Horen is a musician. He is immersed in the world of music in his head in the opening movie, which has clearly stated this point. His identification with this identity runs through the film. But if there is only this identification in Hollen’s life, his life will not be so pleasant. He may be able to become the composer he has always dreamed of, and at the same time he will be a terrifying paranoia. This is the case with the younger sister in "She Is Lonely Than Fireworks". The conflict between the identity of the musician and several other identities-the identity of the teacher and the identity of the father-and the way in which Hollen handles these conflicts constitute the main structure of the film.
1. From composer to teacher
Hollen chose to be a teacher in order to have more free time to compose. However, after a few months, he was reminded by the female principal that as a teacher, he should not only impart knowledge, but also guide students in order to prevent knowledge from being wasted. Then he discovered that there was an outdoor band waiting for him to train.
Horen is adjusting and adapting step by step. After venting his anger, the news that his wife was pregnant made him determined to devote himself to a career as a teacher. He understands the importance of inspiring students’ interest; he spends more time on extracurricular tutoring, giving inferiority girls with red hair like sunset, to clumsy boys who are untalented but willing to endure hardships; there are often shots showing that he is writing about him His own symphony, but it was not until his retirement that the only work of his life was premiered. If it were not for this performance, most people, even Hollen himself, might have forgotten that he once introduced himself as a composer. In order to support his family, he even has a summer part-time job as a driving school coach! The so-called "maturity" in the social sense is the process by which people give up fantasy (or fantasy satisfaction) and throw themselves into the torrent of life, squeezed and deformed. Hollen’s recognition of the teacher’s identity can be said to be completely driven by his sense of responsibility to the family. He is to be a good teacher for his family, his wife, and his unborn children. Judging from Hollen’s retirement ceremony, his role as a teacher has been recognized by everyone. Even the male principal who "against" him many times attended his retirement ceremony and nodded gently to the rhythm of his music. Another aspect of this process is Hollen's declining identity as a composer or musician.
In fact, the title (Mr. Holland's Opus) indicates that Hollen’s life is a life as an educator, and his music is composed of a group of people, a group of students who have become successful through music education.
2. From teachers to father
Hollen’s wife Alice and son Gao Zan have blamed him, thinking that he values other people’s children more seriously. In fact, Horen was quite disappointed that his son had ear problems, and instead devoted almost all of his energy to school teaching. He believes he loves his son and provides a lot for his son. But he has never learned sign language, often makes mistakes, and often fails to understand his son's expressions, and needs his wife to translate. The reason for these conditions is that he denies the reality of his son, that is, he has not given up his illusions. He often speaks without facing his son, forgetting that his son needs to read his lips. In his fantasy, he has a normal son, but the son in front of him makes him dissatisfied.
The death of John Lennon probably aroused many complicated feelings in Horen's heart: He was a musician, and Lennon was 41 years old when he died, which was about the same age as Horen. Horen tried to talk about Lennon with his son, but was less patient when he was upset. He believes that it is impossible for his son to understand himself, and all this is caused by the ear disease that he can't avoid and can't do.
Gao Zan's grievances and anger have accumulated in conflicts. When Lennon died, Horen and Gao Zan came to an opportunity together. Perhaps due to the influence of his mother's parenting style, Gao Zan maintained a very positive attitude, and at this time expressed his need for identification to his father with a strong emotional "talk". It should be said that Hollen has finally begun to accept that he has a deaf son, this deaf child is his own son, and this son loves himself. Horen later began to actively participate in the promotion of music for the deaf. This attitude is exactly the reaction that many parents of disabled children will have after accepting the reality. Because they suffer from the misfortune of their children and family, they also pay attention to other families and individuals in the same situation. Through this attention, they often form a group to support each other and gain a sense of belonging.
3. As a husband
Overall, Horen’s role as a husband is quite stable. There was a little temptation in the film. In the chaos and disappointment, Horen found Luyunna, a female student with great singing talent. To Horen, deliberately coaching her was like relived the dream of a musician that he had almost given up. In the process, Luyunna also fell in love with Horen's talent and her support and encouragement. Horen wrote a song for her at the most emotional moment. The writing process of this song helped Horen sublimate part of the conflict in the relationship. Because at the same time, Horen is also very aware of his feelings and responsibilities for his family. When he flips through the old photo album-don't forget that his wife Alice is a photographer-his smile tells the audience that he clearly remembers what is hard to give up All, perhaps he will also remember his wife's admiration for his music teacher when he was young. The affectionate confrontation in Luyunna's farewell performance is a farewell ceremony performed by Horen in order to end the feelings he has invested in. As mentioned earlier, Hollen’s identity as a musician has been constantly weakened throughout his life. The farewell to Luyunna was also one of a series of weakenings. Since then, Horen will devote more energy to education and his family.
2. Gao Zan's approval
Although this is a movie about Horen, it is still necessary to talk about his son Gao Zan. Because the son is the continuation of the father's life in many ways. Gao Zan's rebellion and conflict are not performed in the film, only approval. He used to shout loudly to his father. That was the first time he made a sound in the film, or he used to make a "jerk" gesture to his father. It was all because of his anger that his strong identification with his father was blocked. How strong this anger is, it shows how strong his desire for identification is.
In the early days when he was ignorant and ignorant, his mother had taken him to the music classroom. Xiao Xiao Gaozan saw his father directing, and he also made gestures with his hands and dances. He enjoyed the process so much that he closed his eyes later. Most of this cannot be explained by musical talent. The real reason is the son's worship and identification with his father. But the son's intoxicated expression undoubtedly hurts his father's heart. If he doesn't have ear problems, Holon will do his best to train him.
It should be said that Horen projected his wishes to Gao Zan first. When Gao Zan was a few months old, the couple held the child and played the piano together. At this time, they judged that the child was "gifted" based on the staring eyes of the baby. This can undoubtedly be said that they are expressing their expectations fantasyly; He was found to be deaf, and Horen said bitterly in class, "Beethoven is not congenital deaf." It shows that Horen’s illusion is that he hopes that his son will inherit his father’s work, continue his career, and at the same time continue his own. life. About all fathers in the world have similar expectations for their sons.
However, the reality is cruel. For Horen, who is unwilling to give up his illusion, he is not so like a son if he cannot inherit his own son. I have already analyzed the process of Hollen’s identification with his father’s identity. From another perspective, this process is also the process of Gao Zan’s from being attached to his mother to being able to be independent. When Horen was unable to communicate with Gao Zan in sign language, Gao Zan meant no father, and his mother became the only channel for him to communicate with another man in the family. That man is a symbol of society, and his recognition and acceptance can give the teenager the courage and self-confidence to face the society positively. And this recognition and acceptance are to happen, only waiting for Hollen to realize the disillusionment, realize that although this child cannot be like himself, he still loves himself and hopes to have more consistency with himself, that is, he hopes to identify with himself. Fortunately for them, John Lennon helped them achieve this communication with his own death. Gao Zan wins his father back from his fantasy. The father recognizes his son's desire for identification, accepts reality, and actively seeks to establish communication with his son to support his son's identification efforts. This support is undoubtedly the most helpful force for a person's socialization.
It is said that the son's identification with his father will affect his career choices as an adult. In the film, there is also a result that is indeed the case. Gao agrees to be a deaf teacher, although we don't know what he teaches, maybe language, maybe even music, no matter what it is, he is undoubtedly recognized by students and institutions like his father.
2007-9-24
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