Babel - Review

i thought this movie was quite interesting, though it could have been better, and i think most of u are missing the point. the word babel was meant to be associated with language but the undertone was that the differences in language lead to misunderstandings of each others ethnic groups. this was represented subtly in the movie not in the major events but just in the simple reactions. the main point was that dividing ourselves from other groups and considering that we are fundementally different leads to fear and confusion. as a result we concentrate first on politics and who is right or wrong, which is pointless. then we deal with important topics. ultimately we get too caught up in BABBLE to realize whats going on .an example from the movie was that since the stereo type of the area this woman was shot in was that there are terrorists there was so much confliction between america and morroco as to the truth of how she was shot that she was forgotten about and saving her life was greatly delayed and not seen as important. i think the different scenes in the movie were just representing how we are all connected to each other as human beings. i do think this could have been made better but josh i think u need to pay more attention to the subtlies in the movie and not the major events

Things that are not so cut and dry will always make one think, which makes for a good movie, imo.
Some points in the movie that were vague were the real cause of Japanese mother's death, what was really written in the note, why the American parents were away from their kids alot, and what happened to the nanny's nephew.
Anyone who didn't think the Japanese girl was important to the story should go watch this again. I believe every character was important in the film. Even the tour guide played an important part as he was the only one that cared for the Americans. He would not even take any money from them.
I would have still liked this film even if the mother had died. I don't think her survival was as important as other characters. We feel sad for the Morrocan family when the punishment was worse than the crime. The one that made the viewer care for most was the nanny. She was so caring and never really ever did anything wrong to anybody, but got a raw deal. We feel that she will be fine though, seeing that she has a great loving family in Mexico. I'm sure her nephew got heavy jail time, but deservingly so. The Japanese girl may have had some sympathy from viewers because she was deaf, lost her mother, and was mentally unstable. We get the idea that she was going to be okay in the end.
As far as the note, I don't believe that it was ratting on the father because he killed the mother, although that is possible. It's not really too easy to shoot oneself with a rifle for suicide. I think it was possibly an accident, with the same rifle. The father giving it away in Morroco could be for reason of disposing of the bad memories.

Agree with the last post insofar as the movie was significant and that the Japanese girl was the fulcrum.

This movie is about children, not six degrees of separation, not a gun, not people being mean to tourists. Look at the statement at the movie's end. Brad Pitt was great in the movie, but he and his wife merely explained the connection between the four stories. They made what was going on in the children's live's significant in the movie.

The build up is:

American children: supervised (but not by parents), nanny made a big goof compounded by her nephew's incredible bad judgment, end up OK. Father loves them and cries at the sound of the voices on the phone from Morocco. Mother and father are on the verge of splitting over death of their baby. Father realizes how important children are when he nearly loses wife and when children are nearly lost in the deset.

Morrocan children: unsupervised, made a typical child mistake that flew out of control, paid dearly. Father willing to leave everything for them, clearly thinks about grabbing gun and taking the rap. Loses a son. Younger boy's life takes a new path.

Japense girl: unsupervised, troubled, makes atypical child mistakes (due to mother dying, father working all of the time and being a deaf-mute); a figure deserving sympathy and understanding (if you didn't already have it for the other kids in the movie). Girl suffers rejection after rejection--clearly seeking male and parent attention. When she makes the big leap (and is about to make another leap, literally), she realizes and is guided to realize, almost too late, that she is making a mistake because of the extremely kind reaction of a cop. She finally gets attention, but by gathering her senses, not continuing on a troubled path. She is saved.

This is a movie about children and, to a lesser extent, paternal love. On a very superficial level, the movie's title refers to the many languages spoken but, on a deeper level, refers to the misunderstood and ignored cues from the children. Everything else is just the glue that holds this story together.

I would like to know what the note to cop said.

Definitely worth seeing. If you don't get the movie, you weren't paying attention and/or don't have kids.

I liked Babel.

It does not matter if unheard voices are spoken in English, Japanese, Mexican, or Moroccan Arabic.

The Japanese girl was the real fulcrum in this film, not the woman shot.

Importantly the Japanese girl was deaf.

