ipyg-(movie)Machinegun Preacher

Machine Gun Preacher is an action biopic about Sam Childers, a former gang biker turned preacher and defender of African orphans. 

When children are suffering and dying, are you going to pray or to take a gun for them? The story of Sam Childers, who chose the gun to save the children of Sudan, was made into a move titled as Machine Gun Preacher. He saved the lives of about one thousands of children and established an orphanage for about 300 children, as a preacher as well as a missionary. 

Sam Childers, who spent his early life in indulging drugs and illegality, accidentally murdered someone. After this he greatly repented of his own wrongdoings and asked this family for help. But fortunately, the one who Sam considered to be died was still alive. This experience awaked him to the love of his family and led his steps in the path of a pastor. 
One day, he got a chance to participate in the voluntary work for building a house in Sudan in the Horn of Africa. He saw the situation in person, that children were sold or became a soldier to be either a human shield or a target being killed. Although he was a pastor, we could not stand it any longer while looking at the poor and innocent children. He decided to fight a rebellion with the guns and to save the children with his supporters. 

The Movie “Machine Gun Preacher” makes a strong impression through one man, Sam Childers, who were making every effort to save one more child. During the endless gunfight he took a risk to be a human shield to save children. There was a heartbreaking moment that some of the children should be left because of insufficient room of the truck and all of them already died when he came back. The fact that this was happened in real life tears me apart. The pastor Sam Childers might have been suffered with some sense of guilt in that he had no choice but to fight with the guns to save the children. 

However, we have to gather our hearts – not guns – to save our children and to end wars in the whole world. If all people are united, it will make much greater power than a gun. I hope IPYG can be a channel for this great work. 

Let us work together to make peaceful world where all people regardless of age or sex can smile!

A picture of Sam Childers

ipyg-(movie) Myeongryang

A movie has ever achieved the highest opening score and the highest one day score, and it has surpassed the 13 million-viewer-mark since its release on July 30. It has set new box-office records and has rewritten South Korean box office history. Four weeks after the film releases, according to the Korean Film Council integrated computer network standard, the movie is currently a No. 1 box-office hit. Attention is now focusing on the next record.

This is about the movie "Myeongryang" in the public eye. It’s about Korean Admiral Yi Sunsin, commanding his 12 fleets, succeeded in checking the Japanese aggression with 330 fleets. Although it's a familiar story to Korean, I thought that I did not know well while watching it.  Throughout the movie with some of IPYG members, it made my heart ache.

The suffering of responsibility that only the leader can feel; the eagerness to protect my loving family from enemies; the fear that if one goes down in a second, everything would end up; the persuasion that helps people who are scared to get out in tunnel of fear; the position as a leader is so hard and serious.

It happened ages ago, but it will be the same to feel the horrors and fear of today’s wars. Both Korea and Japanese soldiers would feel the same fear. They were afraid, but had to fight to survive. And many soldiers died in the fight, whether their own naval forces won or lost. Even poor and powerless people died. I was genuinely sorry to watch this part as a member of the IPYG. The war broke out because of Japanese invasion. But, the dying people were all the young people and the powerless from both countries. 

Finally, the Joseon Dynasty, led by General Yi, had a victory. The film ended with foretelling next battle. They took the victory, but then again there still were wars to come. It hurts me to think sacrifices in the battle. (It may be because I know the results of the past history.) Wars have continued ever since the beginning of mankind. But I hope you do not think it is out of our control. IPYG is making small gestures to show that war is not out of our control but we can handle (in other words, we can make it end). I hope our small gestures will cause Butterfly Effect and the day of peaceful world would come as soon as possible. 

ipyg-‘Imagine’ - a Peace Message toward Mankind

 
You may have once heard a song, ‘Imagine’ in the street or subway and when drinking or staying at home. Given that almost all of us may have heard, this song must be famous around the world. In 1971, John Lennon released his solo album, which includes ‘Imagine’.
John Lennon wrote this song to spread a peace message to the world, and it is assessed as a masterpiece in the history of Pop music. This song was re-called by many singers and Yuna Kim, a global figure skater, also selected this song in her last stage before retiring.

These mean that this song is still evoking much sympathy from many people.
When you think of the lyrics as well as its melody, it is much better to appreciate the song.



