GREAT MOVIE
Last night was Vietnam Night, doo. We ate Vietnamese food in the O.C. and then caught the 11pm showing of Journey From the Fall, the story of a Vietnamese family splitting up after the Vietnam War.
I believe anyone from an immigrant family MUST see this movie. Most immigrant families didn’t experience the extreme circumstances that war refugees from Southeast Asia did, but the film should be seen because it’s all about hope and sacrifice for something-anything-better for your family to survive, no matter what the cost. It’s something my spoiled Americanized ass needed to be reminded of.
As far as I know the movie is also the only visual representation of the Vietnamese refugee experience. I read refugee stories and statistics in Asian Am classes and got to hear students share their families’ accounts, but there’s nothing like witnessing an accurate depiction of it all. There’s certain images and scenes from the film that I won’t forget for a long long time.
It’ll probably be out of theaters by the time you read this, but jump on it if you get the chance to catch a screening or see it on DVD. Aside from all my every-Asian’s-moral-duty-to-watch-this mumbo jumbo, the movie itself is a fine piece of work. The acting, cinematography, and sequence of events are all impressive, and for an 11pm showing I wasn’t restless at all.
Another sports rant now……
Can a tribute go too far?
This Sunday marks the 60th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson becoming the first person of color to play major league baseball. Five teams and several players across the league (a total of 150 players) have chosen to wear Jackie’s #42 during their games to honor him. Now people are questioning if it’s too much. There’s a concern that since so many players are wearing the number, the decision to do so may be more about image than homage.
I think this is intriguing because when it comes to making social and political statements, the meaning can be lost when people may feel obligated to recognize or pay tribute to something. When everyone else is doing it, the decision might be just to cover your ass. Are black players who don’t wear #42 on Sunday ungrateful or not “black” enough? Do white players on the teams wearing #42 even care deep down inside? It’s sad if a social statement becomes a trend, but it seems unavoidable.
I think this happened a lot at UCLA. If you weren’t down with this cause or that, you weren’t Filipino enough, so you did it just to do it. And why’s Don Imus being fired, because CBS and NBC truly disagree with his remarks or because the media’s parading all the people who want him fired on TV? And would I have sported a LIVESTRONG band if it wasn’t on every celebrity’s wrist or cost more than a dollar?
Just a thought. I got no answers, but these questions definitely need to be asked. Much respect to those who choose to honor Jackie Robinson (a fellow Bruin, I might add) on Sunday for the right reasons, and just as much respect goes to those who won’t wear the number if they sincerely feel they don’t have the right to. Never stop questioning.