"Munich"

"An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind." - Gandhi

I spent the afternoon watching "Munich" at Lido tdy, which was a pretty refreshing and rare treat.

Try and catch it before it ends it's run in the cinemas. It's not often that a movie as powerful as this comes along. It's one of those films that really RESONATE. For me, it reminded me of "Schindler's List" (also by Spielberg)....which really scared me to death (how can humans be so cruel???), but I think it is a 'must-watch' because it really gives us valuable lessons from history.
[btw, i know some of you out there have still no idea what the 'Holocaust' is about. Honestly, it's appalling!! Pls go read up!]

"Munich" was incredibly intense, brutally harsh, and thought-provoking for me....in fact I was so disturbed after that, I was half-wondering how to go to class and teach.

Here's the basic plot: During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. In retaliation, the Israeli government recruits a group of Mossad agents to track down and execute those responsible for the attack.

"Munich" will challenge your idea of morality, humanity, cause you to question the thin line between justice and vengeance, and the cost of 'righteousness'. At the same time, it also interweaves themes such as the vicious cycle of unforgiveness, the idea/ reality of 'home' and exile (interestingly, which i researched for in my honours thesis), the sacredness of life, and the basic human need for safety and love.

After a while, the truth that really hit home, was that we are actually more alike in many ways than different. It's easy to point fingers and accuse the 'enemy'....but when we realize that we are mostly all driven by the same causes/ needs (eg. for our own 'land'/ home, for respect, recognition,out of self-defence, by insecurities, pride etc)...it can become dreadfully frightening. It's easier for us to 'cross the line' than we think. Hence, we must not forget the lessons from history.