Fatemeh_Hadi Reviews

Anatomy of a Scandal (2022)

A Modern Realistic Story

[7/10 · 18 December 2022]

More Sophisticated Stories Look for the Evil Within.

What was so real about this story was how James was not aware that he genuinely was making a mistake. He was adamant, even in private conversations with his wife, that he had been a gentleman in his affairs. Understanding that WE might be in the wrong and don't see that is almost frightening. Imagining that WE might have done people wrong is a possibility that we need to entertain while we try to logically analyze any situation.

Why then he had such difficulty understanding his wrongdoing? One answer might be in the feedback he was getting from those around him. They were not giving him enough and correct criticism for him to see that. The society as a whole, even, had only recently succeeded in articulating the concept of "consent." In other words, we rely on others around us to keep us sane.

The story was interesting also from Sophie's point of view. She was selfless in trying to forgive James and keeping the family together. However, gradually, she started doubting who her husband really was. We all have shadows and host an endless and unseen world of contradictions. But at the end, she could not convince herself that she could go on living with a character marred with a sense of entitlement, insensitivity and arrogance.

However, I do not think the way Sophie betrayed her husband at the end was ethical in any sense.

The Crown (2016–2023)

A Very Informative Series to Watch

[9/10 · 17 September 2022]

What I'm about to say might sound a bit odd.

Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8. I'd always wondered what is going on in the UK. I mean it has been and still is bewildering for me how constitutional monarchy has survived into the 21st century. To be clear, I have never dismissed it simply as a mistake. I wanted to understand.

I see UK as a nation that, time and over, has sought truth and spearheaded many changes that have enlightened our world. When I think about all the great thinkers of the UK I cannot do anything except from having respect. For example, they abolished slavery at a time when it took other nations decades to follow or they helped bringing about the scientific revolution. And I'm not denying or worse endorsing all the wrong that the English imperialism has done to the world. Most of us, one way or another, are descendants of atrocities of the history and we all need to understand and atone for what has been done.

I have not read much about how the constitutional monarchy is being defended among intellectuals. But I have heard that there is a wisdom in guarding it and that it is beneficial to have, in addition to legislative, judicial and executive, a "symbolic" body of government for checking and balancing.

Queen Elizabeth was a traditional, cautious and wise person who did that just right. She basically intimidated 15 prime ministers, believe it or not, from Churchill to Liz Truss.

I don't know how well this series is following the actual events but I think it's quite worth watching.

Official Secrets (2019)

Thankful for People Like Her

[10/10 · 8 September 2022]

For a few days I was looking for something to watch. I came across Official Secrets with Keira Knightly a few times but I couldn't bring myself to watch it for two reasons. I really like Keira Knightly's acting and I have an understanding that in recent years she has not been getting the roles she so much deserves. Second, I imagined this movie is superficial and shallow like many others. Of course, I didn't know it portrays a real story.

There's this scene where she is sitting at her desk while one of her colleagues is being interrogated at an adjacent room about a memo from NSA to GCHQ that she had leaked. In this memo, the US is instructing the UK to intimidate the UN council members into voting to go to war with Iraq. The night before, in the safety of her husband's arms she had heard that she could keep her head down for a few weeks and then quit her job and she had every intention to do so. But at her desk, at that moment, she just could not. Keira Knightly does such a fantastic job in showing what might be happening inside you when you decide to let go of your fears and stand by truth.

She, at the time, by all outward markers of success, was an ordinary person who did something extraordinary. The memo did get to the public by the efforts of a few journalists who had conscience and did their jobs right.

The memo did not stop the war and she could not find jobs afterwards. This only shows how hard it is to live by truth. However, if more of us do the same then one person doesn't have to sacrifice everything.

Outlander (2014– )

I can't do anything but love and admire Claire and Jamie

[10/10 · 29 December 2021]

I've been wanting to write a review for Outlander for a long time but I have been procrastinating for fear that I would degrade it by my incomplete and non-expert understanding of it.

