"Bernadette Where Are You?" is adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name. The special thing about the novel is that the entire book is presented in the form of e-mails, correspondence, FBI files, etc. The film continues this style and is deleted. Some minutiae make the main line more prominent.
In fact, the story is not complicated. Bernadette was once a talented female architect, but her career was hindered, so she fled to Seattle for 20 years. Over the years, she worked hard to be a mother, but she could not integrate into life in Seattle. In the end, the family of three found the warmth in Antarctica, and Bernadette also found a new career.
The film’s director is Richard Linklater, and his most popular work is the love trilogy: love before dawn, love at sunset, love before midnight. This trilogy tells a couple of transnational couples, from their young acquaintances to their middle-aged life, their chats at different stages, and their views on life. This time, let's take a look at what the life of middle-aged women is like.
Narrative structure: open lines and dark lines are advancing at the same time, and the novel form makes the presentation of the plot richer and novel
As far as the narrative structure of the film is concerned, flashbacks are used. At the same time, the director arranges an open line (to the South Pole) and a dark line (Bernadette's career). In the narrative process, a documentary about the heroine was interspersed, and two conversations were restored with montage editing techniques, telling the audience from the side of Bernadette's career experience. Promote the development of the plot.
Although it is a very simple and warm story, through the director's ingenious narrative arrangement, coupled with Cate Blanchett's performance, as an audience, I fully feel the power of creation. Next, let's take a closer look at the narrative structure of the film.
1. Using flashback, open and dark lines advance at the same time
At the beginning of the film, what was shown in front of the audience was Bernadette rowing a solo boat in Antarctica, and at the same time, the narrative was launched in the tone of Bernadette's daughter. Then, the subtitles showed that the camera switched to their home five weeks ago.
Daughter Bee discussed with her parents about going to Antarctica with the whole family. This is the bright line of the whole film. The family must be neat and tidy and go to the South Pole. Of course, there are many problems on the way to Antarctica. For example, for Elgin, he is very busy and it is difficult to spare a long time. For Bernadette, leaving home, social fears, and even seasickness, every small problem deeply tormented Bernadette.
As a result, Bernadette began to think of all means to overcome these things that are nothing to ordinary people, but are simply terrifying to her.
She was in the library and was recognized by an avid fan who happened to be a student of Bernadette's good friend. The student said that she watched a short film about the 20-mile house on the Internet and began to become a "fan" of Bernadette.
Therefore, the director began to use short films to show the dark lines of this article, that is, Bernadette's identity as an architect, her past glory, her setbacks, and her current trough.
2.20 Mile House Short Film
Bernadette in the documentary is gleaming, extremely talented, DIY, using materials within a radius of 20 miles to build a building in 3 years. It is mentioned that Bernadette has a concept that designers must explore on the spot to be able to tailor them and create the most unique works.
The picture stayed at the most glorious moment and stopped abruptly-Bernadette could not face the past and turned off the computer.
Later, Bernadette disappeared, her daughter turned on the computer, and then read the second half. Because of this 20-mile house, Bernadette was awarded the MacArthur Genius Award. However, this house was bought by her husband to her boss, that is to say, the real buyer is a TV host. This house, full of Bernadette’s efforts, spent so much time, and was finally demolished by the buyer and turned into a parking lot.
The director is ingenious and uses the special form of the documentary to show the audience the heroine's design concept and her extraordinary genius concept, perfectly avoiding the boring terminology and knowledge of the construction industry. Because there is a documentary, it is more full of the genius temperament of the heroine.
We know that geniuses are often geeks and often don't care about others' opinions, so it is difficult to attract people's liking. The presentation of the director of the film makes it easier for the audience to accept a genius instead of disgusting. The greater the gap between the glorious past and the tragic reality of the present, the greater the dramatic conflict. The audience wanted to know, what happened next?
3. Montage
Bernadette felt humiliated, and as soon as he left, he fled to Seattle. But what happened afterwards? Why did Bernadette become what it is now?
Then, through montage editing, the film presents two conversations at the same time, Bernadette and her old friend, husband and psychologist.
Bernadette fled to Seattle, had not recovered from the humiliation of the 20-mile house, and had four more miscarriages before he had a daughter, Be. However, the newly born Biheart is not fully developed, so it needs multiple operations to recover.
Moreover, Bernadette has never been involved in Seattle. When it comes to Seattle, he has always complained. However, her husband likes it very much. He works at Microsoft and has been working overtime.
After the conversation, they came to a completely different conclusion:
The psychiatrist said that Bernadette is suspected of suicidal tendencies and must be treated.
Bernadette’s friend said that you are not sick, and a genius must work and create. "Work to cure all diseases".
These two conversations further strengthened the original position of the couple. Bernadette is eager to go to Antarctica. A family of three will be healed in Antarctica. She may be able to regain her previous state and confidence and start working again. And her husband has decided to go to Antarctica with her daughter, and Bernadette will go to the nursing home to recuperate.
So, who the hell is sick?
