Films tell us a lot about a country |
Opinions might be divided over whether films show a lot about a country or not. Some people might think that themes containing inside the movie tell only a part of the nation due to a film director's limited choice of perspective. I, however, strongly agree with the idea that a country can be revealed through films in many aspects. The culture can be shown through scenes and people gain knowledge on history.
First and foremost, through diverse stories and scenes, the culture can be shown. Today, by numerous capable movie directors, overflowing movies express the life styles and cultural rituals through a well-developed storyline and attractive actors. Of course, movies do not reveal every thing about the country in all aspects. However, since the storyline consists of happenings at a particular theme, the culture is been notified. For example, I know some foreign friends who have never visited my country, Korea. They were somehow ignorant of what values were considered high in Korean society. However, it was not until they have watched one Korean movie that provided information on a male dominance society that allowed them be aware of Korean society. Because Korea has been an agricultural society where males go out for work on the field and females only stayed at home for house tasks, the male dominance in society have not been changed drastically yet in Korean culture. Therefore, when a movie showed how males get promoted faster than female, they realized how difficult and closed it is for female to stand out in society. If it not had been my friends watching movies, they would not have been known about this particular aspect in Korean society.
What is more, histories can be taught through films. Nowadays, in order to preserve the country's history visually and permanently, many directors are apt to make films on history based on its true story. True, histories can be distorted or leaned to one side only. However, history films can give historical backgound by presenting how the nation has been constructed or what wars it had gone through. In addition, the films can also reveal secret stories beyond the happenings or recollect the events in the past. Silmido, one of the popular Korean movies relating a political relationship between South Korea and North Korea is a case in point. The movie is about secret South Korean army soldiers preparing to fight against the North Korean government. Their main role was to kill Kim Il Sung, the former leader of North Korea. By watching this movie, the viewer will understand how unstable and and confused stage that South Korean government had to deal with the enemy, North Korean government. After all, they will realize that in the past, numerous tries of South Korean people trying to bring the North Korean government down has been taking place. Therefore, it is no wonder that films teaches history itself by the storyline that is based on a true story.
In conclusion, I agree with the idea that films repesent a lot of things about the country including its culture and history for the reasons I have mentioned above.
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