The only character, at the end, at the top, to come out best - against our expectation that she had already jumped - was the only character in this exceptionally good film who most wanted to listen.

This is a film with a message well worth hearing over again.

Top marks I say.

"If you take anything away from this film it'll probably be that foreigners aren't to be trusted"

Oh my God, how can you be so unbelievably obtuse?
The film talks about precisely the opposite of the above statement: it's about the arrogance of Americans. In the Morrocan story it's the presumtiousness of the American govt that prevents help from getting to Susan in a timely manner. In the Mexican story the border guard comes across as Facistic.

"there's no deeper theme or overriding idea connecting all these little stories together. "

Perhaps you haven't bothered to think things through?
The American and Japanese stories are about pain and loss, and people not being able to communicate through their private sorrows. The Mexican and Morrocan stories are about racism, class, oppression. All four stories deal with miscommunication and misunderstanding. All these strands are interwoven together to form a rich fabric . Perhaps you need to view the film again?

As far as we were concerned this film was pretentious, typical American drivel . The best part of the film for me, was when I got so fed up with it, I had a bath and got my poor husband to let me know if anything worthwhile happened - he wasnt very pleased! Once again it looks like my ban on seeing American films was justified (I try and break my own rule every so often to see if anything has changed - not once have I been proved wrong!

I usually have a pretty hard, fast rule for myself when going
to a theater to see a motion picture. If, after, say maybe, the half way
point, I don't like what I'm seeing, I use the theater exit. For those who felt let down and their time wasted, that exit works like a charm every time. I too had a bit of a hard time with the flashing and the masturbation scenes that didn't seem necessary to what was going on. But I let it go.
Additionally, when I watch a motion picture, I don't need a profound message to be entertained. What I do need is to be pulled in, i.e., unaware that I'm sitting in that theater. If the film doesn't do that after a clip of time, I'm outa there. In spite of the graphic, really upsetting moments of Susan's fight for life, by that time, I was fairly well hooked and didn't immediately consider the exit sign. I thought that every single performance was top flight. I thought it interesting the way three far flung sets of people could have a plot relation. I liked that. Maybe I don't get out to movies enough and the weaving of three plots in this way has been done before unbeknownst to me. Consequently, I thought it fresh and interesting.
There is one last comment that I have concerning people who
saw this film. I noticed a fair number of families in the theater with
their (young) children. If they too felt that their "time was wasted,"
I'd like to take that idea further and say that their "time" with their children for that film was ill advised and I wish that at least one
of those knuckle head parents could read this. This one's not for kids, at all.

my ass is so wet right now...

Great review Josh. I loved the individual stories, but all together it meant nothing. I mean, what was it about? The only thematic trail I can take out of it as a whole is what a horrible destructive trail the americans leave in the wake of their own suffering, and how unaware of it they are. And the Mexicans always get the short end of the stick. Depressing.

The title Babel refers to the danger and isolation that a lack of communication can bring to relationships, and how it can touch off tradgedy. The girl can't talk to her father, nor he to her, Brad and Cate's marriage has broken down so completely after the death of their youngest to SIDS that they can barely speak easily to one another about the dangers lurking in a cup of ice, and there is a language barrier with the mexiacn nanny and the rough neck immigration officers... it's not that hard to figure out the themes here if one tries. I loved this film and thought it was deeply, deeply moving. Saw it on dvd last night and it rocked my world.

I have just watched the dvd with my wife, with 10mins of the movie i was dissappointed but fun enough my wife who is not really into movies did enjoy it she had to explian to me but still it made no sense to me. Good ensamble of actors though. for me it was difficult to put all the three different plots together, it might be that the director was trying to tell us that we might have different cultures and languanges but one way or another we face the same problems. i might try to watch it again, but the movie was dissapointing really. My rating of the movie is 0.5 out of ten

How could a few different stories assimilate to eachother..? What brings them together..? What was the author's purpose for such strategic way to lay out the scenaries..? jejeje, and I'm sure there are many other questions from different viewers. Anyhow, personally I have not seen the film as of yet but after reading various reviews I've come to see different perspectives and opinions. Some find it boring and depressing as mentioned above by our colleague, yet some found it interesting, while others found it touching. I guess we can elaborate and relate to every point of view according to every individual opinion. I guess I;d be able to post a my own as soon as I watch it. Thank you for the information.

