"The Quietness of the Cold Branches", as the final chapter of Roy Anderson's "Life Trilogy", comes with a downright Nordic stern temperament, and it is by no means blunt. The two men and women in the opening scene with white-faced makeup like Japanese Noh actors set the surreal tone of the whole film, making the viewers have a psychological presupposition to greet those who jumped one by one and seemed to have nothing to do with each other. More than 30 shots of , opened up scenes of absurd Ukiyo-e in the world.
"Jonathan, you are my only friend". In the 39 shots of the whole film, there are many characters, and Jonathan and Sam are undoubtedly the most solid pair. Like the duo that has appeared in countless films, they are a hilarious duo, a touch of dark humor in this somber film.
In the 39 scenes, except for Sam's first "dragon suit" in the barber shop, Jonathan sitting alone outside the coffee bar after the two parted ways and wiping tears, and Jonathan's own in a dream, the duo appeared at the same time. 11 times, is a main line in the film. In these 11 scenes, they sell horror toys, ask for and be asked for, quarrel and break up, make up, and chat. Except for each other, they are in this winter in Gothenburg. I have also met many other people. Although the sense of alienation always strikes occasionally, it seems that they are only each other and the only one for each other.
The classic duo in the past films impressed us deeply: "Dumb and Dumber" is full of exaggerated American noise, and the optimism in the American bones makes Harry and Lloyd, who have low quotients, contented, Stupid people have stupid blessings; "Shut Up You" is a combination of a cold tough guy and a talkative fool, and the strong personality difference catalyzes an unusual French warmth between the two; The Hong Kong-style partner group, on the other hand, puts the two protagonists in a tense and playful police and bandit case, mixing martial arts and gag, and inheriting the tradition of Jackie Chan-style comedy.
Under different cultural backgrounds and different personalities, these duos, which are loved by everyone without exception, often end in sincere cooperation after continuous running-in, and they are all done. "Quiet" is not the case. The streets of Sweden are bright but cold, clean but empty. The two middle-aged men with slow movements and low voices are always walking in between. They're so bleak and uninteresting, and they're making a living peddling joy -- selling toys to anyone they meet. It is hard to imagine that such absurd films are also silently saying the helplessness of life. The sluggish performance and the debts they carry have frustrated the two, and they are also two failed collapsers after all.
The way we deal with losers has always been one of the reasons why we like European films. After watching all the Hollywood stars shouting and running in the rain for success, it is possible to see the protagonist calmly live a mediocre life and never stand out. More straight to the heart. The duo, Sam and Jonathan, have their daily sales to no avail, but instead they are called to the door for debt collection. In the middle of the night, in the simple rented single apartment, the fragile and sensitive Jonathan collapsed in his house, listening to an old Swedish song "Pretty Little Anna", with their "soon to be sold" horror doll on his face Masked "Uncle One Tooth", Sam, who has always been indifferent to Jonathan, actually came to see him, watching him repeat the song over and over again, and seeing him depressed, Sam said, "You have to go to the doctor, I'm a little worried about you. ." Jonathan replied sadly, because the song reminded him of his parents, "I'm going to see my parents again, they are all very good, but I don't want to see them again in heaven, I hope it's not necessary" , he was referring to the reunion after death. It turned out that this time, Jonathan felt desperately a complete failure. Maybe before his parents were alive, he stayed away from them and lived in silence in this small town in Sweden and countless other small towns. No matter how frustrated he was, he didn't have to face his parents' sighs and embarrassment, and he might also think that one day he would be able to return home. Later, his parents died, and for the sake of living up to now, he would never be able to do it again. In the end, he would not let himself go even after his death. This supernatural sense of alienation, like this Nordic season, wraps people in the cold, how can the thin blanket in the bachelor's house keep warm? At this point, fortunately, there was a little Sam who said, "I'm a little worried about you," and even better, listening to old folk songs together for comfort, "We'll be in In a hut, day in and day out, for the rest of our lives, teaching our children to fear kings, fear gods. I mean, we're going to have the best of times."
That night, in the cottage in Gothenburg, Sam was sitting behind Jonathan, listening to a ditty together, when the concierge suddenly came over and said, "You're listening to music at this late hour, close the door, others have to get up early for work tomorrow morning." Another one. Others, and here and now, we are us, we are indebted entertainment salesmen, we just rest, don't meditate, don't think about running out of money again, we turn the music down, no more conversations, silent through this good night.
2015.8.7
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