"The reason why I wrote this book is not because I have achieved extraordinary achievements, but because the things I do are very ordinary, but most children who grow up like me can't do it."—— "Song of the Desperate"
"The Elegy of the Countryman" is a film adapted from the autobiography of "Song of the Desperate" written by JDVance.
The protagonist JD is a counter-attack boy who grew up in a poor town in Ohio and was admitted to Yale Law School. The messy family relationships and poverty are the background of the story. He has a moody mother and grandparents who have lived apart for many years are the puzzles he faced when he was growing up. The multi-period experience of life and growth, the original book describes many details; including some observations and reflections on family, society, and the system are all discussed in the original book.
In recent years, many domestic bestsellers have been introduced to China and have become domestic bestsellers. Including the original film "Song of the Desperate", "When You Fly Like a Bird to Your Mountain" and so on, these people who have achieved class leaping are all teaching materials for ordinary people, and many readers are very interested. I think this is a matter of concern. In a utilitarian society, they must be the best chicken soup. In these books, different people see different messages, and I think the most shallow level is "how to succeed."
This adapted film focuses more attention on the family. Many viewers with low ratings believe that the director’s skill problem does not reflect the American social background, how the JD actually achieves the class leap, etc., and the scope of discussion is relatively narrow. I personally feel that this is just a matter of taste for many people who like to pay attention to American politics and social environment. For example, I want to dig out some movies about anti-intellectualism, social Darwin, etc., and even topics such as red necks can be brought out and talked. . Neoliberalism, race, society, political parties, can you talk about a movie? On the other hand, its narrative is focused and clear, so I don't think this is a bad film, at least not less than four stars.
If you have to be so involved, are the themes of movies like "The Piano of Steel" and "Blessed Ears" filming the rusty areas of the old northeast, are they all about society? It is a discussion and restoration to a certain extent, but I think it is more about family and family relationships as a unit to explore human nature. After all, it is the smallest unit composed of society, and people and society have complementary relationships and influence each other. It must be more fun to magnify and observe things from "human nature", especially at the level of dramatic performance.
We might as well regard it as a family ethics drama that can be watched on the sofa, expecting less will make it easier. Feelings and gains are inadvertently.
JD scuffled with his mother in the car, and he fled frantically to a house on the side of the road to call for help. When the police arrived at the scene to handcuff his mother and asked JD's mother if she had ever done anything to him, the little fat man shook his head, no.
His mother asked JD's healthy urine to get a job, but JD, who was very resistant, finally accepted a cup obediently.
"I love you, Mom, I hope you get better, and I hope you have a good time. I will help you and do my best, but I can't stay. I can't save anyone by staying here." He must drive Ten hours to rush to the interview opportunity.
All kinds of similar inner contradictions are countless in the play. These are all kind decisions made by JD in the face of a complicated family, but it is these seemingly kind and correct decisions that make JD go to Yale? Is it possible to achieve class leaping? Not all, JD's success is accidental and inevitable. According to ancient Greek drama, it seems that you can still be labeled as destiny.
In fact, the last paragraph of the film has said everything clearly, a sentence that sounds vague and has no standard answer.
"Our origin determines our identity, but we make choices for our lives every day. My family is not perfect, but they have made me who I am today and provided me with opportunities they had never had before. Regardless of me Whatever the future is, it is our common achievement."-"The Elegy of the Country People"
So, what do you think this movie is discussing?
I can’t help but think of my growth experience. I think of every decision that even changed my own and family’s destiny. I feel uneasy. What’s uneasy is not the right or wrong of the decision, but every time I choose and be chosen, I treat myself Seen as a passive victim. The victims will protect themselves and fight back against the so-called people who have inflicted harm on me, sometimes people, sometimes abstract families or society, and are trapped in this cycle. And all this is because I never "face up to myself" in a decent way, and then bear the weight of life.
Back to the theme, the message I received in this movie was "Accept the shortcomings and embrace life with all my strength".
:)
View more about Hillbilly Elegy reviews
