September 11 -
Collection of 11 movies from directors all over. Particularly enjoyed the one from africa where a group of boys tried to capture osama bin laden. It dealt with the topic matter in a light hearted manner without dismissing the seriousness of the issue. A little surprise that a majority of the film portrayed the incident no wholly in a pro-US manner. That is quite refreshing. Sept 11 was a tragedy yes, but there were other tragedies before and thereafter, and some perpetuated by the americans. Whether in terms of numbers of casualties or the magnitude of the destruction. What do child refugees in Iran or Africa know and care of what is happening so far away? Especially when they themselves faces tribulations everyday of their lives. I thought what stood out the most was the film from Mexico, where it would have been more successful in my view if they have left out the "moralizing" after the ending where they had a bright light and arabic line: does god's light guide us or blind us. The split second images of people falling from the world trade centre and the continuous voices over darken screen, made me focus not so much the motives of the perpetuators or the repercussions being justified by this act, but the act in itself. The tragedy. The loss. It is really difficult to watch or listen. That's why i thought it was so successful, the visual being so imbedded in our minds that even looking at the darken screen did nothing to minimise the horrors of what we could have seen. By putting the focus on the act, it derailed us from putting forth judgement for the moment but just purely concentrate for a few minutes on the pain and the fear.