Guilty of buying pirated DVDs?

Every time I read the legal warning on  intellectual property violation  or one of those anti-piracy advertisements which precedes a movie on a pirated DVD, I can’t help but smile with irony. I wonder how many people actually get frightened by the message and feel remorse soliciting such illegal products?

Recently, a friend posted an article on counterfeit designer goods about how high fashion designers like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada, etc. are losing billions of dollars a year to copy cats around the world. My conscience is clear in this case because I don’t buy counterfeit designer bags or any fashion item for that matter. It’s not because I can afford the real thing since I obviously can’t. I just don’t really care about labels.

However, I’m guilty of buying pirated DVDs. It’s the same kind of violation no doubt. Do I feel guilty or remorse? I guess I don’t. Otherwise I would stop buying them. Should I feel guilty? To a certain extent, I should. But to what extent should it be and why not completely?

As someone who studied law, I should know that intellectual property should be protected. Artists, photographers, designers, writers and those in the entertainment industry spend a lot of time, energy and money to produce the work we get to enjoy every single day. They totally deserve to be paid for the royalty and copyright of what they have worked so hard for.

Having understood this, why don’t I care when I walk into a pirated DVD shop and start browsing through the latest season of my favourite TV series or movies? Sometimes, I even pay with my credit card. That goes to show how easy it is to purchase these goods.

In Malaysia, an original DVD costs about MYR50 (about US$14); some cost more, depending on the category (God knows how they come up with the categories and I could never understand them) and some less, if they are on sale or what they call best buy (they are often B-grade movies that don’t sell. So it figures why they are so cheap).

A pirated DVD copy costs about MYR10 (slightly more than US$3). In some shops, when you buy five, you get one free. There are others where they give you one of those Starbucks or Coffeebean card that comes with a stamp each time you buy one and once you collect all 10, they throw in some free copies for you. This is how organized and attractive their marketing skills have become.

Not only that, customer service is usually great too. Some shops will tell you in advance whether a copy is of good quality (you know, not the ones where they are being filmed in the cinema and you get silhouettes of spectators walking about in front of the screen) and if you’re not pleased with the quality, you can always get it exchanged, without the need for the receipt because they usually remember you.

So, of course, you continue to see loyal customers flocking into the shop every single day. What the movie industry is losing, the “pirates” are gaining.

One day, I bumped into a reputable and highly respected senior lawyer in Malaysia in one of these DVD shops. I know for a fact that this lawyer has made a rather comfortable living from his practice. I was surprised and shocked to see him there simply for two reasons.

One, I know him as a man with high moral integrity. Two, he’s rich enough to buy thousands of original DVDs if he wants to. So, I was naturally curious to find out why he would allow himself to commit such a crime.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t ask him and instead, I ask myself the same question. If you’ve been to my apartment, you’ll see that I have a whole cupboard filled with DVDs. Many would assume that all of them are fake copies. On the contrary, I would say that 25% are originals; most of them from France and some are bought through Amazon.com. So in fact, I’ve spent considerably much more on these originals than the pirated ones since they are purchased in Euros or US dollars, in addition to the delivery and cargo charges.

So, can I afford to buy original DVDs and if yes, would I? Obviously I can and I would. But why is it then that I don’t buy original DVDs when I’m in Malaysia?

The answer is quite simple really. The fact that these pirated DVDs are so accessible, has made them the preferred choice. Of course for many people, the cost is an important factor but there are other people like that lawyer and myself who have chosen to participate in this illegal activity simply because we can. We get away with it because our law enforcement is so weak and corruption is so rampant that even people like us know that nothing will happen to us.

In all the developing countries I have been; Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Cambodia and Indonesia, pirated DVDs are as available as Malaysia. Here in Cambodia, the DVDs are even cheaper, selling at US$1.50 per copy. So it’s obvious that this illegal industry thrives in countries where the law enforcers are so corrupted that it makes it perfectly innocent to walk into a DVD shop without impunity.

