third world countries, although Iran is not one.

Besides Mohsen Makhmalbaf, I like the films of Majid Majid and a few women directors in Tehran. This film 'The Song of the Sparrows' is by Majid Majidi. The film appealed to me at two levels: an unsaid but a visual commentary on the changing personal traits of n otherwise good man and a social commentary on how relationship in the family could change due to a flaw in the hero.

One gets a glimpse of Teheran's business district with the aid of Turaj Mansuri's camera and Hasssan Hasandoost's tight editing.

Finally let's move from Taipei and Tehran in Asia to Brasilia in South America. The film 'Blindness' was adapted from the Portuguese novel by the same name by the Nobel Prize winner Jose' Sara ago.

Directed by an important Brazilian filmmaker, Fernando Meirelles, the film captures the breathtaking experiences of a set of people suffering an epidemic of blindness.

The people try to survive hunger in a government makeshift prison and later sent to an asylum under heavy guard.

A thought flashed in my mind of the suffering of our people in the Vanni IDP camps behind barbed wires. Human condition is terrible wherever it happens.

The acting by the lady doctor who doesn't go blind is good. Julianne Moore plays the role. I liked the music too. See if you can these three films.

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