I can't remember. 19 seems to be so far away. An age of being carefree and restless; a time when I didn't know what I want, what is right, and what is ought to be; and probably up to no good.
But some people managed to apply their talents and their distinctive point of view to produce movies that won international awards, and most importantly, touched people's hearts.
Hana Makhmalbaf is one of such gifted people. And mind you, Hana is 19 years old female director from Iran.
"Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame" takes the viewers to a remote village in Afghanistan, where the Muslim fundamentalist's ideology and practice infiltrate to every aspect of daily life. The camera recorded the journey of a little girl, Baktay, who is eager to go to school to "learn funny stories", to allow the viewers a taste of the bitter lives under the Taliban's rule.
The director chose a subtle yet powerful way to portray lives under the Taliban's regime. Through Baktay's eyes, the viewers see how civilians, especially the younger generation, were brain-washed and manipulated by the numerous inhuman customs and rituals; how the women suffer from cruelty and how civilians are numbed by the brutality in their lives. Unlike many anti-war / anti-terrorism themed movies, there is not a single blood shed on screen, but viewers can easily gain a full comprehension of the extent of torture and inhumanity under the Taliban's regime.
The obstacles Baktay encountered during her first day to school might sound familiar to those who have seen The Story of Xiao Yan, a Chinese movie director by Gangliang Fang. However, Baktay is far more than just a country girl who craves for an education to better her life: she is street-smart and persistent, and sometimes seems like a wicked little devil more than a sweet innocent child. The thing that stands out about her is that she seems to understand all the human frailties and brutalities in her world. Unlike Xiao Yan, she did not use any of her sweetness/innocence to appeal to adults for help, indeed none of the adults seemed to care anyway; it was her bravery and intelligence that helped her survival.
I think the success of this movie lies in the skilfully plotted dialogue among the characters. They are simple and straightforward, nothing aggressive or poignant. The characters come to life without the help of any deliberate tear-jerking scene/dialogue, but their sufferings and emotions easily creep into the view's veins. When Baktay finally played along the "war game" forced upon her by other children (pretending to be dead by lying on the ground) after Abbas shouted "Die, and you will be free", the director's message, that there is no room for individualism, freedom and human integrity under the Taliban's regime, thus effortlessly delivered.
I was utterly moved by the brilliant performance of the two children who played Baktay and Abbas. I don't know how they could deliver such dazzling and faultless performance at such a young age, but whoever did the casting is a genius.
And salute to the mastermind who named the movie!
But some people managed to apply their talents and their distinctive point of view to produce movies that won international awards, and most importantly, touched people's hearts.
Hana Makhmalbaf is one of such gifted people. And mind you, Hana is 19 years old female director from Iran.
"Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame" takes the viewers to a remote village in Afghanistan, where the Muslim fundamentalist's ideology and practice infiltrate to every aspect of daily life. The camera recorded the journey of a little girl, Baktay, who is eager to go to school to "learn funny stories", to allow the viewers a taste of the bitter lives under the Taliban's rule.
The director chose a subtle yet powerful way to portray lives under the Taliban's regime. Through Baktay's eyes, the viewers see how civilians, especially the younger generation, were brain-washed and manipulated by the numerous inhuman customs and rituals; how the women suffer from cruelty and how civilians are numbed by the brutality in their lives. Unlike many anti-war / anti-terrorism themed movies, there is not a single blood shed on screen, but viewers can easily gain a full comprehension of the extent of torture and inhumanity under the Taliban's regime.
The obstacles Baktay encountered during her first day to school might sound familiar to those who have seen The Story of Xiao Yan, a Chinese movie director by Gangliang Fang. However, Baktay is far more than just a country girl who craves for an education to better her life: she is street-smart and persistent, and sometimes seems like a wicked little devil more than a sweet innocent child. The thing that stands out about her is that she seems to understand all the human frailties and brutalities in her world. Unlike Xiao Yan, she did not use any of her sweetness/innocence to appeal to adults for help, indeed none of the adults seemed to care anyway; it was her bravery and intelligence that helped her survival.
I think the success of this movie lies in the skilfully plotted dialogue among the characters. They are simple and straightforward, nothing aggressive or poignant. The characters come to life without the help of any deliberate tear-jerking scene/dialogue, but their sufferings and emotions easily creep into the view's veins. When Baktay finally played along the "war game" forced upon her by other children (pretending to be dead by lying on the ground) after Abbas shouted "Die, and you will be free", the director's message, that there is no room for individualism, freedom and human integrity under the Taliban's regime, thus effortlessly delivered.
I was utterly moved by the brilliant performance of the two children who played Baktay and Abbas. I don't know how they could deliver such dazzling and faultless performance at such a young age, but whoever did the casting is a genius.
And salute to the mastermind who named the movie!