In the film Dekada ’70, there were issues that were brought up within this period when President Marcos was in power. Though the story was based on a family, I think there was an overall message that was parallel to what was happening with the government. Some of the issues were the roles of women at home, work, and in politics. In the film, Amanda played a huge role. Being the mother of all boys and the only female in the family then being a wife to her very prideful and controlling husband, Julian. However he likes to keep his feelings inside in the exception when his son Jason died. I think Amanda represented the people of the Philippines where her husband controlled her while the people were controlled by the government and during this period, it was the time when President Marcos was in command. Example when she wanted to work and be a career woman, Julian did not let her work probably because it made the husband seemed weak and that he can’t provide for his own family. There was one scene when the people were rallying and Amanda and her children happened to pass by. I think this foreshadow the violence and cruelty in the later part of the film. Being the authority figure, Julian and the government had great control and authority over the family and the people, respectively. However, no matter how controlling Julian was, he was not able to control his son Jules from going against the government because he supported him which was contradicted to what he wants for Amanda and that was to not work. Amanda and Jules were very similar characters in that they were trying to achieve political justice and gain their human rights whether from her husband or his government. Also, in the beginning Amanda was narrating about the hand that rocks the cradle for the baby until the baby grow up. Then the woman is citizen who belongs to the world. She also included that the woman shouldn’t be confine in a room but should be part of the world. This was like the metaphor for the doves that Amanda’s youngest son freed in order to find their own nest. I thought about Amanda’s relationship with her daughter-in-laws and both have a child. What they learn from Amanda will basically help shape the maternal qualities in rearing their child even when they were brought up from different world.
In Spider Man I, the grandfather told Peter when he first found out of his super power that ‘with great power comes great responsibility’. For me, people in society who excess of power in their hand have responsibility to manage whatever power, gifts, or talents they may have. With such great power, it should not be use to manipulate or oppress people in the hope of personal gain. Instead, use such great power to bring change and also betterment of society. One should act ethically in the face of dictatorship so that harm is not imposed on people and therefore avoid conflict and hurt to different parties. Silence can become unethical. For example, in medical field, no matter how bad the diagnosis is, the patient and the family still have the right to know the truth in order for them to make wise decision. It is the same thing in research when human subject is concern. You want the people to be informed with the risk of such research. Silence becomes ethical in certain circumstance in order to protect the many. For example, a King really hates a certain group of people and he want to eradicate the population of that group. You were the only person who knows where the people are hiding. The King comes to you and demand where they are. You have the responsibility to remain quiet in order to prevent such horrific act. I think searching for options away from social abuse of power is not necessarily wrong. For overseas work, it doesn’t only benefit such family but the economy of the government as well.
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