Plata quemada (English: Burnt Money) (2000)

Today I watched a movie "Burnt Money." That was great! At the beginning, I didn't like the topic, not because a topic of homosexual, but because of it's advocation of crime and drugs. However, later I seem to understand that there probably an internal causality in this context. The society rejected these two guys and forced them to become criminals. I was amazed by the whole story was based on a real one happened in Buenos Aires in 1965. It was also a novel written by Ricardo Piglia, which won the 1997 Planeta prize. My surprise was such a touching story was a fact, not a fiction.

The American Dream of Bruce Lee

I've heard a lot about Bruce Lee, but I have never try to seriously understand who he is and what he has done until today I watched the movie called "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" starring Jason Scott Lee. This movie gave me a rough idea of Bruce's life and stimulated my interests in his story. This movie shaped him having an American dream and saying himself as an American. However, he did not succeed in the U.S. until he turned to star in the Hong Kong movies. The discrimination did limit his career development in the U.S. and eventually it is his birthplace that brought him to be a superstar. This story line reminds me of my current situation. Will I succeed after leaving Taiwan for the States?

Furthermore, Obama defeated Senator Clinton to become the first African-American candidate for the American president election. Some critics said that the U.S. has gone through a big change after Martin Luther King's speech about "I have a dream" in the 1960s and that this result has proved that nowadays no matter the white or black both have the opportunity to run the presidential election. I am kind of suspicious of this conclusion.

Memorable Quotes

Linda: "Its okay, Im awake"
Bruce: "I was working on game of death, lost track of time. The kids okay?"
Linda: "Dont you ever get tired of asking that question?"
Bruce: "Linda, we've been through this before - I dont have a choice"
Linda: "You might not, but I do. Im taking the kids and going home for a while."
Bruce: "Home is here for now!"
Linda: "No... here is where we watch you work!"
Bruce: "What do you want me to do?"
Linda: "I want you to come with us"
Bruce: "I worked in America for 10 years - and what it get me? It got me nothing!"
Linda: "It got you me"
Bruce: "Oh man... [pause] they got such a good line of bullshit. 'Come and get it! America! The mountain of gold! Its for everybody! Yeah! its for everybody white but they dont tell you that! You gotta read the small print [pause] if you can read"
Linda: "I am not America! Your kids are not America! Dont push us away... Were going... I want you to come with us... I want the kids to have a father again."
Bruce: "Dont lay any guilt trips on me! Im NOT taking any guilt trips!"
Linda: "This place is eating us up, cant you see that Bruce!?"
Bruce: "This place has given us a life! Im SOMEBODY here, Im SPECIAL. Back there Im just another GOOK! Just another.. wet back.. Charlie Chan.. low payed dishwasher in a stinky stinky restaraunt!! - Starch your shirt Mr. White man! Pleasee! No ticky, no shirty, a one from colum A, and one from column B! Me happy to build the railroads! Me happy to dig the mines for you Mr. WHITE-MAN!!!" [visibly distressed] IS THAT WHO I AM? IS IT? TELL ME, TELL ME THATS WHO I AM!!!"
Linda: "I DONT KNOW who the hell you are anymore! [pause] Do you?"

[Shared] Bent - Introduction

Martin Sherman's best-known work, Bent, fits in both the categories of gay literature and Holocaust literature. Prior to Bent, there had been virtually no inclusion of gays in discussions about the Holocaust. Therefore, it had a groundbreaking impact when it was first staged off-Broadway in 1978; an impact that continued when the play was performed in London the next year and then finally brought to Broadway. Although the play has flaws, the uniqueness of the story line and the strength of its message about tolerance, love, and human dignity made the play successful. In fact, it was nominated for both a Pulitzer and a Tony in 1980.

The time period of the play is also different from most other Holocaust literature. Rather than being set during World War II, the story begins in 1934 when Hitler's purge of his Storm Troopers (SA) coincidentally led to the persecution of gays since the head of the SA was gay and his fall provided an excuse for going after other homosexuals. The play continues into 1936, when most of the world still had no idea that any concentration camps existed.

The subject matter, nudity, and verbal sex in the play were controversial enough, but Bent ignited further controversy with its suggestion that the gays suffered more than the Jews during the Holocaust. Debate continues among historians about the situation of each group under the Nazis. In the meantime, the play was staged in more than thirty countries during the 1980s and continues to be produced by community theaters across the United States. As a book, the play is available as a 1979 publication of Samuel French, Inc.

Bent Study Guide, by Martin Sherman

http://www.enotes.com/bent/