Like all great stories it is a hero's journey. When you watch Claire and Jamie play out their corresponding roles you cannot do anything but to admire them both. There have been numerous conversations that I would guess have touched and ennobled the audiences in their millions and I truly hoped that I could learn from Claire in her mannerism, attentiveness and elegance in almost all situations, regardless of how distressing they might be. They both are strong and stubborn and by no means they are naïve. In a sense, they have integrated their shadows in their personalities and they make big mistakes too.

There are multiple scenes that I can pour my all into to describe but I will tell this one. Claire finds her way back to Jamie after more than two decades (was it?). They spent the night to reconnect and to get to know one another once more. Early morning Jamie rises to attend to his affairs because he honors the commitments he has made to others. Claire, as ready as ever, prepares herself to tend to someone in medical need because she is but a compassionate soul and a healer. She does all that with utmost composure and self-discipline and I wonder is there anything more beautiful than this! That they thought they would never see each other again but they did and yet they both have higher callings. Their other-worldly romance is not the only thing that gives meaning to their lives.

There is no need to say the music and the scenery are sublime. In the past eleven years I have had six favorite TV shows and Outlander is one of them. And sometimes, it makes me sad to see that it is branded by all the wrong descriptions.

Nova: Particles Unknown (2021) Season 48, Episode 14

A Poetic Scientific Documentary

[10/10 · 20 December 2021]

This documentary shows what led to the quest for the fourth kind of neutrino. Long story short, in the early 20th century the existence of neutrinos was speculated. Then in 1956, neutrinos were directly observed by Clyde Cowan and his colleagues (an effort that was awarded a Nobel Prize four decades later). Later on, it was discovered that neutrinos had flavors and currently it's agreed that there are three known flavours. However, something in their behavior, the fact that they oscillate to different flavours in very short distances, has made physicists suspect there is a fourth one.

What made this really interesting to me was how poetic they made that out to be, i.e., the existence of an elusive fourth kind that might, at the same time, be hinting at the existence of a whole new set of particles, completely unknown to us. They argue that the fourth kind of neutrino might be the doorway to finally understanding dark energy and dark matter making up roughly about 70% and 25% of the universe, respectively.

When I was younger I used to love fantasy (I still do) but it is becoming obvious to me that the world is truly fantastical and I mean the literal meaning of the word from the objective world to the subjective experiences of all of us, it is fascinating beyond belief.

By the way, in the Standard Model of particle physics, there are matter particles and force careers. The former consists of quarks (combine to form protons and neutrons) and leptons (electrons and neutrinos). The force carriers constitute bosons (e.g., photons) and the Higgs particle, the discovery of which made quite a stir a couple of years ago. Also, the existence of dark matter and dark energy was proved by the observations that systems close to the edge of galaxies don't get torn apart and that the rate of the expansion of the universe is increasing (not decreasing).

NOVA is documentary series that has been running since 1974 on the PBS network. It is truly amazing and heartwarming that such a quality program is freely available.

Anne with an E (2017–2019)

I love this version of my beloved Anne of Green Gables too

[10/10 · 9 February 2021]

For the longest time, I've resisted watching this version of my beloved Anne of Green Gables story because I have such fond memories from watching the 1985 version. I still vividly remember its scenes and I can still remember how it felt. But I watched it and I don't regret it. I think I managed to have a separate emotional space for this one and I resisted all sorts of comparisons. As a matter of fact, I was delighted to know Anne and Gilbert from this version; they have a lot to offer.

Gilbert's voice, the background music, the sequence of settings set the tone perfectly for his letter to Anne; it is very beautifully done:

"Dear Anne, since we are parting ways, perhaps forever, I feel I must unburden my heart. You are the fond object of my affection and my desire. You, and you alone, are the keeper of the key to my heart. Please don't be alarmed. I don't expect your favor, but I can't in good conscience not reveal myself. I'm not engaged, nor will I be, unless it's to you, Anne, my Anne with an E. It always has been, and always will be you. With love, Gilbert PS: Thanks for the pen. Good luck at Queens."

