'When freedom cost a life, it's not freedom' , said the priest
'When life cost freedon, it's not freedom.' , replied Ramon Sempedro.
This is one of the dialogues extracted from Alejandro Amenabari's award winning controversial Spanish drama, The Sea Inside. Yes, the movie that puts Zhang Yimou's disgraceful Chinese arty-farty swordfighting comedy House of Flying Daggers to shame on the recent Golden Globe Awards. And also, Spain has choose this film over Pedro Almodovar's Bad Education for the enrolment to this year's Oscars.
Watched it at GV Grand after taking a 4 years break from there. Well, it was the last day of the run in Grand. So goes there over GV Plaza, where i went there till sian...
And this is the 2nd filmi watched in theatres directed by Alejandro Amenabar, with the 1st The Others, the horror film starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise as the producer. Did not watched his Open Your Eyes in theatres last year, despite the fact that it was highly recommended. Well, it was too old, cos it was made 8 years ago.
The Sea Inside discuss euthanization, where the disabled Ramon Sempedro choose to end his life by being euthanized, or to die by feeding in poison by doctors legally, just like how a vet choose to end the life of an animal who was beyond rescue. Ramon is a former sailor who breaks his spine from his neck onwards when he was diving into the sea in his late teens. Lying on the bed for the next 28 years, he has been thinking of ending his life, but of course, his loved ones does not let him do so. So, he has been fighting for his right to die legally. 2 women step into his life, and he was caught in between to die or to live on. Rosa, a married factory worker cum a part time DJ, chooses living on with life, and wants Ramon to live on despite facing all odds. Julia, a lawyer who is supporting Ramon's decision to end his life, feels the pain he is suffering when she suffers a stroke. In the end, it was a long journey for Ramon to get what he wants.
One of the few good movies watched, and of course, most might find it sian. But if could understand the message behind this movie, you will find another meaning to life.
To those who wants to kill themselves because of relationship problem and financial issues and whatsoever, but nothing to do with physical disabilities, please watch this before killing yourself. You may want to think twice after watching it.