Hey all this is my post on the movie, "Babel"! Babel was a really interesting movie that had a lot in common with Crash. Both addressed stereotypes, only in different ways. Where Crash sought to change the characters' perspectives on racial stereotypes, Babel kind of enforced them! Everything I know to be characteristic of "Japanese" or "Mexican" or "American" and "Middle Eastern/Morroccan" was supported in the movie. The characters representing each ethnic group really didn't surprise me at all, in terms of their fashion, choice of language, or even their actions. My perception on "F.O.B.s" was confirmed in every action that Chieko made...she was SUCH a typical Japanese (the kind of Japanese we know, as projected by the media)! My idea of "Dirty Mexicans" (not to sound racist or anything) was confirmed in their unlawful actions, rash thinking, and menial social-economic status. As most people are aware, Americans aren't exactly the most considerate people--take Richard (Brad Pitt) for example. He demanded that the Embassy send help and that the police conduct an investigation to find the shooters. Although his actions may be attributed to the highly stressful situation, it still communicated the basic message that Americans can be jerks, especially when dealing with countries of lower social-economic status. Middle Easterners/People that look like Middle Easterners are in our news more than ever so it is quite impossible for anyone NOT to know what kind of tendencies they have. We associate them with terrorism and fanatical religious beliefs and, although Babel did not show these stereotypes, the media certainly framed them as terrorists.
Although I did see some connections as far as stereotypes are concerned, it was still very hard for me to understand the movie as a whole. Was the plot as simple as what I thought? I highly doubt that, but I'm not sure if watching the movie again and again will help me to figure stuff out. Because the film had a sparse amount of verbal interaction, I think the real language of the film was the emotions that the actors were able to convey to the audience. We felt hooked by their tears, torn by their distress, and conflicted by their cultures in the context of our personnal stereotypes. I think the movie was cleverly and accurately named in reference to the Biblical event in which God endowed different languages and cultures upon the people trying to build a tower to heaven. Ever since He did that, our world has faced challenges because of our inability to understand each other. When a movie, like Babel, focuses on our nonverbal communication, we get in touch of our sensitive, primal side--the side that cries because others are in pain, or feels like they understand a complete stranger with minimal interaction.
The one scene that stands out in my mind, because it almost brought me to tears, was the one in which Brad embraced the translator, offering him money. The translator refused the money and, through the flickering of their eyes, I understood the beauty of selflessness and genuine empathy. Money is in short supply in a third-world country like Morocco so it would have been totally understandable had the translator accepted the fee for his services. By pushing the money away, the actors gave us a refreshing look at what the world would be like if people were selfless and cared for one another. This kind of situation rarely happens nowadays because "money makes the world go 'round" and we look for rewards for our efforts, rather than acting out of caring. I appreciate those kinds of situations and I do wish that we could all be as generous as that man.
Movie Rating: ***** (five stars)
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