This is almost a philosophical film. The temperate images, the implicit confrontation, the flashback theme of atonement, and the clever foreshadowing echoes, all give the film a literary color. The following is a brief description of the recurring themes and contrasts in the film. The author is not very familiar with the Crusades, and the length of the film depicting the Chinese dynasty in the Far East is basically similar to the literary fictional overhead background setting, so I will not check the historical facts one by one.
Sin / redemption of subordinated
movie at the beginning, the protagonist crusaders Jacob vow to God. The solemn prayers match the blood-stained faces of young people, just like the call of the opening of an ancient poem. Not to be troubled by darkness, I would like to put on the armor of justice and become a knight of God: this is the original intention of the Crusades, the prayer of the priest before the expedition, and the spiritual support for Jacob's subsequent actions. As the war deepened and soldiers raged, Jacob’s father’s friend, Jacob’s martial arts mentor, and Jacob’s fellow Garan realized that the knights were looking for the traces of God in a foreign country, but they had deviated from humanity and sin. Profound. In the deaths of pagans and fellow-robes, they could not find God at all. The blood of the slaughtered (Moors) has penetrated the blade and penetrated the soul of every knight. Garan is eager to put down his swords and guns and head to the far east where no one has ever been. Jacob believed that Garland violated the original intention of fighting for God and fought hard to the end. However, facing Garan's disappointed and sad eyes, Jacob's sword was no longer as steady as before. The Crusaders rushed into the Moorish palace, and the prince Jacob slashed into the inner room aggressively. Seeing that his concubine and grandson saw his terrible face and fear of being insulted, he succumbed to death. Garland, who was a step late, mistakenly thought that Jacob had acted on women and children, and that humanity had been lost in the youth. Jacob's cry of resentment echoes the despair in Garan's eyes, and the prelude is about to end, and the two parted ways, escaping from the past and seeking salvation.
Three years after the encounter again, Jialan retired to the Far East as mentioned above. Now he has become the leader of the silver mountain, known as the "White Ghost" by the people of the rivers and lakes, and is well-known on the Silk Road. Jacob heard his name and rushed to the east to try to clear Garland's misunderstanding of him. On the way, out of a sense of atonement, Jacob assisted Ren Yuaki, who was chased by the usurper’s eldest brother, and his brother Ren Yuaki, and protected them to a place of refuge. In a confrontation, Jacob fought behind the palace to protect everyone from fleeing. He was seriously injured in his chest. He managed to come to the foot of the Silver Mountain where the "White Ghost" and the bandits were entrenched, and was rescued by Garan's men.
Galan was hidden in the shadows, watching Jacob groaning from the pain of the wound, and later stretched out his arm to terrorize the wounded with a domesticated pet snake, angrily refused to talk to Jacob, and full of bad words, turned around Turning his back to Jacob, he threatened to leave you in the woods to feed the crows. But you didn't do that, Jacob responded. Jialan with the knife-mouth seemed to be said to be the central issue, and put down the cruel words, "Get out of the way as soon as you can", and walked away angrily, and went to negotiate with Sister Zhao and Lian who had come first. The two brothers and sisters said they were Jacob's friends, and Jialan smiled, thinking that saying that would help you in any way? But he really didn't harm Jacob's friends.
After he got better, Jacob cheered up and went to see Garan, who looked like him, drunk in order to avoid the crime of killing in the first half of his life, and Jacob was addicted to poppies for this. Garland told Jacob that he would not be forgiven. Jacob once again recalled the disappointment in Garan's eyes in the Moorish palace. He admitted that the Moorish women did not die by his own hands. It was a painful misunderstanding. Garan said that they committed suicide because they were afraid of what you were like at that time; do you think God will forgive you if you save Zhao? Jacob said that mortals do not know the will of God; when they think they know, they will shed blood. After hearing this, Jialan drank all the wine in his bowl and reminded Jacob that even if he helped Ren Yu Zhao, he still couldn't wash away the blood stains on their hands. For the two knights who killed so many, how could he not be hell? The next day, they once again talked about the dead souls who had entangled the two for many years. Garland said, the undead did not speak. Jacob said that if the undead speaks, he will surely make him pay for it. Jia Lan thoughtfully said, it is not up to us to decide when to pay. Jacob insisted that as long as there are suitable people to assist him, Zhao will become Mingjun. Jialan laughed at him as he talked like a pastor, he would not help, and would never fight for others. Jialan prides himself on being a simple person, and the sharp-toothed prince will make him dizzy. Jacob laughed and said that Garland has many sides, and each one is different.