You know what makes a successful movie (now, I am not saying a "good" movie), because success is what matters most, ie money.....you all sat through it. It went nowhere, but you all sat there waiting, in anticipation. And controversy. This film is controversial because you don't really know what it is about, but you will argue about it, and talk about it, and maybe watch it again to see something new. Depth is in the eye of the beholder...there may or may not be any to this movie. But what I can see is that it was successful. Now, I came here to see if someone had the answer to this movie, and what I have found is that there isn't an answer. It was just contoversial. Ninety percent of you hated it, but you watched it all, and it made you think anough to log on and see if someone had an answer for you. A film that can provoke thoughts and opinions, and make us all come together to find a greater meaning.....now that is depth

#4 — November 12, 2006 @ 21:55PM — Review 1 [URL]

I loved this film. I did get somewhat confused as to the outcome with Angelia. Did she get deported? The end shows Brad Pitt speaking to his son from the hospital and Angelina answers the phone. can anyone help me with this aspect.?


#5 — November 16, 2006 @ 13:52PM — Review 2 [URL]

The phone conversation first occurs early in the movie, and is simply repeated from Pitts side of the phone at the end of the movie.It also underscores how these traumatic events are going on without the other parties even knowing their import.

Time Line of the movie that confused me at the beginning

1st day - The american woman was shot in the bus
End of 1st day - Angelina was called by Bratt Pitt from the hospital b4 they went to Mexico (after the gun tragedy in morroco)
2nd day - 2 American white kids missing near borderline
5th day - Starting of investigation about the gun at Japan involving daughter and her father (Thats why u can see the face of guilty morroco's boy on TV watched by japanese girl)

Babel was also about how one seemingly innocent event in one time (the gift of a gun) has world-wide ramifications - in Morroco, Mexico, the US, Japan. It explores innerconnectedness in a gobal society - and racism, communications, bad parenting and the destruction of lives due to fire-arms. It also gloriously demonstrates the relationship of people to their geography - what contrast between the all the settings! This movie is thought-provoking - not necessarily the best I've seen, but I don't expect to see the best every time. I fully appreciate when a motion picture can challenge my assumptions, and enjoy them as much as those that aim merely to titillate the senses.

This has to go down as one of the most boring films I have ever seen. What a load of rubbish. Nothing happened. Ok, someone got shot... big deal.
I want the 2 hours and 10 minutes of my life back!

I think the Japanese girl was being sexual abused by the her father, because she lied about her mothers death, her father did not cover her up when he saw her on the balcony. He did not react, and just held her naked, thats bizzarre.
Even if your looking for love and attention, I dont know many who flash there bits at cafes, and who strip naked for strangers, let alone cops. She was one screwed up little girl!!

Maybe there was also some contrast about the inherent racism that exists in all of us. Moroccans and Mexicans on one end of the spectrum while the privileged Americans, Japanese and Germans on the other. The latter seem to enjoy a life of privilege, but it is at the cost of loosing the bonds of family and affection?

Throw it all together and mix it up and what comes out would be Babel. "My mother says that Mexico is dangerous" Yes, it's full of Mexicans". Would the police have reacted in the same manner, had it been a Moroccan villager that was instead shot? Why was the Border guard so obviously suspicious of the Nanny and her son? Why were the Germans so cold and ready to leave the woman who was shot behind? Then there was a Japanese girl who had everything anyone could ask for except for the love and attention we witnessed so vividly at the Mexican Wedding. Anytime a movie leaves me thinking about things, it is can be considered a good movie. This one did have a deeper thread, if you open are open to it, it is there. This one was about family.

A whole bunch of talk about a movie that's nothing but a pile of crap. Nothing else needs to be said.

This movie is good only for the people who have enough time to analyse it. It's just like reading a poem, you will need time to try to understand it. If you just go to the theatre, watch the film, eat popcorn, and come out with nothing in your mind, then this movie is a crap for you. Spend more time thinking about what the author tries to tell you, I am sure you will get something from the movie.

