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Inside Mecca (2003)
Moview review
A documentary movie by the National Geographic, Inside Mecca, directed in 2003, illustrate the story of the Hajj, the Holy pilgrimage to Mecca, which is one of the five obligations of every Muslim believer. The film is shown from the side of three different Muslim believers from different parts of the world: from preparation for the Hajj to its completion. To the positive aspect of the film can be included a detailed explanation of all the stages of the Hajj. The film tells you what type of clothes is required to be selected, what routes there are to Mecca, where to live and so on. In addition, it shows the significance of each stage of the Hajj, their historical and religious interpretations, meanings and importance. Consequently, the movie can be considered as the small preparation for the Hajj and see what is worth doing and what is not, what difficulties you will have to face. Personally, I am glad to see that the film showed the Hajj from all sides, illustrating both advantages and disadvantages, not as a religious film showing the greatness of one religion. For myself, I was left with a not very pleasant impression from the movie about the Hajj and seeing some of the disadvantages of the Holy pilgrimage pushed me to study the process even more. It is common knowledge that the Hajj is the commitment of every Muslim believer, traveling to the Holy Mecca and see the Kaaba, the house of God, in what direction Muslims pray 5 times every single day, for these true believers to see this place with their own eyes is magnificent, astonishing and breathtaking. However, despite the sanctity, pilgrimage is also a place of business, a place where money is made through the Muslims believers, a Holy place where people who position themselves as true believers, despite the rules and laws of Islam, can allow discrimination based on race, nation or material condition.
Hajj is for the rich. According to Islamic laws, only wealthy Muslims can go to the Hajj, which should not be financially difficult for them, and all other ways such as loans and debts are not considered as an acceptable. In every country where pilgrims go to Mecca, there are travel companies controlled by religious institutions, which is considered as significantly profitable. There is no single common price for all Muslims, because depending on the thickness of the purse, pilgrims can afford not only a pilgrimage, but almost a luxury trip. Upon arrival, in addition to the group depending on the country, the financial component also divides people into different subgroups: it is obvious that the rich will stay in the best luxury hotels, and others in tents. But even there, not everything is so smooth: referring to the film, the guide admits that they have different conditions depending on the payment and even have VIP pilgrims. They have the best conditions, a pleasant, cool and quiet atmosphere, with delicious food and so on. While others are left into overcrowded tents. In addition, near the place of pilgrimage unfold markets where sell all sorts of religious things and not only. This can be carpets for prayer, souvenirs with the symbols of the Kaaba or Mecca, and even parts of the wardrobe that even do not relate to religion: ordinary leather bags and clothes, which indicates an ideal time and place for business. Probably another costly event during the Hajj is the sacrificing. Each pilgrim has to make a sacrifice or join in groups of 7 people to make it cheaper. However, this number of sacrifices for 2-3 million each year certainly brings profits for the livestock business of the country.
Being a citizen of a country where there are not many pilgrims is relatively more difficult. Consequently, the heroine of the film from Texas has a harder period, because for the sake of faith in Islam, and later because of the pilgrimage, which led to conflicts in the family. According to Islamic law, only Muslims have the right to go to the Hajj, but the unawareness of some people makes itself felt: after all, the heroine often had to catch glances at herself, as well as stupid questions in the form of whether she is a Muslim or not. Khalil, a South African citizen, impressed me the most, as a positive and strong Muslim who truly believes in Islam, for whom the Hajj is probably the most important event in his entire life. However, even in such a Holy place and in a Holy time, racism was not canceled: Khalil had to leave the South African group because of racial discrimination, and in the future will join the black African group of Malawians. Probably, it is painful for a Muslim to be judged and treated according to the color of his skin, rather than for his faith, actions, and pure heart.
