Category: Film

Havana Syndrome

Havana Syndrome

BBC Radio 4 – Crossing Continents: The Mystery of Havana Syndrome

(article) “Havana Syndrome: The History Behind the Mystery”

2024-04-01 https://www.fpri.org/article/2024/04/havana-syndrome-the-history-behind-the-mystery/

  • Possibly up to 1,500 American officials at home and abroad have suffered brain and other injuries in recent years from a mysterious malady that is reported to have begun in Havana in 2016 and has since been known as Havana Syndrome.
  • While aspects of these health incidents remain a mystery, they recall a series of historically documented Soviet technical operations against the US embassy in Moscow that began in 1953 and lasted for decades, providing credible evidence of serious harm to numerous diplomats and other US officials.
  • Since the fall of the Soviet Union, President Vladimir Putin and Russian military officers have publicly bragged about developing weapons that could cause health effects similar to Havana Syndrome.
    After attacks on officials of successive administrations, CIA Director William Burns may finally have put an end to such incidents by threatening the Russians with retaliation.
  • But the policy of tolerating, denying, and concealing decades of Russian attacks, at the expense of American officials, has harmed the credibility and weakened the power of the US government to deter other acts of aggression.

(article) “Unraveling Havana Syndrome: New evidence links the GRU’s assassination Unit 29155 to mysterious attacks on U.S. officials and their families”

2024-04-01 https://theins.ru/en/politics/270425

A yearlong investigation by The Insider, in collaboration with 60 Minutes and Der Spiegel, has uncovered evidence suggesting that unexplained anomalous health incidents, also known as Havana Syndrome, may have their origin in the use of directed energy weapons wielded by members of Russian GRU Unit 29155. Members of the Kremlin’s infamous military intelligence sabotage squad have been placed at the scene of suspected attacks on overseas U.S. government personnel and their family members, leading victims to question what Washington knows about the origins of Havana Syndrome, and what an appropriate Western response might entail.

(article) “CIA doctor hit by Havana syndrome says he was in ‘disbelief’ as he suffered what he was investigating”

2022-09-25 https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/25/politics/havana-syndrome-cia-doctor-cnn-special/index.html

CIA physician Dr. Paul Andrews was one of the first people sent to Havana, Cuba, to investigate a spate of mysterious health incidents that were impacting embassy and agency personnel in 2017 when he was struck by the same set of debilitating symptoms, he told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta in his first public interview for a CNN Special Report: “Immaculate Concussion: The Truth About Havana Syndrome.”

(article) “A ‘Havana Syndrome’ Investigation in Congress Rest on Politics, Not Science”

2024-03-15 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-havana-syndrome-investigation-in-congress-rests-on-politics-not-science/

Lawmakers should look in the mirror if they want answers to who hyped dubious reports of Havana syndrome. Instead they are investigating the spy agencies telling them the truth about the mystery

Law & Order S21 E08 “Severance”

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19712404/

aired on 2022-05-05

based on several real world cases/incidents besides “Havana syndrome” phenomenon:

  • Tesla, Inc. workplace controversies (2020)
  • The “Facebook Files” leak involving Frances Haugen (2021)
  • The murder of Tracie McBride by Louis Jones Jr. and the related controversial Gulf War syndrome clemency defence

※ Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE, 만성 외상성 뇌병)

A neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated trauma to the head.

Symptoms occur in four stages and typically manifest 8 to 10 years after an individual experiences repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries.

  • Stage 1: confusion, disorientation, dizziness, headaches
  • Stage 2: memory loss, social instability, impulsive behaviour, poor judgment
  • Stage 3 and 4: impediments, sensory processing disorder, tremors, vertigo, deafness, depression, suicidality

A definitive diagnosis of CTE can only be made during an autopsy, as it cannot be confirmed in living individuals. While some researchers link certain signs and symptoms to CTE, no conclusive test exists to identify it in living people. Additionally, the signs often resemble those of other neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_traumatic_encephalopathy

Sicario(2015)

Sicario(2015)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3397884/

Sicario review – Emily Blunt’s star quality lifts Mexican drugs thriller

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A great performance from Blunt makes this well-staged story of FBI operations in the murky world of the US-Mexico borderlands a cut above the ordinary