I would take this further by saying that there is another reason for buying fake DVDs in Malaysia. Why would I pay for an original DVD when I know that any scene considered as violent, pornographic, vulgar or inappropriate by our Ministry of Information will be censored? Would you pay for a genuine Louis Vuitton knowing that the label is missing?

It’s completely ridiculous to watch a movie when the government has butchered its artistic, creative, political, cultural and religious integrity. Just imagine watching Schindler’s List without the scene of naked women in what was presumed to be the gas chamber, had the movie passed the censorship board. I wouldn’t have managed to watch great movies with some elements of eroticism like Betty Blue, Samsara and Fire (picture above) if I don’t get them in pirated copies.

OK, so I can still buy them from Amazon.com but would they get delivered to my door without the custom officer spying on them and confiscate what they understand as unsuitable pornographic materials? (In fact, this did happen once when some DVDs I ordered never arrive and since then I stopped buying them online.)

So yes, going back to my first question. To what extent should I feel guilty about buying these pirated DVDs when the government is too busy occupying themselves with frivolous matters like censorship than enforcing laws against piracy? You tell me.

Discovering Phnom Penh in a few hours

As soon as I heard a new cafe serving six types of freshly roasted coffee beans has just opened up in Phnom Penh,  I decided to try it out yesterday. Being a coffee lover (note, not addict), I was anxious to see for myself whether it’s as good as what the review has said.

As I was riding in a tuk-tuk on my way to Cafe Symphonies (#81, Sisowath Quay), we went past a busy and crowded crossroads between Street 13 and Street 108. I haven’t really been there before but the atmosphere was a harbinger of something interesting to come. There was so much action going on judging from the throngs of people moving around purposefully. I made a mental note to trace back to the place right after I had my breakfast and a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Alas! Cafe Symphonies does not serve food and I was not willing to drink a strong cup of coffee with an empty stomach. But as the review said, the lovely and intoxicating aroma of roasted coffee was worth the short whiff. I told the lady that I would come back after having my lunch, but I didn’t. Street 110 was too much of an excitement for a day and coffee would just send me right over the top.

Anyway, I was glad that I didn’t leave my photo camera behind. As I walked back to that crossroad, I was pleasantly surprised by the assault of local scent, noise, taste and colour at every corner. Most tourists or expats would normally stop by the tonnes of restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels lining Sisowath Quay (aka Riverfront) and only a few manage to walk further down on Street 110 towards Street 13. I guess I’m one of the lucky few.

I was glad that I stumbled upon this path less travelled by many of us. If you are here in Phnom Penh and plan to do some walk-about around the city, you might want to consider this itinerary.

0900: Breakfast at the Amazon Bistro (#8, Street 102)

Start off your morning tour with a hearty breakfast and Jazz and Bossa Nova music at this small bistro situated at a relatively quiet street. The old buildings with French louvers are rather quaint and charming. For just US$5, you get a full breakfast of scrambled eggs, croissant, toast with butter and jam, a cup of Vietnamese coffee and orange juice (not fresh though). However, if you prefer to go native, there is a restaurant just right next to the Amazon Bistro serving rice, noodles with mixed vegetables and meat although Amazon Bistro serves local cuisine as well.

 

0945: Market area on the crossroad of Street 13 and 110

Before proceeding to the market, it’s worth stopping by at the infamous Green Vespa pub (#95, Sisowath Quay), if only just to have a look at the monochromatic pictures of beautiful international actresses posing with different models of vespa mounted on the walls.  Go on and have a draft beer if you feel like it, especially if you’re on vacation.

Unfortunately, I felt that the owner wasn’t too friendly. Perhaps, all the fame has gone into his head and the place is mostly frequented by expats, especially those of the middle-aged, beer-bellied type.