In the conclusion, it worth mentioning that the pilgrimage is the most important event for a Muslim, it is required by his religion. Pilgrimage, a kind of imitation of the actions of past Holy people: running of Abraham's wife searching for water between the hills of Safa and Marwa, and eventually drinking the sacred water of Zamzam, stoning the Devil like Abraham itself and walking around the Kaaba 7 times as the prophet Muhammad did it before. Seeing the most sacred places with your own eyes, visiting them, and performing one of the five duties certainly strengthen Muslims' spirit and faith. However, modern Hajj, looking at the film, I see more as a commercial project of Saudi Arabia, which dramatically increase its budget through the Hajj as through tourism each year. With site the two most Holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the house of God Kaaba, this country is able to exert pressure on all Islamic countries if wishes, forbidding the pilgrimage for the conflicting countries. Moreover, there is a universal difference between the poor and the rich: with having money, pilgrims can perform the Hajj without the same difficulties, be in a cool place when it is 50 degrees outside, eat the best food and live in the best room, have workers who will carry all your heavy things, and sometimes even you. After all, the Hajj, in addition to duty, is a test of strength and faith, when a person goes for the sake of faith suffers all difficulties, some travel on foot all the way to Mecca, which is now very rare. I am really sorry that I obtained more negative impressions during the really good documentary film, and that my entire review is focused on the criticism of the current pilgrimage.
Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World (2011)
Islamic Art
Comparingly with other two Abrahamic religions, Islam is relatively new. Because of religious wars, Islam spread very quickly around the world, and a little later, it already had a large territory of influence. Along with this, the art of Islam also developed and documentary film namely "The Islamic Art: Mirror of the invisible world" by Robert Gardner was recorded in 2011 about this. Although in the conquered countries Islam was the dominant religion, as the territory of influence increased, art object's styles began to vary from place to place. Through North Africa, the Muslims established a Caliphate in Spain, where the Moorish style was formed, in place of modern Iran and India, the Persian and Mughal styles were prevailed. After the capture of the Constantinople, the capital of Byzantium by Islamic Ottoman Empire, Islam as a religion progressively increased its impact. The former Roman and Byzantine styles prevailed in the Ottoman Empire itself.
Like the European lords, the Islamic rulers also competed with each other, and in addition to military power, art and architecture were also as the indicators of authority. In Islam, objects of art, from a small perfume box to enormous palaces and mosques, was tried to construct as magnificent as possible, making them grand and more beautiful, to illustrate the superiority over others. According to Islamic laws, it is forbidden to iconize Allah himself or the prophet Muhammad, since this will be considered as worshiping of icons and objects, rather than God and the prophet himself. Due to this reason, Muslims paid attention of illustrating magnificence of their religion by construction of astonishing art objects and their decoration.
Most of the buildings of Islamic culture, whether they were mosques or palaces, were a kind of indicator of Paradise on Earth, considered as the place that accepted in their religion as a real Paradise. Enormous mosques decorated with frescoes give beauty as in Paradise, green gardens full of flowers and fruits, fountains, sounds of the rustling water calms and slows down all the life around.
Calligraphy is the beginning of Islamic art. The Holy book of the Qur'an, sent to the Earth to the prophet Muhammad, is not only a set of laws and rules for Muslims, but it is also an object of art. Writing the Qur'an is an incredibly complex and time-consuming process that requires peace, faith, purity of soul and thoughts, because of this it can be compared to a kind of praying process. Even a person who does not understand the language and the meaning of words in Qur'an can totally feel all the greatness and beauty.
Mosques, which are established as the home of Allah in Islam, are probably considered as the holiest places on Earth where mere mortals pray, forget about the outside world's vanity, find peace and clean their soul. This means that the mosques should differ in their appearance and grandeur from other constructions. It should be clean, quiet, calm, spiritual and at the same time they are wonderful and magnificent.
Many mosques and palaces were heavily influenced by the location and local culture in their design and appearance. After the Cordova Caliphate was formed in Spain, the influence of Islam in Spain was at a high level. The Alhambra Palace was unusual and new for Muslims, as the influence of Spanish architecture played a role. This style is commonly called as Moorish and most of Arabic architecture in Spain was designed in this type of style.
The most unusual and completely different from the other mosques is the mosque of Djenne in West Africa. The local African culture and style has had its influence, consequently, at first glance it is tough to admit that Djenne is a mosque. However, for the local Muslim population, mosque of Djenne is a magnificent: 99 wooden columns symbolizing the 99 names of Allah adds only spirituality to this place. In addition, the mosque is completely was constructed using clay and wood, because of this, it is highly susceptible to destruction due to the weather and floods. Since, the mosque requires to be reconstructed at a continuous pace over some period, which can be characterized as the cyclicity, or infinity.
