Movie Review: FRESH
-Rebecca Merino and Christine Betz
Fresh, a recent film directed by Boaz Yakin, features Sean Nelson as Fresh, a 12 year old boy struggling to survive in a drug infested inner city. In order to save money, Fresh runs crack, cocaine, and heroine for two powerful local drug lords. However, after witnessing his girlfriend senselessly shot down by the men he works for, Fresh takes it upon himself to put an end to this drug ring. Using chess strategies taught to him by his father played by Samuel L. Jackson, Fresh devices a plan to turn the drug lords against each other, enabling himself and his sister to escape from the projects.
The opening scenes of the movie show a once prospering city and its transgression into an overpopulated, vandalized, rundown ghetto. Through the eyes of Fresh, the viewer sees the everyday conditions an inner city child must endure. Strong images, such as two children shot on a playground, young girls in the street offering their bodies for crack, and dogs fighting to their death for entertainment help the viewer understand Fresh's desperation.
Fresh's daily routine consists of getting up before school to pick up and deliver drugs, usually making him late for school. After school he sells drugs in the street, spends time with his friends, and arrives home late. Although Fresh is hardened to the violence, harsh language, and dangers of his environment the viewer knows he is also a child interested in school, and improving his life. In Fresh's neighborhood drugs equal power.
Although this fast paced movie is packed with violence, and crime, signs of hope are still revealed. It is obvious that most of the characters have not chosen this destiny. Some such as the Aunt who fosters Fresh and eleven others, depict good people who are simply stuck in this atmosphere. In the resolution of this movie Fresh fights a winning battle against the odds, with the help of moral values from his distant father.
This film gives the viewer a better understanding of an environment many often look down upon, or ignore. Although the dialect and events in the movie may be foreign to many viewers, what would not be is the compassion felt for the hopelessness of the inevitable path the characters are forced to follow. Minorities found in inner cities are often blamed for the poor conditions in which they live. After watching this film viewers gain an understanding that these people are doing the best that they can in a situation beyond their control.
Book Review:EVERY MAN HEART LAY DOWN
-Marisa DeAngelis and Catherine Bach
The children's story Every Man Heart Lay Down writeen by Lorenz Graham and illustrated by Colleen Browning tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ in a unique way. It is told through the eyes of a young African by from Liberia. These Bible tales had been introduced to the Liberians through missionaries and eventually had been changed to fit the African culture. The story about the birth of Chrisst is simplified from our traditional story. The story is alos written in English, but it is the English of someone acquiring the language.
To the African story teller, stories become poems and songs. The words used in this book produce a simple rhythmic effect. This story would be excellent for older children to read because it shows all things can be interpreted differently. this lesson is also necessary for younger children to learn, but becasue of the dialect in the story it would be difficult for younger children to understand.
The illustraions compliment the writing because they also are simple and use color very effectively. The color increases until the birth of Jesus where the page is almost completely covered in color.
This story would help young people become aware of other's cultures. It would also show them every story is perceived differently because all people see things differently.
HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
-Cassandra Estepp
The United States Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. is a wonderful memorial dedicated to those who suffered and died in World War II.
I found the museum to be very interesting and educational. Each picture and silent filmstrip alone told a story. Many feelings ran through me that day as I walked through the museum and studied the faces of those murdered for Judaism. I felt sorry for those who died and suffered for no reason. I also felt hatred for those who created this terrible epidemic. The walk through the museum was a silent one for everyone there because the exhibits seemed to leave you speechless. It seemed as if everyone was mourning for the victims of the Holocaust.
There was one exhibit in which touched me. It was called Daniel's Story. This is one boy's story which showed how his life was turned upside down. This exhibit was more interesting to me because it was directed toward children. It included a hands on portion, as well as a black and white filmstrip of his life narrated in a young boy's voice. He takes one through his home in Germany, and explains how his life was destroyed because of people called Nazis. Daniel tells how his family was sent off to a ghetto to live. Then Daniel explains how his family was finally sent to the Concentration Camp, where his father and himself were separated from his mother and sister, Erica. Daniel later states that his sister and mother were killed. At the close of the exhibit the children are able to make cards and draw pictures for Daniel and his family.
As a future teacher I found this to be one of the most memorable exhibits and found the message in it could be learned by children. It conveys the horror of the Holocaust in a way children can understand.
I found that the Holocaust Museum was a lot larger than I had anticipated and did not allow myself enough time to experience all that I would have liked. I encourage everyone to visit the museum and spend some time experiencing, as close to reality, what took place in Germany during World War II.
To return to front page, click here...or to continue reading, go to next page.