Perfumed Nightmare is a semi-autobiographical third cinema film by Filipino director Kidlat Tahimik. It focuses on his journey from his small poor village in the Philippines to flying to Paris, and seeing the industrialized parts of the world that he has never experienced before. This film was interesting but at the same time very confusing. It didn’t seem to have a story line that viewers could easily pinpoint. You never knew what was gonna happen next. There was no clear goal or path in the story, but the viewer has to decide for themselves what they think the main focus of the film is.
One thing that really stood out to me about this film was that it was a Third Cinema film. Third Cinema was first coined as a way to influence revolutionary activism and it goes against the capitalist system and neocolonialism. It also goes against the Hollywood genre of film making for revenue purposes. I was confused about Kidlat’s purpose of Third Cinema until after seeing the movie. It took a while to figure out what his exact focus or purpose was, but I think I understand his vision a little more now. The movie made me feel many emotions throughout each scene. I felt sadness for Kidlat when he shows his village and how he and his people are very poor. One of the most important scenes to me is when he shows the ritual that little boys in his village must go through when they turn 8 or 9 to become “men.” The boys must be circumcised, but because they live in a third world country, they do not have doctors and medicines and the many things we have in industrialized countries. The boys are circumcised without any medical attention or medicine to aide with the pain. The whole time I was watching that gruesome scene, all I could think about was how much we take for granted in first world countries. We do not all fully understand the privileges we have and how easy a lot of things are for us. It made me realize that I need to take a step back in my life and stop acting so spoiled sometimes and really be thankful for what I have and what is provided to me. If I ever have any types of injuries I can easily go to a doctor’s office and get help and I am provided any medicine I may need. But they do not get that option in these countries. It saddens me that I get to sleep in a comfortable bed while small children have to sleep on a dirt ground every night somewhere else in the world.
To me, the meaning of Kidlat’s work was to show that the industrialized countries aren’t as great as it is made out to be. When he gets to Paris, he is so happy and is enjoying seeing all the technology and discovering things he has never seen or heard of before. The honeymoon phase ends when he starts working for the delivery business and goes to the large Supermarket. He sees the market with all of this food and supplies and he thinks of how much that one store could benefit and help feed his entire village and he becomes angry with the industrialized countries and how much we waste and take for granted. I interpreted the meaning of his work as his journey of discovering first world countries and realizing that they are very corrupt and selfish.
Due to the graphic nature, I believe the gruesome circumcision scene is something that many people would avoid in their responses. However, you interpreted in quite well. It is clear that we, living in a First world country, are blessed with proper medical aid. The disparity differences in culture and living conditions between first world and third would countries is so drastic I often find it hard to wrap my head around. Movies like Perfumed Nightmare, help convey the differences. I have the same takeaway feelings as you though, I am saddened and do not feel as though I deserve better just because I was born in a different place. I think films like Tahimik’s help first world country citizen’s realize their blessing and hopefully work to ensure that they don’t take advantages of what they have. I know films like these really challenge me to think in new ways.
After reading your post, I went back to re-read the definition of Third Cinema. I found out that the definition I wrote on another student’s blog post was the completely wrong definition. I wrote that Third Cinema mimicked the Hollywood style and was to make revenue. Which is the exact opposite of what it actually is. I agree with your comment about how the film does a great job of capturing different emotions from its audience. I think that this is because Kidlat both stars in and directs his film. Allowing him as an actor to emotionally capture how he visions the film as a director. I think this becomes clear in the scene you were discussing as Kidlat is touring his city. I also like your take on the circumcision scene. I think that you did a good job empathizing the scene as well as connecting it and tying into our lives in a first world country.
Actually, I couldn’t see whole of a circumcision scene because it was too much gruesome; however, what I felt at that time was completely agreed with you. In the film, Kidlat shows how industrialized countries are not so much good. But, to me, I still prefer the industrialized country. I guess that we might not be able to escape from the circumstance we live now once we experience those profit.
I understand that an industrialized country can appear to be more appealing. I believe this is applicable to us because this is what we have grown up with. On the other hand, Kidlat was not as impressed because he grew up in a completely different situation and learned to appreciate what he had. the circumcision scene was undoubtedly gruesome, however this was something to be expected in the culture where Kidlat originated from. Many emotions entered my spectrum while watching that particular scene as well. Above all, it made me feel extremely grateful for the medical benefits I have access to in an industrialized country.
I totally agree that this movie is a testament to how well we have it in America. The struggles that occur in Third World countries scares us and makes us interested because we truly cannot relate.
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