Before heading towards Street 106, walk past across the Bopha Phnom Penh Titanic Restaurant and enjoy the view of its strikingly beautiful traditional Khmer roof.  Along Street 106, you’ll see an old laundry shop on your right. Walk further down and turn left. You’ll reach the crossroad of Street 13 (see picture below) and 108. Remember to look to your right and left before crossing the road.

This open market is rather small compared to the dozens of others around the city. It might just as well since the bigger market can be quite daunting especially if you’re not used to the heat and crowd.

Since it’s open, you can observe pedlars selling pickled fruits, spiced cockles, broomsticks and sugarcane juice on their bicycles or carts. Otherwise, watch the bored look of cyclo-riders and fruit vendors staring into vacant spaces as they wait patiently for the arrival of customers. Who says business is easy when the economy is down?

 

        

As you can see below, Cambodia is bestowed with a tropical climate which makes it a haven for growing fruits. Here, you can find almost any fruits you would  normally find in other parts of South East Asia (bananas, rambutans, durians, mangosteens, dragonfruits, oranges, etc.), but they somehow look juicier, fresher and I would suppose cheaper as well. It’s true that bananas that are as big as your little finger are the sweetest. Don’t forget to pick up some lotus flowers along the way. The subtle but alluring fragrance beats any synthetic air freshener anytime.

 

Walking about in the heat will no doubt leave you thirsty and perhaps peckish as well. Do try the freshly squeezed sugarcane juice and some of the local snacks such as grilled fish or cockles. The sugarcane juice is normally mixed with a squeeze of fresh lime juice to tame the sweetness, giving it a refreshing quench. If you’re concerned about the hygiene, it might reassure you that I’ve not had any unwanted incident yet. Besides, the smell of grilled fish will most likely make it difficult to resist.

 

1100: Shop along Street 110 and arrive at Sisowath Quay (aka Riverfront)

Now that you have check out the market area, it’s time to do some shopping indoors. Turn back and walk along Street 110 towards the Riverfront. If you’re a knife lover, you’ll be happy to find Citadel (#11, Street 110), an internationally known shop specializing in all kinds of knives produced locally at a workshop situated near the international airport.

Once finished, walk just a few steps further and you’re back at the Riverfront. Take a right turn and walk along the rows of shops, cafes and restaurants. Not far away, you’ll come across a cookie shop called Camory Cookies (#167, Sisowath Quay), what they claim as the best cookie in town. There is a small table at the entrance for you to sample the different types of cookies sold. The oatmeal with cashew nut and palm sugar with honey are simply delicious! If you decide to buy some (US$3/10 pieces), 50% of what you pay would go towards an orphanage.

1200: Lunch with a twist at the Mekong River Restaurant (#1, Corner of Street 118 & Sisowath Quay)

Situated at the crossroad between Street 118 and Sisowath Quay, the Mekong River restaurant is rather special for two things. Firstly, it plays two documentaries in English and French daily at scheduled time with a charge of US$3/person (please call 012494705 for the schedule). Now, watching Pol Pot:The History of Genocide and The Mines in Cambodia and the World may not go down well with your food, but you can always catch the documentaries later on in the evening.

Secondly, you are able to try snake wine at the restaurant (definitely not for the faint-hearted or animal activists). I have a strong feeling that most people will be able to swallow the documentaries easier than the wine. If you like them, you can buy some  at 3 different sizes, selling at USD$6.50, 10.50 and 16.50 each, they all come with a baby cobra and scorpion stuffed into recycled Hennessy Cognac bottles.

 

1315: Continue shopping along Sisowath Quay

Once you’re stuffed, burn off some calories by continuing to walk along the Riverfront. Take a few minutes to look at the different silk products at the KNN Cambodia Arts and Crafts (#169E, Sisowath Quay). If you feel like doing something for the environment, it sells some pretty creative bags and note pads made out of recycled materials.

For men, if have gone to Indonesia or Malaysia but failed to buy some cotton batik shirts, you can find some along the way. Do remember to look up because they are hung high up above the shops and are easy to miss.

