Black, Latin American, Iranian, Silly and Crazy

How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company A story about Melvin VanPeebles’ life.  Melvin is a black filmmaker who was raised in the United States and then moved to France in order to make movies and write.  It is a great story about a man who is both well known and not at all known.  He is the kind of man that lives his life to his own specifications, doing what he wants while loving the people around him. 

South of the Border is an Oliver Stone movie about the leaders of many Latin American countries which have been demonized in the US media.  I am of course focused more on how Oliver Stone uses his interpreters; including waving them over and expecting them to interpret while they are walking along the road.  It’s interesting how this movie explores how the Latin American leaders have been vilified in the media and their people seem to want them there.  One of them said “Now, the leaders of Latin America look like their leaders.” 

Frontline: A Death in Tehran is the story of Neda, a woman who was killed in Iran during the protests following the election.  It is very sad to watch her die, and then to hear about the aftermath.  Her boyfriend was arrested and jailed because he spoke out against the Iranian regime after her death.  Iran’s politics are very sad. 

Up next, Picture Me following the life of a model as she tries to make it in the world of high fashion models.  She seems like a well put together and intelligent woman, who knows that this isn’t a lifetime job, but more of a thing she can do while she is young.  It’s interesting that in the beginning, she is so excited about an $80,000 check, and by the middle of the movie she gets an $112,000 check and it doesn’t feel exciting anymore. You can see that she starts feeling like she is the cash cow for her and her boyfriend. It is a movie that shows how modeling is a fun job, but like any job you aren’t really appreciated for your whole self, but mostly for your body.  Many of the models said over and over they felt like robots.  

Rank is a discussion of the Professional Bull Riding association.  I am having a hard time with this movie because I can’t watch people get stepped on.  The fame goes to the riders, but the “bull fighting clowns” are really more athletic and amazing.  They put their lives on the line over and over.  I will finish this later, because I am not going to be able to finish it today.