Eternal Spring (2022) Dances With Films 2022

 

“In China they will kill a thousand people just to get the right one”

Daxiong, comic illustrator and member of the  Falun Gong , recounts the story of the groups bold hijacking of the official state TV channel to broadcast a message counter to the official Chinese message that members of Falun Gong were dangerous terrorists. Horrific reprisals resulted where the government crushed and killed anyone they thought might have even been remotely part of the plan.

This  tale of a doomed plot to get the truth out is both heartbreaking and suspenseful. If you know anything about the Chinese government feelings toward Falun Gong you know that a lot of people are going to die. The group is their boogieman and they love to destroy its members in the most horrific ways. There have been numerous accounts of the criminal things they have done against the innocent people of the group and this is another. The suspense is there because you have to see how it was all done and how it played out. It’s a real version of the Star Wars Film Rogue One, but sadder, since the broadcast message didn’t change anything.

I was rocked.

What helps make this film work is the amazing animation. Designed by Daxiong, the animation adds so much to the tale. Not only does it allow events to be illustrated, it also results in a definite feel. We are in China at the turn of the millennium and not in the theater where we are seeing the film. Its beautifully done and gives the viewing a tactile quality that a straight live action recreation might not have ever achieved.

While the world is focused on the evils of Putin and Russia with their war in Ukraine, Eternal Spring is a reminder that China is probably worse and that we need to be very careful in our dealing with the Mainland government.

Highly recommended

Nasrin (2020) opens Friday

Portrait of Nasrin Sotoudeh an Iranian attorney who has been fighting for human rights, women's right, ad children's right for years despite she keeps getting thrown in jail for bucking the system.

NASRIN is deeply moving look at one woman who who striving to help the downtrodden people of Iran. Always willing to fight she is always trying to balance her numerous cases with raising her family. She is in many ways the better self we should all aspire to be.

What I love about the film is it is something more than just a portrait of Nasrin but there things as well. For example the film shows us this split in Iranian society with the ruling religious zealots at the top controlling everything and the rest of the people. Watching the people around Nasrin you get a sense of the the wide armed and welcoming people that reporter Ann Curry found when she went to interview Nasrin several years ago. You also get a look at the Iranian justice system which seems to be run by a bunch of guys terrified of losing control to women. The judges are clearly irked when Nasrin, a mere woman, comes before them. Lastly the film is a glorious love story between Nasrin and her husband Reza Khandan. Watching the two interact like young lovers will make you giddy.

Unfortunately the film is also a wake up call to keep Nasrin alive. She was recently found guilty of security related offenses and tssed in jail  where the sentence was said to be either 7 year or 10 years and 148 lashes plus another 36 years on other charges. Clearly the Iranians are afraid of the this feisty woman.

An excellent portrait of a woman and her time NASRIN is highly recommended.