Sicarios: The Story Behind the Cartel Killers

Meet the Real Sicarios Who Created a Blood Bath Across the Americas

Sicario means hitman in Spanish and the word is most often used to describe the hitmen associated with the Mexican drug cartels.Jul 3, 2018

https://www.intelligencefusion.co.uk/insights/resources/intelligence-reports/is-sicario-based-on-a-true-story-comparing-the-film-with-real-criminality-in-mexico/
Asked Gemini (Advanced) a few questions about the film “Margin Call”

Asked Gemini (Advanced) a few questions about the film “Margin Call”

The answers are as follows:

Key Themes

  • Greed and Systemic Risk:
    The film highlights the reckless greed and flawed risk models that fueled the financial crisis.
  • Moral Ambiguity:
    It portrays characters struggling with moral choices when faced with imminent financial disaster.
  • Human Cost:
    It showcases the devastating impact of the crisis on those involved, from Wall Street executives to average investors.

Detailed Breakdown

focused on some of the key events and characters

Opening: The Layoffs and Eric Dale’s Warning

  • The film starts coldly with mass layoffs at the investment bank. Eric Dale, a veteran risk manager, sees it coming and is unsurprised when he’s let go.
  • Before leaving, he gives junior analyst Peter Sullivan a crucial flash drive, hinting at its vital nature. This subtly sets up the crisis that will unfold.

Sullivan’s Discovery and Escalation

  • Driven by professional curiosity, Sullivan analyzes Dale’s model overnight. He discovers that the firm’s leveraged position in mortgage-backed securities is on the brink of catastrophic failure.
  • Sullivan alerts his superior, Will Emerson, who initially dismisses the severity of the issue. As the scale of the disaster becomes clear, the alarm spreads up the chain of command.

High-Stakes Meetings and Ruthless Choices

  • Mid-level executives like Will and Sam Rogers are pulled into a vortex of meetings, each escalation bringing in more senior leadership. These tense confrontations showcase the mounting pressure and growing panic.
  • Sarah Robertson, head of risk management, tries to find solutions but is undermined by higher-ups seeking a quick fix.
  • John Tuld, the calculating CEO, arrives. He coldly recognizes the gravity of the situation and devises a ruthless plan: dump all toxic assets before the markets realize their worthlessness.

The Fire Sale: Ethical Conflict and Collapse of Trust

  • The bulk of the film centers on the execution of the fire sale. Employees wrestle with knowingly selling worthless securities to clients, the very definition of fraud.
  • Sam Rogers particularly displays inner conflict, aware of the destruction they’re perpetuating on investors and the markets. He knows their scheme may buy them time but will decimate trust in the system.
  • Others are pressured into going along to ‘save the firm’, highlighting the lack of individual accountability in such high finance situations.

The Aftermath: Scapegoats and Lingering Doubts

  • Once the fire sale is complete, the company has superficially averted bankruptcy. However, the consequences are swift:
    • Further layoffs ensue, including Sarah Robertson, who’s made the scapegoat for the firm’s recklessness.
    • Disillusioned by the experience, Sam Rogers expresses his regrets and a desire to leave the industry.
  • John Tuld remains defiant, offering a warped “apology” but highlighting the cyclical nature of such financial collapses, suggesting little is learned and it’s just business as usual.

Additional points to Note:

  • The film is deliberately shot in a claustrophobic style, emphasizing the tension and confinement of these characters throughout the night.
  • Dialogue is heavy with financial jargon, adding to the sense of insider knowledge and heightening the crisis for the audience.
  • Even while showing morally compromised actions, it portrays the characters as humans caught up in a systemic failure, leaving viewers to question how these situations arise repeatedly.

