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Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. (2018)
A fascinating glimpse into her beginnings that could have focused more on her musical process
When M.I.A.'s first album Arular came out, it was like an explosion that dropped from another planet. The rawness, the beats, the cover-art, the originality! It was a huge creative influence for me and my circle of friends at the time.
It is therefore a treat to be able to see how that album came to be, from the original footage from Maya's early days. Her ingenuity was plain to see from a very young age, she was just dripping with creativity that poured out of her like a torrent, and this documentary captures it all. The old footage of her childhood, her art school days, and her homemade videos of family and friends, are by far the strongest parts of the film.
After this, it covers her rise to fame and details are lost in the shuffle. One minute she's filming her family in Sri Lanka, and the next she's playing international music festivals. But what happened in between, how did she move from film to music? How did she create her signature sound on Arular, which became the foundation for her future work? Though we do get to hear some of her earliest recordings, no in-depth information on her musical process is offered.
As the film progresses, it turns its focus increasingly towards her public image and becomes substantially less interesting. Her rebellious spirit, so enchanting as a young artist, becomes cloying when she, a wealthy popstar, explains that giving the middle finger at her Super Bowl performance was activism.
Despite this criticism, Maya is an incredibly dynamic artist and I'm sure any fan of her music will certainly find this film worth watching.
The Swedish Theory of Love (2015)
Interesting for an immigrant in Sweden, explains a lot
There is a niche audience for this film- it is the new immigrant to Sweden. I myself have been living in Sweden now for 5 years and I have suffered extreme loneliness since moving here. Many foreigners will agree that it's extremely difficult to make new friends in Sweden and acclimatize to the social isolation. This film clarified the cultural significance of this phenomenon within a historical context. It answered such questions as: Why do most people not know their neighbors? Why does it feel so isolating compared to my homeland? Why does nobody talk about how strange it all seems? How did it become this way?
I can understand why this wouldn't be interested to a.) someone who doesn't live in Sweden or b.) a Swede who was raised here and sees it as business as usual.
But since I have wondered about all this for some time, it was elucidating.
I don't agree with the contrast between Sweden and Ethiopia, however. In the film, Ethiopia is described to be poor in wealth but rich in community, while Sweden is financially wealthy yet socially barren. Societies in such countries as Ethiopia have complex social systems which are restricting in their own ways and should not be romanticized as utopian.
The masturbation scene will sadly not allow me to show this to my parents, since they are old and prudish. Just a fair warning if you want to show this to your old and prudish parents too.
Få meg på, for faen (2011)
A surprisingly honest and beautiful film
This film deeply effected me since I had many experiences in the same flavor as Alma as a teenager, and to this day have never seen or read anything that describes the specific pain of those years until now.
I felt that this film very clearly and artistically outlined the double-standard that still exists, even in a relatively feminist country like Norway. Even 30 years after the sexual revolution of the 1960s, it is still taboo for young girls to be fascinated by their own pleasure and sexuality, even though it is expected for boys to experiment early and often.
This film tells a tale which is rarely told so honestly, and instead of painful its gorgeous, smart and funny, set in a beautiful landscape with a dreamy soundtrack. The film is shot in lush colors, with cute humor... well, I big dose of cute (which I am typically allergic to), but this film won me over, big time.