Well, it’s time again. Soon, the streets of Toronto will be buzzing about the latest films at the Toronto International Film Festival.<\/p>\n
Each year I try to go. Last year, I only had time to see two movies – a documentary and a martial arts film (Kung Fu Hustle<\/em> starred and directed by Stephen Chow). This year, Nathan and I bought 10 coupons in advance so we get to pick 5 movies to see and get advance tickets. I still have to pick my movies though. Somehow, Nathan and I will decide on which 5 to see. So far, I know we’re going to see Jackie Chan’s new flick, The Myth<\/em>, which is a move away from his usual slapstick comedic martial arts. That’s not to say that he won’t be doing some serious fighting, I’m sure we’re still going to see some amazing Jackie Chan moves.<\/p>\n Aside from Jackie Chan’s new movie, I still have to determine what other movies might be interesting. I need to go through the Programme Book and read through the film descriptions. As I’m not quite as fast a reader as Nathan, this will probably take me some time so I don’t expect to have picked my first draft of movies until later this afternoon or later tonight.<\/p>\n For those who have yet to experience the Film Festival, below is a review I wrote on the documentary I saw last year at the Festival – perhaps it might inspire people to check out the Festival this year (and the documentary, if it’s available). The movie was called Scared Sacred<\/em> and was directed by Velcrow Ripper. I originally posted this review on a previous message board I started and wanted to post it here. The message I discuss in the review is extremely relevent to this website<\/a> and in many ways has helped push me to get the website up.<\/p>\n \nSeptember 16, 2004 8:01 p.m.<\/p>\n Scared Sacred by Velcrow Ripper<\/p>\n “Breathe in suffering, breathe out compassion”<\/p>\n The above is a Buddhist philosophical concept, but in the documentary Each year, I go to the Toronto International Film Festival to The documentary is a summary of the travels of the director, Velcrow This sense of hope appears to Ripper and to the audience in various Along the way, some messages stay clear in my mind. First, is the In this world, for some it may seem there is no choice but to take Ultimately, someone will ask why I would watch such a movie. Maybe I must commend Velcrow Ripper for this documentary – not just for Hopefully, more people will see this documentary and hear the message. Hope you enjoyed the review. Got the message I hope.<\/p>\n
\nScared Sacred by Velcrow Ripper, it becomes a survival technique.<\/p>\n
\nexperience something different than what is normally dished out from
\nHollywood. This year, I was quite amazed by the documentary, Scared
\nSacred. Perhaps it is because it falls in line with a view I’ve held
\nthe past few years and each year that view grows stronger. The movie
\nsparks inside me the sense of urgency that the world is in danger, it
\nis suffering, and long in need of healing. Ripper seems to feel as I
\ndo that the time is now for US to make changes in the world, to take a
\nstand and say what needs to be said.<\/p>\n
\nRipper, in an attempt to find and encapsulate some sense of hope, if
\nit exists, for the world. Ripper does what not many individuals would
\ndare do – he visits various sites of disasters. In the darkest
\nshadow, perhaps we may find some sense of hope, a gleam in the
\ndarkness shining out for us to reach for, something to hold onto that
\nsays that perhaps there is an end to all the cruelty and suffering of
\nthis world.<\/p>\n
\nforms – from a doctor in Bhopal, India setting up a medical practice
\nfor survivors of the Union Carbide disaster; a musician in Afghanistan
\nfinally having the freedom to play again; an Afghani woman exiled in
\nPakistan fighting for women’s freedom, a young woman dressed as an
\nangel in New York City, and finally an Israeli father, who vows NOT to
\nseek revenge for the slaying of his 14-year-old daughter.<\/p>\n
\nartist in Bosnia, who is still living in the same apartment as that
\nday when the bombs first fell, who says that it is her work, her art
\nthat has helped her survive. It is in the mind, she states, where
\nfreedom lies. Later, toward the end, the Israeli father of the slain
\n14-year-old states that he has a choice in how to react to his
\ndaughter’s death. Does he go out and take revenge for her death as is
\nso common around him? Does this ease his pain? Or does he instead
\nfind compassion and continue to say his story and tell of his pain and
\ntherefore, hope that others will listen, not just hear, but listen and
\nunderstand? It’s obvious he has chosen the latter. The message here
\nis that ultimately true freedom is in our mind and in the choice of
\nhow to respond and react to a disaster, a crisis, a personal tragedy.<\/p>\n
\nrevenge, but yet there are some who still feel the freedom of making
\nthe choice. Is there something that makes these individuals stand out
\nfrom those who feel there is no choice? Perhaps. Perhaps there is
\nsomething that makes a person naturally resilient to tragedy and
\ndisaster. Perhaps only certain people are meant to carry the hope in
\nthe world. Perhaps only certain people are meant to understand what
\nit means to truly feel compassion.<\/p>\n
\njust like Ripper, I need to see if there is some hope in this world of
\nsuffering and cruelty. In some way, I’m still uncertain. Perhaps the
\nonly hope left is what is carried in my heart. But then again, Ripper
\ndid make this movie. His documentary has an important message to say.
\nSo I am not alone with this hope of mine.<\/p>\n
\nmaking it but for deciding to make it and visit those people and
\nplaces.<\/p>\n
\nAs Ripper said during the Q&A after the screening, there is a sense
\nof urgency in the world. I agree, the urgency is there. But also,
\nmore people are needed to respond to it. “…Breathe out compassion”
\nWe need it to survive.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n