"... those who can soar to the highest heights can also plunge to the deepest depths" -L. M. Montgomery

Kudos to all the art makers!

UPDATE: I recently rewatched it and one other thing I'd like to talk about is how simple and yet extremely pleasant Marrila and Matthew's house is decorated. It is set up in such a way that you infer much respect is preserved for the space, furniture and the experience within. I found myself multiple times pausing the video to take a good look at the setting and to prolong my joy.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

I love Nausicaa to the moon and back

[10/10 · 9 February 2021]

Among Hayao Miyazaki's work, I can't really decide which one is my favorite, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind or Howl's Moving Castle, but I do know I want to write about Nausicaä.

The story takes place in another one of Miyazaki's imaginative and well-conceived worlds. Visually, it is a work of art. You see creativity and ingenuity of Studio Ghibli's team not only in the visual aspects but also in their loyalty in remaining true to human emotions of sadness, nostalgia, boredom, confusion, amusement, joy and triumph and in their tireless attention to details. One aspect, well, two aspects that are appealing to me personally are that the protagonist is female and the film's aerial settings.

Nausicaä is from the Valley of the Wind and is ultimately loyal to the people of the valley. She is also fascinated by the 'toxic jungle' and often flies there to study it and to find solace. The jungle truly is serene and beautiful but it also holds animosity towards humans because there is history and it is a bloody one. Another conflict arises and she employs all that she is to help reduce ugliness and destruction. She doesn't pick a side, she cares for all and is deeply saddened by what she witnesses. Blinded by rage and self-righteousness, the sides, drive her to her death.

The Dig (2021)

An Inspiring Soothing Real Story

[10/10 · 9 February 2021]

It is one of those films that are soothing for me to watch. Knowing characters like Edith existed (and continue to exist) turns on a light. She tells excavator Basil Brown that she "feels" something lays beneath the mounds on her property. Of course she is an experienced archeologist and of course, as Daniel Kahneman says, she has the "expert intuition" but she says she feels, nonetheless. She pursued this undertaking not only because as an archeologist she could recognize the patterns but also because she was compelled by her inner forces to try and create something very much worth experiencing and not just for herself. As the story progresses she finds out she is terminally ill. She draws strength from each to face the other and manages to make such harmonious realizations of both endeavors. It reminded me of a scene in which Harry (in Harry Potter stories), abandoning all apparent logic, goes to see Hagrid in his shed. I don't recall in what context this happens but I do remember as a result of this act, everyone (that mattered) came to a better understanding of the situation. It doesn't seem like a significant scene but it had stayed with me, I think, because it shows how beautiful it can be if we sometimes embody something more than mere common wisdom.

In a scene Mr. Brown's wife, trying to reassure him of his work, reminds him of some of his own words. She remarks archeology is not about the past nor it is about the present but that it is about the future, so that future generations know what came before them, know their forefathers. Because of their findings it became clear that Anglo Saxons were cultured people that had rich rituals, art and trade.

After extracting the treasure and after all the excitements are over, Mr. Brown returns to the cite to carefully bury back the ship or more precisely the impressions of the ship, giving it the respect it deserved. Not only by his conviction, he shed some light to the lives of the people who had lived more than thirteen centers before in the land but also he had the capacity to pay respect to the people who were gone eons before.

And all of this happened while some people were thinking the best thing could be done was waging a war against humanity and, well, the rest were making preparations for defense.

