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The Subtle Art of Not Giving a #@%! (2023)
The uncomfortable truth
I see a lot of negative comments about this film (here and on amazon).
There are those who sum it up in a few of Mark's words, yet seem to ignore the other things that Mark also says.
There are those who say the message is obvious and nothing new to them, but seem to assume this makes it a bad film, instead of just not for them at this moment in their lives.
There are those who say 'Who are you to tell me this? Where do you get your information from? Where are your citations?' to which I say: the study of psychology is mostly just ideas and interpretations. When you cite someone else's work, all you're doing is citing their ideas and interpretations.
Mark has his own ideas and interpretations. He's sharing them with the world. You can do with them whatever you want. You can use them constructively. You can use them destructively. But it's up to you.
Mark doesn't owe you an explanation, he doesn't owe you a citation, he's just giving something that can help. You can take it or leave it. Apply it or discard it.
All in all I feel a lot of people focused on irrelevant details or completely missed the point of the film.
What is the point of the film you may ask?
Well, it's not for me to say, but I think that the more important things Mark talks about are uncomfortable truths. They are things most people don't want to accept about themselves because it means changing their long-held beliefs and making a very big mental effort.
It's easy to get caught up in a judgmental mode and put all sorts of barriers in one's mind to dismiss what Mark's saying. I believe this is because acknowledging what he says feels uncomfortable. And doing the things one needs to do in order to change feels uncomfortable. And we are masters at trying to avoid feeling this.
I do feel the title and cover kinda make you expect a step-by-step guide on how to live a care-free lifestyle. I don't think this is what Mark and the writers were going for, at least that's not what I take from it.
In a nutshell, what I take from it is this:
- To be happy you need to go through discomfort. It's a necessary part of being a happy person, however contradicting that may sound. Accept this, and pain will already be reduced. If you expect painless happiness, you'll be in pain the rest of your life.
- Superficiality sucks (and you know it). If you feel meaninglessness, create your own meaning. You make yourself with every thought and decision.
- Any problem is an opportunity to solve it and grow as a result.
- Anything you want in life is worth the effort and sacrifice.
- Bad things are a part of nature. Nature is fine. You will be fine.
- Focus on what's important, and the rest will follow.
Anyway, I hope this film reaches the masses, though I get a sense that it's being buried and won't get many views due to the production company's tight ownership... I hope I'm wrong.
The Binge (2020)
Why do people participate in a film like this?
I felt the urge to come here and say that this film perpetuates values that have been passed on from film to film over generations... like:
- a shallow concept of what makes you attractive/not attractive
- people using animals for their own amusement
- everyone being narcissistic
- people collectively supporting bullying
- superficial ideas for being remembered
- groups publicly shaming others
- teenagers acting like criminals
- taking drugs without caring about anything or anyone
- not caring about anything or anyone, period
- everyone acting like complete idiots (even the main characters)
- pushing stereotypes of masculinity/femininity
- pushing empty concepts about what's important in life
- showing class A depressants & stimulants in the same spirit as entheogens
- making everyone in the film use the one night where you can freely experiment with drugs to do all the things above instead of something for personal growth and building empathy
Yes, the relationship with the three kids grows, but I felt it was overshadowed by all the other stuff. And even their growth is by participating in all that other stuff, so...
Also, none of these situations are used to make a commentary, they are shown with total acceptance, in support of them. It's as if the film had an agenda behind it and everyone involved just wasn't conscious about what they were doing...
Also all the gags were in really bad taste... imo. The only part I thought was different were a couple of insightful lines by Eduardo Franco's character. They were totally random, which to me made them also the only funny bits in the film as well.
Maybe I'm exaggerating, maybe I just watched the film with the blurry lens of my current perception, but I just couldn't help feeling the film is one of those that doesn't really help society or the world in general. Not even to make you have a good time for 90 minutes or make you feel identified with a character. It just seemed like the whole purpose of the film was to perpetuate ideas and concepts that go against evolution, to dumb you down.
I'm not saying this was necessarily intentional, but I get the impression some people involved had an intention and the rest were just doing it for the money or for their careers, without consciously taking a step back and looking at the actual content of the film. Or maybe they did but chose to participate anyway. Maybe they had to in order to pay rent.
The Reality of Me (TROM) (2011)
The world NEEDS to see this...
When I discovered 'The Reality of Me' I was instantly fascinated by the depth and complexity of the presented information, and I became more and more enthralled as I watched each chapter. The most striking characteristic of this 14-hour documentary is not its length, but the way it makes the viewer reflect the topics discussed, it does not just throw ideas, concepts & wild theories at you, it simply shows you the world as it is, and most importantly explains WHY the world is the way it is.
TROM is about the environment, about how everything around you affects you, and primarily focuses on the monetary system, and the way in which your life, your ideas, values, emotions and relationships are affected by it.
For me, watching this documentary was a life-altering experience, I have not seen the world the same way since, and in a good way! It's made me meditate over the things that are important in life, why they are important, and even more it's made me want to grab people in the street and tell them 'you have to watch this!'
I don't know if it would work, but after watching TROM I've been invaded with the thought that if everyone watched and understood this documentary, most human problems would be solved...
Insectia (1999)
The Art of Insects
There are many subjects that a lot of people don't find attractive in life. Insects is an example. This documentary is beautifully orchestrated and will make you see insects in a different way. With thirteen 23-minute chapters each about a different area of insects it feels nice and complete. The photography and music are brilliant, and it is presented by a very likable Canadian entomologist with a funny accent but profound words.
To my opinion this is the one documentary to truly understand the nature and beauty of insects from every perspective; and if I have to be totally honest I would recommend this as essential viewing for both the people who love insects as for those who think they hate them.