The several dialogues between teachers and students in the film are all sincere, and the debates are always centered on the theme of sin and redemption, and the character's temperament is exposed. Garan’s disappointment with Jacob became a nightmare for his youth for three years, and Jacob’s blood debt was also an unclear guilt. They fought side by side, they had the same beliefs and then they were shattered one after another, they were all taught martial arts and cursed by the sword, and they were also trapped in spiritual hell, drunk and tearful, and finally they were all willing to draw their swords for others. In the decisive battle, the true meaning of the battle is realized: to save people, and to try (perhaps in vain) to redeem oneself. In order to protect everyone, Jia Lan fights to death with the usurper who came to chase Zhao and Ren. Jacob continued to fight in accordance with the will of his mentor, and finally won with the help of Lian. Jacob installed his saber for many years instead of the tombstone on the tomb of Garan. He once again rode his horse and traveled far away to pay homage to the old man who was also a teacher and friend for the rest of his life.
Garan’s sin has slept with him, and Jacob’s is still clinging to his shoulders. The noon daylight can't wash away the hell in his eyes.
Fleeing / looking for the relationship between
Lian and Jacob, sometimes expressly meaning, sometimes implicitly.
At the first meeting, at the tavern battle, after Jacob rescued Lian and Zhao, he rode away and took a rest by the water. The shadow of Wei in the wind reminded the youth of the shadow of the sword and sword in the Moorish city three years ago. He saw Jialan's sad eyes with disappointment, so he decided to stop seeing death and help Sister Zhao and Lian. There is no word in this situation, and the implication is in the wind trolling the reed grass.
Going to one place, at night, Lian and Jacob sat around the campfire. Seeing that Jacob closed his eyes and went to sleep, Lian picked up the poppy that Jacob used to paralyze his nerves and threw it into the bonfire. Jacob woke up and plunged his hand into the fire to get it. Here is a good contrast to Jacob reaching into the fire in Jinyang City, breaking the rope on his wrist, going to rescue Zhao, and Lian: No matter whether the image of fire symbolizes trial and purification, Jacob explored the fire twice. Deliberately sinking into sobriety to save people (Lian is respectfully and wittily called the master by him), the diachronic mood change is clearly displayed through the same action, almost like a growth novel.
After searching the fire to get the poppy, Jacob lay down again in anguish. Lian asked him if you are far from your homeland, whether you are fleeing or looking for it. Answer, both are. Jacob asked Lian, is there hell in the Eastern legend? Lian said yes, it is the home of the sinner. After the sinner dies, he will go to hell and be punished. Jacob confessed that he was guilty and deserved to be punished. Lian said with emotion, everyone has their own heavy burden. Jacob didn't take it seriously, thinking it was just a false statement from a high man. Ren was so annoyed that she retorted. She criticized war from a female perspective, stating that men are vying for glory, and everything that women cherish is destroyed by the war provoked by men. Lian said, you don't understand me at all, so you are not qualified to comment. Jacob listened, and apologized for his faux pas.
Lian’s image has gradually become fuller in a series of actions and events: pitying the victims of the victims who were chased by the two brothers and sisters ("It's all our fault"), and refusing to leave the rescued girl Xiaoli ("We only I want to help you", "Can't leave her here alone"), face the Yinshan bandits and protect her young brother Xiaoli with her arms outstretched, which made this image of compassion and courage come to life.
And Lian's concern for Jacob gradually became clear. When the group first started on the road, Jacob stretched his arms to protect Lian's body, and Lian steadily caught her when he stepped into the air. After that, Lian’s affection was quietly revealed: Jacob taught archery, and the boy’s shot made him scream and avoid him. Lian couldn’t help but laugh; the same as before, when Jacob was bathing, he showed the many scars and cross tattoos on his back. Lian took a look. The frowning underneath is another contrast: different emotions, the same concern.
After Jacob fought behind the palace, Lian grabbed him, "I don't even know your name", and gave the youth a short hug when saying goodbye. In the Silver Mountain, she asked about the friendship between Garan and Jacob. Garan's misunderstanding at this time is unexplained. Speaking of the past, he believes that some people are indeed bloodthirsty, and Jacob is more inhuman than Jacob. Lian disagreed. The Jacob in her eyes was never like that: He raised his sword for others, not for himself. Following her own heart, Lian went to take care of the young man who was hurt in her chest. Jacob confided his real name to her and apologized for the twists and turns of the journey. Lian comforted him. We couldn't go so far without you. You saved Zhao, Xiaoli and me. Perhaps the sin has been paid for? Surrounded by the candlelight, Lian once again embraced Jacob in her arms, letting the young man's heavy head rest on her shoulders.
