Archives for February 2019

Loung Ung as a child

Trips to the theater. Late night swims at the local club’s pool. Maids who came and cleaned on a daily basis. Forced out of your home. Both of your parents and two of your siblings killed. Forced to train as a soldier. And regularly starved and often beaten. All by the tender age of ten. This was the reality for Loung Ung.

First They Killed My Father is a Cambodian-American biographical film directed by American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian,  Angelina Jolie. The film tells the story of the Cambodian genocide carried out by the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. This national tragedy resulted in the systematic death of over two million Cambodians, or twenty five percent of Cambodia’s population. First They Killed My Father is an adaptation from the memoir of Loung Ung, and is told from her point of view.

Loung Ung and other child soldiers learning how to use a gun

In this biographical film, Loung Ung is portrayed by Sareum Srey Moch. The young actress will leave viewers greatly impressed due to her talent. Although she is young, Srey Moch is a highly remarkable actress and is skilled enough to deliver an emotionally powerful performance throughout each scene of the film. Sareum Srey Moch embodied the child soldier in a way that will leave members of the audience speechless.

The most refreshing aspect about First They Killed My Father is how authentic the film is. Not only did Angelina Jolie both direct and produce the film, she creates a work that encompasses the very essence of what it was like to be a Cambodian during the Cambodian genocide. The film’s use of native speaking Cambodian actors and real life survivors of the Cambodian genocide was incredibly rhetorically effective.

Khmer Rouge forcing thousands of Cambodians out of their homes

There are many scenes in this film that show the direct execution of Cambodian men, women, and children. Therefore, this film is not recommended for any individual who is faint of heart. When soldiers of the Khmer Rouge are not directly killing off Cambodians, their land mines are; most of the land mines are set by child soldiers. The scattered body parts of thousands of Cambodians who find themselves caught right in the middle of a land mine when fleeing from gunfire may be challenging to watch for some viewers.

Although First They Killed My Father is a rather difficult film to watch, this biographical film is nothing short of a masterpiece and deserves a rating of five out of five stars. Director and producer, Angelina Jolie, did a magnificent job in her adaptation of Loung Ung’s memoir recounting the time she spent as a child soldier under the Khmer Rouge during the Cambodian genocide.

Loung Ung and other children training

Seizures and headaches and random outbursts. All of these unfortunate conditions were apart of Susannah Cahalan’s daily routine for much of her early adult years. The worst part for both Susannah Cahalan and her family and friends was that no doctor or medical specialist knew what was wrong with her.

American Director Gerard Barrett directed the American biographical film, Brain on Fire. The film details the life of Savannah Cahalan, an American journalist who lives with an immune deficiency disorder that results in the brain being attacked by the body. The Netflix film is inspired by Savannah Cahalan’s book, Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, detailing her unique experience.

While working her dream job as a journalist at the New York Post, Susannah Cahalan’s state of euphoria comes to a quick end. Savannah Cahalan is plagued with a wide array of mysterious medical conditions such as, change in behavior, seizures, terrible headaches, schizophrenic outbursts, psychosis, memory loss, and bipolar tantrums. The roller coaster of high highs and low lows not only adds an enormous amount of tension between Savannah Cahalan and her boss, but also causes a rift between her and her divorced parents.

In the film Susannah Cahalan is portrayed by Chloe Grace Moretz, a well known American actress. Chloe Grace Moretz did a wonderful job portraying Susannah Cahalan. The young American actress delivered an exceptionally emotional and authentic performance throughout the entire film. The ways in which she transitioned from being a calm mild mannered journalist, to a raging and terrified woman left me believing Chloe Grace Moretz herself was in fact schizophrenic.

Although Chloe Grace Moretz portrayed Susannah Cahalan phenomenally, her supporting cast members did not perform to her level. While the supporting actors and actresses did not ruin or completely weigh down the film, their performance left viewers believing their acting skills or talents were simply adequate and at time subpar; when compared to Chloe Grace Moretz.

Brain On Fire is a dramaticized biographical film that illustrates the story of Susannah Cahalan and her journey with, for many years unknown, illness. Individuals who are interested in films based on true events or people will enjoy this film. Other individuals who might want to view this film would be those who are interested in the medical field. There are a lot of tests being run on Savannah Cahalan throughout the entire film due to her unknown condition. She is in and out of many hospitals and treatment facilities. Because of this aspect of the film those who enjoy aspects of the medical field will deeply enjoy this film.

Due to the subpar acting by the supporting actors and actresses this movie would not be recommended to others. It is not inappropriate and would be rated PG-13 by the MPAA. However, the barely adequate performance by the majority of the cast members leaves the film as nothing much viewers would like to discuss once the film has concluded.

Imagine being detained, beaten, denied proper council, denied access to family visits, while slowly rotting away in a cell. This was the reality for Stefano Cucchi; this reality only lasted seven days due to an untimely death.

On My Skin is an Italian biographical drama directed by Italian director Alessio Cremonini. The film tells the true story of Stefano Cucchi, a 31 year old building surveyor who died while in police custody. Stefano Cucchi was a victim of police brutality after he was arrested on the evening of October 15, 2009 for possession of prescribed pills for his epilepsy, two grams of cocaine, and packs of hashish. While in police precautionary custody Stefano Cucchi was beaten by officers, denied access to his lawyer, as well as denied visits from his mother (Rita Cucchi), his father (Giovanni Cucchi), and his sister (Ilaria Cucchi). On October 22, 2009, just seven days after he was initially detained by Italian Carabinieri police officers, Stefano Cucchi died from the injuries of the beatings he sustained while in police custody.

In the film Stefano Cucchi is portrayed by Alessandro Borghi, an award winning Italian actor. Alessandro Borghi magnificently embodies the brutal torture endured by Stefano Cucchi. The Italian actor’s performance is mesmerizing and captures the transformation of Stefano Cucchi’s deteriorating health condition during his seven days in custody. Alessandro Borghi perfectly embodies a former heroin addict who has been sadistically beaten and slowly dies in a one week time frame. The supporting actors and actresses put on just as a remarkable performance as the main protagonist. As a whole the biographical drama had a plethora of talent. This talent blended well together to tell the story of one of the most well known and polarized cases of police brutality in Italian history.

What is most impressive about this film is how authentic and captivating the entire film is from start to finish. Director Alessio Cremonini created a masterpiece that encompasses the very essence of what it is like to be a victim of police brutality and to have your basic rights and liberties stripped away. The film took place inside Italian jails and courtrooms and included actors/actresses who were native Italian speakers. What was most rhetorically effective was the inclusion of real videos taken from the protests falling Stefano Cucchi’s death.

The main goal of the film was to bring to life the story of Stefano Cucchi to the world and not just keep his name in Italy. The final scenes and rolling credits of the film reveal that Stefano Cucchi was just one out of 176 detainees who died while in Italian Carabinieri police custody. Viewers of the film will be exposed to the atrocities that can and do take place once an individual is placed into police custody.

Stefano Cucchi’s sister demanding justice for the death of her brother

On My Skin is a biographical drama that tells the story of Stefano Cucchi’s final days “alive” while in police custody. The film’s use of brutally graphic and realistic scenes takes “based on a true story” to an entirely new level of both production and execution. Individuals who enjoy movies based on real life events and people will greatly enjoy this film. Others who are fascinated with criminal justice reform will also be interested and enjoy this film. Although the film has not yet been rated (NR) by the MPAA, due to the brutally graphic and violent scenes, as well as indecent/offensive language the film should be rated R.

The film as a whole was incredibly well put together. On My Skin is one that I will most definitely be rewatching and recommending to others.