Babel~Made me really sit down hard on my bumm and cry...you?

by Sparkplug 10 Replies latest social entertainment

  • Sparkplug
    Sparkplug
    In the remote sands of the Moroccan desert, a rifle shot rings out--detonating a chain of events that will link an American tourist couple’s frantic struggle to survive, two Moroccan boys involved in an accidental crime, a nanny illegally crossing into Mexico with two American children and a Japanese teen rebel whose father is sought by the police in Tokyo. Separated by clashing cultures and sprawling distances, each of these four disparate groups of people are nevertheless hurtling towards a shared destiny of isolation and grief. In the course of just a few days, they will each face the dizzying sensation of becoming profoundly lost--lost in the desert, lost to the world, lost to themselves--as they are pushed to the farthest edges of confusion and fear as well as to the very depths of connection and love.

    Upon watching this the other night, there was this scene in the movie that shows where the nannie has taken two children down to Mexico to her son's wedding. The scene is shot so beautifully and everything is so well done that I was moved to tears.

    See I lived 30 miles from the border of Mexico until I was arout 7 or 8 years old. we would go to weddings in Mexico and had friends there that had lives that were so different from ours, and yet so the same. They were so poor and we did not notice. We wre so poor. Well anyways in this scene there is music, dancing, romance and love and all of the kids are running around and the taste and emotions just jump through the screen at you. I truly was taken back there to my childhood and the music they play during the scene is so appropriate.

    Did any of you see this?

    While watching it I was reminded of going to Saragosa Mexico a few years back while in a bad marriage and I somehow just touched base with a part of me I had cut off. Closed my mind to and avoided. In this world of striving to do better and become more and change things, I forgot the beauty of having nothing. While there there was a magic in the air it seems and we all boded so close, my friends and I. I still cannot speak spanish and they cannot speak english, but I know when I have gotten to hear from them that they feel the same. (translator). I began to take potos and started to change my world the minute I got back from this trip. Including not sitting through being miserable in my marriage anymore. It was a turning point.

    Anyhow, in this scene, I could not have even described it better, you will see a lot of influences of my life, rolled into one wonderful scene. I just thought maybe I would share seeing it is now packaged up in this movie so well done. Called Babel. It is at the top of my list now and I think will remain there a long time.

    The reviews were mixed by the critics, but my vote is two thumbs up!

  • Who are you?
    Who are you?

    Sparkplug,

    It was a brilliant movie. Very powerful and moving. I don't want to give more away....but I'm right there with you. Absolutely amazed that such an intricate story could be told in a coherent and believable manner. Kudos to the director. It cut across cultures and cut right to humanity itself. I saw it in the theater and am planning to buy the DVD and watch it again. The japanese story got to me big time, as did Mexico. All three were riveting.

    Brilliant.

  • Sparkplug
    Sparkplug
    It cut across cultures and cut right to humanity itself.

    There you go! That may just be the key as to why I loved it so. I think the two young brothers neeed an award for their acting. Brad Pitt usually has such a Hollywood role, and in this, he stepped back and became a human and not a star. It was quite impressive. The dynamics between husband and wife were absolutely breathtaking and heartbreaking the same.

    I am glad you posted. I was starting to wonder if I was the only person who had watched this. Much less moved to tears.

    Decki

  • Who are you?
    Who are you?
    Brad Pitt usually has such a Hollywood role, and in this, he stepped back and became a human and not a star.

    Your right. There was not one weak performance from anyone in the whole movie. It was a directing and acting masterpiece. Not to overhype, but It really was. Both the Mexican caretaker and Japanese woman were nominated for Best Supporting Actresses.

  • Sparkplug
    Sparkplug
    Both the Mexican caretaker and Japanese woman were nominated for Best Supporting Actresses

    That is good to hear. Well deserved IMO. I do wonder about that one scene with the young boys. They must have had an older boy play as a younger one would you not think...with all the sexuality he was feeling. He needs to be nominated for something. lol

  • evita
    evita

    Hi Sparkplug

    I too was moved by the Mexican wedding scene. The nanny is such a touching character. All alone, yet surrounded by people. A little chance for romance and then an out of control situation. Heartbreaking. I think the actress should have won the Oscar for her performance.

    I also thought the movie was visually stunning. I tried to get my husband to see it in the theater so he could get the full impact. Many, many beautiful scenes and amazing acting.

    Eva

  • Sparkplug
    Sparkplug

    Eva, I was telling someone that weddings like that are the best and as a kid in the JW's I always thought that my wedding would be like that. Friends and family. Dancing and all of the best of everyone in your life surrounding you and wishing the best for you. Then as I got older I too painfully realized that nobody told me this only happened if you had family and if you were in good standing in the JW's. lol I ended up eloping and the romantic in me thought that was about the bees knees also.

    Not that I am a big promoter of marriage for myself, for others I am all for it, but truly although I say it would be the best even if no one is there to be with the one you love and you alone, as long as you have each other, that it is all right. On the flip side...there is a part of me that of me that still thinks having all of my loved ones there and dancing is still the best way to do it if I EVER were to do that again...even if it is dancing in the dirt without a penny to my name. That is just me. lol

    And yes she needs an Oscar. Maybe ten.

  • evita
    evita

    Sparkplug,

    Your reply brought up some sad memories for me. After I left the witnesses, my JW mother got remarried to a dub. Even though our relationship had been strained since I left, she called me many times to confide her newfound happiness. My sister and I were invited to the wedding. When we got there my mom was in the back room getting ready. We kissed and congratulated her and went out to be seated only to find out that we were not to be seated in the front with family and close friends, but were escorted to the very back as the hall had filled up by then. I was heartbroken. I think my mom felt bad. As she walked back down the aisle, she gave my sister and me a flower from her bouquet.

    I was married a couple of years later. I sent my mom an invitation but she did not respond or attend my wedding. It turned out that her dub hubby was a big control freak. That combined with my mother's fanaticism resulted in us not seeing each other for almost ten years. It completely broke our relationship and we never completely healed from it. As she was dying two years ago, she was crying and so sad about all the mistakes she had made. I just told her I loved her and knew she loved me. That was all we could do with the little time we had. I feel so cheated out of my relationship with my mom.

    Movies have a powerful ability to bring emotions to the surface, don't they?

  • Sparkplug
    Sparkplug
    As she was dying two years ago, she was crying and so sad about all the mistakes she had made. I just told her I loved her and knew she loved me. That was all we could do with the little time we had. I feel so cheated out of my relationship with my mom.

    Movies have a powerful ability to bring emotions to the surface, don't they?

    Aye, but they do have power at that. I am sorry for all of our loved ones here as they make new lives for themselves and each time I hear a story as yours I get a bit choked up and really pissed off. Not at the story, but at the way people are divided by this religion. Families. I still hold firm that this should be the tightest bond. My new family I have made and the ones I bring in make life and love all the more sweet because we are all aware of how much it means.

    I am sorry that you lost your mom, and I am happy too that you had a few moments to have at least those few moments and to know whe thought about you and happenings. I am sorry too if this post brought up painful memories. I am happy a bit to see that for some there is a chance for a wee bit of mending. that is a good thing as small as it may seem.

    Lots of Love,

    Decki

  • evita
    evita

    Sparkplug,

    I didn't mean to turn this into a thread about me. Guess I just needed to vent.
    Anyway, thanks for listening and for your kind comments.
    By the way, I just saw another good movie called The Namesake. Not quite as spectacular as Babel, but very good in it's own quiet way.

    Hugs, Eva

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