Lian learns about Jacob in her own way, putting her heart into it, and trying her best to dispel the "misunderstanding of each other and no right to comment" between the two. As Jacob said, "Your brother is kind and smart, just like you", there is no blunt praise, but the meaning has come. A similar, almost ancient Eastern style implicitly appeared after the scene of "Mortals don't know the will of God": it was still night, still under the light of fire, Lian asked Jacob why he chose to protect her and her brother. Jacob replied: "I was looking for the trace of God in the wrong place, and you and your brother made things meaningful." This is still a clear statement, and Lian's next sentence is an allusion: "Father's words are here. He will definitely like you...now you, he will definitely like it. "Don't say I like it, but say he likes it, so I won't send it out. There is still hesitation in Jacob's language, but Lian uses a kiss to dispel the worries caused by the words.
The two men's affection reached the top value when Ren took the dagger in the decisive battle and fought to save Jacob's life. After killing the enemy, Jacob exhausted his blood and fell beside Lian. This is the third time to embrace each other, and it is invisible and spiritually close. It will be fine, Lian said with a smile. What were you thinking just now? Jacob looked into Ren's eyes. I am thinking about my country, Zhao, and you.
When the prince and princess returned to the capital, Lian looked back sadly with the horse under the city. Looking into the distance, Jacob also rode his horse, turning his head to look behind him. However, as the camera turns, behind Jacob is the Tomb of Jialan, he is looking at the teacher who has gone before him, and the cross engraving on the hilt of the sword on the tomb. The two gazes seemed to blend, but in fact they were wrong. The use of montage creates strange and beautiful misunderstandings: they seem to look back at each other, but they are limited to a specious moment.
God-seeking/saving
personality is more in the population: the father called him a kind heart and benefited the common people of Li people. The emperor used her life to protect him, saying that he was the country's only hope. Jacob praised him for being smart and kind, and if he meets a beloved, he will become a king. Although Garland did not trust the superior like Jacob, he praised him because he dared to call him "desperado" loudly. "The prince with teeth" gave him a headache. Only by the side of Xiaoli, who is of the same age, Zhao can restore a little right to speak and at the same time show his talents. This boy is the orthodox prince to be rescued by Jacob, and a symbol of the "person" who gives Jacob a meaning to his actions.
When saving Xiaoli, Jacob showed excellent ejaculation, and he yearned for it and begged Jacob to teach him the skill. Jacob taught Zhao what Garan had taught him ("shooting is a combination of technique and art", "making offense and defense become instinct"). At this time, the image of Jacob is often young Jia Lan replaces his archery instructor, and Zhao's every move is like childhood Jacob. Under the montage editing, Garan and Jacob's worried expressions look like one person, and Zhao and the young Jacob's initial temptation are also the same. The transition of roles from child to adult, from apprentice to teacher is completed quietly between the three screens, which is also the ritual growth theme that many literary and artistic works tirelessly describe. Far away from his homeland, Jacob went to a foreign country to find the trace of God. From the pastor's leadership to self-determination, he has actually moved from the abstract of the oracle to the reality of human words.
However, although Jacob captured meaning from the rescue of Zhao and Lian, repaired the friendship, and enjoyed the favor, but when the incident ended and Jialan died in battle, Jacob’s heavy burden was not due to Lianfa. Sincerely wish ("You saved our three lives, and your sins have been paid for") and disappear. On the way to escape, he could hardly have a good time; now that his siblings return to the capital and the throne is restored, Jacob, the white monkey and the white ghost, can never find long-term relief in the powerful position. The divine will of his struggling is probably not in the Far East, naturally not in the Middle East, or even in the homeland where he was born; or as Wittgenstein said in his later period, the meaning is only in his actions under a single thought. What Jacob was looking for was God. This time he found someone, and he found the humanity that Garland had desperately hoped he had, and misunderstood his lost humanity. He protects Lian Yu Zhao and unconsciously maintains the kindness and hope shared by his siblings. These bright conceptual attributes may be closer to the true meaning of the gods pursued by the Crusades than "fighting for the gods".
The above insights, Bo Zhujun smiled. The author does not quite understand the matter of faith, and like everyone else, he is still hesitating on the way to explore.
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