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Reviews
Black Mold Exposure (2009)
An important documentary about a very serious health problem
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The main story is about two people who have become sensitized to mold toxins while living in a moldy house. It portrays the life of these two people along with the life of many others who have the same affliction or are somehow connected to the issue. There is a notable appearance of Dr. David Staus from Texas Tech University. Since 1993 he has studied how mold toxins (mycotoxins) cause health problems to people who are exposed to them.
This health problem is so huge and so devastating to those who are sensitized, yet many people who are personally not affected (and thus have no problems themselves in the same environment) feel that the whole thing has been overblown. They think the mold sensitized people are mentally ill, malingers, hypochondriacs etc. Nothing could be further from the truth. Common allergies are like nothing when compared to the health problems caused by mycotoxins. It is nothing less than the difference between sneezing due to allergy and being poisoned by biological weapon of mass destruction (which trichothecene mycotoxins really are).
That's why it is very important that this movie exists, as a testament from the bravest people in the world: "moldies" - men, women and children that go out of their way in order to avoid these toxins.
Midnight Express (1978)
My all time favourite movie
This is an unsurpassed cinematographic achievement that leaves you breathless. The lead actor did his job extremely well and the others were very convincing as well. The music by Giorgio Moroder is definitely a classic from 1970s.
The director (Alan Parker) and screenplay writer (Oliver Stone) slowly but surely paint the gloomy picture of unimaginable atrocities and horrors one can expect in a Turkish prison. As the movie proceeds you can almost physically feel what the personal hell of Billy Hayes really felt like. The direction and storytelling are masterful, and you are instantly immersed into this twilight zone of brutality which normal people can hardly understand, let alone condone. Some say it was OK to punish him because he was smuggling drugs. What? This type of reasoning and justification never ceases to amaze me. That's completely besides the point. The point is that a man was treated with unimaginable brutality, while his "crime" was obviously used just as a pretence. Oliver Stone doesn't want to waste his time on those who cannot understand such a basic thing, that the punishment in sick societies often has nothing to do with the "crime".
Unforgettable moments in the movie? There are so many, but if I had to choose, I'd single out all the scenes with the main prison bully, Hamidou, and when Billy walks in circles with the other prisoners like a lunatic, realizing he would go completely mad if he stayed there any longer. The moment when Billy gives his speech before the Turkish judge, is heart wrenching to say the least and represents the climax of the movie.
I first saw this film in 1993 on a local TV station, and although I realized immediately that the movie was crafted very well, I thought to myself: "oh, it can't be that bad in Turkey. They must have exaggerated things a lot". I was wrong. I was still young and naive and believed that people are generally pleasant everywhere. NOT!
I went to Turkey on a holiday, and albeit I didn't have any problems with their law, many of their hotels are like portals to Hell and much like the prison from this film - they are totally ridden with the nastiest toxic black MOULD, horrible food and often extremely rude Turks. My health was permanently damaged and I still suffer the consequences. Some of my friends had similar experience this year, after visiting Turkey. I guess not everywhere in turkey is so bad, but some places and people are definitely Hellish! I will NEVER go there again and I would not wish my worst enemy what I had to go through in Turkey.
In this age of sickening political correctness it is absolutely refreshing to watch a film like this one, a film that doesn't mind throwing the blunt truth right before your eyes, no matter how it might seem to any arrogant nationalist offended by the perfectly candid review of the repressive policies and practices, or by the representation of the repulsive dangers that can befall anyone who is unfortunate enough to experience the dark side of this country.
And for those Turks who are offended by this movie, I have to say only this: Why oh why don't you at least wash your hotels and remove the toxic mold that makes susceptible people extremely sick (but isn't pleasant for anyone for that matter). The toxic mold which some of your hotels are infested with can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting and even permanent neurological brain damage when touched or inhaled. People want to travel, not to become poisoned for life, you know? Why don't you serve food that won't make people sick? (if you didn't know, flies aren't good food for humans.) Why don't you treat holiday makers with some respect?
Of course, there are good Turks, I'm not generalizing, but the number of rude, dirty and impolite ones, which for some strange reason were put in charge in many Turkish holiday resorts, is just mind-boggling.
Kudos to Oliver Stone for not giving a damn what some might think about his beliefs and work. And for all of you who think this movie is biased or exaggerated - just go to tripadvisor dot com and do a search for "turkey and dirty". You'll be amazed with the number of reviews from various people that confirm exactly what I experienced. Why is this so, and why is it tolerated is beyond me. I guess people will go anywhere even if they get sick or get harassed by the locals, as long as it is cheap. Geez.