The movie's plot is simple: Allen (Christoph Waltz) and Nancy's (Kate Winslet) sons injure Michael's (John C. Reilly) and Penelope's (Jodie Foster) sons, and both parents reunite. Get together for mediation. The whole incident ended peacefully under rational dialogue, but as the two sides disagreed, the topics of dispute continued to grow and expand, from children's education to family issues, and then to pet hamsters. It's like a runaway train that ends up out of control.
The four characters in the film are writers, lawyers, investment brokers, and household goods wholesalers. They represent the educated middle class, or, to put it more plainly, the so-called "civilized people." It is this layer of "civilized man" that the director intends to remove. We always think that it is the gentleman who speaks but does not do anything, but as Nanxi said, "Cusing someone is bullying." Words can also create violence. The four people's initial response to the advance and retreat is completely in line with the etiquette of "civilized people". Even if they have slightly different ideas, it is good to be able to praise each other in private. However, with the progress of the dialogue, the difference in values between the two sides became more and more obvious, and the tone of voice began to smell a strong smell of gunpowder. The comings and goings are collapsing rapidly.
The original English title of "Who's Home Tonight" "Carnage" refers to killing. It turns out that this word can be used not only on the battlefield where the cannon roars, but also in the apartment in New York. As the saying goes, there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. According to different topics, the four of them sometimes fight independently, sometimes form an alliance to fight against the enemy; As a gender war, the shifting of positions activates and enriches the content, making this war without smoke and blood more in line with the word killing.
What kind of fuse detonated this war and made everyone's "civilized people" disguise and peel off? Now that I look back and think about it, there is no clear distinction between civilization and barbarism in the film. The line between the two is actually blurred. To put it bluntly, the standard of "civilization/barbarism" is basically defined by those who stand on the side of civilization. "The four of us are all civilized people." Michael said, the function of the three words "civilized" is fundamentally Like the suits, shirts or suits worn by the four, in order to make themselves look more "higher". Therefore, when Nanxi vomited profusely in front of others, regardless of his image, it seemed that the disguise of being a "civilized person" had been dismantled, and all the unpleasant words were poured out without reservation.
Interestingly, the war between the four adults is actually caused by children. However, except for the long-range shots at the beginning and end of the film, there are almost no children—that is, the parties—in the whole movie, and of course, there is no way to know their thoughts. However, this is the director's genius. After the adults quarreled for about 80 minutes, the camera turned, and the children in the park were reconciled long ago. The worlds of adults and children have become a stark contrast. One side is full of hypocrisy, and the other side is straight and sincere. So far, the director's sarcasm is self-evident.
"Who's Home Tonight" is adapted from the script of French playwright Yasmina Reza. The director uses the movement of the camera to make the film show a different face than the theater. In addition, the outstanding performance of the four actors, as well as the finishing touches of tulips, mobile phones, pie cakes and other props, all make this film a perfect work that is amazing!
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