Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Cry Freedom

Richard Attenborough is a director whose name is synonymous with the Academy Award winning 'Gandhi', back in '83. I didn't know of any other work of his til i recently came across 'Cry Freedom', released back in 1987 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092804/). While it may not have been as popular as his Gandhi, it is every bit as gripping, if not more, and was released when South Africa still had not got rid of the shackles of apartheid. While most movies on social issues come out after the event had happened, i guess this one released during the time.

The story is based on real life characters and events. The book on which the movie was based, was written by Donald Woods (Kevin Kline), a journalist who used to work in South Africa until the end of the seventies. It traces the origins of Woods friendship with the charismatic black leader Steve Biko, who is wonderfully portrayed by Denzel Washington. I cannot imagine a better choice for the role. Washington exudes a natural charm and screen presence, which Biko's character required.

While initially, Woods was against what he felt was black racism being spread by Biko, after meeting the man, he could not help being drawn into his struggles and ideas. The bond between them grows stronger, and Woods and his family realise and become more sensitive to the plight of the people Biko represents.

However, finally, tragedy strikes, and Woods must now concentrate on escaping from South Africa, with his book, so that he can get it published and let the outside world know what is going on. The second half of the movie is a gripping tale of his escape from South Africa, along with his family, and will keep you on tenterhooks.

There are some deliciously humorous dialogues too. The scene between Biko and the lawyer in the courtroom is an example.

Lawyer: Do you advocate violence?
Biko: I advocate a confrontation.
Lawyer: Well, isn't that violence, Mr. Biko?
Biko: Not necessarily. You and I are having a confrontation now, but i dont see any violence.

However, there are moments that bring you back to the horrors that pervaded the country before better sense prevailed. The scene where the army opens fire on a protest by school children is gut wrenching and heartbreaking.

This is definitely a must watch. I would suggest those not familiar with Attenborough's work, do take time out for this. There are movies which make a lot of money. And there are movies which make lives. I would any day prefer the latter.

Monday, July 28, 2008

The Inheritance of a New Beginning

Sometimes u just gotta let GO....
There are people in your life who you just feel they have to be there. Throughout. As a presence through all ur high and low points. Or you feel more like, they will be there. They become a part of you as urself, that it becomes very natural.

Until one day it comes crashing down. You realise that it may just have been an illusion. A trick of the mind to anchor your faith onto something or someone. (I guess for an agnostic like myself, it is not such a tough thing to happen). Then comes the tough part.

How do you reconcile yourself to the fact that the anchor you thought will always be there, may just not be what you thought. That fairytales may just not happen. That you may have been fooling yourself into believing this illusion.

Two things can happen. You can allow the claws of jealousy and hatred and anger wrap themselves around you and sulk. Or you can get on with it. Accept that you have also made mistakes in life and move on, remembering the good moments and that nobody or nothing is perfect.

I guess i have in the past allowed too much of the former to get the better of me. Not this time. This time, I'll actually try to be the dude. ;-)

And... as the bard says... therein lies a long story.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Me and Myself

There comes times in life when you introspect and retrospect. Or maybe a lot of times. You look at yourself in a mirror of your mind with the eyes of your childhood and you sometimes see a total stranger staring back at you. And you wonder, is that really me? You realise you have gone far from the person you once were or who you once wanted to be and there may not be any looking back.

Well i guess i'm just trying to say that this is pretty much what i have felt on occasions. Or on a lot of occasions. Have i gone too far away from the person i once was or i once wanted to be? I sometimes imagine myself as a kid looking through the looking glass at the older version of me, and i feel i probably wouldnt have recognised myself.

The other day, an old buddy of mine, from my days in DPS, Kuwait, called me up. After all the usual banter and nostalgic returns to school days, he told me, u know, i'm pretty disappointed in you. I was like, why? Well, i always thought you had more in you. You could have been somewhere man. Well, i thought i'm not exactly doing too bad right now, but i got the drift. I remembered a biology teacher i used to have during my school days. She used to think( for some reason) that i could DO something, but that i was an enigma. I remember her shouting at my parents everytime there was a parents teacher meeting, whenever she felt i was not at par.

Well, i wish i could tell her now... Sometimes, i'm an enigma to myself. But then again, what do people mean when they say they have expectations of someone? Expectations that someone will be a good person? Well, i would like to think that i'm not exactly a monster. Or is it expectations as in the yardstick of achievements that the world measures you by? Well, maybe i have disappointed myself and quite a few well wishers there. But then again, do i really want to
join that rat race?

What i would consider an achievement is satisfying your own self. Knowing truthfully within, that this is what you wanted from yourself, and that you're getting there.

Not that i think i'm there yet. Actually... there's still a long way to go.