Imagine there's no heaven, It's easy if you try.
No hell below us, Above us only sky.
Imagine all the people living for today... 
Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to do.
Nothing to kill or die for, no religion too.
Imagine all the people living life in peace...
Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can.
No need for greed or hunger. A brotherhood of man.
imagine all the people sharing all the world... 
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will live as one. 



After you listen to this exceptional song, you will find a message to make world peace together, imagining the absence of three typical ideologies which cause the wars and disputes. By the way ‘Imagine’ was ranked 3rd on the billboard chart in the U.S.A where the majority of people are Christian at the time when it was released. Besides, ‘Imagine’ was used as a finale in ‘The killing fields (1984)’ which reports the cruelty of war. And it was used in various images of peace message and anti-war protests to appeal to all people.

I have a question like ‘Why can the world peace still not come to earth even though all people around the world show desires for peace with songs and movies against the war?’ If you really want peace, you must try to make this world into a world of peace together, right? Although it is hard to do at an individual level, it can be possible so long as we become one. That is why we are gathered in International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) today. IPYG works for bringing peace to the world, for making the world without wars, so it takes a variety of practical actions.

If your friend beside you and you participate in IPYG, this world will turn to a peaceful world without wars in the near future. I hope world peace is coming as soon as possible for my dear family, friends and me.

ipyg-Michael Jackson – heal the world

I think it will probably be a song that everyone has heard at least once.

Yes. It is "Heal the World" by Michael Jackson. People all around the world loved this song when it was released. When I listened to this song, I also felt that I am cured and peace would come soon to the world.

However, peace didn't come to this world yet. Why?

Before we find out the reason, let's look over the lyrics to "Heal the World".

The lyrics is generally about:

 Let's make the world a clean and better place. There are people dying for you and for me and the entire human race. If you care enough for the living, there is the answer to achieve peace.

 So, what should we do in order to bring about peace? Is there the answer in love? 

If we love each other, there won't be any panic or fear in us. 

Then, peace that we've dreamed of will be turned into reality. 

If we'd be one for peace, there will be the world without fear.

Let's not regard peace as an abstract concept, and let's put it into practice!

If we have thoughts like "peace will come one day.." and do nothing to achieve it, peace will never come to the world. 

 You can think that "How can we put it into practice for peace?". You're right. We cannot do it by oneself.

So we, IPYG (International Peace Youth Group), are here!

 IPYG is an organization that youths from all around the world are gathered and work for peace.

When the war happens, who are dragged to the field of war? It's youths. How sad are the youths thrown away in the field of war without having a chance to bloom? Therefore, let's gather together with those who have these minds and work to bring about peace. When we try to achieve peace by oneself, there will be many restrictions, hardships and fears. But if we are gathered as one for the world peace, I am sure that peace could be achieved soon.

ipyg-[Movie] Fanny And Alexander

We Need Love and Peace

 Ingmar Bergman is a world famous director in Sweden. He is a movie director whom a lot of present movie directors express their respects and praises to. His movies always seem to contain questions about religion and God. His style like this was appeared well in his last directed movie ‘Fanny and Alexander’ that I will introduce today.

This movie’s running time is for about 3 hours. It can make audience feel quite bored in the beginning of the movie. But, in the latter half, there are a lot of thrilling and passionate scenes.


The background of the movie is Uppsala, Sweden in the early 20th century. The main character’s father runs a theater.  Characters’ class is various from the high to the lower.However, they are all actors so that the Ekdahl family treats them as precious guests.  Though a hierarchical society remains, the theater company shows classless democracy. So Fanny and Alexander, Oscar’s children get on with the members in the theater group.

This movie shows actual life of the Ekdahl family like a beautiful picture for about an hour. They live freely always with gratitude, enough tolerance and love each other. And then one day, Oscar, Fanny and Alexander’ father, fell down and died while he was performing his play performance. After that, their mother remarries. Since the day, the movie starts to face hardships.


After their mother remarried, Fanny and Alexander have lived in a Catholic church where a bishop lives. Anyone should obey the rules unconditionally in there. Their lives with bishop, such an oppressive and narrow self-righteousness, seem like a hell to Fanny and Alexander who had lived freely. Because the bishop shows us that only he is always right, I was wondered if he is a man who really serves God. He is described like a devil.  

However, a conciliatory gesture shows up in the latter part of the movie. First of all, the bishop bursts into tears because he didn’t know that someone hates him. He regrets being blinded by self-righteousness. After he was died from an accident, Fanny and Alexander were set free from the bishop’s bondage. Peace came back to them.

