O Heroi _ C. Collins

- The class differences between the characters in o Herói.

- o Herói and La Vie Est Belle are very different films that both take place in war torn countries. Similarities? Differences?

- Prostheses (and/or their lack) appear in the films Turtles Can Fly, Kandahar, Saving Face, and o Herói. How might you read these films comparatively? 

Also, after viewing many non-Western films this semester, I would like you to think about what connections you are noticing and what repeated themes have caught your attention. Please begin to reflect on why you might be seeing these connections and/or why you think these themes are so prevalent (taking for granted that in many ways the films I chose do reflect not only a flawed world view, because they cannot appropriately represent “world film,” or “postcolonial film,” but also my own personal biases).

Vitorio's prosthesis is an object that might be used in a comparative way to the mask in Black Girl and the shoes in And So Angels Die in that they all show a loss or a removal of a piece of one's self. In Black Girl the mask represents a token that is first given perhaps as a peace offering or a gift but soon the mask takes on a much deeper meaning.  When the female protagonist is left enslaved, abandoned and abused within the french household the mask represents an element outside of the apartment. The mask represents a sense of "self", an element of family (since she bought it off of what appears to be her kid-brother), a representation of her culture. Vitorio's prosthesis takes on many meanings as well.  The prosthesis represents to Vitorio a piece of what makes him whole, it also expresses what he has lost externally when he was forced into fighting against the war. When Vitorio had his leg stolen he very obviously is now only a shell of who he once was, he has had his freedom to move about taken away. 

Class differences play an extreme part in the movie O Heroi,  and it becomes apparent very quickly just how much power is available to the upper class. Vitorio has given twenty years of his life as well as one of his limbs.  His country awarded him with a medal and no support for his PTSD, or any help finding work. Vitorio gave his all and now lives poor, on the streets.  His only coping mechanisms include drinking and the quick release of oxytocin via sexual activity with local sex workers. Joana represents to upper-middle class society, she has more power than Vitorio-- she is able to bring him into her home, give him a warm meal and use her connections to assist him in finding his prosthesis   Does she help him because she realizes that he is disadvantaged while she lives a comfortable life? Does she help him because he reminds her of an old friend from years ago? Is she doing this to assist her boyfriend's political connections? Pedro represents the highest tier that being of the privileged upper class. Pedro was able to seek his education in the U.S.A, he had a guaranteed job working for his politically connected uncle. Pedro has influenced and connections, he is able to assist Vitorio to gain back his lost leg. 

La Vie Est Belle and O Heroi both take place in war torn countries but focus on very differing elements of war. La Vie Est Belle focuses much more on the economic disadvantages brought upon civilians during war times. Basic goods are hard to come by for many of lower class, scrounging to make a small amount of money is a struggle,the rent is constantly increased but the cash flow does not does not increase to handle inflation. O Heroi on the other hand focuses more on the struggles of a soldier, post war.