The two films chosen in regard to the movie review information are ‘Cry Freedom’ and ‘Come See the Paradise’. Both the films are truly exhibiting the problems of racialism that have been traumatizing societies in several parts of the world, in gross violation of human rights and dignity. The simple issue and question confronting the viewer of both these films is why should human beings discriminate on the basis of racial origin and place of birth when there is nothing concrete in pursuing such policies of discrimination against virtually innocent people. Cry Freedom deals with the issue of apartheid in South Africa in portraying the efforts made by Black Leader Steve Biko for the cause of the blacks while the apartheid was in full bloom in the late 1960s. Biko had founded the Black Consciousness Movement in 1969 after giving up his medical training to take up the cause for the struggle for the emancipation of the blacks in South Africa. He became very popular amongst the blacks and is portrayed as a charismatic leader on the same strengths as that of Martin Luther King. The film is tilted in showing a plot that is more relevant for white audiences especially in view of the stronger portrayal of Donald Woods who is a journalist with a goal to establish an objective and truthful press in bringing forth the atrocities of apartheid. Cry Freedom is actually the story of how Woods’ is influenced by the philosophy of Biko and how he helps for the cause of the black movement until he had to eventually flee from the country disguised as a priest in the face of his role in exposing the inhuman manner in which Biko was killed due to torture in police custody. The film is a saga of the tragedy of mankind whereby one race exploits the minority in going to any extent to establish and maintain its supremacy.
An almost similar plot is revealed in the film ‘Come See the Paradise’, which depicts the sorry state of affairs experienced by the minority Japanese community in California during the World War II, thus providing another glaring example as that of apartheid in South Africa. The plot of the film reveals the story of a young man named Jack McGurn who had relocated to Los Angeles and started working for one Hiroshi Kawamura, a Japanese settled in the city for several years. Jack soon fell in love with Hiroshi’s daughter and both decided to get married despite the disapproval from the girl’s father. Since mixed race marriages were not permitted in California they moved on to Seattle and got married there. But the marriage turns sour and the girl shifted back to Los Angeles with their newly born child and soon after that America joined World War II. This development had a negative impact on the Japanese community in California and they were all made to live in internment camps on the outskirts of the city in virtually inhuman conditions, in view of the belief that they may prove to be detrimental to American interests due to Japan being on the opposite side in the war. Meanwhile Jack had joined the army and comes back to Los Angeles where he searches for his wife and daughter in the internment camps. The film is a typical example of a much ignored shameful aspect of World War II, but there is a deeper meaning conveyed by way of compelling the viewer in thinking about what could be the logic behind discrimination and exploitation of one race of people at the hands of another and why a solution cannot be found to such problems. The film has taken up such issues as also that of the government’s hand in suppressing organized labor, in addressing critically the disgraceful moments in the history of America.
Both films have delved into soul stirring issues of apartheid and racialism and have virtually condemned the practices as portrayed in them. The films have placed a true picture before the audience of true stories that stir the soul into forming a sorry opinion about the governments in the two countries for practicing and sponsoring racism and apartheid respectively. One is compelled to feel the remorse and hurt from the point of view of the characters in the films and surely all those who view the film will become opponents of racialism and apartheid.
References
- CARYN JAMES, Come See the Paradise. Web.
- Cry Freedom: Charting the Struggle, 2001. Web.