One thing I'd like to point out is I think a typical child does not respond to the pain of that magnitude like how Edith's son is portrayed. A child's response would be more like Conor in A Monster Calls. Now that I've mentioned this I have to confess I adore both Carey Mulligan and Felicity Jones. So, you better take my review with this knowledge ;)

Father Brown (2013– )

A Show of Ultimate Kindness and Compassion in Father Brown

[10/10 · 23 December 2020]

It's about a witty and intelligent Catholic priest, in a rural England after WWII setting, who is a bit of a sleuth. Other than helping with solving mysteries, with his analytical thinking, quest for truth and hopefulness and his ultimate kindness and compassion, he helps people realize better directions in their lives. It's very pleasant to watch.

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (2016–2018)

It Takes You Back

[8/10 · 10 September 2020]

Here is what I like about it: Saiki, when faced with difficult situations, maintains his composure and and takes his time to think. He then carries out the plan with responsibility and care. As the matter of fact almost all the characters do this in all kinds of situations. This might be easily overlooked but the fact is it's astonishing how much improvement could be brought to life if we stopped to think and yet how we far too easily forget about this precious superpower! This show portraits Japanese etiquette all the time. It is great to see how much care the characters take in their mannerism and behavior. That, it matters to be polite and to avoid hurting people's feelings unnecessarily. It also reveals some other aspects of Japanese culture such as preferring uncrowded yet very appealing and cosy interior designs, performing social duties, paying attention to details and valuing education. But most importantly, with this you can travel back and experience being you when you were younger and remember how a lot of things felt back then. For instance, to remember what it is to love your parents, grandparents and friends as a kid, to timidly experience romance as a teenager and to be carefree ;) It also makes you laugh even if you don't want to!

Mars (2016–2018)

Travel with Them to Mars

[10/10 · 14 April 2020]

At the end Hana says "we are here to understand, to grow and to respect the planet and one another."

The Planets (2019)

It was so majestic, I think there were a lot of moments I was actually holding my breath

[10/10 · 27 February 2020]

It was so majestic, I think there were a lot of moments I was actually holding my breath.

The series is packed with information about the planets and the Sun. I thought I knew about our solar system, but obviously I did not. Facts are presented in the most comprehensible way possible and the visual effects make watching it quite thrilling and elevating. It's such an experience to be reminded of the vastness of being beyond ours. I've always been fascinated by space, but watching this took it to a whole new level.

The series, among other things, shows the aspirations and efforts that have gone into bringing us this kind of knowledge. You get to see people from Juno, Galileo, Cassini and New Horizon missions and many more which makes the stories much more accessible because you get to walk with them on their path of discovery when they give you snapshots of what was happening in their minds and in their teams. It was also exciting to hear about future projects such as Mars 2020 (I believe NASA based on the public vote is going to choose a name for it) and Enceladus' planned orbiters. I am, too, happy to be living in the era of "Are We Alone?" quest.

Let's not forget about the song "The Void." It's supremely beautiful.

Thank you BBC for producing this masterpiece and PBS for bringing it to us.

Update: the name is Perseverance and that is what we should all aspire to have.

Bazm-e Razm (2017)

I will definitely watch it again

[10/10 · 7 February 2020]

When I first heard the beginning of a song I had heard a long time ago and many times over, "Shahid-e Motahar", it seemed like my mind momentarily possessed some pieces of my mode of being from the forgotten past. As soon as that happened, I felt a joy in the expectation of hearing a lot more and the documentary fulfilled even beyond that expectation that was placed in me, involuntarily. That happens to you, of course, when something forces you to relive your former self and that, most of the time, is perceived as something not from this world. This documentary did that a lot to me because I hadn't heard them since, well, the time they were being broadcasted from the national TV.

Apart from that experience, the perspective you get form the stories told by the musicians, about the trajectory of music in Iran makes you feel a sense of gratitude towards all that was done. I guess, it makes you understand people faced lots of uncertainties and adversaries and yet they made it somehow work and that in all the drama, a lot of people were trying to put their best foot forward.

Basically, it's a history lesson and therefore it is quite satisfying to watch.