Through a series of elaborate narrative methods, the director pulled the audience back and stood firmly on Bernadette's side. Through this conversation, Bernadette finally understood how to get out of the trough and found his mission.
Symbolic meaning of things: buckets, plants, vests
The director arranged a lot of details in the film to show Bernadette's genius character. Even if the genius is in trouble and struggles all day long, but deep down, there is still care for the details.
1. Use a bucket to catch raindrops
At the beginning and end of the film, buckets appeared. The roof was leaking, and Bernadette was busy looking for a basin and bucket to catch the raindrops. In order to reduce the sound of rain dripping, a towel was placed in the bucket. This is the gentleness of the designer, doing his best in the details. In a room in Antarctica, because of this detail, the father and daughter can finally be sure that Bernadette is here.
2. Cut the carpet to protect the green plants
As an architect, I have maintained sufficient sensitivity. Just as Princess Pea can find the pea under the quilt, she can easily see the disobedience of the carpet in the room. So I got a toolbox and tore open the carpet. Released the green plants underneath.
This green shoot is a hope, just like myself. Tenacious, always looking forward to breaking out again and seeing the sun. Before the husband and daughter set off, they also saw this green sprout. The husband finally believed that Bernadette had no intention of suicide.
3. Vest
When deciding to live in Antarctica, Bernadette placed an order online through his assistant, and bought a fishing vest with many zipper pockets on it, and pragmatism is paramount.
In order to be prepared, she wears this vest many times. There was a scene before going home: She put her passport in the vest. So, when she faced a group of strangers who wanted to give her an exhortation meeting at home, she ran away. Not only did she escape, she could go directly to the South Pole. Because the documents are carried with you, all in the vest.
How to experience an architectural genius with the lens? In my opinion, the director has chosen the most pleasing and acceptable way, to see the big from the small, and through the description of various details, let the audience unconsciously realize that this is a focus on details, and at the same time a soft heart. Architectural genius. Of course, she is easily emotional and hates things that she hates, but she always tears up when she meets things she likes, a lovable architectural genius. Who doesn't like such a genius?
Theme presentation: peeling off the shell of the story, what the director wants to express is thinking about life choices
1. Choose
I think that every working mother will be asked a question: How to balance career and family? At the same time, men will never be asked this question. What the director wants to express is that we don't have to deliberately polish ourselves to blend in with the neighborhood. There are different choices in life. You can choose to be a housewife, or you can choose to continue to shine and find your own value through work.
In the film, the two forces have been competing. Bernadette has been unable to integrate into life in Seattle. She wants to be an outsider. Another force comes from her husband Elgin and neighbor Audrey. They like to use various interventions to turn Bernadette into their ordinary mother and integrate into the community.
The final result of the contest was that Bernadette escaped from the toilet gorgeously. Surprisingly, she ran to the home of her neighbour, Audrey. Moreover, it was supported by Audrey.
It turned out that as a mother, Audrey was also troubled. Both were in trouble and became allies instead. In my opinion, this is a signal from the director: Bernadette's rival camp is gradually disintegrating and falling apart.
Through this arrangement, the director tries to tell us that what we take for granted is not necessarily correct. Each of us is very strong, has the ability to heal ourselves, and sometimes, we don't need to care too much.
Geniuses like Bernadette also face career and family choices. His career was frustrated, so he fled to Seattle and devoted all his energy to take care of his daughter. She said that her daughter is both a creator and a destroyer. However, at night, one can still feel the humiliation of the construction industry. In the end, she chose to continue to create, and creation is her mission.
2. South Pole
In Antarctica, the open and dark lines interweave and converge, and all the characters have a happy ending. When a person ceases to be wronged and seeks completeness, but earnestly pursues their true mission, she will shine.
In Antarctica, she found peace, and she also found her mission-to design workstations for Antarctica. She said, I was shaking all over. But it's not the bad kind, it's trembling with excitement.
When Bernadette was told that a period of time in Antarctica was very difficult, he would not see the sky all day long, he would be alone, and his wisdom teeth would be removed by a veterinarian. Does it matter?
Bernadette said, it sounds like I have been doing this kind of training for the past 20 years.
This is the value of genius. The life that ordinary people take for granted is a torment for her. However, those working conditions that are unbearable for ordinary people are a kind of enjoyment for Bernadette.
This kind of values reminds me of what Yohji Yamamoto said in his autobiography:
It turns out that for me, the most dazzling time is the stage of concentrating on creation; the most luxurious enjoyment is the time when the nerves are tense, day and night preparing for the fashion show. If all this does not continue, I will suddenly fall ill and lose my health.
At last
There is a stereotype that middle-aged women are always nagging, managing their children from all aspects, and having no life of their own. There is a hot question on Zhihu: What is the daily life of middle-aged women. I think "Where have you been Bernadette" is the best answer. Middle-aged women can also be cool, they can become good bosom friends with their daughters, they can also regain the glory of the year and rediscover their mission through creation.
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