MovieChat Forums > Dadah Is Death (1988) Discussion > A mother's love ... and worst nightmare

A mother's love ... and worst nightmare

posted 16 years ago by mloessel
5 replies | jump to latest

Julie Christie does a marvelous job of playing Barbara Barlow the mother of Kevin Barlow who has been arrested at Malaysian Airport for having 179 grams of herione in his position.
There are some very emotional scenes in this movie but I couldn't forget that Barlow was busted for drugs ... Malaysia has zero tolerance regarding drug trafficking and the penalty is death. The movie chooses to glorify the mother's love for her son and attempts to criticize the injustice of the Malaysian justice system. What was apparent is Malaysia is serious about not wanting illegal drugs in its country and the death penalty serves as a deterent. The end is very dramatic as Kevin and his friend, Geoff Chambers (Kevin and Geoff were both arrested at the airport) are led to the execution room. The movie ends on a very somber note as the execution is carried out and then there's the scene with the Barlow family standing by Kevin's coffin.
Should Malaysia change its laws on illegal drugs? Absolutely NOT!!! Is hanging a horrible death? Yes but it does serve as a definitive deterent. Get caught bringing drugs into Malaysia and they'll hang you !!!

[–] cmferrara2000 16 years ago

You are certainly entitled to your opinion - even if its wrong. The death penalty ensures but one thing - and one thing only: That the person executed will never commit another crime. It deters nothing.

[–] dangibas 16 years ago

"Should Malaysia change its laws on illegal drugs? Absolutely NOT!!! Is hanging a horrible death? Yes but it does serve as a definitive deterent. Get caught bringing drugs into Malaysia and they'll hang you !!!"

I have to strongly disagree. Thats not the case in real life or in the movie. The problem highlighted is more of the barbaric attitude and showboating of the Malaysians responsible.

They could not reliably determine which of the two men was to blame for the small amount of drugs - which by the way seems like a valid amount for personal use - not distribution. Even though there were doubts in the case they just went ahead and simply killed both of them.

The laws and they they way they are enforced are pathetic. If I take a short walk from where i'm sitting right now I will pass by drug addicts who most likely have heroin in their pockets. They won't be hanged or acused of trafficking or dealing in drugs - no. More likely they will be shaked down once in a while by the Malayisan police.

I think the real reason is political and racial. White people plus drugs - great opportunity to exact some revenge for the past colonialism - scare people to death and intimidate as many people of possible - regardless of them being a criminal or not.

The death sentances punished the families of those involved more than the men accused of the crime. How is it for the families to suffer? The whole story of what the Malaysian side did and how they did it stinks. If I were an Australian I would push for a change of law where Australia will only hang Malaysians when they are caught with drugs.

Recently dozens of Malaysians have been caught with drugs and unsurprisingly the Malaysian media, government and people will believe the stories and excuses word for word - blaming "international gangs" for fooling Malaysians into carrying drugs.

It's pathetic double standards.

The movie does a good job of stirring emotions and provoking deep thoughts - it's a shame though because you need a brain of ample volume to accomodate deep thoughts - so some shallow viewers may be left in the dark.

I wonder if anyone will make a movie when some Malaysians finally het hanged for minor offences? What goes around comes around so I guess it's a matter of time.

[–] izcuje 14 years ago

"The laws and they they way they are enforced are pathetic. If I take a short walk from where i'm sitting right now I will pass by drug addicts who most likely have heroin in their pockets. They won't be hanged or acused of trafficking or dealing in drugs - no. More likely they will be shaked down once in a while by the Malayisan police. "

- there's a huge difference between drug traffickers and drug addicts, as the laws and punishments for both will show you.
Traffickers create addicts, kill people, destroy families, and leave a trail of destruction behind them.
Addicts basically kill themselves.

With all due respect to the families of the traffickers, it is indeed a serious crime and severe punishment is warranted.

You talk about how the families of the criminals suffered. What about the suffering of the families whose members have succumbed to drug usage, children who grew up with abusive addict fathers or wives that put up with violent husbands constantly on drugs? Just because their plight is not high-profiled or movie-material, or because the whole stigma of having a druggie in their family is too shameful to discuss; doesn't mean they suffer any less.

It's a plain and simple fact of life, as long as you have people in your life, whatever your actions will have some affect/impact on them, big or small.

On the issue of mules - again, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I choose to disagree with you. There is a big difference between people who are taken for a ride, and people who know they are on that ride, if you know what I mean.

And as for the poster who mentioned this movie as "championing the criminal"; I'm pretty sure the movie's intentions were not that. Instead, it chooses to showcase the pain and suffering a mother has to go through when her son makes the wrong decisions in life - That on it's own should act as a deterrent to any future criminal - that when you cause harm to yourself, others get hurt too, often undeservingly.

[–] Brainwave1964 15 years ago

"The movie chooses to glorify the mother's love for her son" -- hello, the desperation of the mother IS the story. The movie offering a point of view does not mean it is 'glorify'-ing her.

Why wouldn't the mother be upset, her child is being threatened with death! As a mother I can relate, in this situation I would be freaking too. Julie Christie does an amazing job of conveying the pain of this horrible experience.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]