Dillon & Friends is also a group of very strict film critics who abhor the fact that the film has been becoming a mere form of common entertainment than a work of fine art. We specifically focus on independent films, international films, and the very few American movies that are superb yet are struggling to gain recognition in the American market. The Cannes Film Festival is one of the world's oldest such festivals and presents the kind of films that Dillon & Friends cares about. The event highly outclasses other festivals such as the Academy Awards simply because the Cannes acknowledges a broader range of film than the Oscars. The Cannes is an international film festival, and in 2004, the Cannes hosted a very touching and inspiring film title Nobody Knows.
Nobody Knows is a relatively low-budget Japanese film that is based on a true story. The film tells the story of four children raised by their single mother in the town of Sugamo. Each child was fathered by a different man as the mother bounces from boyfriend to boyfriend. The children do not go to school, but live a happy life with their mother within their tiny apartment. One day, the mother runs away with her current boyfriend and completely abandons her children to fend off for themselves, leaving only 50,000 yen (about $350 at the time), and the oldest child, Akira, takes it upon himself to take care of his three siblings. The kids live under the radar, and no one is told of their abandonment for months. The film highlights the children's innocent longing for their mother, their fascination with the outside world, their worries over their desperate situation, and their determination to survive.
This movie is probably the most painful film ever made, "depicting the most defenseless of humans -- four young children, the oldest only twelve -- trapped in growing poverty and abandonment." This film is a modern day Greek tragedy and illustrates the destructiveness of selfishness and irresponsibility. The mother failed to adequately take care of her children and did not take responsibility for her frequent carnal maneuvers with different men, similar to how the girls of Salem did not take responsibility for their activities in the woods and accused many unfortunate women of witchcraft in order to avoid punishment.
Nobody Knows is a beautifully crafted film that has a profound impact on the conscious mind. The story teaches us the dangers of irresponsibility and recklessness in a way that strikes a chord of despair, yearning, and family.
I agree with you on films becoming productions for entertainment more than for displaying art. It is a shame, but that's how the American culture works. Americans thrive on the lives of celebrities, watching their every move. If celebrities stopped appearing in movies, or if movies were made as art rather than entertainment, the American people would get bored and the film industry would be ruined.
-JenniferDylan
I don't really care if a movie has "cultural meaning or significance" or if I learn anything from it. Movies are meant simply to entertain. They are part of the entertainment industry, not the "deep relevance to our daily lives" industry.
I agree with the social significance of film and would beg to disagree with Mr. Johnson once again. It is not just within the independent, educational films that lie a deeper meaning. I know that you have similar motives. For example, say you are watching Step Brothers. You may just be thinking about the entertainment value that it provides, but you are really watching it so that you can be in tune with your peers about the jokes they make about it. You would love to be able to bring up select quotes in your own conversation and use it as a spark for more social connection. As you can see, Mr. Johnson, there are deeper meanings to any film that you watch, any book that you read, or any blog that you respond to. As to the impact that a movie like Step Brother has upon your conscious mind, you may find yourself thinking like the actors or humming the tune to a certain song about sea-worthy vessels and women.
Nick, Nick, Nick. Why can't we just get along for once? I'll tell you why. Your opinion is always wrong and mine is always right.
Step Brothers is one of the best movies ever made. If you haven't seen it, I would strongly suggest watching it.
Amazing how many good movies are out there, yet we only know a few of them because there are a lot that aren't shown in this country...
While I believe that the film industry has transformed into one that largely only gives the audience what it wants (sex, violence, brainless comedy, etc.), I beg to differ with your statement that "film has been becoming a mere form of common entertainment than a work of fine art" and that "Hollywood is saturated with many shallow films that have no cultural meaning or significance." Yes, there are a few films that have little or no significant underlying message at all, which are meant *purely* for entertainment (I think Napoleon Dynamite is an appropriate example), but just because a movie has a ton of violence or not enough character dynamic doesn't mean that it should be automatically labeled as shallow or insignificant. Of course there are some movies that are "deeper" or less superficial than others, but every film has some significant message. Just look at the basic structure every film follows: introduction, conflict, and resolution. Every story has different ways of overcoming different conflicts, and I think even all those solutions themselves could be counted as profound points to any film. I agree that movies in general seem to be losing obvious depth, though. I enjoy thought-provoking movies, and the one you mentioned, Nobody Knows, sounds like a very good one! I'd really like to see it.