The Dog as Symbol

Sam’s dog has no direct narrative impact on the movie. The main thrust of “Margin Call” is the financial crisis. However, his dog serves as more than a fluffy side detail; it functions as a nuanced symbolic tool:

  • Humanity Amid Chaos: The first time we see Sam is not in the corporate war room but a quiet domestic scene. He walks his dog late at night. This simple action contrasts strikingly with the ruthless decisions he’ll later make and serves as a subtle reminder that he’s a person with life outside the cutthroat world of finance.
  • Vulnerability and Morality: When Sam faces the hard choice of carrying out the toxic asset sell-off, he confides in his dog at one point. The dog isn’t judging, merely present. This scene underlines Sam’s inner conflict as he struggles with the morality of his actions, suggesting some remnant of conscience.
  • Lost Faith: Near the end of the film, the dog is revealed to be sick and requires costly treatment. This mirrors the sickness of the financial system – something Sam helped perpetuate. It can be interpreted as a symbolic loss of innocence and faith. Sam is now tainted by the crisis and faces tough choices for himself and those he cares about.

Filmmaking Device

Beyond symbolism, the dog serves some storytelling purposes:

  • Character Grounding: “Margin Call” is dense with jargon and abstract financial tension. Scenes with the dog provide brief moments of ‘normalcy’ for Sam, letting the audience see something human about him amid the cold calculations.
  • Pacing Breaks: The dog-walking scenes force a slower, contemplative pace compared to the rapid-fire decisions made in the boardroom. These quiet moments give the audience breathing room amidst the intensity.

Limitations

It’s key to note that we glean this information indirectly. We never get explicit statements about how deeply Sam loves his pet. It’s left for the viewer to piece together the relationship’s importance through visual cues and context.

Seth is a young, ambitious risk analyst. He’s motivated and bright but naive regarding the cutthroat world of high finance. His arc reveals:

  • Initial Idealism: Seth likely entered the field hoping to put his skills towards something valuable. He takes pride in his ability to understand complex financial models.
  • Wake-Up Call: Discovering the hidden risk with Peter Sullivan is Seth’s brutal ‘crash course’ into the realities of the system. He confronts the gulf between textbook models and how things actually work on Wall Street.
  • Pressure and Compromise: He witnesses the high-stakes decision to execute the fire sale. Being in that room fundamentally alters him. Seth experiences immense pressure to “fall in line,” demonstrating the systemic corruption he’s now a part of.

Seth as the Audience Representative

Seth partly functions as a stand-in for the audience:

  • Technical Explainer: He often puts technical jargon in layman’s terms for other characters (mainly Will Emerson). This mirrors how he helps the audience understand the intricate financial concepts that undergird the crisis.
  • Window into Transformation: Seeing his moral hesitation, initial resistance, then ultimate acquiescence in the sell-off is powerful. It highlights how readily ordinary people can be pressured into morally questionable actions in such high-pressure environments.

A Foil to Other Characters

Seth interacts meaningfully with several key characters, showing different aspects of the industry:

  • Peter Sullivan: They are the young ‘technically minded’ generation. However, while Sullivan retains some critical distance, Seth is quickly corrupted.
  • Will Emerson: Seth looks up to Will, a hardened yet jaded professional. Will gives Seth the infamous pep talk about how they profit from people’s desire for the unattainable, revealing the cynicism he’s adopted to survive.
  • Sam Rogers: While mostly background, we see that even higher-ups like Sam started somewhere like Seth. Seth’s arc is thus a stark warning of the path he could easily follow within this system.

A Piece of the Larger Story

Seth alone can’t carry the moral weight of the film. However, his transformation encapsulates a vital piece of the “Margin Call” message: the system is designed in a way that rewards and even necessitates ethical compromise for young and talented individuals, perpetuating greed and a lack of real oversight.

How the film was received by critics and the general public

Critical Acclaim

  • Overwhelmingly Positive Reviews:
    “Margin Call” garnered widespread praise from critics for its tense storytelling, sharp dialogue, and stellar ensemble cast. It boasts impressive scores on aggregators:
    • Rotten Tomatoes: 87% “Certified Fresh”
    • Metacritic: 76/100 (indicating generally favorable reviews)
  • Specific Praise:
    Many reviews highlighted:
    • The film’s intelligent handling of a complex subject matter, making the financial crisis accessible.
    • The lack of moralizing, presenting characters navigating shades of grey rather than easy villains.
    • The claustrophobic style that mirrored the building tension.