1400: End your tour with a massage at Islands Massage (approaching corner of Street 130)

From the exterior, this massage place doesn’t look too enticing especially when compared to so many other spas along the Riverfront. However, with a great bargain at US$8/1 hour full body oil massage, you’ll be pleased to know that the massages are in fact really good and it comes with an adventure as well. You’ll be brought into a really dark room with only the soft music guiding your senses and right there, you’re asked to strip. It’s up to you whether you choose to strip down to the bare minimum or retain your underclothing.

Don’t expect a massage table because there are just mattresses lining the whole floor (so yes, it’s not an individual room but a shared common room). As soon as you’re asked to lie down, the masseur immediately treats you to an hour of blissful kneading, pounding and twisting of your body in total darkness. I assure you that it may seem alarming at first but once you allow your sense of adventure to take over, you’ll be wanting to go back for more. The good thing is, only ladies are allowed (sorry, guys!).

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I find that whether you are living in Phnom Penh or just visiting, the city has the ability to continuously surprise you. Phnom Penh is not just about the pagodas, Royal Palace, the Killing Field or the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. All you need is to walk around the city and you’re bound to stumble across a street that is filled with a lot of local flavour.

The day Michael Jackson died

The recent demise of the King of Pop sent shockwaves throughout the entire world. I couldn’t believe it myself. I was woken up by a friend’s SMS on Friday morning with the words, “Michael Jackson is dead.” In my grogginess, I thought it was some kind of a joke (this friend has a knack of waking me up early in the morning with her SMS, knowing fully well that I’m not a morning person at all).

But seriously, not to be disrespectful or anything, someone as big as MJ is bound to get into some kind of trouble when it comes to their mortality. Look at Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon and Bruce Lee. I just didn’t think that MJ would die of a cardiac arrest. Even Lady D’s death was more dramatic than the guy who had created all sorts of controversy throughout most parts of his life.

You would think that growing up with MJ’s songs would leave me with extreme fondness and sentiments upon hearing his death. Strangely enough, I felt a momentary sense of sadness and pity for the loss of a person’s life; just as I would feel for anyone. I think what had really aroused my curiosity and concern about his death was how his fans would cope with his departure, having remember the images of fans breaking down and crying whenever they saw him in concert. I remember feeling disturbed witnessing how a human being could be worshipped and idolized in that way.

On the day when all the international news channel were broadcasting the news of his death, my husband blurted out in frustration, “Why must he die in such a bad timing, dammit!”

You see, just before his death, the political riot in Iran was occupying most of the headlines. Just when all the international community was giving attention to the uprising of Iranian youths against the allegedly foul play in the recent Presidential election, it sort of sizzled off as soon as MJ died. What would appear as another landmark political revolution in Iran since 1979, suddenly didn’t seem quite as interesting as the death of the King of Pop.

The thought of writing a tribute to MJ never crossed my mind. I think his long period of silence in the past few years had sort of diluted the magnitude of his popularity and influence in the music industry. He became more of a source for gossip columns rather than his artistic ingenuity. The other thing is, I am not that teenager who wished she could dance like Michael Jackson in his Smooth Criminal video anymore and I have also lost touch with the entertainment industry for a long while now.

But when I read David Segal’s article After Michael Jackson, Fame May Never be the Same in The New York Times, I felt the need to write what I thought is untrue in regards to some of the things he wrote.

According to Segal, the main reason why there will never be another celebrity as big as MJ is due to the unlimited access to online internet sources; YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Before such technological advancement, Hollywood superstars had to rely on the Ed Sullivan Show and MTV to make an appearance to generate publicity. It was easier to compete with each other due to smaller and exclusive pool of celebrities. The path to stardom relied very much on how much air time you gained on these popular TV shows and naturally, not everyone was invited to make an appearance.

Now, literally anyone can upload videos on YouTube or write about any particular personality on blogs, making competition that much tougher. Any Tom, Dick or Harriet can generate publicity with just a click of a button on the keyboard and hey presto, news will travel from one corner of the earth to the next in a matter of seconds.

