Zeitgeist and ‘Three Billboards’
My favorite nominee for “Best Picture” award at the 90th Academy Awards was “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”
Its screenplay is among the most interesting and impressive ones I have seen in recent years. I was impressed because it boldly presents the climate of polarization, prejudice, anger and hate against others who are deemed different than you, a phenomenon observed widely in the world and Turkey. But besides that, it shows there are chances to solve these problems in a convincing way.
“Three Billboards” is a drama film with a script that covers tough matters such as rape, murder, arson and torture. But it is almost a dark comedy with human frailties, love affairs and high-quality humor. It’s a film on rage, hatred, racism and prejudice against “others” as well as aggressiveness and violence. On the other hand, it is a film on forgiveness, understanding, hope for change, love, friendship, making peace and not losing faith in humanity.
Ignorance, prejudice, homophobia, belittling, bias, aggressiveness and uselessness, all of which are male characteristics carried and spread by many politicians across the world, are traits of the character “Dixon” in the film. Sam Rockwell, acting as Dixon, won the “Best Supporting Actor” award.
Dixon, the insecure and bad guy in the film that you wish nothing but to see him vanished, eventually starts learning. He decides to do something good. He decides to change himself, love and forgive “others” and wants to be forgiven.
It may sound like a didactic story, but it is screened in a convincing, fascinating and entertaining way. Believe me, it gives some hope about living together with people like Dixon, whom many of us have already given up on.
I strongly recommend you to watch it. To me, it is not just the best film of the year, but the best film of recent times.
Women smashing glass ceilings
I salute all women who have upended fields which have for so long been known to belong to men, by pioneering, innovating and breaking new grounds.
As a person who has faced little hardships and some obstacles not worth mentioning, I would like to say a few words in the light of these.
They will tell you that you cannot do it. They will show contempt to you. They will behave cynically towards you. They will laugh the first time you stumble. They will treat you like your output is rubbish.
Even if you manage to achieve success, they will claim that you did it with someone else’s efforts. They will lie, they will tell incredible tales. They will attack you because of your appearance, lifestyle, music taste, personality, manner, eating and drinking habits and your political views.
But thanks to divine justice, they will live the rest of their lives with their own grudges.
But you know what? Everyone is not as bad as them. You will meet many wonderful men and women supporting, mentoring, helping, applauding and standing by you.
You are a woman; you can stand up strong again and again. When you fall, you get up stronger; a thousand times stronger. Your pain threshold, patience to endure and determination are higher.
You may cry for a while, but you can restart again.
You can smash those glass ceilings.
But all of these will happen on a very entertaining journey that you wish will never end. What is the joy of gaining a victory without fighting for it?
Happy International Women’s Day.
Everyday should be ours.
