Star Wars: Episode VII
- The Force Awakens is a revelation in many ways and a homage to the
original classic films A New Hope
(1977) and The Empire Strikes Back
(1980), but most importantly this film is in every way a classic in its own
right and the fans are relieved that, unlike the prequels, it lives up to the
staggering hype that has built up over the past three years.
The latest chapter in the Skywalker saga and the first film
under the Disney/Lucasfilm banner did not have the involvement of creator George
Lucas himself. The legendary franchise was sold to Disney back in 2012 and
plans for new chapters in the galaxy far, far away were immediately under way
based on Lucas’ unused story ideas and the Star
Wars expanded universe novels which are no longer considered canon but from
which ideas can still be mined for future films.
Thirty years have passed since we last saw our rebel heroes
battle against the Empire in Return of
the Jedi (1983) and a lot has happened in that time. The Force Awakens is like catching up with old friends you haven’t
seen in ages and finding out that things have not gone well and that they’ve
been through some rough times.
Luke Skywalker’s attempt to rebuild the Jedi order has
failed miserably due to one of his students being seduced by the Dark Side. In
the void left by the absence of new Jedi Knights and a self-exiled Luke
Skywalker, a new totalitarian regime called The First Order has risen up to
replace the Empire bent on destroying Leia Organa’s New Republic using a planet
annihilating weapon known as Starkiller Base under the rule of Supreme Leader
Snoke and his new apprentice Kylo Ren.
All the familiar iconic elements of the classic Star Wars films are here. A new trio of
reluctant young heroes is drawn into the galactic struggle forming strong bonds
as they take up the fight against the forces of evil. Rey (Daisy Ridley), a
young orphan scavenger living on the desert planet Jakku with survival
instincts and mysterious powers, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), an ace X-Wing
fighter pilot on a secret mission, and a new Stormtrooper recruit, Finn (John
Boyega), who decides after his first battle that The First Order is not the
side he wants to be on.
Star Wars was
always a family saga first and The Force
Awakens continues with a compelling story of dark family failings and
archetypal characters. Han and Leia have had a child who is strong with the
Force and trained by his uncle Luke to become a Jedi. But something has gone terribly
wrong with him and we find Han, Leia and Luke, consumed with regret, now flung
apart to the far reaches of the galaxy.
A Star Wars
hallmark is it’s grand visual spectacle and iconic concepts and technical
inventions; the lightsaber, Jedi Knights, the Death Star, aerial dogfights in
space, the Force, light speed, the Millennium Falcon, a galactic cantina for
alien creatures from around the galaxy, to name a few, all re-imagined tropes
from classic westerns and fairy tales brought together in one compelling adventure
with beloved archetypal characters.
Passed on to a new generation of filmmakers who grew up with
the Star Wars films, the franchise is
now in good hands with Kathleen Kennedy and skillful directors like J.J. Abrams
– Super 8 (2011). I felt that here is
someone that understands the appeal and the power of the original films. Here
is a director, who as a fan of the franchise himself, is able to successfully play
within the established Star Wars universe
and tap into the feeling and nostalgia that made the original films so magical.
There’s great chemistry between John Boyega’s Finn and Daisy
Ridley’s Rey as they navigate the classic hero’s journey and are taken on a
wild ride that’s as exhilarating to watch as the original films. John Williams
also reprises his classic musical score while creating new themes with wonderful
nostalgic effect.
The film ends on a satisfying emotional and somewhat melancholic
note but there’s a shaft of brightness piercing the darkness that gives hope
for the forces of good and the future of Star
Wars. The critical reviews have been overwhelmingly positive for The Force Awakens, with many even calling it one of the best films of the year.
JP
Rock ‘n’ Roll is the
ultimate expression of rebellion against oppression and this film reveals a
flourishing underground musical culture in Tunis that clashes head-on against
that society’s ultra conservative religious and cultural confines, exposing the
country’s repressive regime.
Part of a growing chorus of female voices against oppressive
religious authority, As I Open My Eyes
is a courageous and powerful new film from first time Tunisian director Leyla
Bouzid about a talented 18 year old girl, Farah who is the lead singer in an
underground political rock band, and her romance with one of her band mates
while struggling against social and cultural barriers during the summer of
2010, a few months before the actual Jasmine Revolution that would depose
Tunisia’s dictator.
Just graduated from high school, her family hopes their
daughter will continue her studies to become a doctor, but Farah has other
plans. She is also a passionate poet and writes lyrics for the band that
criticize her country’s ruling regime. Her band plays gigs in dingy late-night
bars that, in a Muslim country like Tunisia, only men can frequent. These are
not places or activities suitable for descent Muslim girls.
Farah’s parents cannot control their rebellious daughter and
anguish over the loss of her innocence if the state police steps in to intimidate
or take tougher disciplinary action. Women in these societies are objectified
and confined to sexual and domestic roles, but more and more outcries of
resistance are being heard from around the world through important films like
this.
We soon discover that despite Farah’s and the band’s talent,
they have no future as musicians in that country as long as the religious and
cultural restrictions exist there. But Farah will not give up that easily. She
is determined to defy the people who would silence her and continues to provoke
them despite the threats and warnings that the band receives.
Giving the film a fresh energy and urgency that engages us
fully in her predicament is the fiery performance of Baya Medhaffer as Farah
that is beautifully imbued with vigor and truth. She is the embodiment of unfulfilled
ambition and aspirations that are frustratingly kept from reaching their
potential.
We are witnessing the rise of a new generation of women struggling
to be heard in male dominated societies at great risk to their own lives. Like
many recent new films by Muslim female directors that are openly critical of their
country’s oppressive societies; Circumstance
(2011), Wadjda (2012), Dukhtar (2014) and Mustang (2015) to name a few, As
I Open My Eyes deals with the coming-of-age experiences that most girls in
the west take for granted but can be fatally risky in Islamic states.
As I Open My Eyes
celebrates with local Tunisian rock music the freedom longed for by its people
from an authoritarian repressive dictatorship that will eventually lead to the
start of the Arab spring revolutions.
JP
