Moolaade

 Moolaade is the best film I have ever watched in regards to expressing different cultures’ gender roles. I have always known that in some areas of the world men are still very dominant. The men that belong to the specific culture filmed in Moolaade are so set and firm with the belief that they hold all the power. The culture itself is extremely strict and close-minded. The men treat all women as if God placed us on Earth just merely to be of service to them. They act as if they hold no value for women, and I definitely did not notice any feeling of love or affection displayed.

Each woman has one husband; however, each man has 3 wives. I don’t even know if that is the appropriate word for these ladies because they are treated more like slaves. In America, a man has one wife, and if there has ever been an instance of a man having more than one woman in his life, it is likely to be kept secret! Why? Having more than one significant other is inappropriate in our culture, and even though it is pretty unfortunately common these days, cheating is also very looked down upon in society. Granted, we all have the right to our own beliefs and values, and some people are less concerned for their respect and appreciation towards women, but it isn’t even legal and never has been legal to have more than one spouse.

Another factor that contributes to the harsh culture in Moolaade is the fact that marriages are pre-arranged, men don’t even get to choose their wives. So, in possible but still very little defense for these men, how is a man supposed to value a woman when he doesn’t have to work for her? Women are presented like an object for them to have. It’s nothing like the dating scene we’re used to. People who share such a strict culture don’t have to the chance to get to experience different personalities that would normally teach them to appreciate different traits people possess. However, why would these men need to? The culture is so demanding that it doesn’t even allow anyone to be their own person. But, Moolaade has a special character, Colle, and she brings a lot of hope to her people.

In Senegal, Africa, the culture requires all young girls to go through a process called purification. It is highly desired by all men, and they will not marry a bilakord. A bilakord is a girl who has not been purified. So what exactly does it mean to “purify” someone? It is genital mutilation. A knife is used to completely cut off the clitoris, also to cut off the lips of the vagina and then basically sew the female genital area into nothing but a tight hole. It is very clear that this culture does not approve of women feeling any type of pleasure from a man, which just adds to my statement about women being treated like slaves. Obviously these men are selfish, and insecure. When you cut off the major source of pleasure, the clitoris, and sew the vagina into a small hole, you can be sure that intercourse is nothing but pure rape every time. Purification itself is extremely painful and sometimes results in death. In the film, Moolaade, 2 young girls kill themselves to escape purification.

Colle, a very lovable character, goes against the norm when she expresses her belief against purification. She keeps 4 girls with her in her home to defend them from purification. Moolaade means protection. Colle ties a string of yarn across her doorstep, and the law says that as long as the girls stay inside, no one can enter after them. Of course, her husband is extremely embarrassed of his wife and the fact that he cannot control her, and Colle endures a brutal public beating for these girls and the belief. At the end of the movie though, the women succeed in ending purification, and it is a really powerful and proud moment to watch.

Trainspotting

The first word that comes to my mind when I think about the film Trainspotting is “graphic.” The film was directed by Danny Boyle, and he brought out a lot of harsh truth behind the reality of drug-addicts for the world to see. On a personal note, I had a very short relationship with someone whom I later found out to be addicted to many drugs, including heroine (lucky me!), and this film really gave me a deeper understanding of his struggles that I could never relate to.

I found this film, in many instances, to be very dark. Even at the very beginning of the film, the main character and narrator, Renton, shoplifts so that he may be able to get some cash for his next hit. Heroin consumes addicts lives so much that obviously even a job seems out of the question. Trainspotting is set in Scotland, and the weather was pretty rainy and dreary most of the film. There is a very intense scene of shooting up in this film that I really wasn’t quite prepared for. The apartment that Renton and his friends go to do heroine is shady and dirty. It is also disturbing to notice a baby crawling around crying and unattended around all the drug use (clearly another reminder of how addicts put drugs before anything else in life). When I saw the needle and the actual act of shooting heroin, the actors did a great job of portraying the sincere eagerness for the drug and complete ultimate satisfaction it gave them once it entered their body that I actually felt bad for anyone who has any type of problem with addiction. However, Renton states, "People associate it with misery, desperation and death, which is not to be ignored. But what they forget is the pleasure of it, otherwise we wouldn't do it."

Trainspotting begins to lighten up a little as the film progresses. Renton’s friend Spud goes to an interview extremely high off speed and that gave everyone in the class a good laugh. There is also a scene where Renton and Spud go out clubbing, only to notice how long they have made heroin the center of their lives because they don’t even recognize hardly any new songs. At the end of the night both of the boys go home with a different girl and needless to say without going into any detail, the scenes did absolutely nothing for either of the characters’ sex appeal.

Renton is unsuccessful in his few attempts to quit his bad habit, and unfortunately, when Renton was on methadone he took his last hit and overdosed. The scene is very on point with illustrating what it may feel like to overdose. Renton begins to sink into the floor creating a unique illusion for the audience to watch, yet making it clear that he is beginning to drift and becoming completely out of touch with reality.

Renton survives his overdose and actually overcomes his addiction to heroine. He starts a new life in London but his old circle of friends persuade him to become involved in a huge drug deal. He ends up betraying all of them and taking the money for himself.

Renton stated early in the film, “Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday night. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin?” Even so, in his own kind of messed up way, I think Renton eventually chose life.