Oriental White Night Released: 2012-02-06 12:03
two. Summertime: Saving Self-Esteem
This is a popular nostalgic film. When it was released in Japan, the title was changed to "Traveling" (it is also called "Sunny Sky" in China). From the content point of view, "Traveling" seems to be more appropriate. I saw this film many years ago, and I am writing a novella of the same name recently. As a reference, I hurriedly watched it again.
The film describes the romantic travel experience of an old American girl who is about to bid farewell to her youth. The background is set in the beautiful water city of Venice. The atmosphere is appropriate, just like the Chinese "Lushan Love" in those days. The characteristics and popularity of the location are very convenient for the director to come. Rendering the romantic atmosphere, coupled with the superb acting skills of actor Kate Hepburn, has always been able to attract the attention of petty bourgeoisie. I remember that some people say that even the air in Venice smells of love, so even an old American girl who is so restrained and unhappy can't help but meet a handsome Italian man in this romantic place and fall in love. It is indeed a classic Venice. type of encounter. Everything in Venice seems to have been carefully prepared by God for you to meet the person you are destined to meet.
But I'm only interested in some of the details in the movie.
The heroine Jane meets a street child on the streets of Venice, and there are many scenes with the street child in the film. This reminds me of the image of the American soldier driving a jeep chanting "Hello" right after World War II. No matter in Europe, in Japan, in China, at that time, this is the standard business card of American image. On the scorched earth that has just emerged from the war, Coca-Cola and chocolate undoubtedly have a great temptation for the homeless. In the various novels and biographies of the early atmosphere, I learned about this situation, and many Japanese post-war pie grew into American-style liberals after eating the chocolates of American soldiers.
The heroine Jane also has some qualities in this regard.
The wanderer is like all children in tourist places. What he has for Jane is that he can earn a little bit. He sells her vulgar postcards, ballpoint pens, and guides her the way. Of course, it's just for profit. A little money. But the protagonist Jane gave a great trust and care to a street child who met for the first time.
The wanderer sells things that Jane does not need at all, and even makes some bizarre requests, such as asking for a cigarette. Jane said that children should not smoke, and the child lied to her that it was for her godfather, so Jane said Just believed. But as soon as she left, the little guy put the cigarette in his mouth.
She took pictures by the bridge and put everything on the little guy's hand. In today's China, I'm afraid no one would dare to do this, but until she accidentally fell into the river, surrounded by Many people cut this little guy out of the circle, but he didn't run away. With a call from Jane, the little guy appeared again. I think this must be a big relief for today's audience. And I understand, it turns out that homeless children also have a minimum of morals.
As the movie draws to a close, briefly leaving Venice, the little guy unexpectedly reappears. He handed Jane another ballpoint pen, and Jane thought he was going to sell it to herself again, so she politely declined. But this time, the little guy said it was for her. A vagabond gave a souvenir pen to a tourist who may only meet once in his life. Even Jane couldn't help but be moved. She accepted this small gift. This is obviously not accidental, because the little guy is a trustworthy person in Jane's heart. He must have won such a respect and gave Jane a gift. This is also human nature. You trust a person, and this person will give you back. This is the characteristic of that era.
The film was shot in the mid-1950s. I believe that during that period, China should be like this. Today, the United States, or Italy, should not have changed much, but in our country, amazing changes have taken place, and the trust between people should have dropped to an all-time low.
Nostalgic in these old movies and missing the good old days that are gone forever seems to be the only thing Chinese people can do now.
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