Public Reception

  • Financial Niche Success:
    “Margin Call” wasn’t a massive blockbuster, given its subject matter and limited star power. However, it found a strong audience among:
    • Those interested in business, finance, and the mechanics of the 2008 crisis.
    • Fans of dialogue-heavy, ensemble-driven dramas.
  • Word-of-Mouth & Streaming Availability:
    The film likely gained more viewers over time through positive word-of-mouth and availability on streaming platforms, attracting people intrigued by its critical reception.

Awards and Recognition

  • Accolades:
    The film earned a few notable awards:
    • Academy Award Nomination: Best Original Screenplay (J.C. Chandor)
    • Independent Spirit Award: Robert Altman Award
    • Numerous National Board of Review awards (Best Ensemble, Best Original Screenplay)
  • Legacy:
    Although it isn’t the most well-known movie about the financial crisis, “Margin Call” is often held up as one of the more realistic and well-crafted works dealing with that specific event.

Additional Considerations

  • It’s important to note that audience opinions will always vary. For some, the film might be too dense or lack traditional cinematic thrills.
  • It’s hard to get precise box office data on such independent films, making it harder to measure popular interest than for big-budget productions.
Corinthian

Corinthian

갑자기 “Corinthian”이 많이 언급되어 무슨 일인가 하였더니 이런 일이 있었구나:

“Education Department Approves $5.8 Billion Group Discharge to Cancel all Remaining Loans for 560,000 Borrowers who Attended Corinthian”

https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-department-approves-58-billion-group-discharge-cancel-all-remaining-loans-560000-borrowers-who-attended-corinthian-colleges

Then-Attorney General Kamala Harris’s lawsuit against Corinthian played key role in Education Department’s work to approve loan discharges for borrowers harmed by Corinthian’s wrongdoing

“As of today, every student deceived, defrauded, and driven into debt by Corinthian Colleges can rest assured that the Biden-Harris administration has their back and will discharge their federal student loans,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “For far too long, Corinthian engaged in the wholesale financial exploitation of students, misleading them into taking on more and more debt to pay for promises they would never keep. While our actions today will relieve Corinthian Colleges’ victims of their burdens, the Department of Education is actively ramping up oversight to better protect today’s students from tactics and make sure that for-profit institutions – and the corporations that own them – never again get away with such abuse.”


내가 이런 Corinthian helmet에 큰 집착을 가지고 있다.

출처: https://www.aceros-de-hispania.com/corinthian-helmet-greek.htm

“용감한 형제”라는 소설이 있었다. 여러 권으로 이뤄졌는데 모두 검정 바탕 깔끔하게 이미지 하나를 담은 표지를 하고 있었던 것으로 기억한다. 그 중의 표지가 이러한 투구 사진(혹은 그림)을 가지고 있었다. 1986년에 친구의 집에서 친구 것을 잠시 본 것이어서 자세히 기억하지 못한다.

나는 이 “용감한 형제”의 책을 읽지 않았고 1986년보다 오래 전 TV극을 재미있게 보았다. 원작은 미국의 “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries” (1977–1979, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075513/) 내가 아주 어린 시절 방영했는데 동생이 예쁘게 생겼다고 생각했다. (지금 보아도 어여쁘시구나.) 소설이 먼저.


“Corinthian”으로 생각나는 사건도 있다 — 2012년 전라남도 보성에서 보성(형제)교회를 신도 10여 명 규모로 운영하던 박씨(43세, 목사이지만 자격을 갖추지 못했고 내용은 사이비)와 조씨(34세) 부부가 잘못된 믿음으로 나쁜 의도를 가진 이의 교사를 따라 자신의 세 아이들(9세, 7세, 3세; 넷 중 셋)을 여러 날 동안 굶기고 폭행하여 사망에 이르게 한 사건.

그 부부는 아이들을 ‘구하려’ 그런 행동을 한 것이었으며, 폭력은 성경이 말한 내용을 따른 것이라 하였는데 그 일부가 고린도후서(2nd Corinthians) 중 바울이 “유대인들에게 40에서 하나 감한 매를 다섯 번 맞았”다고 이야기한 내용이다.

지금 검색하니 어떤 TV 프로그램에서 이것을 최근에 다루었는데 마침 그 프로그램의 이름이 “용감한 형사들”이구나. 그 요약 영상은 아래:

Theme: Overlay by Kaira __
Fury Road, Pluto