"Millennium Actress" is a hard-to-get movie at the International Film Festival this year, and it is particularly realistic to watch during this period. On the surface, the film tells the story of a girl's love affair, but in fact it runs through the entire history of Japanese film growth, and it is also the trajectory of the modern rise of the Japanese nation. The tireless pursuit of dreams, and finally the satisfaction of self-worth, can also be said to be a tribute to life.
The reason why this film is very representative in this special period is because these days and nights when the theaters are closed, every minute and every second when the film industry is closed, and in the constant voices of movie fans, This spirit of perseverance is undoubtedly common.
Find your light
"Millennium Actress" is a movie that will move you every time you watch it. The reason is that her heroine is particularly attractive. Beginning with flashbacks, we follow the interviewer into the memories of an elderly actress. With the narration of each photo, we also entered the memory with the photographer, which can be said to have an immersive viewing.
After an unintentional encounter, the key that unlocks the door to fate and fortune is caught in Chiyoko's hands. The key man said, "This is the key to unlocking the treasure." Chiyoko's repeated pursuits, after repeated efforts, failed, but he never gave up and kept himself shining. Because of her constant pursuit, she has brought her a fulfilling life, and at the same time, she has illuminated the lives of countless Japanese audiences because of her role.
The "treasure" unlocked by this key is actually Chiyoko herself. On the surface, this may just be an opportunity for a young girl to spring up. But as the film progresses, we will feel that this is not just a temporary heartbeat. Behind this heartbeat, there are commitments, agreements, perseverance, goals, and more action... And these are precisely the most radiant qualities of a person. In the process of chasing Chiyoko, all these beautiful things are reflected. Just like the flower language of the water lily she likes - innocence. Only a pure soul can do it.
Find the light of your dreams
In the montage-like transitions, the constant theme is Chiyoko's search for the key man, but this can also be seen as her pursuit of dreams. The key that has been hanging on her chest has become an object that reminds her at all times. Rather than saying that the key man gave her a goal, it is better to say that the key man gave her an excuse.
From the very beginning, she actually wanted to participate in the acting work of the movie, but unfortunately her mother stopped her. The reason is that the best destination for a woman is to get married and not do any publicity work. But the encounter with the key man gave her a kind of strength. The key man's pursuit made her see another life direction, and at the same time, she "excused" herself to shine in order to find the key man better. to fulfill his dream.
As her dream of being an actress is realized step by step, she will be lost more or less in reality. Such as the director's pursuit, such as her marriage to the director after the key was lost. When she cleans the room quietly after marriage, she is no longer that powerful Chiyoko. Fortunately, when the key appeared in front of her again, she recalled what her dream was, and opened her legs to pursue it again. This contradiction between dreams and reality is undoubtedly not a choice that each of us will face, are facing, and have faced.
It seems that we have always carried dreams, but when there is no result, we will inevitably get lost and will inevitably compromise with reality. And the image of the old woman's curse that keeps appearing in the film seems to be like a demon, she will only appear in front of Chiyoko, which shows that she is constantly asking herself whether she wants to go on like this, and whether it will make any difference. As a result, what if it was all in vain? So when she chose to rest, the doubt seemed to be a continuation, an appearance that she was aware of her own limitations and gave up.
But when she is dying, we will find that the fiery pursuit in her heart has been burning. She no longer minds whether she will meet the key man, and it seems that meeting is not so important. At the end, she has fully realized that what she is chasing and accomplishing is an independent self.
Looking for the Light of Movies As a Chinese audience, I may not be able to name every Japanese movie Chiyoko participated in, but for Japanese audiences, each one is undoubtedly the most representative work in the history of Japanese movies. For example, there will be Kurosawa Akira movies, Ozu movies, Warring States movies, and the shadow of enduring movies, etc., and each scene can be said to inspire tears in the eyes of people who are familiar with Japanese movies.
Every scene, shot, dynasties, and genres are all very iconic masterpieces of Japanese movies. I think these "Easter Eggs" can cause a very big sensation and a fireworks-like feeling in front of the audience who are familiar with Japanese movies.
With Chiyoko as a specific character, we not only followed her through the history of Japanese film, but also saw the development of the Japanese film industry and the changes in Japanese filmmakers. The interviewer starts out as a bystander, but as the plot progresses, we discover that he too was once a "player". This memory is not only of one person, but of a popular protagonist. There are also countless individuals who may not be well-known. They all played a huge role in the development of Japanese cinema.
Finding the Light of the Nation
Literary works have the techniques of "using objects to describe people" and "supporting objects to express aspirations", so if the image of Chiyoko is used as a representation, can she also represent an overall image of the Japanese? What about the country and nation of Japan?
We know from history that Japan has been in a state of pursuit. From ancient times, the object of its pursuit was China, and it would try to learn Chinese culture of the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty, etc., but after the rise of Western civilization, it carried out the Meiji Restoration and began to learn from the West. But Japan really has an ability that it does not blindly imitate, let alone lose itself. On the contrary, it can learn what other civilizations are good at and make it its own, and make the world marvel at its beauty. This seems to have the same effect as Chiyoko's last sentence "I like myself chasing that person".
The Japanese are sensitive, and the Japanese's sense of crisis has always existed. Because of the special reasons of the country, their citizens have been constantly moving upward and upward, and their spirit of forging ahead is also rooted in their bones. This relentless pursuit is not to converge with you, but to become a better version of yourself.
This is a story without a happy ending after all, but it gives a lot of power. In a montage of Chiyoko's chase scene flashing back and forth, I see her running non-stop no matter what she's wearing. She identified her own pursuit and spared no effort to act. Every step means she is one step closer to her goal, even if this person goes from the countryside to Manchuria, from Manchuria to Kyoto, from Kyoto to abroad, from abroad to the universe . As long as there is a way, keep chasing it!
Monday 20 July 2020 20:02
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