I agree with Segal that it will be extremely difficult to have someone as phenomenal as MJ and the fame he generated will never be the same again. However, I would rather attribute this to two main factors, other than what he claimed.

First of all, MJ became as big as he was simply because he had that something many other musicians didn’t. He persistently rose to fame since he was a child with the Jackson Five. He wasn’t one of those types who was a child star and then hit rock bottom at the same time as puberty. Neither was he the type whose popularity dropped as soon as he became a solo artist. His talent and if I may say so, personality, were much bigger than his other brothers or sisters, and perhaps even himself.

MJ could do almost anything as an entertainer (short of acting). He could write songs, sing, choreograph and dance and he did it better than almost anyone in the history of modern music. His music was not mundane or carried that safe monotonous signature tune most singers often stick to.

MJ managed to reinvent his musical style (well, that and his physical appearance) which made him a truly creative and innovative artist. He revolutionized pop culture for crying out loud! Many artists tried to copy his moon walk and crotch grabbing movements but those movements, HELLO! will always belong to Michael Jackson. Thus, he created an immortalized image for himself.

His music videos were just stunning and phenomenal. Unfortunately, I can’t comment about his concert since I didn’t have the privilege to see one but I can bet they were as equally, if not more, astounding.

His unique voice was another strength of his. He could sing a sentimental ballad which made your heart wants to cry out loud and at the same time, made your feet do involuntary crazy little movements you never thought you could when he rocked you with his upbeat tunes.

So, Mr. Segal, sorry to say this but MJ owed his fame to his unprecedented and extraordinary talent, unblemished and unchallenged by any other musicians of our time. I even reckon that if YouTube and Facebook have existed then, it would have made him even bigger, not smaller.

You could have posted anyone on YouTube and if he or she has the talent of William Hung, I don’t think the fame would have lasted more than a year, give or take. Unless an artist is able to come back again and again with even more extraordinary treats, none of these media tools would have helped.

The second factor is, Segal is right about the increasing competition in the entertainment world today. However, I don’t think the competition comes from the unlimited access to online social network tools. During the past few years, we have seen the production of countless numbers of competitive talent shows on American TV; American Idol, America’s Got Talent, America’s Next Top Model, etc. The popularity of these shows have grown so much that many other countries have started their own version.

So yeah, what has made showbiz more competitive now than ever before, is that almost anyone has an opportunity to become a star, if you have the right talent for it. YouTubes are handy when it comes to publicizing the talents of those who have won the hearts of viewers such as Adam Lambert and Susan Boyle. I have a friend who is completely in love with Lambert and has persistently posted dozens of videos of him on Facebook. People don’t just post someone on YouTube and expect others to take notice  unless that someone has something extraordinary to offer or has appeared in one of those talent shows.

Having said this, I still don’t think anyone could have achieved the kind of fame that Michael Jackson had, with the exceptions of a few rare ones; The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Bruce Lee, Marilyn Monroe and my own personal pick, Madonna. What made these individuals truly unforgettable is how they have managed to win the hearts of the people, each in their own individual ways. It has nothing to do with the internet. I may see a certain someone with talent on my Facebook, but will it sustain my interest enough to want to see more of this person?

MJ was an identifying figure while I was growing up. Mom loved his Beat It and would rant on and on about it when she saw the video on TV. I was really scared when I watched his Thriller video when I was just nine years old and thought how crazy it was to have ghosts dancing like that on the streets.

Whose voice it was that strike your ears the most when you listen to We Are the World?  I loved dancing to the Jazz choreography of his song Billie Jean when I was taking my Jazz Dance examination at the age of 17.

We all talked about how bizarre he was when he got his skin tone altered and his facial features changed but yet were awe-stricken by his Black and White song and video. In university, we went crazy and synched our movements together when Blame It On the Boogie came on at the 70s and 80s music disco night. One of my housemates drove me insane when she kept playing You Are Not Alone over and over again.

