The Professor and the Madman
Recommended index: ★★★★
1. The soul of the film's theme "language" - the birth of the dictionary:
"Language evolves much faster than we can imagine, this great language, which stretches all over the world, shows its revolver, sharpens its bayonet, and declares to mankind that it will never be tamed ."
The existence of a dictionary will be needed in any era. The significance of its existence is to aggregate the crystallization of human civilization, survive in a tangible and extremely convincing way, and accumulate valuable experience and value for the progress of future civilizations. The so-called civilization has no ivory spire at all, and it is the ideological cohesion and perseverance of professional professors or folk scholars that make it the highest. It is a never-ending staircase that goes up to the sky. The higher it is, the closer it is to the light. When the light breaks out, it will be a brand new world, and it will be about to embark on a journey of seeking true knowledge again. In the movie, there are two professors who "die to the end" with words. One is a self-taught language professor from Oxford University, and the other is a doctor who graduated from Yale University and committed manslaughter because of schizophrenia. There is also a group of persistent professors and scholars. It is their "crazy" tenacity that led to the birth of the "Oxford English Dictionary", which gave authority to the language of "English" in the early 20th century, and also for those who follow the future language update and evolution linguists of later generations provide a traceable reference.
2. About love and self-redemption:
Dr. William, who suffers from schizophrenia in the movie, must be treated in a mental hospital by the court after he accidentally killed a soldier. He was willing to accept the accusations from the deceased's family and the scorn of the public in constant self-denunciation and deep remorse. To this end, he sincerely dedicated his military medical allowance and humble attitude to Eliza, the widower who had lost his love. He even taught her to read and write. "Standing on the spine of the book, I can leap over the wall in front of me. With the wings of words, I can reach the top of the world. This is freedom. Only when I read, there are no soldiers after my life. When I read, I am chasing the footsteps of God. "As a result, Eliza embraced hatred, released the past, and turned into love. Although the doctor is always reluctant to try to touch the light of liberation from sin, living in pain can not face the situation and dare not accept the offer of love. The relationship between the murderer and the victim has disappeared under the warmth of knowledge, frankness and love, and is replaced by a tolerant and broad soul, soul, and spiritual communication, fusion, harmony, and eternal happiness. He took her into a new realm of life, and she gave him a second life after redemption. "If love...then what, William?" "If love...then love."
3. About the great friendship of sincerity:
James Murry is a grassroots language studies scholar at Oxford University. Dropped out of school at the age of fourteen to earn a living. The study of linguistics is entirely out of self-interest and persevering courage and resolute confidence. In order to compile the English dictionary, he pioneered the use of all people's participation (professional scholars or enthusiasts) to collect entries for the dictionary, and sent them to the compilation team by mail for review and acceptance. This method saves the progress of dictionary compilation. a lot of time. Dr.William, a doctor who studied at Yale University, is also a grassroots in language research. With the ambition of a "madman", he has successfully contributed more than 10,000 quotations alone. Such an amazing efficiency is even a professional scientist. unattainable. They formed alliances, or soul mates, through their love of language and their perseverance in compiling dictionaries through correspondence. After Dr.william exposed the identity of the murderer as a psychopath, Professor Murry did not shy away from him, but got close to his life and entered his heart. Then, the doctor's condition deteriorated and he was about to be executed by the court for life under house arrest, or he took the risk of interceding with President Churchill, so the doctor had a chance to regain his freedom. A professor, a lunatic, the intriguing history of writing was born between two very different people, and it is the magnetic attraction between them that makes the life of this dictionary possible. What is more worthy of recognition and memory is the friendship between geniuses and lunatics who have crossed human civilization. I think they are both geniuses and lunatics, determined to implement, dare to act, and they are a pair of great men in the world.
Summarize:
There are not many movies that are truly solemn these days, and even fewer are based on a dull cultural background. A nation needs such film and television to record with sound, which is one of the symbols of the maturity of national civilization. Even in the whole world, the historical memory of the entire linguistics academic circle is of great significance. I hope that our country can also breed such a necessary existence. China has five thousand years of history, all kinds of knowledge, all walks of life, with the sincerity of hard work and study, the determination to save money and grind it, and the people who are not afraid of cheap traffic opponents. Bear heart, will definitely become a career. Films and audiences are always pushing each other, filmmakers and capital operation teams are reluctant to take all risks, the public is always objective or competent, limited by their educational level, and they are confused by the colorful and impetuous cultural atmosphere and the volatilization of the gregarious effect. Make it impossible or dare not even consciously accept serious literature and art. But the world is developing ahead of its time, and there must always be one who takes the lead and sets an example. That's the workers on the film side. The public sees it in their eyes and remembers it in their hearts, speaking with facts, there is no reason not to take it as a standard. Of course, the public's film tastes have also been educated, not afraid of not having an audience. The rise of aesthetic consciousness is ready to go, and "aesthetics" can also develop invisibly, why not? I hope that the literary and artistic works of the motherland can pay more attention to the serious facts and enlighten the thought. May the arts and beauty be strong and live forever.
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