Update: I am told the documentary does not cover all the prominent figures of the period. If that is the intention or that is the impression the film is trying to have on the audience, then it would have been a lot more better if the film was not suffering from this shortcoming.

The 100 (2014–2020)

I Have Grown to Really Like It

[10/10 · 24 August 2019]

When I started watching Series 1, I did not know I was going to be this attached. Here is what I like about it:

• It shows the struggles of humanity as a whole, complexity of workings of interpersonal relationships and the fact that an infinite number of consequences exists as a result of those interactions. It shows how it's never self-evident how to do the "right thing." It also shows with courage, hope and forgiveness for even the sins that rendered unredeemable (of ourselves and others), new opportunities emerge and life does get a whole lot more interesting. My personal take from this is forming judgment, although essential, is a tool that needs to be used with cautious and that we need to examine and reflect on the actions, dreams and articulated ideas of ourselves and others with compassion and patience to be able to materialize instantiations that never existed before. However, I am aware most of it is done subconsciously. Basically, it shows that very far from your hopes, even you keep making mistakes and that you need to take responsibility to face them, to forgive yourself and to move forward, again and again and again, in all areas of life. It also touches important concepts such as current threats to human civilization including nukes and A.I., religion, free will, the role and importance of human experience of pain, mind-computer interface (not brain-computer interface!), super humans and immortality. My hat off to the writers.
• Lead characters (which are so many of them and correctly so) are clever, analytical and strong with a moral compass (at least most of the time) and they CAN stand alone in their decisions and actions. Yet, they somehow manage to find each other back and pull off as a team. It's just shear beauty.
• Because of the constant element of surprise and danger, the characters get to live in the PRESENT and in the NOW while for us mere mortals it feels as if we are chasing down after something most of the time (it's true for many productions though).
• One minor observation is along with the heroes on the spotlight, there must be some behind-the-scene genius scientists and engineers that make all that cool (although unrealistic) tech happen in the story (the heroes sadly only end up breaking them). I Would have loved to have seen some of their stories too ;)
• One other observation is that the entire series is based upon, if my memory serves me right, one of the modernity era assumptions, as Yuval Noah Harari put it - that there always will be new resources, new solutions, a way out of the problem, no matter what we do now. It brings us to our nagging current situation that what will happen if we continue reducing biodiversity and the size and number of habitable places on earth? Will there be a solution for us? What about the inherently valuable entities destroyed in the process?
• There is this scene in S3:E2 that I find myself going back to when I think about the series. You can hear a bird calling, a distinctive kind of calling, not the type you hear in the spring against a backdrop of a lagoon or a lake. Murphy is looking at something in his hands but he is immersed in his thoughts while squatting on the ground and having his back to Emory. Emory notices him and offers him some consolation but he is far from convinced. Without being annoyed or feeling pity for him, she walks towards him, kneels down and kisses him on the cheek. She then thanks him for saving her life with a stoic calmness. There are lots of scenes that I love in this series but there is something very humane about this one.
• One very beautiful and emotional passage from The 100:

"In peace, may you leave the shore; In love, may you find the next; Safe passage on your travels; Until our final journey to the ground; May we meet again"

• I appreciate all the characters in the series but I must say Raven Reyes, John Murphy, Lexa kom Trikru and Monty Green truly touched my heart.
• And finally, I thank all the crew who made this happen.

My Daddy Long Legs (1990)

Not Just for Children

[10/10 · 30 January 2018]

Daddy Long Legs is based on a novel with the same name by Jean Webster. It is categorized as children literature and has some fairy-tale characteristics. However, it is a story portrayed in such details sometimes, that takes you to the less visited corners of your heart. It stays true to the human feelings of sorrow, pain, failure, joy, self-esteem and strength and makes you to relive them. It beautifully shows how Judy lives in the present and how enjoyable that can be. She is conscious about herself and her surroundings and willingly takes responsibility, makes decisions and acts upon them.