Nobody could have made such a fantastic comeback again and again as MJ did. I bet that he would have successfully revived his career with that concert he was supposed to do before he died. Unfortunately he didn’t but I won’t be surprised if we continue to listen to his songs on the radio, TV and YouTube for many years to come. I’m only waiting to see whether my niece will one day come to me and asked, “Were you listening to Michael Jackson when you were younger?” as I have asked Mom about Elvis Presley.

Thanks to David Segal, I am able to see and understand why the world had mourned for someone like Michael Jackson on the day he died.

A different kind of shopping in Phnom Penh

They say that all nice things come in small packages. In Cambodia, it’s all small things come in nice packages.

Shopping can be really fun in Phnom Penh although it will take you several tuk-tuk rides from one place to another since there are not many malls. Even then, the malls are not very interesting and don’t really house many shops that sell nice and good quality stuff.

Phnom Penh has seen a mushrooming of small boutique shops that sell Cambodian-made silk products, clothing, accessories, home decoration, household upholstery and beddings, arts and crafts, etc. in the past few years. Although most of the shops are really small but the items sold are usually handmade, unique and pretty. Some might be a bit too pricey (all in US dollars) but it’s worth the purchase as they are usually high in quality and not made for mass production. In addition to this, many of the shops are operated by locals and profits are channelled towards funding NGOs and creating sustainable livelihood for the communities.

I have a friend who came to Phnom Penh not too long ago just for the shopping. She has fallen in love with a particular boutique selling silk women’s clothing. Needless to say, she went on a shopping frenzy and I can understand why. The hand-woven silk, satin and organza materials feel rich to the touch, the colours are not the usual bright and loud type and the design and cutting is made to fit any body type. They provide free altercation if you have enough time here. A purchase will set you back quite a lot but if you can afford it, as my friend does, a dress will make quite an impression at a cocktail party in New York City, for instance.

Anyway, I’ve done some shopping lately in Phnom Penh and what really interests me is that many of these boutique shops provide lovely and environmentally friendly packaging when you purchase their goods. Even when you buy lotus flowers at the local market, they are wrapped in fresh lotus leaves! This makes the shopping experience truly nicer and if you’re planning to buy someone a gift, there is no need for gift wrapping, which means more thumbs up for the environment.

Here are just some pictures to illustrate what makes shopping different in Cambodia.

This is a gift I bought for a friend from Elsewhere (Street 278). It comes with a lovely baby blue cloth pouch.

Inside this palm leaves container are some napkin holders. This is bought at Sophanna Boutique (#24, Street 144/49). The container can be used again for gifts or to hold other small items; stationery, letters, toiletries, etc.

These are famous Kampot peppers and palm sugar. You can find them in most supermarkets or souvenir shops. They usually come in such wrappings even if they are not meant as souvenir items.

Bags made out of left-over cloth from Bliss (#29, Street 240). They come in different sizes depending on the size of your purchase. Bliss operates as a spa but also sell beauty products made from natural ingredients, cotton clothes, accessories, handbags and lovely beddings.

Left: A polka-dot dress I bought in Orange River (#361E, Sisowath Quay, two stores away from the FCC) wrapped snugly in a salmon pink organza pouch. Right: A tiger balm with steel applier in a bamboo box. This is bought at the Phnom Penh International airport. You can find this in other handicrafts shops in Phnom Penh city.

These beautiful multi-coloured silk coasters are complimentary gifts from Orange River. Again, many shops here utilize their materials efficiently. Excess materials are not tossed away but creatively made into small decorative items, hand carrier bags or free gifts.

This lotus leave from the flowers I bought is used as a natural and beautiful “plate” for fresh food ingredients and fruits. They really spice up your kitchen.