This movie doesn’t want to criticize religion. This movie says, “Look at the world kindly with full of peaceful smile.”

In fact, it is not matter whether people have religion or not. It is more important to have loves in order to have much better relationships with others. Furthermore, we should have loves in order to bring an end to war and bring about peace all over the world. What we, IPYG, also pursue is the love.

Even now, wars are constantly happening in the world because of religion, economy, the race, or ideology. After I saw this movie, I realized again how dangerous such a petty mind that I am only right is. And again, I was sure that IPYG and I are treading the path of virtue.

Ipyg- One chance ;movie review.

Recently I watched a movie named "One Chance". This movie based on a real story. Although I watched the movie knowing how the story ends, there were some scenes that I was impressed with.

 The story of the movie goes like this.

It is a story of an ordinary cell phone salesman winning the audition "British Got Talent" and becoming famous worldwide.

But there were a lot of bumps along the way.

In his childhood, the main character wanted to be an opera star, but he was too meek and timid that the neighborhood kids picked on him. He had a plain childhood until the day he won the prize at a talent show in town, and he entered a music school in Venice. He had a chance to sing in front of his hero, Pavarotti, but he got too nervous that he blew his chance. 

Eventually, he gave up singing and came back home. After his return, many things happened.  One was getting married to his wife who was his computer chatting partner. There were many ups and downs in his life. He had a surgery for appendicitis, and the scar opened up when he was performing on stage. He suffered from a car accident, and removed a tumor on his vocal chords. These were many hardships.

 In the end, he applied for an audition on British Got Talent. As mentioned above, he won the competition. The world was took interest in this cell phone salesman who became the winner of British Got Talent. He made it as a singer. He overcame all the hardships, and I think he did because of his wife's love and sacrifice.

  

I learned three lessons from this movie.

First, never give up on what you desire.

Second, be thankful to the love and sacrifices of your mother and wife.

Third, men grows through sufferings.

The story of Paul Potts made me look back at myself and I was surprised that the movie was based on a real story.  

ipyg-Before the Winter Chill-Lassitude makes daily life distressed

Lassitude makes daily life distressed

I read a book named 'A philosophy of boredom' a few days ago. It is an essay by a Norwegian, Lars Fr. H. Svendsen. It deals with a relationship between modern people and an emotion, 'boredom'. People think they can be free of hating someone or getting angry at something even though they live their lives without knowing their daily lives are serene or boring. But if they feel embarrassed by recognizing that they are feeling it, they would examine themselves. Certainly, these emotions will be a problem to ordinary people who are eager to pursue their 'happy' lives. Paul has been through the same things in the movie that I'd like to introduce today.

 

It seems perfect for a neurosurgeon, Paul (Daniel Auteuil) and his wife, Lucy (Kristin Scott Thomas) to live their lives. However, one day, a bunch of roses is delivered to Paul and the relationship between Paul and Lucy is getting broken. Paul is wondering who is sending him the roses. He points out Lou as the one who sends him the roses, and interrogates her in the flower shop. Though he failed to get a clue, he suspects and keeps meeting her. As they meet each other frequently, they become to share their stories in their hearts. Paul starts not to suspect her and to have an affection towards her. Then, his wife, Lucy notices it and the story begins.

 

Paul and Lucy were not able to find something new from familiarity. They were getting bored with each other, so that drives them into a crisis. This films shows us how people who feel ennui desires something new in their unconsciousness. The regularly delivered roses like Paul's daily routine are soaked with his life and make his life shattered. Also, even though Lucy notices Paul's conflict, she doesn't reveal it and just deals with her inner conflict. This film focuses on the sequence of inner crises. It elicits empathy sharing compassion, mysterious emotion, and embarrassment among Paul, Lou, Lucy and Gerard.

 

Paul is getting obsessed over Lou. They just meet each other with no reason and spend their time on sharing casual talks. But, Lou is a mysterious woman who doesn't uncover herself clearly. And she even just disappears one day. Paul is getting anxious, so that he looks for her as if he gets back to basics. After all secrets and mysteries are solved, the audience can get realized. what matters most is not their relationship itself, is the reason that they had to be like that. Especially, as life of modern people is getting influenced by material richness, conflicts among them came from a mind wanting to be compensated for their pleasure. I think the thirst like a bottomless pit might make all the people in this age feel ennui. Having watched this movie, it was a good time to feel the essence of human being once more deeply through the characters, events, and what they found.