Islam as a religion played a huge influence on both the ordinary people and the great rulers. For example, the Great Sultan Suleiman of the Ottoman Empire ordered the architect Sinan to build the mosque Suleimani in honor of the Sultan, which as it turned out, strongly resembles the Hagia Sophia. The Taj Mahal, the mausoleum-mosque, which is probably the most famous structure in India, was built under the influence of the Persian style, as well as mainly under the influence of the Mughal style. Taj Mahal was constructed by Shah Jahan, as a tomb of his beloved wife. Another mosque, Isfahan's Sheik Lotfollah mosque built by Persian Shah Abbas, is truly masterpiece of Islamic Iranian architecture. It was constructed only for the private purpose and was allowed for the usage of only royal family, which only illustrates the role of Islam in ruling society.
Another legacy of Islamic art is carpet decoration and stitching. Europeans, because of the humid and cool climate, were forced to use tables and other furniture in order to be upper than cold ground, while in view of the warm weather in the Islamic countries people could afford just carpets. The most famous and highly valued type of carpet is Persian carpets. The high cost of such carpets is explained by expensive materials, uniqueness, beauty and painstaking manual work.
As a conclusion, it is worth mentioning that Islam established great impact on conquered territories with developing various types of art styles.
Andrey Rublyov (1966)
Rublyov
The film illustrates not only about the life of the famous icon painter, but more about the sorrow of a man, who went through all the suffering in the name of a goal, in the name of his faith. Despite the popularity of the artist, his biography remains mysterious, which gave almost limitless space for the imagination of the Producer. Before moving on to the personality of Andrey Rublyov himself, at the beginning it is worth noting the bravery of the Director: the film contains plenty scenes of nudity, illustration of the paganism with ceremonies, and in general, it was probably the first film about the Orthodox faith and religion in the censored and atheistic USSR. First of all, the film is sad, filled with pain and suffering, and this is not only the pain of the main character, it is the pain of the entire population, the pain of that time. Hunger, dirt, fear and the invasion of the Tatars do not allow the ordinary population to simply live as a human, it ruins also the souls of people who are greedily looking for peace. And the black and white footage only adds to the film only sorrow.
The main thesis of the film is that faith plays the most important role in people's lives: it leads people to success, to a good life, and those who do not have it continue to live in suffering.
Andrey Rublyov from immature man turns into a real thinker, trying to comprehend the tormenting questions of existence. He sees completely unpleasant people, sees that evil has spread around. He is disappointed, broken. He is concerned about what is happening to people. And besides, he has big internal problems. He understands that he cannot create because he does not believe in the sincerity of the people who come to pray, nor in his own sincerity. He cannot touch the sacred, because in his soul there is a struggle and a doubt.
At times, Andrey Rublyov is tormented by a choice: on the one hand, Church laws, on the other - social justice. He understands that the dumb fool is a sinner and violates the laws, but can she be punished? He saves her by committing a terrible crime - murder. Andrey makes his choice, he feels that he can't get away from people, get away from them. And this is a big step towards the true faith that he will find later.
Probably the most powerful, but at the same time the most understandable novel of the film is "the Bell". Boriska, in order not to be alone, in order not to starve to death without food, lies, mentioning that he knows the secret of casting the bell and began to work. However, what does he have in his soul and mind? Only faith and nothing more. The novel illustrates the power of the strong faith. Boriska has put his whole life on it: he constructs the bell, or he will be punished or die. When the bell is cast, when it rings, there is powerful moral, spiritual, and religious revolution takes place with both Andrey and Boriska. Boriska is crying and sobbing. He truly felt God. How could a young guy who didn't know anything about the art of bell casting made a perfect bell? He had laid down his life on one faith and gained far more than he could have imagined.
For Andrey, this is also moment of change in his soul and mind. He sees that the people who blaspheme and sin, now, at the sight of a miracle are in a wonderful, joy mood. Smiles on their faces, and joy fills their souls, and they remember what love is. Andrew understands that no matter how angry the people are, they must be believed in, because if a person like Andrew must believe in them. It is necessary to create for the benefit of people, for the happiness and joy of people, so that they feel love. Andrey understands that his vocation is icon painting. He must perform this moral, spiritual, and religious actions. "Here we go with you, Boriska. You cast the bell; I draw the icons".
Through the life of the main character Andrey, or Boriska, or even the entire population of Medieval Rus, it proves that faith played the most important role in their lives. "Art exists only because this world is poorly organized." With these words, the Producer tried to convey to viewers that artists (painters), similar to any other creators, work on their labor in order to bring at least a drop of beauty to this imperfect, filled with gray (like the movie itself) colors of the world. Art exists because people need hope and faith. The belief that not everything in this world is colored with gray. The confidence that one day everything in life, like the final picture, will spill out in color.
