City of God 11:56 am

I still wish to go there. Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

"City of God" is set in the public housing ghetto, City of God, of Rio. The irony of the title is evident from start to end of this film. Blood bath of feudal gang wars, spilling of innocent blood just to appease a young child's blood lust.

To most Singaporeans, this life seems a universe away; where being "hoodlum" was a profession; kids not only don't have 11pm curfew by law, but wield murderous guns; dead bodies lying on the streets. It was a stark reminder to me that this was no scene of a war; this was someone's WAY OF LIFE.

The film comes full circle, when the opening scene of an innocent chicken-chase of an escaping poultry is repeated close to the end. How apt that the movie calls it "The beginning of the end".

Despite the death of the biggest gangster, 'Lil Ze, at the end, I suspect the movie was highlighting the vicious cycle of violence and crime in the ghetto. With the fall of one bandit, will arise from its ashes a new reign of terror. How apt, therefore, the movie ending with a scene of a bunch of boys (I mean those around 7-12 yrs old) wielding guns that killed 'Lil Ze: the beginning of another end.

I thought the cinematography aptly captured all the emotions that the dialogue did not. In essence, of what that could not be justified in words was richly conveyed through the use of clever camera movement and manipulation.

It really left me with a sense of dread. That while I, we, are sitting cushy in our parents' diligence and prudence, while others a third of our age fend for their own survival, where even loving a pretty babe was a crime necessary of execution if the gangster had an inferiority complex.

True, it is an unfair comparison. We all are born into different lives and therefore adopt to varying circumstances accordingly. Yet, one cannot help but respect those who fought their way out of ghettos and earned themselves an education and a life they carved for themselves.

These men; in comparison to our friends who inherit Namly bungalows and own Porshes (only to stop every 50m at traffic lights) before 30.

Yet, in amidst all this violence, there is an eerie beauty about these people's situation, and the way they side-step these shitholes in their lot. Tragedy is an everyday affair, yet they live. I still wish to visit Brasil. Amen.

Uncle T

New Found Inspiration!!! 10:36 pm

Just found a new, nice, sexy way to play Coldplay's "Yellow". Enjoying it! I call it the "wala wala" style; edgy, progressive, sexy.

Yong on piano! :)

Uncle T

An Eyeball on The World 10:15 pm

I picked up some incisive points about the Middle-East crisis currently raging in Lebanon from an article by Prof Robert Page from Chicago.

Hezbollah's Nature and therefore...
Hezbollah is essentially neither a militia or political party, but rather evolved as a movement that resisted Israeli occupation of Lebanon in 1982. However, it today has become an umbrella body for numerous like-minded groups, religious and secular.

Despite its semblance of structure as an organisation, and therein can be "destroyed", Hezbollah's essential nature is a more far-reaching one; a movement of nationalism, a deep-rooted cause driven by higher emotions.

If Israel is acutely aware of this point, then the Zionist movement will know they are trodding down the wrong path. Very wrong. By aiming to annhiliate Hezbollah's missle launch-pads by military force, it in fact is counter productive as the scores of civilian fatalities only serve to enforce Hezbollah's status as a valid movement, and provides a platform for militia groups globally to step on and reinforce their cause.

I do believe Israel knows. But by the virtue of its national pride, and precarious artifically-created geographical location, it is difficult to put down its arms and come to the table for the diplomacy route. At the very least, it may take a series of symbolic victories in Lebanon before the Israelis would come to the table.


Uncle T

The Campaign To Confer The Public Service Star on JBJ 9:18 am

Nope. There was no need to profane a superfluous slew of Singlish in an attempt to accurately capture local sentiments. It took piercing, no-holds-barred insight, pithy analogies and penetrating satire to present a felicitous opinion of how some Singaporeans view ubiquitous red-tape and OB markers.

And there were only 2 actors.

You would have to watch it to decide if you'll agree with its propositions, but judging from the audience participation and response last night, it sure seemed the majority relished in Eleanor Wong's perspective.

Theatre's Rightful Place
What struck me from last night's play at the National Library, beyond the play's message, was theatre's role, if it even has one in Singapore, in civic society and society at large.

The way theatre has been presented to us since mainstream-schooldays, it is but a CCA and SYF-medal opportunity (thereby CCA points). Beyond that, it was for the lofty, the "creative", surely not as common place as mIRC or MSN Messenger.

But that was exactly what struck me; that theatre could be a very viable mainstream forum where ideas are exchanged, between cast, playwright and audience, and acts as a springboard for discussion after curtains fall.

In the play's synopsis, Ivan Heng's commentary suitably sums my muses: " Once in a while, a play comes along that reminds us about the necessity and role of theatre."

A partner, naturally
And what better way to appreciate such work with a well-dressed, smart, stage-experienced, critical and lovely partner? What better way to conclude a beautiful evening (albeit having to sidestep through the after-Parade crowd) by taking our after-thoughts of the play all the way to supper (and added kilos)?

I had Yong. Thank you.

Uncle T