Fire by Deepa Mehta

If you have heard of Indian-born Canadian Director Deepa Mehta, you’ll know her Elements Trilogy: Fire (1996), Earth (1998) and Water (2005), all of which are set in India.

Mehta is the sort of the movie Director who tackles difficult and controversial issues. I’ve watched Earth and Water a couple of years ago and was highly impressed with her work. Today, I completed her trilogy by watching Fire.

It is strange that I haven’t even heard of Fire until recently although it is the first part of her trilogy. It seems that the film had gained very little attention due to the release of Mira Nair’s erotic Kama Sutra at the same time.

At first, it was easy to assume that Fire would deal with the practice of sati, where widowed women in some Hindu communities either voluntarily or are forced into (usually the latter) immolating herself on her husband’s funeral pyre. After all, her other movie, Water, dealt with the morality of another harsh cultural practice in India where widows are rendered as untouchables by being forced into isolation from the community. Some of them include girls as young as nine who are forced into marriage.

Surprisingly, Fire is about lesbianism although the title itself signifies desire or temptation.  While the subject may not be as ghastly as sati, homosexuality in conservative India may be even more controversial. Apparently during the screening of the movie, some Hindu community who objected to Mehta’s depiction of homosexuality in Hindu culture, had organized attacks on cinemas. Water, was subsequently filmed in Sri Lanka instead of India due to security reasons.

In the past few years, I’ve seen the mushrooming of movies tackling the issue of homosexuality in conservative Asia (mostly in Chinese culture); Happy Together, Saving Face and my all time favourite, The Wedding Banquet by Ang Lee. None of them has the same kind of impact as Mehta’s Fire for the reasons below.

First of all, perhaps being a woman, Mehta has a clear understanding and empathy for the oppression of women’s rights and liberty in patriarchal societies such as India. Unlike most of the other movies bearing the same genre as mentioned above, the two main characters, Radha and Sita, are not lesbians to begin with. In fact, they are both married to two brothers.

Radha, the older of the two women, is married to Ashok, a man who devotes his life to celibacy after discovering Radha’s inability to bear any children. Although Ashok appears to be a kind and good husband, he fails to provide the one thing which could make Radha feels like a woman. Not only that, he subjects her to engage in cruel bedroom ritual by forcing her to lie beside him without touching her, as a test to his own purity. This goes on for thirteen years of their marriage together.

Sita, on the other hand, is married to Jatin, by way of an arranged marriage. Jatin is in love with another woman and in many ways, continues to keep his affair with the woman openly. Thus, Sita begins her loveless married life in complete loneliness and isolation.

Thankfully, due to Sita’s unconventional and modern spirit, she refuses to succumb further to the family’s expectations, mainly as a baby-making machine in order to compensate for Radha and Ashok’s infertility. She soon adapts to her new environment by finding comfort and solidarity in Radha.

Hence, a discovery journey begins for two lonely women whose lives are bound by strict cultural duties and expectations. They begin to learn, explore and embrace the meaning of love, sexuality and individual identity.

From the storyline, I feel that Mehta has managed to explore much deeper into the complexity of human relationships, especially those from the same sex. While we each has the ability to feel threatened by each other, we also have the ability to find love and fulfilment when there is none to be found from the member of the opposite sex.

The movie begs to ask the question whether women are able to cross the line from sisterhood into something which is much more intense and intimate? If yes, is it morally wrong then?

The other interesting aspect of the movie is its strong portrayal of our desperate need for physical, emotional and spiritual intimacy despite our moral and cultural restrictions or obligations. Mehta clearly has no inhibitions in showing the reality and flaws of human nature. There is one particular scene where Mundu, a servant who feels unappreciated and neglected,  masturbates enthusiastically while watching a porn movie in front of Biji, the mute and paralyzed matriarch. What would normally be considered as a distasteful act in many cinematography touching on conservative culture, Mehta was bold enough to display the realistic side of human life.

