The Burmese Harp

The Burmese Harp (1956) dir. Kon Ichikawa

A beautiful film accompanied by haunting scores. One of the few films that gives me goosebumps on every viewing. A Japanese soldier stricken by the horrors of war refused to return to his platoon and return home to Japan. Instead, he chose to don the robes of a monk and remain in Burma to bury the dead and to give respite to their souls.

"As I climbed mountains and crossed streams, burying the bodies left in the grasses and streams, my heart was wracked with questions. Why must the world suffer such misery? Why must there be such inexplicable pain? As the days passed, I came to understand. I realized that, in the end, the answers were not for human beings to know, that our work is simply to ease the great suffering of the world. To have the courage to face suffering, senselessness and irrationality without fear, to find the strength to create peace by one's own example. I will undergo whatever training is necessary for this to become my unshakable conviction."

Mizushima

Been trying to get my hands on Kon Ichikawa's masterpiece, The Burmese Harp, for the longest of times. Of conscience-stricken Japanese soldier, the surrender of the Japanese and finding the solace of the Buddhist robes. Bought a copy of the Criterion collection for $60. A birthday treat I tell myself. It was made in 1956 and I tried to count the years my parents were born.

The Road to Saint Diego

 The Road to Saint Diego (2006) dir. Carlos Sorin

Argentinian films are an obscurity in this part of the world. Got this piece from HMV but a pity its diversity of films is dwindling, especially since it moved its flagship store out of Heerens and then City Link.

A wonderful road movie about the simplest of dreams. A most ordinary poor and unemployed Argentinian, Taiti, chanced upon the roots of a tree that resembles his footballing hero, Diego Maradona. When news that Maradona was terribly ill in the hospital, Taiti decides to embark on a journey from his obscure village to the capital with a mission to present the "wooden statue" to Maradona.

 

You follow a scrawny young man with the most sincere and innocent of eyes, dressed in a dirty and tattered Argentinian jersey and carrying a strange-looking load wrapped in black plastics. Hitchhiking and squeezing into packed buses. Holding onto a very simple dream.

An abrupt ending with Taiti holding on to a lottery due the next day. The "wooden statue" seems to have brought some luck to the people he meets, en route to Buenos Aires. Perhaps it will do the same to Taiti and perhaps to those who watches the film.

Sukhi Hontu

With my favourite Tiger nephews and my family. 27, lao le. Am I cosidered late-20s now?

Exactly 2 Years Ago

Was the submission of the thesis film. It reached a stage whereby I thought to myself, "Fuck this shit, just get it over and done with!" I had a lot of wild dreams, many next steps to make, too many things I want to do after university but in life you can only prioritize. I still hold on to these dreams tightly (except, perhaps, furthering my studies in academia).

The Sound of Silence

#179: Watchmen (2009) dir. Zack Snyder


Great way to start the film


The Sound of Silence haunting.

Haikou Express

March of the Volunteers

Hainan, China.

"起來！起來！起來！" this Dragon is rising. I've seen for myself how 2 decades can change a city and the fortunes of its people. One very important lesson I've learnt from the Chinese; if you are willing to work hard (and work smart), you will find success. 

Was away for a week at Hainan (or the Hawaii of the East), China's main tourism project. The Chinese are very hardworking and enterprising people but much room for improvement with regards to civility and manners, something even the locals acknowledge is a major problem. The Chinese government is doing something about it, at least from the various propaganda posters I've seen on the streets and even in the toilets. Fix these problems and other ethical issues in the society and the Dragon will finally mature and we will see a great civilization reborn. 

One of the hotels I've stayed is located beside an elementary school. The future belongs to these young Chinese.

Mangala Sutta

The Discourse on Blessings traditionally written on sala leaves. One of my favourite discourses by the Buddha.


"To have much learning, to be skillful in handicraft, well-trained in discipline, and to be of good speech — this is the greatest blessing."

Kantouku Banzai!

Glory to the Filmmaker! (2007) dir. Takeshi Kitano

Venice Film Fest awards "artist who has left an original mark on contemporary cinema" with the Glory to the Filmmaker award. Kitano being the first recipient in 2007.

It Takes 2 to Tango

Celebrated the 21st birthdays of two buddies. May all your endeavours be fruitful!

Housing

Housing in Singapore is expensive but still affordable. I graduated from university with little savings but still managed to purchase a 5-room BTO flat with my gf (and future wife). After deducting govt grants, down payments and etc, we have to pay about $380, 000 within 30 years, of which would be funded by our CPF monies. As long as both of us remain employed for the next 20 years (and assuming pessimistically that our salaries remain stagnant for the next 20 years), the loan will be paid off by our CPFs within 15 to 20 years. Compare that to young couples in major financial centers like HK, Tokyo, Taipei etc who cannot even afford to have their own apartments we definitely have it easier (though they have the hinterland to escape to and we only have Pulau Ubin).

Easy to be an armchair theorist on the Internet than to actually govern a small country.

Act of Valor

 DOP Shane Hurlburt

 With a 7D too!

Caught Act of Valor. Fantastic cinematography and action sequences. Some critics take issue with its storyline. I'm fine with it though. Like a very polished documentary with a tinge of realism. Proud to see how a film shot on the 5D Mk II (and 7D) will look like in celluloid and on the big screen (of course there was the use of 35mm film and some kind of HD camera). Small cameras but fluid and flexible camera movements.

And on a random noe, good thing about the new mall is the cinema anytime I want with a mere ten-minutes walk.