The Death of Mr. Lazarescu - Analysis

Lazarescu, a 63 year old man who drinks too much even after having ulcer surgery 14 years ago, still drinks. The film begin with how he futilely tries to call ambulance, complaining of head and belly aches. After medic finally came hours later, he begin a journey to find a hospital willing to treat him. If you want to be entertained, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu is not the film to see. If you want to see realism in its natural environment, The Death of Mr. Lazarescu is the film to see. If you want to see the quality of medical systems in less developed countries, sometime even comparable to the United State, then this is the film to see.

The style in The Death of Mr. Lazarescu does not represent global cinema, especially not Hollywood. There is no special effect. Many scenes are captured continuously with one take, and the camera is handheld evidence in how the frame shakes. Throughout the entire film, there are basically three different scenes: Lazarescu’s home, inside ambulance, and hospitals. The film is not a thriller, except for the fact that most scenes were at night and or done in low lighting. Some say it’s a comedy, but I wasn’t really laughing, but if you enjoy dark humor, you might find it hilarious.

If you haven’t fallen asleep after 30 minutes in, you may find that this film is noteworthy because of how real it portrays the situation an old man goes through as he seek medical attention from four hospital. It is shot using a handheld camera, maybe to create the effect of a documentary. As doctors see Lazarescu, they tend to berate him of his drinking than to provide medical service. In this aspect, this film is global in which it points out the flaws of many countries medical system, and how doctors should be mothers and fathers to their patient instead of just lecturer.

"Joint Security Area" a Story of Betrayal

"Joint Security Area" directed by Chan-wook Park Is set in the post world war II country of Korea. Since the WWII the country has been ravaged by a brutal civil war between the North (communist), and the South (Democratic). In the de-militarized zone, or joint security two Northern soldiers are killed by a Southern soldier. This sparks an investigation to be conducted by neutral nations. It is interesting that the director of this movie chose to open with a scene of the events that lead to the investigation. Most of the movie occurs in flashback from both the point of view of the Norhtern soldier and the Swiss officer investigating the matter. As the story continues we discover as the investigator does that there is more to the story than the depositions from the witnesses admit. As her investigation continues the viewer learns with the character, until at the end we know the truth. As the story is explained you also get a glimpse into the internal struggles of the soldiers. Their conflicting allegence to their country and also to their new found friends, whom are supposed to be the enemy. However loyal to their respective sides the soldiers never explain why they are so ferociously loyal. It almost seems that it is accepted by both sides that the other is evil, perpetuated by war their feelings rely on grudges and hatred rather than thought or reason. This is reflective of the sentiments of the Korean people. More men die in war and instead of resolving the problem intelligently with diplomacy they respond with hatred. It is a reoccuring cycle that was broken when these soldiers became friends and reinforned again when they died. In the end nothing is solved and the country is still on the brink of civil war.

Nine Queens and Plot Turns away from an Agatha Christie Novel

"Nine Queens" by Fabián Bielinsky, 2000, takes "Ocean's Eleven" mixed with Agatha Christie, adds its own original argentine twists, and delivers a uniquely surprising two hours of entertainment. More so than this, the film offers subtle and elegant commentary on the human ability to set aside morality for self interest. As we follow two tricksters, one novice and one teacher, we are taken through a series of ever changing events and plot developments that keep us questioning and guessing.
Some themes found in “Nine Queens” are the conflict of virtue and fortune, and the difference between honest and dishonest work. Carlos, the teacher, claims to be the best at his job because he has the backbone to do what he does. It is not enough to simply have the skill, he says, you must also have the gut. This Machiavellian virtue is contrasted by Juan, the novice, and his conscience. In one scene, Juan bets he can get a woman to willingly hand him her purse, after succeeding Carlos asks him how he did it. Juan claimed to have improvised, or in other words, relied on fortune to provide him with the circumstances that would best serve his skills. After this, Juan asks if Carlos would have taken the purse and left the woman stranded, to which Carlos returns that he is not a crook, and not a thief. He holds himself as different to everyday criminals of the streets, and yet does not count himself among the honest, such as his sister. And so Carlos is somewhere in between, and it is this ambiguity that feeds his self-assurance.
The energetic dialogue and stichomythic cinematography reinforce the quick and modern pace of the movie. With this very mobile plot, our assumptions and trust shift and turn with equal momentum. These ideas of mobility and distrust are a few of the constants that reveal the argentine veins in the film; they are familiar concepts to the nation’s history and politics.