Babel Take 2

Hey all! This is my post on the movie, "Babel". Babel is a really interesting movie that has a lot in common with another movie we watched, "Crash". Both addressed stereotypes, only in different ways. Where Crash sought to change the characters' perspectives on racial stereotypes through their forced encounters, Babel kind of enforced its characters’ pervading ideas on stereotypes! Everything I know to be characteristic of "Japanese" or "Mexican" or "American" and "Middle Eastern/Moroccan" 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 because she acted, apart from her deaf-mute complications, exactly in the manner presented to us 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 shown by the dirty wedding and status of the city we saw). As most people are aware, Americans don’t come off as 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 while simultaneously holding the bus full of scared tourists at bay. 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 and perceived lower intelligence. “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 worldwide media in the movie certainly lived up to their reputations, exerting their power to control the public’s impressions, framing them as terrorists.
At the same time, each situation, which took place in three different areas of the world, had irregularities. These irregularities intensified the movie as far as stereotying was concerned. Each scenario was effective because they pitted our preconceived images of stereotypes with situations we know happen but aren’t typical, and certainly don’t fit in with our schemas. For example, during Spring Break I had the opportunity to go to Japan for ten days. While there, I got a good sense of Japanese pop culture through my observations. In a land as industrialized, highly developed, and dependent on business communication as Japan, it is hard to imagine how life must be for a deaf-mute person. Chieko’s disability must, and is going to, make it hard for her to survive on her own. Although the streets of Japan are relatively devoid of human interaction, the teenage population is all about sounds--music, conversation, and communication are what separate the new Japanese generation with the old. To feel left out of most of society, with the knowledge that there is no way that you’re ever going to belong, must be very disheartening. In this example, when we think about the skills you need to survive, and then think about deaf-mute person like Chieko, the mind is stretched and your stereotypes are never the same again.
Another example of the movie’s mind-expanding situations is the point of view of Adriana Barraza, the Mexican maid who was living in America as an illegal immigrant. Most of us are ill-informed as to the situation with illegal immigrants, only that they come across the border, risking everything and ruining local U.S. economies with their hire-for-nothing mentalities. Adriana’s performance in showing us the thankless, yet dedicated, side of Mexican labor earned her a “Best Supporting Actress” nomination. The only thing separating her from a U.S. citizen was her citizenship status but, in terms of work ethic, it is arguable that she was more dedicated to her job than most people who are born into their citizenship. I found her story the most moving of all because it was such a stark contrast with what I had previously thought of illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants in the news don’t have faces, only a status, so it is hard to understand where they’re coming from. By presenting her story through her eyes, I realized that what we think of illegal immigrants is made by the few who stand out by committing heinous acts, like her nephew.
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 internally conflicted by the clash between their cultures and our pervading stereotypes. A quote from the “Babel” movie website (http://www.paramountvantage.com/babel/) confirmed my beliefs. About Rinko Kikuchi’s role as Chieko: “There is very little physicality to this role, the performance is all about her eyes and her ability to allow you to feel her suffering. [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu] relied on her to sustain the gravity of the story.” The actors in the movie pulled this concept off and proved that you don’t need words to bridge the gap between peoples.
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 culturally. Each scenario tackled problems in communication. Cheiko couldn’t convey her inner struggles associated with her mother’s death to greater society, the Mexican lady couldn’t convey her struggles and emotional attachments to people threatening her living situation. Brad found himself out of place and in a powerless position in a very dangerous place while politicians argued and the media contorted the magnitude of the accident. In addition, everywhere you looked, there were other communication struggles: interrogators and suspects, Chieko and her father/her friends, Brad and Cate Blanchett, the Mexican lady and her employers. When a movie like Babel focuses on our nonverbal communication, we get in touch with our sensitive, primal side--the side that cries because others are in pain, or feels like they completely understand a stranger from a single 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 Moroccan translator, offering him money in thanks. The translator refused the money and, through the flickering of their eyes, I understood the beauty of selflessness and genuine empathy. In that action, the reason he helped the Americans became clear. Through the time they spent together he connected with them on an emotional level--probably due to the fact that he had to repeat everything each to each party involved. The point is that money is in short supply in a third-world country like Morocco so it would have been totally understandable had the translator accepted a fee for his services. By pushing the money away, the man 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.