Displaying items by tag: Solomon Cruz

TO THE NORTH

Romania, 2022, 123 minutes, Colour.

Solomon Cruz, Niko Becker, Bart Guingona, Alexandre Nguyen

Directed by Mihai Mincan.

A film from Romania. But it is a story of migrants from Europe, bringing their hopes for a life in America. The difficulty is getting to America, stowing away on ships, escaping detection, making friends, ever at risk.

The central character is Romanian, with a Bulgarian friend, on the boat with a Taiwanese crew, but also a sympathetic Filipino, Christian, moved by his faith to help the stowaways.

But, the film reflects aspirations of migrants from Eastern Europe but also the difficulties – and the reality that the dreams might not be fulfilled in the new land.

1. The title, hopes and ambitions, dreams?
2. The Spanish port, the night, the ship, the cargo hold, the cramped space, dining area, cabins…? Authentic feel? The musical score?
3. The prologue, the men in the water, struggling to survive? The credits and the wake of the cargo ship?
4. The two young men, in Spain, building, seen walking, silent, then suddenly kicking, playing the football match, enthusiasm? Their hopes, stowing away, the night sequence, tracking them through the wharf and the containers, onto the ship, hiding? Their plan?
5. The first man forward, discovered by Joel, taken to the dining area, food, the reaction of the captain, killing the stowaway, body overboard? Joel and his later explanations of so many stowaways killed and overboard?
6. The second man, Dmutru, meeting with Joel, into the dark room, for four days, to go to Canada, his New York hopes, making money, in the dark, the effect on his nerves and mind, Joel bringing the water, the food, their talk, religious themes, the Bible, Jules quote from the Psalms and trusting God, the nature of evil? The young man left in the dark, the consequences, wanting to get out? Confronting Joel and escaping?
7. The character of Joel, the anchor of the film, Filipino, Ege, serious, his talking about his past, church, Scripture, God? His role as the bosun on the ship? Trusted by the Taiwanese captain and owners? His relationship with the other Filipinos, their being made to feel inferior, culturally, religiously? Allan and his singing? The serious man and confiding in him? The other members of the crew, Bernardo and his exuberance about his family and child? The interactions, trust?
8. Joel, decisions, motivations, Christian, doing good to others? The response of the other Filipinos, telling the captain or not?
9. The Taiwanese sailors, their manner, the captain, his demands, discussion about being good and being fair? Stowaways and thrown overboard? Wanting Allan to sing, his eventually singing? The threats to Joel? The night celebration, everybody enthusiastic?
10. The final confrontation, the young man, the fight, his wounds, the pursuit through the ship, Joel urging him to jump into the water? The Taiwanese, Allan, the confrontation, the violence? Wounding Joel? The final conversation, the young man and talking about his dreams, not dying, succeeding? Joel and his listening, audience sympathy with him?
11. The ending of the film, the young man in his dreams and their not being fulfilled, Joel contemplating the experience?