Catpaw – diary of an angry cat

This is big news today? Toronto’s CN Tower is now dwarfed by a building in Dubai. The average Canadian doesn’t care. The newspapers sure seem to – this non event is being covered in all the papers and on the major news networks. To most Torontonians, the Tower is part of the landscape. Not really talked about, it’s just there. Does it really matter that it is no longer the tallest? In life’s scheme it doesn’t matter a bit. More important things are going on around us than some vanity status.

Just what does the CN Tower have to do with movie reviews on this beautiful fall day here in Toronto? Perspective. Here’s a snippet from the Toronto Star:

Toronto wakes up today with a bad case of tower envy. And it’s only going to get worse….CN Tower officials reacted coolly, … Toronto has a history of being second in everything…

More belly button gazing from people with nothing to worry about in their day to day lives. I suggest the feature writer of this silly drivel go see Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame by Iranian director Hana Makhmalbaf.

The film starts with a startling clip of the appalling destruction of the ancient Buddhist statues in Bamian, Afghanistan by the Taliban. The film takes place after the Taliban have been driven out, but their poisonous influence lingers.

This is an extraordinary film. The principal cast is made up of children, who are endearing and engaging. It starts innocently enough with a young girl, Baktay’s attempts to purchase a notebook and pencil so she can go to school to learn funny stories. When she manages to acquire her notebook, but no pencil (lipstick will do) off to school she goes. Unfortunately, she encounters local boys playing war – Taliban looking for blasphemers and heathens and American soldiers hunting for terrorists. It is from this point on the movie begins to reflects the harsh reality of life in Afghanistan. Attending school shouldn’t be so dangerous. But it is for many. It is impossible for an overwhelming number of children especially girls. The hatred reflected in the young boys’ faces was startling. I began to wonder if they were playing Taliban or were practising to join them.

Those that would support an all-out campaign against Iran should stop and watch this movie as well. The world isn’t as black and white as the great press would have us believe. Makhmalbaf has strongly condemned not just the Taliban but war and terrorism regardless of who is doing the shooting.

Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame stands out this year. I always hate to choose a ‘favourite’. Often there are vastly different reasons for enjoying films, favourite is a hard label to choose. But this one stands out. A keeper for sure. Hope it gets general release.

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