Martin Luther (1953)
Martin Luther
The movie illustrates the life of the well-known German theologist Martin Luther, from serving in Augustinian Church to finally becoming one of the most influential religious people in Europe. The movie was released in 1953, and consequently, it would be inappropriate to describe the cinematography level of the film. However, the film contains significant informative dialogues that fully demonstrates the tension in the world of Christianity in Europe at that time, and the music added by beating drums completed by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra increases the pressure in atmosphere. Considering about the biasness, the movie was recorded in association with Lutheran Church Productions, which demonstrates that the film cannot be considered as reliable source of information about the Christianity of Europe at that time. In addition to this, the movie determines the entire Roman Catholic Church as greedy and arrogant, illustrating them as those, who completely neglects their true faith of Jesus Christ. On contrary, main character was shown as the Robin Hood of the world of Christian religion, as a hero, an ordinary priest of the Church and a University Professor, who came out against Roman Catholicism, against the Pope and the Emperor himself, as a man who knows what true faith is, putting him on almost the same level with prophets. Although Martin Luther played a major role in the schism from Roman Catholicism, it was not only religion lead to separation, but also money, power and politics stayed behind.
Referring to the film, Martin Luther commences to lose faith in the Catholic Church after a trip to Rome. The story about sacred relics, such as the cross of St. Peter, one of the thirty silver crosses, or Pontius Pilate steps, that give the soul liberation for 17000, 14000 and 9 years in turn from the flames of hell torment lead to confuse in Luther's face. The main action of this part begins with the disorderly sale of indulgences by Pope Leo, granting the right of absolution from sins, in order to gain money for construction of the Saint Peter's Cathedral. Strong emotional pressure was shown from the preacher Johann Tetzel, who assured that only a couple of silver coins cost the salvation of your mother from the fires of hell, and even drunks did not need confession anymore, due to indulgence.
"You cannot buy the mercy of God" was claimed by Martin Luthor to ordinary crowd. Luther had written ninety-five theses, criticizing the dogmas of the Catholic Church, while for the rest, it was a problem that concerned more humanism than religion, meaning that with having money, sins are not terrible anymore. Probably, Luthor used the poverty of the main crowd as the weapon against the indulgence of Pope. Buying indulgence lead to the well-known eternal difference between rich and poor: after all, the rich could afford to sin and redeem themselves with money, while the poor do not have such a strong privilege. The poor citizens who have no money are more likely to follow the ideas and doctrines of Luther, who criticizes indulgences given by Pope Leo. Consequently, there is more financial situation and moral contradictions rather than proper aspects of religion stayed behind.
After publishing ninety-five theses, the Pope declares Martin Luther as a heretic and all the supporters of the Catholic Church become a threat to Luther. After the trial, the Emperor also declares that Luthor is under the Emperor's curse and that he is an outlaw: anyone has the right to hunt, capture or even kill him. But thanks to Duke Frederick of Saxony, Luther was "kidnapped" and was placed in a secure castle.
Eventually, many other Dukes, princes, noble lords and other high-ranking individuals began to support Martin Luther, which marked a separation in Christianity and in the structure of the Empire itself. However, can religion be considered as a merit in this? Did the lords support Martin Luther due to their strong faith and deep believe in his ideas?
The Pope of Rome had an unlimited power and his authority was advanced even than that of the Emperor himself. He decided the political situation in Catholic countries, and all the lords, including the Emperor were his subjects. The renunciation of Roman Catholicism indicated for the lords as a gain of relative freedom. Luther's idea to withdraw the Catholic Church's power in the German territories was ideal for the noble lords who sought to concentrate in their hands not only secular, but also spiritual power, as well as to obtain an appropriate rich monastic possessions since Luther strongly criticized the luxury in religion. As a result, it can be determined that most of the lords possibly supported Martin Luthor due to their own motives more willingly than because of religious believe in his doctrines.
In conclusion, we can express Martin Luther as the main initiator of the Reformation in Europe, who rejected Roman Catholic Church, which departed from the original Christian principles as a result of numerous layers. According to Max Weber, Martin Luthor's Lutheranism was not only the reason of Reformation, but also defined the birth of capitalism in Europe. There is no hesitation that Martin Luther had significantly strong influence from a religious perspective over Europe, nevertheless, separation from Roman Catholicism was caused not only because of religion, but other features in terms of money, gaining political power or moral contradictions.
Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom (2003)
Movie Review
The film shows us "Spring, summer, autumn, winter...and spring again" of a student who has experienced all the main human feelings, both high and vicious. The pupil will have to pass through all the trials and temptations to rise to the level of his teacher, so that when the time comes, he can take his place.
Sorting of collected medicinal herbs illustrates the entire film - the ability to distinguish. It seems that two herbs look the same, but one kills, and the other gives life and it is difficult to get confused about what is what. The goal of mature teacher is to make it the wisest way to explain to the student what is good and what is bad.
The film perfectly shows the cyclicity of life - samsara, and it is perfectly shown in comparison with the seasons. Spring will come, then summer, and so on, and in the end, spring will come again. No one has power to stop this cycle of life, just as the teacher is not able to prevent the mistakes of his student - everything has place and time to be.
Spring. The student, as befits all children, wants to know the world around them. The student is like spring, he is still immature and through mistakes learns this world. And fortunately, he has a strict, but kind and wise teacher, who will always point out a mistake and show the right way, although he will have to show it to his favorite student through a well-deserved kick. And one small but meaningful scene occurs when a boy, because of his childish mischief, plays with a fish, a frog, and a snake, tying them to a rock at the end. Noticing this, the wise teacher did not scold him for his mistake but showed him the pain and inconvenience he caused to the animals by tying a large stone to the pupil himself. The most important statement of the teacher in part spring: "if one of them dies, then you will wear a stone on your heart all your life". So, it happened: two animals died and looking at the loud cry, the boy realized his mistake and carried the punishment inside himself. The teacher wanted to show his immature student that every life in this world is important, whether it is the life of a fish, a frog, or a snake.
Summer. Like the summer, the student grew up, gained strength, and became a young man. Now he's smarter and stronger, and he's not that little boy who does not understand the life around him. However, his life changes dramatically when he meets a girl of his own age, who due to illness, came to his teacher. The student is relatively grown up, but he is still constantly discovering new things - it is common for him to make mistakes, previously it was to tie a stone to animals, and now it is to succumb to the temptation of a female body. During the film, love is shown as a drug, as a medicine for boring ordinary everyday life around, you should be able to refuse, but first you need to try it. The student is blinded by love and passion for the girl, now there is no place for teachings in his thoughts. On the day of the arrival of the girl, the student points out that it is prohibited to sit on the stone statue, but over time, finding feelings, he sets her on a stone statue by himself.
Autumn. There comes a cold, life begins to fade and with this, the teacher sees the news that the man violently killed his wife. In this murderer, the teacher sees his pupil. The disciple comes to the place where he was expected, the place where he is destined to be. The teacher immediately accepts his student, without unnecessary words of aggression or condemnation, because the disciple came here for wisdom, for answers that should muffle all the pain inside. The words of the Buddha are relevant here: you will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger. Student becomes incredibly determined and aggressive. His anger reaches a peak, the pain inside is so strong that it seems further he cannot live an ordinary life. Consequently, he tries to commit suicide, but was stopped by his beloved teacher, one who was always nearby and always ready to give a help. By cutting out the Sutra, student begins a long and painstaking journey to the lost inner balance. He went off with the police with complete humility to serve his sentence. Whether admitting defeat in the fact that he raised up an unworthy student, or vice versa, deciding that he finished all his business in this world, the teacher commits a suicide ritual.
Winter. The student returns to his home after serving his sentence and looking at the calm and humility in his actions, it can be understood that he has got rid of his inner suffering, and now, he is completely ready to replace gone teacher. An unknown woman leaves the child to the master, such a boy, which once was the teacher himself for a long time ago, and now everyone already understands what's what. Soon the winter will end, and the entire path must be traversed again.
...and Spring. As expected, the little child became a student, just like his teacher before, he is childish like his teacher, tortures animals, just like his teacher. Life has come to its beginning, already other people, but with one essence of action.
Life in the early spring and summer seems intended only for the sake of their own pleasure, the realization that this approach to life inevitably entails great suffering for the soul, sometimes comes too late, only in the fall. Autumn, as a period of personal maturity, brings with it spiritual torments, a re-evaluation of the past and gives a chance to prepare for the next round - winter, a complete life from the point of view of spirituality. Only after passing the full cycle of spiritual transformation, life passes to renewal-spring.