questions

[carolynwhite2]

--- In HPFGU-Catalogue at yahoogroups.com, "Kathy Willson" 
<willsonkmom at m...> wrote:
> How is it I went from reviewing things like "who is your favorite 
> character?" or  "Ship Mad-eye Moody---Hermione" to things like this:

<snip vivid understanding of Snape>

Carolyn:
Just the mental gym that is HPfGU ...


> question 1: I couldn't find "Serpensortia" in the codes. Should it 
be added?

A: If you like, I'll put it in. It does come up for discussion.

> 
> question 2: Do I code for T-Bay accronyms if they seem to be more 
fluff than discussion. "Waving from the good ship LOLLIPOPS..." and 
such.

A: No, I'd ignore it in these cases.

> 
> question 3: Just where can I find the Draught of Dreamless Sleep?

A: wouldn't we all like to know. Do we need a separate category, or 
wouldn't 3.8.4 'spells, potions & incantations' not do?

> 
> And with a nod toward Rickman!Snape, take a look at "Closet Land" 
sometime, for some real torture. (And the real reason I have doubts 
about canon!Snape.)

I haven't seen this movie, but it looks thought-provoking [I found 
the review below on an Internet site, sorry, lost the URL]. Are you 
saying that it's just not remotely ok to find Snape acceptable, when 
you see a film like this, which shows what it might actually be like 
to be on the receiving end of his particular brand of nastiness?

Or are you making a comment about what JKR might be trying to show 
with the books? And what is the message in that case if he does go 
and save Harry in the end ? Can such monsters also do good? How would 
FAITH come to terms with that?

My immediate thought, only having read this review, was that the film 
could also be seen as a comment about the many furious rows about the 
HP series and what JKR thought she was up to. The analogy would 
appear intended.

Carolyn



REVIEW:
The Plot: A children's bookwriter (Madeleine Stowe) has been abducted 
and subjected to torture by a nameless interrogator (Alan Rickman). 
She strongly protests her innocence as the interrogator tries to get 
her to admit to conveying political messages in her books which are 
in collusion with conspirators trying to bring the government down.

Comment: This film was made in response to a comment in a report made 
by Amnesty International in 1990, that over the the world's countries 
still torture their own citizens. Needless to say, this is an 
uncomfortable and unpleasant film to watch as Stowe is tortured in an 
attempt to make her confess to something she clearly isn't. It 
ultimately becomes a test of wills between torturer's desire to break 
the victim and get her to admit to her underlying political intent, 
and the victim's strength of her convictions that she is innocent and 
will not confess to something she is not. The stark but modern room 
where the interrogations take place all adds to the evil atmosphere 
(although one imagines a true 'torture chamber' would be less 
artistic...).

Alan Rickman is truly disturbing as the nameless interrogator. 
Despite the films dark content, this is obviously the type of role 
Rickman can excel in. For his victim, he is not one person, but 
three, and he plays all three against eachother with menacing intent. 
He slips effortlessly from one character to the next (watch for the 
scene 50 minutes into the film where he blindfolds Stowe and plays 
both a victim and torturer himself! Magnificent!), playing not only 
for the benefit of the victim but us, the unseen audience whose 
hearts go out to the victim as she is terrorized first 
psychologically and then physically...

The victim is played with conviction by Madeleine Stowe. No matter 
what horrors are inflicted upon her by her interrogator, she quietly 
exhibits the strength to hang on to her belief in her innocence. As 
the interrogation continues, Stowe stoically delivers dignified 
strength and vulnerability as more and more of her identity is 
stripped away from her character. It is a fascinating thing to watch.

Not for the faint hearted is Closet Land; the psychological terror 
will no doubt affect some viewers of this film. Whether the situation 
is true or not, Closet Land is an interesting and disturbing drama. 
But, it you want the same scenario jazzed up 10 years later, with us 
against the nameless "They,' then I recommend the film, Cube, over 
this one...