The film "Machuca" left me with deep sadness and shock. Shock because of how awful we as people can be to each other and sadness - this is part of our history and it will stay with us forever (like a large bleeding ulcer...this one for you fellow nurses:)). But one thing that I really liked in the movie was the friendship that Pedro and Gonzalos shared. Despite all the differences between them, they had a deep and pure connection, the connection that can only exist in purest of the times - their childhood. When the boys visit each other houses they are not disgusted or impressed with each other, they just take it in as just some differences between their lives with no regrets or comparisons. I believe that only as children we are able to see people and their intentions, not people and their surroundings where your evil train of thought starts..." does it mean he/she is better that me?" Pedro and Gonzales did not compare themselves; they just enjoyed each other's company despite their two different backgrounds. These backgrounds were quite different; they were polar opposite of each other. There was no middle class, just the rich and the poor, wiping out all the hope for these two backgrounds ever coming together to live in peace and harmony.
The message I was reminded about watching this film is that people exist as either leaders or followers. Nothing wrong with being either one, since to make this world balanced we need both. But we need to be careful who we let to be our leaders, since not everybody has good intentions and not everybody views the meaning of word " harmony" the same. When General Augusto Pinochet took over Chile, his military ruling ripped Pedro and Gonzalo's friendship apart, not leaving any hope of it ever reuniting just like the worlds of rich and poor people were pushed apart even further forgetting that they live in the same country.
I liked this movie, because it is a history piece reminding about our past. They say " time is the best teacher", so I have hope that the ones that are leaders will learn something for the future.
That is so true about the innocence and the ability for children to let go of their differences and celebrate what they have in common. At least most children, but parental influence was noted in this movie, especially at the meeting that the Priest had about why he was allowing the neighborhood children to enroll in the school.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great point you made about leaders and followers. So true, that being either is not wrong or right it is just our nature and it is important that we are allowed to follow our natural ability.
History and our past is important for our society to learn from. I just hope that we are able to do that in the future, we have not always done this in the past. The military regime must have been horrible to live under.
Gonzolo showed what people do when they are forced to, he told the soldier that he was not one of the poor, showing his clothing to him to save himself. I was saddened by this that Gonzolo was not strong enough to stand up against this attack on his friends. After witnessing the brutal beating and murder of his good friend, I believe that this was a natural reaction.
What a powerful movie. I liked this movie, for as disturbing as it was, it was also very powerful and thought provoking.
I love that you identified the innocence of their childhood. You're exactly right, this is where our innocence begins. It is awful that people can change and be influenced by the amount of money that they have.
ReplyDeleteThis is a piece of history. I am very saddened that children have had to live through such times. I am even more sad that this treatment continue in some parts the the world today.
Thank you so much for your blog. It made me think.
Innocent was the exact word I used to describe the relationship between Gonzalo and Pedro! I wish we could learn to live life through this sense of innocence and trust. To be able to trust and befreind a person without care of what they have, where they live, where they work. To not be like the bullies of this movie, and focus on what others don't have or do.
ReplyDeleteThe fear and terror that people live with in other countries is amazing. We absolutely have no idea how lucky we are to live in a country with freedom and liberty.
I don't agree with your statement about them not caring about being rich or being poor - at least for the beginning of the movie anyway. If you remember Perdo was not exactly "friendly" to Gonzola at first. He was somewhat leary of him I think because of his stature - that being rich. Pedro most likely felt threatened that first day being in unfamiliar setting. When Gonzalo helped Pedro deal with the bullies it was then that he earned Gonzalo's trust and it was then that stature didn't really matter. They were just "innocent" kids doing kid things.That is until Chiles government changed.
ReplyDeleteGreat comments!
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