Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward is one of my most favorite movies. Although it is a 2000 production, I did not hear of it until 2002 when my kids rented it for me to watch with them. They had already watch it earlier, and they knew that I would love it and that I would enjoy a good cry, especially during the last two hours of this two hours and three minutes movie (does that mean they think I am a drama queen??? ma 3alaina).

Although, as some of you already know, I am an established movie critic with two excellent reviews of two movies I've not watched yet, I will resist the urge to critique this movie (although I have actually watched this one at least four times) and I will concentrate on the idea behind it (based on a novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde).

For his social studies project which required coming up with an idea to make our world a better place, an 11-year old student suggests Paying it Forward. That is, for every kind act one receives, one should pay a kind act forward to three different people, and not pay it backward to the first person. Each of the three new recipients should do the same to three new people and so on.

Too Utopian? May be. But very doable. Why don't we all try it, even once in our lifetime.

Until Better Times

This is the best translation I could come up with for the title of an Egyptian movie currently playing in theaters (7een Maysara). Like Bamako, I did not watch the movie yet, but again I will not shy from writing about it. (this is turning into a habit)

I am writing this post to document my support for the movie & its director Khaled Yousef. The movie has come under attack from different individuals (even from the fellow Zamalkawi Amr Adeeb) for different reasons. I felt that I need to come to its defense because:

• The movie follows the lives of the occupants of what is known in Egypt as "Random ٍSlums". I salute Khaled for choosing this subject. It's about time that the Egyptian Cinema discusses the problems of around 12 million Egyptians living in those slums.
• The trailer which is shown over and over on TV clearly highlights the sensitive issues discussed in the movie. In the absence of a rating system in Egypt, everyone should be used by now to rate the movie from the trailer. No one can claim that they were surprised and offended by the issues discussed in the movie.
• I agree with the calls to rate this movie as only suitable for viewers above the age of 16, but this is the responsibility of the censor and not Khaled. Also, parents should take responsibility and not allow their kids to watch the movie if they think that it is not suitable for them.
• My husband, who actually watched the movie, told me that the sensitive issues discussed in the film were all depicted in a tactical and reserved way. (I am making an exception and am accepting my husband's evaluation of the movie even though I have earlier vowed never to trust his taste in movies because he loves the Limby movies)
• The film was attacked by Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence, Abdel-Sabour Shaheen who admitted that he did not actually watch the movie. (I guess he just watched the trailer or heard about it from someone else. I know I just did the same here, but that does not mean that he has the right to do so). This guy's memory must be worse than mine. A couple of years back, he faced a law suit for what he wrote about Adam and man's evolution. Dr Shaheen defense was based on freedom of speech as long as the basic fundamentals of religions are not touched. I believe this applies to the movie.
  
• Khaled Yousef was accused of being part of an American-Israeli conspiracy meant to ruin Egypt's reputation. I refuse all undocumented accusations. Besides, I tell whoever came up with this ridiculous accusation that it helps to know something about the people you attack before doing so. Khaled has been a leftist and an outspoken critic of Israel ever since he was born.
  

I guess this is more than enough. I wonder how long this post would have been, had I actually watched the movie??? I hope I am not disappointed when I do.

Bamako

Bamako is the capital of Mali. It is also the title of a 2007 movie I never heard of until my son mentioned it to me this morning. Fine, I also did not know that the capital of Mali was Bamako until he told me, but you should not hold this against me. I bet you did not know that either. Yeah right!

Back to the movie. Since I did not watch it yet, a detailed review by moi might not be a good idea. So I will temporary rely on the reviews in Rotten Tomatoes (a web site devoted to reviews, information, and news of movies, that my younger son told me about).

RT gives Bamako an impressive 84%, meaning it is certified as a Fresh Movie. Here are some reviews by movie critics to give you an idea about the story and the quality of the movie:

• Bamako puts nothing less than economic injustice on trial, arguing the guilt of the World Bank, the IMF, and the entire apparatus of First World economic domination for the crime of African oppression.
• For all its outrage, Bamako is not a work of righteousness. [Director] Sissako is a poet, and the filmmaking in this new picture is stuff of a deserving laureate. Sissako is thinking about the small but mounting consequences of big ideas.
• Credit [director] Sissako for entertainingly blending serious international issues with the daily comings and goings of village life.

Sounds like an entertaining movie that also touches on issues that should be of interest to Egyptians, especially with the subsidy rumors that have been floating around lately. Did I wet your appetite? Did you decide to watch it? It is available on DVD. Enjoy. Leave me a comment to tell me what you think (of the movie).

For more info go to:
Bamako the Movie Official Web Site
Rotten Tomatoes Review of Bamako

Disclaimers:

1. The movie is in French and Bambara with English subtitles
2. If you do not enjoy the movie, please contact RT.