Little Big Soldier

Today on the Facebook status of one of my American friends I read about an American soldier who died shortly before his baby was born  and my friend asked to think (and pray) for him and his family. I am not going to write about the sense or non-sense of American military interventions in the world. This remark made me think of war, of violence and of a movie that I watched recently and that impressed me deeply.

It may not surprise the regular reader that it is a movie with Jackie Chan . Da bing xiao jiang/Little Big Soldier was released in February 2010 in China and is available on DVD also in my country. In fact, it was shown at the Berlinale film festival this year and Jackie was in Berlin as well.

Jackie plays an old and experienced soldier who kidnaps the only other surviver of a battle, a young general from the enemy's army (Wang Leehom). He wants to take him home, collect a reward and then buy a piece of land and retire. The kind of down-to-earth and cunning old man is ideal for Jackie. But what touched me most was the message of the movie. Deep down we don't want to be heroes, deep down human beings just want to survive, to live and grow old in peace. Several times I had tears in my eyes seeing the simple dream Jackie's character pursues - simple and profoundly human.

I had to think of this movie when I read my friend's message. I thought of all the soldiers all over the world, no matter which nationality. I thought of their dreams, their families, their friends. I thought that I cannot prevent wars - and this weekend my heart and my prayers go out to all of them.

Jackie is on Twitter

I have thought for a long time if I should post this, but then, why not? Jackie Chan is on Twitter and the fans are going wild. News from him around the clock. WOW !!!!!!

Hmm, I must admit, I am not that enthusiastic. Yes, it is amazing that this man, who a few years ago said of himself that he was a computer "illiterate", now posts something by phone or computer or however. But, well, do I really want to know what he is doing every minute of his day ? It might be cute or wonderful for other people, it is not really for me.

Because, what are the Twitter "news" ? Short sentences, little snippets of trivia - let's face it, how many interesting things happen to you in one day ? If I was on Twitter, it would be "Just cleaned the kitchen," or "School was tiring," or "Auntie rang," or things like that. Does the world really need this avalanche of information? I don't think it does, so I am not on Twitter.

In a way Twitter is typical of our times. Fast information, quick to digest, nothing that really matters - and then move on. No pondering, reflecting, philosophizing. No need to really think about the words you use, to carefully select and re-write to get the best effect. It is like fast food - convenient, fast and tasteless - as opposed to cooking yourself with fresh ingredients, which makes you feel a lot more satisfied on so many levels, not only as far as filling the hole in your stomach is concerned. And we all know that fast food leaves you hungry in the end, craving for more. Twitter has the same effect, at least on me.

To be fair, it can be fun to get quick information and convenient to grab a burger when there is no time. But I also need more substantial food - and more substantial pieces of writing.

My Life wíth Jackie Chan

I became a Jackie Chan fan in December 2004. What, my friends asked, a FAN? At YOUR AGE ? Funnily enough that was what happened. I had been practising martial arts for a few years then, I had watched martial arts movies and found out there are some I like more than others, but up to December 2004 I had never expected to become a fully fledged fan of somebody. This is for teenagers !

But this interest was different than liking to see George Clooney or to listen to Robbie Williams. This turned out to influence and change my life. Let me explain:

1. Jackie Chan's way of choreographing fights is unique and different from anybody else's. I simply enjoy the dance-like quality he adds, he humour, the creativity. This is not a Jackie Chan blog, so I won't go into details, which you also can find elsewhere on the Internet. The important thing for this context is that his movies also made me more courageous. With his movies in front of my inner eye, I managed to overcome my own fears and limitations - so for example when one day I forgot about being afraid of a dive roll in my martial arts class and just did it.

2. I learned more about his person and found out that there is a lot more to Jackie Chan than funny Kung Fu movies. His charity work, for example. His ideas of how different people from all over the world should become friends and learn from each other. These thoughts reflected my own ones and with a famous supporter like Jackie, I dared to be again more outspoken, to say what I had buried deep in my soul because I was so often made fun of.

3. I joined a Jackie Chan forum and then another one and all of a sudden the small town I live in had a gate to the world. I so much enjoy my contacts to different people from different cultures. I found new friends in my own country. I forged new friendships that go far beyond a common interest in Jackie Chan. I re-discovered my interest in China, Chinese culture and language and this time (unlike when it all started in the late 1960s) I could travel and start to study the language.

Up to this day, I have not plastered the walls of my room with Jackie pictures, nor have I got a Jackie tattoo on my shoulder. But I have gained a lot from having discovered him and I am most grateful for the really close and important friends all this has brought me.