CHERNOBYL HEART

"CHERNOBYL HEART"(2003/USA)
Synopsis
This Academy Award-winning documentary takes a look at children born after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster who have been born with a deteriorated heart condition.

This documentary was filmed 8 years ago, but it was released in Japan this year.
Now, everywhere in Japan, the radiation-related documentaries are appearing one after another.
The tragedy in March 11th, was not only due to natural disasters. There is no sign of converging accident in Fukushima because of radioactivity. There are still many people who cannot go home. I am very sad for them.
Ordinary people like me, thought  nuclear power plants were safe untill the accident happened.
Since Japan is a poor country in terms of resources, nuclear power was a dream power supply especially for pepople in the past. As evidence, world-famous Japanese cartoon characters, DORAEMON and ASTRO BOY are powered by nuclear energy. They are heroes for children, but I think their bodies are dangerous.
Radioactivity from Fukushima Daiichi nucler power plant is spreading like a  infectious diseases and has no sign of convergence.
Many chidren with a deteriorated heart condition were born after Chermobyl nuclear plant disaster.　We should learn a lot of things from this movie. 

I want to introduce this short film to you. This was made by Japanese director,Yukihiro Shoda.
In the second half of this film, you will see a girl wearing a red dress and is looking Taro Okamoto's mural. his mural "The Myth of Tomorrow", depicts a human figure being hit by an atomic bomb.
It's only four minutes of this fiction video, but it is a very shocking prediction of the future for me. I also want to hear your impressions.

My rating:★★★★

SHINANAI KODOMO:ARAKAWA SHUSAKU (Children will not die)

"SHINANAI KODOMO:ARAKAWA SHUSAKU (Children will not die)"(2010/Japan)
His Life(excerpt from wikipedia)
Shusaku Arakawa (1936-2010) was a Japanese artist and architect.
Arakawa studied mathematics and medicine at the University of Tokyo, and art at the Musashino Art University. Initially he worked with printmaking, using abstract dada and Neo-dada styles. He had lived in New York since 1961.
Arakawa met his partner Madeline Gins in 1963. Together, they founded the Architectural Body Research Foundation. They designed and built residences (Reversible Destiny Lofts, Bioscleave House, Shidami Resource Recycling Model House) and parks (Site of Reversible Destiny-Yoro). They developed an original theory and practice of the relation of the human being to the exterior world, elaborated most extensively in their book, Architectural Body. Arakawa and Gins were, together and separately, the authors of several books and exhibition volumes, most recently Making Dying Illegal.

This movie is a documentary centered on interviews with the residents living in the apartment complex which Mr.Arakawa built in Mitaka, Tokyo. The apartment complex is called Reversible Destiny Lofts.
I have actually seen it once and I was very interested in what's going on inside the rooms.

This movie gave me the answer my question.
The floors are not flat, the ceilings are low enough to hit the heads of the residents, and the sound resonates in the irregular walls. Living in the apartment complex seems to be unconfortable. The residents should always be careful.
Mr. Arakawa said living in Reversible Destiny Lofts lead us to living our lives forever. We can survive against death.
I think the meaning is that using the senses such as touch, sight, and hearing stimulates the brain. (The residents use their senses very well because of the difference shapes of the room.) We die of brain death so, Mr.Arakawa thought we won't die if we will not be brain-dead. This is my interpretation.
The movie's director, Nobutaka Yamaoka, has lived this apartment ever since his child was born. He doesn't have his confidence in Mr.Arakawa's theory, but he certanly sees changes in his child.
This movie is difficult to understand, but if you are interested in residential architecture, this movie will help you to get new imagination. And if you are also intersted in Mr.Arakawa's theory, you will try to visit Reversible Destiny Lofts.

My rating:★★★

JUST A BEGINNING

“JUST A BEGINNING"(2010/France)
Synopsis
They're called Azouaou, Abderhamène, Louise, Shana, Kyria, and Yanis. They're between 3 and 4 years old when they begin to openly discuss together love, liberty, authority, difference, intelligence... During their first years of nursery school, these children, pupils of the Jacques Prévert de Le Méesur-Seine school, in a special education zone in Seine-et-Marne, have, with their teacher Pascaline, been part of an experiment with a philosophical purpose.
Several times per month, sitting in a circle around a candle lit by Pascaline, they learn to express themselves, listen to each other, and get to know and appreciate each other while thinking about subjects that are usually dealt with in the French education system in the final year of secondary school. During these special sessions, there are no good or bad pupils, just very young children capable of thinking for themselves, using their own words, full of spontaneity, good sense, and poetry. And they sometimes often demonstrate an incredible civic spirit.

 I could imagine the reaction of the kids before seeing the movie because I used to teach 3 to 5 year old kids, modeling clay dolls and building Lego block. I am always amazed at their creativity and imagination. They have no limits in expressing what they were thinking.
So I think this philosophical activity is successful not only in France but also in other countries. Of course trust is essential for parents and teachers. And in this movie, parents of the children studying philosophy are very cooperative to their teacher. They prepared and reviewed the lesson while talking to their kids at home.
In Japan parents blame the schools as being the one responsible for children's education nowadays. They are called “Monster Parents". I think it is nessesary to cooperate with each other to be successful in the children's education.
Anyway I really enjoyed the movie. The kids were so cute ! And I think I don't want to forget my purity such as kids (ha ha ha).

My rating:★★★

EXIT THROUTH THE GIFT SHOP

"EXIT THROUTH THE GIFT SHOP"(2010/U.K U.S)
Synopsis
This is the inside story of Street Art - a brutal and revealing account of what happens when fame, money and vandalism collide. Exit Through the Gift Shop follows an eccentric shop-keeper turned amateur film-maker as he attempts to capture many of the world's most infamous vandals on camera, only to have a British stencil artist named Banksy turn the camcorder back on its owner with wildly unexpected results.
One of the most provocative films about art ever made, Exit Through the Gift Shop is a fascinating study
of low-level criminality, comradeship and incompetence.
By turns shocking, hilarious and absurd, this is an enthralling modern-day fairytale... with bolt cutters.

You might think this film is a history of  Banksy but it's not.
It's a story about an eccentric guy-Tierry who turned not only a film-maker but also an artist !
I was interested in Banksy though and I was disappointed but in a good way. I think Tierry's fate is not a matter of chance but inevitable.
His works are recognized by art collectors thanks to the recommendation of  Banksy. I don't think Banksy is saying what he really thinks about Tierry's work because Tierry's work looks more of an imitation of other artists' work.
But as a result Tierry became a famous artist called MBW(Mister Brainwash) and his works are sold at high prices in the art market now.
Yes, it's a documentary film but I feel it's a comedy made by Banksy. It is more of a satire that deals with the trend of buying art just because the artist is famous.
Do you know the meaning of the movie title?  I read that the title is more of a scrutiny against museums who focus on selling items inside their gift shop rather than improving their exhibits. Making money after all may be far more important that's why you have to Exit Through The Gift Shop.

So far, this is my favorite movie for the year.

My Rating: ★★★★★