(Originally published in "Times Forum" Issue 1232, published on April 10, 2011
) The protagonist Uxbal of "Biutiful" (Biutiful) can be regarded as a person like Jesus ( Jesus Figure), living in today's dunya, after leaving the divine connection, stepping towards death. This play also explores a religious question: If people lose their faith and face the destiny of suffering, where can there be hope?
In Barcelona, Uxbal's cancer was in the terminal stage, and chemotherapy could only be delayed. He is a good, down-to-earth person. Even though he is doing illegal activities all day, he always frowns and thinks about how to make others live well, solve problems, and coordinate conflicts. He has long, messy hair, his face is thoughtful, and he runs between all parties, but he is concealing his illness. The two children are still young, and they should be taken care of and taught as usual; the alcoholic wife has already left home, do we want her to come back? The elder brother said that the cemetery where the deceased father was buried was to be demolished, did he accept compensation? Uxbal tried to get everything settled, but was always unable to do so. Especially the side job that he depends on for his livelihood-the Chinese partners who have worked together for many years brought a group of Chinese illicit workers. The counterfeit goods they made in the underground workshops were sold on the street by illegal immigrants from Africa, and the money must be used to clear them. Police; on the other hand, the foreman on the other side suspected that the workers whose wages were guaranteed by the union were too high, and asked Uxbal to find a Chinese illegal worker to replace it. Uxbal used it to mediate "bargaining." He also has the gift of psychic abilities, can know the unforeseen thoughts of people who have just died, and convey them to his family on his behalf. Whether in terms of faith or law, what he did was obviously a bad thing, but no matter how you looked at it, he was also a good person.
This feeling came from his compassionate eyes, and he didn't know if he was pitying himself at the same time. Of course he is not like a savior, because he is completely powerless, even self-defeating. The hawker friend who had smuggled from Africa was finally caught by the police. To be repatriated, Uxbal couldn’t help, so he could only try to settle his wife and children. What was even more annoying was the ex-wife. It seems that she has changed her bad habits now, and there will be someone for her children. Take care, and try to reconcile with her, but Uxbal can no longer tolerate her beating her children. The saddest thing is that he saw the group of Chinese black workers sleeping in the damp and cold basement, so he bought them warmth. In order to save money, he bought some substandard gas heaters. After extinguishing in the middle of the night, the workers in the room were poisoned to death. Among them were the children who were feeding. Uxbal regretted it.
But he is still like Jesus, not Jesus. Jesus shows power in weakness, Uxbal is still weak after doing his best; Jesus loves sinners, but he does not sin, Uxbal is a sinner who loves sinners-don't forget that many people don't know how to love others. Another point, Uxbal’s psychic ability, you can say that it is a kind of "ghosting" behavior, but his ability can only be used after a person has just died, listening to the thoughts of the dead, like confessing to his father that he has stolen the watch. Child. Just like Jesus, he listens to the confession of the dead to reconcile people. It is not so much a "ghost" as a remnant of life-but he cannot resurrect the dead. The female black worker who died in her sleep with her baby was also the nanny of Uxbal's child. He hoped to recall her soul and confess to her, but the soul was gone. We have witnessed the weakness of a person who has a kind heart and strives to do it. This is the predicament that a good person is incapable of being a righteous person after he is separated from God. When Uxbal was walking on the street, thinking that he was going to die, and he could not do anything about his job, the future of his children, and the situation of others, he thought of praying, but he didn't know who to pray to.
God is not non-existent. Spain is a Catholic country. There are many icons of Jesus and Mary in the play, but they are hidden in the background. People turn a blind eye and continue to commit adultery and steal. This is by no means a gospel problem that missionaries can solve.
Uxbal is faced with both ability and moral dilemma. He lost his father since he was a child. Perhaps his growing up background destined this kind person to be unable to get rid of "structural evil." Under the premise of "no righteous person", Uxbal's kindness to travellers (African smugglers), neighbors (caring for the wives and children of African friends), forgiveness (trying to accept an ex-wife), etc. cannot bring salvation, but he did not abandon himself. Or burned with anger, sad eyes reflect a compassionate heart of tolerance and patience, which reverses the view of world affairs.
"Beautiful Doomsday" gathers things that ordinary people think are ugly and hate: illegal workers, smugglers, poverty, cancer, homosexuals, ethnic minorities, alcoholism, and death. Uxbal lives in it, but he can discover the possibilities of dignity and beauty. Death is the most terrifying, but it constitutes the most touching scene in the play: Uxbal's father's coffin is removed, and the coffin is opened before cremation to take out the funerary objects. The corpse was embalmed and Uxbal didn't dare to look at it, but Uxbal reached out to touch his father's face-the most terrifying thing became his most eager thing, because he had never seen his father in person.
The biggest difference between Uxbal and Jesus lies in "connection with the Father." The director's advice to the common people is: Uxbal not only accepts those who are not cute, but also learns to be tolerant of his own frustration and death. The scenery does not change and the mood changes. This is probably an aesthetic salvation.
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