Here are some of my all-favorite movies that has been politically, socially and religiously controversial in my country...reasons why it was (and still is) more interesting to watch :
Kama Sutra - A Tale of Love - It was Indian produced, English language film. Set in the 16th century India, the story revolves around two women. Tara (Sarita Choudhury), a noble princess, despite of her royal status and privilege is severely threatened with Maya (Indira Varma), a palace servant girl, for having inherent grace and sensuality. Oftenly humiliated in public; Maya gets even with Tara, by seducing her groom, Raj Singh (Naveen Andrews) on her wedding night. But when Maya's treachery is discovered, she is banished from the palace in shame. Forced to wander through the kingdom, she befriended and fell in love with the court sculptor, Jai, who inadvertently unites her with Rasa Devi, the famed teacher of the Kama Sutra. Maya now begins a journey in which she will learn the full lesson of this timeless text.
Brokeback Mountain - Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhal) meet while lining up for employment with local rancher. When they were dispatched to work as sheepherders up on the majestic Brokeback Mountain, they gravitate towards camaraderie then to a deeper intimacy. At summer's end, the two come down from Brokeback and part ways. Four years have passed, both of them are happy to have jobs, marriage and children. They meet up again and in just one moment it is clear that the passage of time has only strengthened the men's attachment. In the years that follow, Ennis and Jack struggle to keep their secret bond alive. They meet up several times annually. Even when they are apart, they face the eternal questions of fidelity, commitment, and trust. Ultimately, the one constant in their lives is a force of nature--love.
*This film was directed by the briliant Ang Lee. It's not your usual gay movie, it's dramatically poignant - the actors are straight men, highlighted their craft by immersing themselves into the characters.
Priest - A young, handsome and traditional Catholic priest, Father Greg Pilkington (Linus Roche), arrives in a small English town to replace an older priest. Doing his duty as a priest; lies, deception, secrets and politics, slowly unraveled. The parish priest, gives a sermon with severe politics...and sleeps with his girfriend in the rectory. While him, a closet gay, he picked up a guy at a bar and become his lover. Suddenly, his world turned upside down when his teenaged parishioner confessed incestuous relationship with her father. Torn to keep a tragic secret in the sanctity of confession, and to help to stop such abuse. He must choose between his faith and exposing the truth, along with his confrontation of his own hidden demons.
*This movie was banned by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, and yet did it didn't stop 2 cinemas from showing this film. Outrage from the various religious groups, particularly by the Catholic priests were issued. As for me, this was the first movie, that I have seen two males French-kissing! Not to mention explicit homosexual sex scenes. Funny, I wasn't even 18 when I watched this...Its seriously depressing subjects, explicit sexual content, dark cinematography and superb character portrayal made this movie highly contoversial. You get more than your money's worth!
A movie that tackled a social taboo and made 12-year-old Brooke Shields a star with this controversial examination of child prostitution in turn-of-the-century New Orleans. Violet (Shields) is the daughter of a prostitute (Susan Sarandon) who works at one of the brothels in New Orleans' legendary red-light district, Storyville. One day photographer Ernest Bellocq (Keith Carradine) arrives at the brothel to take photos of the prostitutes and becomes fascinated with Violet, who is fast approaching her 12th birthday and a subsequent initiation into prostitution. When her mother moves to St. Louis in search of marriage and respectability, Violet determines to marry the much older Bellocq.
*Frankly, when I watched this film it made my skin crawl. No gory stuff here, but it's the free-spirited portrayal of a 12-year-old Violet that made 40+ Samantha Jones so outdated and girlishly innocent. This movie definitely sealed Sheild's place in Hollywood, albeit to
child exploitation.
Priest - A young, handsome and traditional Catholic priest, Father Greg Pilkington (Linus Roche), arrives in a small English town to replace an older priest. Doing his duty as a priest; lies, deception, secrets and politics, slowly unraveled. The parish priest, gives a sermon with severe politics...and sleeps with his girfriend in the rectory. While him, a closet gay, he picked up a guy at a bar and become his lover. Suddenly, his world turned upside down when his teenaged parishioner confessed incestuous relationship with her father. Torn to keep a tragic secret in the sanctity of confession, and to help to stop such abuse. He must choose between his faith and exposing the truth, along with his confrontation of his own hidden demons.
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