Once again, Mehta has consistently proven her ability as a visionary and courageous movie director of our time. Not only that, her trilogy were all beautifully filmed despite the ugliness of its subject matter. Her combination of artistic realism has made each movie worth watching again and again.

International Cat Show at Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur

I was never a cat person. I don’t have ailurophobia (fear of cats). I just had the impression that cats were arrogant and unsociable animals. Whenever I tried get their attention, they turned away with this bored and superior look on them. So, I decided that they were not worth my time and attention.

Ever since I adopted a cat in Phnom Penh, I am pleasantly surprised by their behaviour and ability to provide great companionship. Slowly, I began to fall in love with the cat.

My husband and I are in the midst of relocating back to Malaysia. We have decided to bring our cat back with us since she has become an indispensable part of the family. We have bought some books on cats to understand more about their behaviour and needs. After reading them, I’ve learned a lot about this elegant and “aloof” creature and quickly discovered how much they have been misunderstood. In fact, I actually find them more interesting than dogs.

One of the reasons why dogs are much more eager to receive attention and affection from us is because they have been domesticated much longer than cats. Cats, on the other hand, are still very much guided by their feral instinct, making them more difficult to tame. Unlike dogs, they are known as solitary hunters and hence tend to be more independent.

Apparently, cats tend to avoid people who give them too much attention. It isn’t because they are arrogant or they like to be pursued. Persistent eye contact such as staring and great amount of fussing make them feel challenged and cornered.

Unless they are familiar with you, cats do not like their bodies to be touched, looked at or spoken to. They like to have their personal space in order to feel secure. They prefer to check you out first by rubbing themselves against your legs to leave their scent on you as a way of marking you.

This explains why cats normally follow and pursue a friend of mine who doesn’t like cats and simply ignore them.  By ignoring them, they feel unthreatened and safe which then trigger their interest to get to know the person. So, all those times that I had tried to fuss over them had in fact put them off.

Anyway, since I’ve suddenly became an overnight cat lover, I was excited to find out that Mid Valley Megamall is having an International Cat Show from 26 to 28 June 2009 and coincidentally I am home during this period. I thought it would be a good place to receive first hand information and tips on cats especially when we’re now preparing to relocate our feline friend to a new home.

So, I paid the RM5 entrance fee and couldn’t wait to spend to a few hours going through exhibition booths selling cat products; food, litter, cargo cage, toys, books, etc. I even expected to meet vets or cat experts who could provide advice on how to take care of cats. Alas! I was sorely disappointed.

All in all, it took me only 15 minutes to get in and out again from the show. I didn’t know that when Mid Valley organizes an International Cat Show, it meant having about 15 pedigree breeds confined in small individual metal cages.

I tried to look at the cats but it was impossible as flocks of people were seen gathering close to the cages and since there were only about 15 of them, they stationed themselves by the cage, refusing to budge or give way for others to have a look.

Worst of all, many of the “spectators” spent their time poking the cats through the cages with their brochures, trying to gain their attention (pictures above). The cats didn’t look happy. In fact, they looked miserable, nervous and uncomfortable; most of them crouching at the corner of the cage.

There was nobody there to supervise or make sure that some sort of a safe distance is demarcated between the cage and spectators. This would have made the cats feel more comfortable and provide other people a chance to have a look from a distance.

I left the show feeling embarrassed, cheated, disappointed and upset. Embarrassed because yet again, another Malaysian initiative that has failed to live up to expectations by hiding behind a prestigious label while displaying shoddy and lame effort. Cheated and disappointed because I paid RM5 for absolutely nothing. Upset because the people were uncivilized and insensitive.

I thought it would have been better if there was some kind of sensitization effort made by the organizers, especially for those who might not know much about cats. After all, it’s a cat show and it’s supposed to provide people with the opportunity to learn more about them, not just as displays to be poked at.

Altogether, a very poor and embarrassing show. I hope Mid Valley Megamall will never organize something like this again unless they decide to do it wholeheartedly and not as an opportunistic mean for the organizer to rip off customers.