I think Babel is a great movie. Actually one of the best i've seen.
It talks about how we can't communicate.
I think there are alot of themes but related .. like the stories. One is the innocene.. if you see..all the problems started when a KID pulled the trigger of the gun. A KID. a KID that because of his culture acts older than he is, acts without the innocence that he MUST have. i thinks that's why there is the scene when he is masturbating, to make more obvious and more realistic how the innocence in himself is gone. Kids now a days act like grown ups..
Shows also the difference in cultures, like how do all the cultures see a gun, the japanese dad give it like a gift, mexicans use it in partys, in rodeos, in races, Morrocos give guns to their sons to make them see more mature, and americans are afraid of guns. But also shows that every culture neeeds something very important: LOVE AND AFFECTION. The boy just needed more affection and Love of his dad (Morroco).. The american kids were very happy with their nanny that was constantly giving them love and affection. The Love and Support that the two americans give each other even though the other americans left them alone. and the Love that the Japanese Girl needed to feel more accepted, and that's why she was looking for love, but in sex..
It's a great movie.. i love it.. and i understand if some american people just doesn't understand it.. i do think they make a big criticize to the way that SOME (not everyone) americans live.. with fear and just thinking of themselves.. like the tourist that left the two american husbands. And how the embassy felt superior to the morrocon.. but it also shows the kids.. the american kids who accepted everyone.. and of corse didn't understand things like why they killed a chicken or why they shoot a gun..

Well.. i don't know if i express myself OK.. but i think the Movie is great.. and it teach us really important things for acceptance, understanding, empathy, and LOVE. Love that everybody, eventhough different CULTURES, different LANGUAGES, different ways of everything.. feel equal and that's how we are all related to every person in this world.

Love the Movie!!! Love it!!!! One of the Best Movies Eveer!!

I had the same two questions as Sam (january 25th above). Does anyone know why the contents of the note from the police officer to the Japanese teen was not revealed and why she lied about her mother's deaf? I thought that possibly she was trying to protect her father from prison, whom she might have known murdered her mother (or suspected such) and who eventually took the gun faraway to dissipate his guilt. A young teen, having lost one parent would be very afraid of losing the other. Why else would she have made up the story about jumping if not to lead the police away from the gun (in her adolescent fearful thinking she was still fearing that they might figure something out about the gun) if, in fact, it was the same gun used in her death. (We don't know this either).

I just watched it on DVD tonight and I really liked it. Don't quite get what all the negative comments are all about. Out of all the BS I read here, LS's comment (the one just before mine) is perfect. Babel is a good movie. Perhaps too deep for most shallow people reviewing the movie here.

I saw this last night, and am still mulling it over. I don't think this is about language or politics or even guns, so much as total physical disconnection. (which in the bible is what happened to babylonians with language.) Here we have all the grownups physically leaving the kids alone and they're all in terrible danger as a result -- they shoot guns, wander streets and encounter drugs/sex, almost die in the desert without food/water. (Even in backstory they're alone: Chieko (sp??) was alone when she found her mother. Cate Blanchett's baby died alone. The nanny may have left her boy alone if she was in the U.S. for sixteen years and he wasn't.) The plot implies that the catalyst for events is the gun itself, but it seems more that it was Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett's decision to go to Morocco without their young children (who would do that??? especially considering they'd suffered a loss too -- a sibling.) Then the shooting brings about a series of assumptions (that terrorists did it; that the nanny could stay away from her son's wedding; that it would be okay to travel with a drunk driver; that the police were there for Chieko's dad to ask about her mother). And finally, a bunch of revealed truths: Cate's "it's not my fault;" Chieko getting totally naked and finally just letting go of her grief; the handwritten note; the border guard saying "they're not your children," Brad Pitt's brusqueness toward the nanny after she'd been there for years. The events in many ways were traumatic, but at the end, parent and children were reunited. Think about the last scene showing most of the parents: Nanny and son embracing; Brad Pitt on the phone with his boy; Chieko and her dad embracing; the Arab man cradling his oldest son.

I don't think Brad Pitt was the ugly American. Anyone would've done the same amount of hollering to save a loved one. It's human, not American.