I am not surprised at the choice of a female character like Larida in the film as the protagonist of the confrontation between old and new thinking. The old and new thinking have formed confrontations in almost every field, but I am afraid that any confrontation is not as intense and typical as the difference in the definition of female morality. This difference can even be said to be almost completely opposite. Therefore, in the confrontation between Lalida and John’s family, many times revealed obvious gender awareness, such as Lalida’s nude paintings, and controversies about whether a woman should be naked in front of strangers, and another example is Lalida. The intimacy between Da and John was smashed by everyone. Should the woman who was triggered should be ashamed of sex? In fact, the confrontation almost started when La Lida stepped into John’s manor. La Lida’s sexy dress, unrestrained personality, and The identity of the second marriage does not meet the definition of a lady in the old age, so the whole story should be more accurate as a confrontation between old and new female virtues. Lalida represents the emerging American thought, which gives women a free and equal personality. The John family, headed by John’s mother, represents the old-style British etiquette and customs, which represents a total suppression of women’s emotions and sexuality.
The old way of thinking is not so conservative as it is dehumanizing. John’s mother, Mrs. Whitaker, is undoubtedly the most typical representative in the film. She has guarded the honor of the Whitaker family throughout her life. Although the family is on the verge of bankruptcy, even though her husband and wife relationship with Mr. Whitaker has long existed in name. Everything she did did not consider self-happiness, and gradually exhausted her life in this old aristocratic family that actually died. This selfless sacrifice is great and sad. Under the appearance of aggressiveness, I am afraid that it has long been a bleak. Even so, she still insisted on dragging her son who could have been out of the shackles back into this pit, which really made people feel reluctant to sympathize with her. John’s two younger sisters were also victims of this old thinking. They wanted to get love, but they never dared to chase them boldly. They forced themselves into two old girls. The so-called ladylikeness was actually twisted and contrived. There is no feminine beauty, and it’s no wonder that they would be uncomfortable with La Lida, and they can’t marry her due to her own morals. La Lida has repeatedly marryed her twice. From here we can see that the male Quan’s hypocrisy, men like Lalida’s various styles in their hearts, but they don’t agree with her behavior in their minds, and they agree with Sister John’s stereotyped leftists, but they don’t like them in their hearts. This also makes me think of the men of the celestial dynasty. My compatriots, while playing a plane in front of Teacher Cang's video, while disliked Teacher Cang in all kinds of ways. This is a kind of hypocrisy, a kind of obliteration of human nature, and a kind of self-denial of body instinct.
The film achieves a progressive and interesting arrangement in the personality. Mrs. Whitaker and her two daughters are staunch supporters of the old thinking. John likes the new thinking, but he agrees with the old thinking. After some struggle, Choosing the old thinking, Mr. Whitaker likes the new thinking, but because of lack of courage, he chose to escape from the old thinking. Under the inspiration of La Lida, he escaped from the old thinking, and La Lida is a complete representative of the new thinking. This kind of persona prevents the story from becoming monotonous and polarized due to confrontation, forming a certain gray-scale connection and becoming a sense of hierarchy.
Compared to the cowardly John, his father, Mr. Whitaker, is a more worthy character. This man’s psychology has been severely traumatized by war. The old era that has inevitably passed away makes him sad and at the same time tired. He does not want to live in this doomed culture, because he has tasted it on the cruel battlefield. Enough death and destruction, but he didn't have the courage to cheer up and start a new life, so he chose to sink in the indulgence, and after being forced to return to his hometown, he turned into apathy to avoid everything in front of him. The appearance of Lalida is a turning point! Her vitality is a light in the darkness, and the new thinking she represents is a beacon of confusion. These all evoked Mr. Whitaker's yearning for a new life, and eventually followed Lalida and left. At the same time, Mr. Whitaker is still a very attractive man. His graceful decadence in front of his wife, his implicit mockery of old gifts, and his brave maintenance of Lalida all show the quality and responsibility of a man. Towards the end, when La Lida was pushed out in public and fell into a dilemma of isolation and helplessness, Mr. Whitaker stood up and danced with him. It was a climax. Under beautiful and rhythmic music, a handsome man. Embracing the beautiful woman, he jumped up an infectious tango. Every step and every rotation was clean and tidy, spreading their disdain and provocation to the old world to the onlookers, their isolation With bravery, let the whole scene burn! I personally think that this dance drama even surpasses the classic fragments in "Scent of a Woman".
I have to mention Mr. Whitaker’s actor Colin Firth. He is an actor who is known for his demeanor. Despite his sloppy appearance in the film, he still cannot conceal his noble behavior, especially in the dancing scene. His upright posture, skillful dance steps, and firm eyes, from turning around to looking up, the charm is broken, and the mature hormonal breath exuding all over his body easily surpasses the tender beauty of his son John, Colin Firth’s. The superb interpretation makes the role of Whitaker undoubtedly a shining point in the film.
Mr. Whitaker’s feelings for Lalida have always been the focus of debate among many movie fans. Personally, Mr. Whitaker’s love for Lalida is a kind of appreciation without evil intentions. He has repeatedly relieved Lalida. A kind of identification and maintenance of new thinking, and out of his own situation, Whitaker will naturally have understanding and sympathy for Lalida. In several separate conversations between him and Lalida, we can clearly see Feeling the kindness released by Mr. Whitaker, of course, in front of such a lively woman, Mr. Whitaker, such a kind man, you say that his eyes on Larida are completely beyond gender consciousness, I It's impossible to see, but I believe that they are still pure until the end of the story, and I don't know what will happen later.
Finally, talk about the secret of La Lida, that is, the euthanasia of her husband who was suffering from cancer. In fact, the film does not intend to discuss whether euthanasia is reasonable or not, but about the concept of love. What kind of contributions can you make for your lover? La Lida is willing to break the law for this and suffer moral condemnation. This is a great sacrifice, because she can completely ignore her husband’s pain and insist on letting him suffer to death to maintain the image of a conscientious wife. This is precisely the normative action of the old thinking. It is not difficult for us to find the rigidity, hypocrisy and anti-humanity in it. "My dear, you don't know what love is, you don't understand the feeling of loving someone deeply and willing to do everything for him, even injecting poison into him, just because he is weak and unable to do it himself." These words revealed Lalida's strong affection for her ex-husband and deep disappointment with John, the relationship between the two has been completely broken since then. This plot reminds me of the Indian movie "A Request in the Rain" that I watched not long ago. The nurse who loves the owner deeply, in order to relieve him from the pain of quadriplegia for 14 years, promised to implement euthanasia for him, even if she did not approve of the owner’s euthanasia decision. , The film deeply moved me and made me feel the pain of reluctance to leave the lover, but respecting the lover’s wishes. Behind this pain is a deep friendship, and it was also Larida who said this to John. At times, the emotions tumbling inside.
Human civilization is constantly moving forward, and the way forward is to break away from the rigidity and rigidity of all forms, make changes that are constantly close to human nature, and respect the essence of human beings.
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