The Tree of the Wooden Clogs - Movie Review Example

Introduction History is part of our life. At the same time, movies are also part of our modern life. Movies serve as a form of entertainment for many of us. But still others consider movies as the venue where information dissemination could take place. Ermanno Olmi, director of "The Tree of the Wooden Clogs" know exactly that he can use his artistic ability to share some important parts of his country's history. He uses his knowledge and his skills to come up with one output that could trigger the minds of the many and which can change the perceptions of the many viewer - Italian or not. This paper is aimed at analyzing the very attributes of Olmi's movie "The Tree of the Wooden Clogs". More specifically, this tackles Olmi's and his movie's ability to share history and the impact that it has created to his viewers. More so, this answers the following questions: 1. Can the film be considered as a more compelling visual medium for conveying historical information 2. Why are the material conditions of the past and every day life interesting to a wide audience 3. Who is the audience for these accounts of material life 4. Are there other movies which can be compared to this movie in terms of significance and lessons that can be learned The Tree of Wooden Clogs "The Tree of Wooden Clogs" is a movie which theme is focused with the peasants' experience during the 18th century, when tenant farmers worked for landlords under feudal relationship. Work, then is very important. It serves as the totality of these farmers' lives. Different household scenarios are shown in this movie. Scenarios, which some will still be familiar because they are still happening today, and scenarios which people of today's generation will consider as unthinkable. Typical farming activities such as the growing and harvesting of crops, and breeding and slaughtering of animals are shown in this movie. Moreover, typical housewives' such as washing of used clothes from dusk until dawn, taking care of the children (despite lack of proper food). There are also scenes wherein a child was shown walking several miles just to attend school, and one wife is shown being advised by a priest to give her son to some orphanage because she cannot maintain providing her son with proper food, clothing and education. These are the scenes that could either break the hearts of the viewers or make them feel bored and weary for they will think that it tells nothing but hardship and pains. The Unfolding of History History can be told by sharing all the success and victories of one personality, hero or group of people who have defended a country or who have provided a big impact to the majority of the populace. In this movie, the other part of life is being highlighted. Important personalities or heroes are not that important because what has happened and how that happened is what matters the most. This movie is a good venue or modern people like us to have a clearer picture of how it is to live during the olden times. This give the whole idea that life before is not just pure wars, territorial fighting, political indifferences, nor battles between race and skin color. This movie give us an idea that life itself was a big battle for the many farmers in Italy before. Because of this, this movie is able to reach a larger number of audiences. Though it talks mainly of what is happening in Italy, many other nations would be highly interested to watch this for this movie is disclosing some information which is not normally disclosed and discussed upon. In subtle yet powerful words, scenes and actions, a certain part of Italian history has been told through this move. And the director and writer of this movie should be highly applauded. The authors and writers of this move are not known historians. They are not even part of the history they have been disclosing, but do we need to be that way first before we can share something that we know of about history. Anybody can put history into writing. Anybody has the right to share what has happened in the past. The only question here lies in the credibility of that person to tell history. But credibility can be satisfied through proper research works, interviews with various people who have witnessed those things that happened. And we are pretty sure that the authors and director of this movie have done those things to make the movie realistic, objective and acceptable to every viewer. The Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad's "The Heart of Darkness" can also be considered as a general historical movie where what hunger for power and fame is highlighted. Conrad symbolically used Mr. Kurtz as the story's main character. Mr. Kurtz is a mysteriously powerful man who is also known to have achieved a notable reputation for maintaining the ivory trade in the center of Africa. Mr. Kurtz has successfully used his various characteristics in achieving an amoral power over the people around him and this include intelligence, persuasiveness and of course, cruelty. Mr. Kurtz's is extremely driven by his ambition coupled by his "fascination with the abomination" (Conrad, 1988). He has laid down specific goals that he aims to achieve and he used every means possible to obtain authority. But that's not the end of it. His very high intellectual capacity combined with his obvious desire for power has produced an unstoppable and humongous monster that almost eat his whole identity. Mr. Kurtz has become a well-known man in Africa, and if you happen to speak out his name, you will be receiving numerous testimonials from various kinds of residents in the area, especially those working in the ivory trade industry. For example, the brick maker at the Central Station states referred to him as a "prodigy . . . an emissary of pity and science and progress, and devil knows what else" (Conrad, 1988). Meanwhile Kurtz' company's Chief Accountant once remarked, "He will be a somebody in the Administration before long. They, above -- the Council in Europe, you know -- mean him to be" (Conrad, 1988). These testimonies from the various people around Mr. Kurtz are clear manifestation of what he has become, and how he was perceived by the people he worked with. Mr. Kurtz has used unthinkable violent acts to obtain his power. He raided the country, frightened the natives into following him and he has even threatened to shoot his friend for keeping some ivory. Mr. Kurtz communicates only to gain power, and he does so by condescending others. He strongly feels that he is superior to everyone else, hence he tried his best to eliminate all possible opposition. He referred to the physical environment around him as his and his alone. To quote, he always says "my Intended, my ivory, my station, my river" - everything belonged to him" (Conrad, 1988). There is one part in the story where Marlow, the man who searches for Mr. Kurtz, asked him, "Do you know what you are doing" Mr. Kurtz replies, "Perfectly" (Conrad, 1988). With very concise, simple yet so strong answer by Mr. Kurtz, who could deny the fact that confidence is one of Mr. Kurtz greatest virtue But is he aware of what has been happening to him He is now being in questioned if he is to be admired and honored for his outstanding performance Or are the people now free to consider him as a madman due to his numerous evil deeds Kurtz is highly reputable, and he displays leadership skills that few men have successfully achieved. His desire for power seems to outweigh any other personal need such as comfort and luxury, emotion and feeling such as love, and communication and contact with people of his kind. It may seem that Mr. Kurtz has the best of everything in terms of the physical things and personal attributes. But he definitely lacked emotions such as happiness and love. And from his death, we can see that he did not die as a happy man. The things he did when he was still alive dehumanized him. His distinct hungriness for power gave birth to an unimaginable human being. History Unfolds Many historical figures can be compared to Kurtz such as the famous Adolf Hitler and Machiavelli, or that of Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines. They are best examples of people with whom the quest for too much power cause them their lives or have resulted to disrespect and anger from most people. That is basically what power can do. As we may know, power may come out from two different sources. The people can generously give it as a support, or it may arise through applying force. And Kurtz chose the latter. Kurtz used force to gain power until it finally took hold of him. Eventually, he could not anymore let go of his power as if he has entered a sphere where he could not escape. Or he was captured by a limbo with which he has no control over what is and will be happening. And I can feel that even up to his death, people continuously scorned him because of the damages - morally, spiritually and physically - that he has caused. Conclusion With this, I, as a viewer myself, can proudly say that movies like the above-mentioned movies can be a very good medium and a very compelling way to unfold what has happened in the past. Visuals are very useful, plus the sound effects and the facial expressions of the actors and actresses can add for a more emotional "attack" to the viewers' hearts and minds. People tend to watch these kinds of movies for they would want to learn what happened, know the very reasons why people of today acts on the way they do now (for it may be a reflection of what had happened in their ancestors) and they would want to feel and be somehow immersed with the ways of life before. SOURCE: Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. NY,NY: W.W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1988. Olmi, Ermanno. 1979. "The Tree of Wooden Clogs" Read More