To watch this film, you must first fully understand the background of the times at that time. In Britain in 1929, the Great Depression occurred after the war; however, the Industrial Revolution had gradually brought about changes in social production relations, a confrontation between urban and rural areas, and a heightened awareness of women's independence. Female members enter the cabinet. Therefore, when Larida, the American girl who represents advanced productivity and the vitality of the city (of course she is only the daughter of a Detroit steel factory worker), came to the isolated English countryside (although this village is actually the manor of the fallen nobles), she It's more than just a little wave. Therefore, her mother-in-law hated her, her sister-in-law hated her, and her neighbors were afraid of her. Even after her husband found out that she had injected poison for her ex-husband, he deliberately alienated her. Even if it is not such an era, it is precisely the British-style gentleman's etiquette and the American-style free and unrestrained that have also carried out an undercurrent of national culture.
Although the Chinese translation of the film is "Spontaneous Poplar Flowers", Chinese people all know that this term is used to describe those women who are not abiding by women's manners, scratching their heads and making gestures. But after watching the whole film, I don't feel her debauchery in the slightest, I just appreciate Lalida's beauty, bravery, sincerity, and her indomitable pursuit of love without any regrets. In fact, letting go is also a form of love, isn't it?
I believe she loves John, what girl wouldn't love him? He was handsome, he was tall and straight, he was polite in his gestures, he came from a traditional noble family, he was well educated, he was different from the other men around her who adored her, without any cheapness and filth. More importantly, she thought he loved her, and loved her deeply. So our mature girl fell in love with this sunny and handsome young boy without hesitation. After the flash marriage, she came to his home - a crumbling and dilapidated British aristocratic family.
On the surface, you can't see the inner weakness of this family: the majestic and quaint manor, the red camellias at the door, the white Venus statue, the lanterns from Japan, and the respectful butler servants. The family, and their neighbors, enjoyed horse hunting and Christmas balls. They seem to live a traditional and sophisticated high society life, carefree. But the superficial glitz can't hide the inner staleness: in order to save money, half of the rooms in the manor need to be closed; because there is no money, the land of the manor must be sold to the resident; because to continue living like this, the son should marry the resident noble 's daughter. Although the mother-in-law is hateful, I have to admit that she is a great woman (it's just the years that have reduced our glorious heroine in "The English Patient" to the unbearable level of an old woman). When all the men cowardly chose to escape, she could only manage her family with all her might, trying to maintain the harmony and splendor on the surface of the family. Maybe she was as cheerful and happy as Larida before the war (this is in It can be hinted at in the secret chats of the cooks), but the weight of life has forced her to become resolute, ruthless, mean and utilitarian.
I have to talk about Mr. Whitaker. At first, he sat on the sofa with a stubborn face and read the newspaper----the newspaper had already been cut with a big hole by the second daughter who likes clippings, but he was useless, he was silent. I almost didn't recognize him as the MR DARCY that fascinated me in the '95 version of Pride and Prejudice. In the movie, he is just an old British man who has been traumatized by the war and has never been able to come out. After the war ended and he felt guilty for not being able to bring the fighting men from his village back to his homeland, he fled his hometown like an ostrich and indulged in the debauchery of France. After finally being brought home by his wife, he chose to escape ideologically. He lived like a walking dead in this dreary manor until Larida arrived. On that bright winter day, he saw his daughter-in-law, and I believe he fell in love with her at first sight. After all, she was his type—his wife, his daughter knew from the beginning. So when his wife and daughter attacked Larida, he was the only one who spoke for her and maintained her dignity. As his son grew estranged from her, he quietly went to her room just to comfort her. That TANGO was thrilling and even surpassed my evaluation of the tango in "Scent of a Woman". When she faced a room of indifferent people, bravely preparing to dance the tango alone, he appeared, neatly dressed and clean-faced. He held out his hand graciously, and she accepted it gratefully. At first, he closed his eyes, completely immersed in the beautiful music of tango. Later, she was amazed by his skillful dance steps, so she became more and more involved, turning around, kicking, and staring, with an elegant and provocative posture. I saw their perfect interpretation of the dance steps, and I saw the sympathy in their hearts.
"My dear, you don't know what love is, you don't understand what it's like to love someone so deeply that you're willing to do everything for him. Even injecting him with poison because he's too weak to do it himself." Such a woman is not pretentious, not hypocritical. So she came to the manor because of love, and finally left the manor because of love. Of course, Mr. Whitaker also left at the same time. Whittaker may have just run away from his suffocating family, but I'd rather believe it was that tango, that passionate tango, that made him understand his true heart.
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