White Elephant (Elefante Blanco)
The movie surrounds two priests working in the slums of Buenos Aires, where they are plagued with neighborhood violence, drugs and the police, and government and clerical bureaucracy. Through their struggles they stay loyal and continue fighting to improve the lives of the people in their community.
Even though the story was about the constant disappointment, false hopes, and violence faced by the priests, I was in awe of its beauty. The colorful culture and rich history add such a depth to the story. Also the determination and collectiveness of the priest really make you wish the best for their efforts. However, every one of their actions seem to bring on another horrible event. For this reason, I very much love this movie. The idea that a person's good actions are not aways rewarded with good is unlike most stories. It is a reminder that good does not deserve good in return. What is good, is how you choose to act in the face of adversity. In an early scene, one of the priests is confiding in the other, very disturbed over witnessing the murder of an entire village. He cried wishing he was there to die with them. The other priest said him that it is easy to become a martyr and die but it was his job to stay alive. In other words, dying is easy, what is hard is to live a good life while suffer again and again.
Twice Born
This movie was three movies packed into one with about five opportunities to end. In brief, Twice Born is a story of two people that fall in love during the Bosnia war and desperately try to have a baby. Their pursuit ultimately destroys their relationship and the world they knew.
Normally a jam-packed movie with multiple ending points would be extremely frustrating. Somehow through the great writing and directing, the stunning shots are too exquisite to turn away from and every twist keeps you emotionally invested. The story first follows the love of Penelope Cruse and Emile Hirsche's characters, Gemma and Diego, which is the kind of love people dream. A few years after their marriage the Bosina war began. Bosina, Gemma, and Diego reflect one other as they individually loose their innocence. The war destroy's Bosnia along with wiping out the purity of it's citizens. Gemma's idea of true love is gutted by her pursuit of having a child. Diego's past is riddled with fearful experiences that he had been able to cover with a beautiful imagination and eventually drugs. He later experiences the rape of a women so horrible that he can not return to his happy state. In each way they are all broken down and everything that is good is destroyed.
Ginger and Rosa
Ginger and Rosa is a simple plot. Two girls born on the same day, in the same area become best friends in 1960's London. They grow up and experiences life life together. Ginger becomes involved protesting the Cold War while Rose becomes romantically involved with Ginger's father.
It is an emotionally stirring movie with quite a sad ending. Of course it is visually striking with lovely scenes. I'm not quite sure why I loved it as much as I did because it was overall quite upsetting. Even through the selfishness of Ginger's father and best friend, she still tries to win their acceptance. It is hard and relatable to watch someone reach out again and again to be acknowledged, only to be overlooked by blind selfish acts.
So when you are ever in need of a stunning film and also a good cry there are my suggestions. Enjoy with a box of tissues!
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