The White Boy Saved Us All Again in Gladiator II
A direct fall into the white savior narrative

Julia, aged 18, kills her sister by pushing her from the 12th floor; and at the discotheque, she hits her classmate's head with a beer bottle. Julia is arrested and sent to the Girls Rehabilitation Centre where she is tortured and savaged by the guards. The film was originally a Korean movie from 1974 titled "Julie, a Half-blood" (https://www.kmdb.or.kr/eng/db/kor/detail/movie/K/02793), released 10 years later as a HK movie with fake credits.
A direct fall into the white savior narrative
Despite its glaring flaws, First Girl I Loved is not entirely undeserving of a watch. For people who can handle the more difficult aspects of the story and graphic scenes, it is worth looking into. It’s not a film worthy of rewatch, but it may still resonate somewhat with those who need a story like this. It is a genuine, if flimsy attempt at a coming-of-age tale. Were the film to be directed by someone with experiences more similar to Anne, it would likely be more powerful--as it is, it feels like a man’s perspective of what it means to come to terms with your identity as a lesbian.
"A Drowning Man" (2017) explores the unseen aspects of the Refugee Crisis. In, 15 far-too-short minutes, viewers are given a detailed snapshot of what it's like for a refugee to drown in the waters of poverty and otherness while trying to navigate a land whose promise has worn off, and only 'strange' remains.
'Midnight at the Paradise' premieres tomorrow at Toronto's Paradise Theatre! I had the pleasure to sit down with Vanessa Matsui to discuss the making of this film.
After two months of refusing to see this movie, I have decided that it’s finally Morbin’ time. After its re-release as a box office bomb; I watched it just to laugh at it. But, I was also surprised, because 'Morbius' is a queer allegory.