A Calendar of Films: Part Two (2006)

To date, I have only had one truly life-changing film experience. Undoubtedly, cinema has offered me plenty of magical, moving, and memorable occasions the deposits of which have only burrowed deeper over time – but what I am speaking of is something that evokes a little more violence. You see, things were processing quite happily in one direction till I saw a particular film in 2006. The experience was so disruptive, so haunting, that it was difficult to ever think, feel, or act the same again.

Sometime early in the summer of 2006, my father told me he had been to a press event with the director of a new documentary on North Korea. Two DVDs were part of the press pack which my father brought home that day. I looked at them and because I didn’t know much about North Korea at the time, I didn’t given them much notice. Several days later, home alone, I decided to watch “Seoul Train” on little more than a whim.

It can be frustrating not to have one thing to care about deeply. I’ve had the privilege of meeting a few people who radiate this kind of singular passion. I both admire and envy this honed focus as I’ve never been able to distill my concerns in such a manner. Watching “Seoul Train,” and especially the ravenous interest it produced relative to all things North Korea (from the human rights situation to refugees), was the closest I have ever got to finding my one thing.

My subsequent “efforts” resulted in a compilation of original music especially created on behalf of the people of North Korea. It was a small but inspiring project, made possible by some talented friends and buttressed by the support of countless others. I dreamed about the possibility of giving the compilation to a North Korean refugee as a way of expressing solidarity and care. Little did I know that I would have the privilege of doing so within a year. And even littler (?) did I know that the first refugee I met would be the man whose story had featured so prominently in “Seoul Train.”

As you can imagine, my 2006 film list is a special one for me. It also features my first real foray (if you can call it that) into Indian cinema with Deepa Mehta’s excellent film “Fire.” 2006 was also the year that I saw my favourite documentary of all time (aside from “Seoul Train,” I suppose), “Without Memory.” It was a fantastic experience, magnified greatly by having Hirokazu Kore-eda (the director) present for the screening and getting to ask him a question in the subsequent Q&A. Last but not least, how could I forget the impeccable “Paradise Now” – the first Palestinian film I saw and underlying issues which could be a close second should I ever actually have a one thing (the oppression of the North Korean people at the hands of the political juggernaut of the state produces similar things in me to the oppression of the Palestinians at the hands of the juggernaut of the Israeli Occupation).

I dedicate this installment to Hirokazu Kore-eda for so compassionately portraying the human condition, and to the poor in spirit in India, Palestine, and North Korea – yours is the kingdom.

Film Title | Director | Date of Release | Country (or Primary Location)
* Entries in bold are personal favourites.

2 thoughts on “A Calendar of Films: Part Two (2006)”

Nick says:

January 30, 2013 at 9:10 am

Thanks for introducing me to Paradise Now. Loved it.

Wow, Borat was that long ago? Jeepers.

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A Calendar of Films: Part Two (2006)

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2 thoughts on “A Calendar of Films: Part Two (2006)”

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