Traitor

USA 2008

Details traitor-themovie

Seen 14 June 2009

Traitor, deceiver, collaborator
Words in the negative
And the person himself
What triggered his actions?

Something in the past
Shaped the present man
His decision, his actions
Hurtling into unknown territory

Sacrifices has to be made
The other party would say to soothe his doubts
But at what price, with the innocents victims
Does the end always justify the means

Or is this is just a never ending circle.

Victim

UK 1961

Details imdb

Seen 7 June 2009

A progressive film for its times. The first time that the word 'homosexual' was spoken on screen and the film was also banned in the USA.
This is a story of a prominent lawyer's efforts to uncover who blackmailed his gay lover and others in the gay community. In the 1960s the homosexual act was still a crime punishable by law and many in that group were blackmailed. Those inclined to do acts against nature kept their secrets close to their hearts and tried to live as normal a life as possible. But even getting married does not alter the fact that your feelings and love is stronger for someone of the same gender.
That was the lawyer's predicament until he realised that giving in to the blackmail would never end the persecution faced by the gay community. He decides to spare no effort in finding the culprit even though he himself would be exposed to charges of homosexuality himself and jeopardise his career and marriage.
Listen carefully to the dialogue and you'll be amply rewarded.

Call if you need me

Malaysia 2009

Details imdb

Seen 6 June 2009

The movie begins with the arrival of Or Kia to the big city, joining his cousin Ah Soon who is one of the smaller leaders in the debt collection racket. They seem so ordinary, with the usual longings for love and affection. Ah Soon himself has a steady relationship with a girl that he intends to marry and build a life together. As Or Kia learns the ropes of the trade, we see how the gang works, collecting the money from debtors and protecting their small family. There is no violence per se, but the feeling of danger lurking is always there, enhanced by the omnipresent dark atmosphere.
There came a stage when the bond between the cousins is tested as Ah Soon finds himself not in the good books of those higher in the hierarchy. The dilemma haunts Or Kia until he had a talk with the local leader. Then and only then, did he make the final decision. Was it the right decision?

All ny failed attempts

Malaysia 2008

Details dahuangpictures

Seen 6 June 2009

There are seven short films altogether in this collection. According to the director, Tan Chui Mui, these are the results of her determination to produce one short film monthly. She was not pleased with all of them and one in particular might have turned out differently if she had directed it in another way. She acknowledged that she prefers full control over all aspects of the filming process and in particular the casting. Usually she will start from a script that she has written before translating that idea into film.
The collection does run the gamut of styles and genres but at the heart of it all is the portrayal of relationships, the ebbs and flows and the dynamics between people in different circumstances. The only exception would be a short documentary related to food. According to the director, that was her first attempt at making a documentary, and to me it still looked presentable.
The director might be accused of using the same style in terms of cinematography and art direction, but as she explained, the main constraint of film making is the budget. A bigger budget would enable her to experiment with more new techniques using the latest available in the market. That is quite a formidable hurdle to conquer.
At present, my role would still be to give as much support as possible to these non-mainstream directors as they present a different perspective of life.