I prefer the translation of "Innocent 11". In the film, the children's innocence impressed me the most, and the war's plunder and destruction of "innocence" made children who should have clear eyes full of fear, anger, hatred, and despair...
"Innocent 11 Years Old" "The author of the novel and the screenplay, Oscar Orlando Torres, a writer living in the United States, is the little protagonist of this story - Cava. Chiava fled war-torn El Salvador for the United States alone at the age of 12. The 12-year-old was a daunting threshold for El Salvador's 12-year period (1980-1992). Boys who crossed this threshold meant that they had to join the civil war. The only difference is whether to be captured by the government forces as a child soldier, or to join the guerrillas.
El Salvador, a small country in Central America on the east coast of the Pacific Ocean, has a land area of just over 20,000 square kilometers and a population of over 5 million. The 12-year civil war has claimed 75,000 lives, and more than 7,000 people are missing. Because the village where the Chawa family is located is located in an area where conflicts between the government army and the guerrillas are frequent, the fighting is constantly and fierce. The greatness of Chawa's mother lies not only in the fact that she did not hesitate to sell the sewing machine, the only source of livelihood in the family, in exchange for her son's entanglement in leaving his hometown, giving his son a hope of survival and a chance to change his destiny. It also lies in her tenacity to raise and protect her three children alone in the war, and she always adheres to the principle of life first. Her guerrilla brother once wanted to take Chawa away, but she was adamant against it, insisting that her son must stay with her and not go anywhere.
The film cuts from Chawa's most frightening memory point - a few little boys with their hands crossed behind their heads, being escorted by soldiers with live ammunition in the torrential rain. Chava's terrified, sluggish voice-over sounded: "I'm thirsty, my feet are sore, I have gravel in my shoes...they will kill us." Why do they want to kill us?" In the pouring rain, a man left the dilapidated village with his luggage, and Chawa sent him off in panic and helpless. It turned out that at the beginning of the war, Chawa's father left his wife and three young children to go to the United States. In a rainy scene, the story returns to the beginning, which is a great connection. It was not until the story evolved to the night that Chava and a few friends secretly joined the guerrillas that they were captured by the government forces that night. And in the torrential rain at the beginning of the film, they were taken to the execution ground. very cruel! The two friends were executed in front of Chawa, who was lucky to escape in the melee between the guerrillas and the government army.
There is a detail when Chava escapes for his life, which can be said to be the most intense and meaningful part of the whole film: he just brushed past the god of death and got a machine gun, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, he gave up Yes, throw away the gun and run away. I think it's not just because Chawa found out that he was aiming at the senior who was arrested and detained in the army not long ago. Although Chawa didn't like this gun-wielding classmate, he showed his prestige to his former friends. But this and becoming hostile camps with each other, raising guns and shooting each other, there is an insurmountable barrier in the heart of the young Chava. At this instant, Chawa was enlightened, saw his heart, and made an instinctive choice between war and peace. At the same time, it also demonstrates the hope of mankind in pursuit of peace and freedom.
The film's ambiguity about the attitudes of the warring parties already clearly shows the author's stance against war and desire for peace. The film's exposure of the evil deeds of the government army does not reflect its appreciation of the guerrillas. There is sympathy, but it is based on the understanding that the people are struggling to live under the fire of war, the people are driven to a desperate situation, and they have to do something, rather than raising a banner, why do you sacrifice yourself, what will be carried out to the end, what will be overthrown and what will be liberated? .
While reflecting the cruelty of the war, the children's innocent friendship, the ignorant love between Chava and Chris, who are in the beginning of their relationship, the friendship between people supporting each other during the war, the affection between families, the responsibility of the poor's children in the early days, etc. There is a very lively and full performance. What impresses me the most is the brilliance of humanity under the chaotic war in the film.
While watching, I sighed infinitely, so poor, as long as there is no war, the children can have their own happiness. In many cases, happiness really has little to do with rich and poor, but it must be closely related to peace, freedom, and security. In the dilapidated village, children can still be carried away. They put on lights similar to Kongming lanterns, count stars, climb trees to pick mangoes, and imitate car driving. Running and chasing on the road. In The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, the son of the Nazi officer who was mistakenly sent to the gas chamber has very similar hobbies. That child likes to simulate a fighter jet, and the roar of the motor is also heard in his mouth. He spreads his arms as wings. In the street, the courtyard, and the river, wherever he can "fly", he "fly" to "fly". Another thing in common is that they are both children in the context of war.
When it comes to childhood movies, I have always been strongly surprised by the children's acting skills. For example, "White Ribbon", "Spring in the Cattle Class", "Knock on My Heart", "The Fourth Painting", "Confession", and the aforementioned "Boy in Striped Pajamas", etc., of course include This "Innocent 11". Where are the children performing? That is clearly their story, their childhood, because it is so real and vivid.
The creation of the characters in the film, both primary and secondary, is very successful. Mom, pastor, grandmother, uncle, bus driver, idiot... After counting, I found out that this is a film without villains. The government army is just a vague group portrait. All of them appear as individuals, except for the father who gave up his responsibility early. The author is full of affection for them, making them flesh and blood, three-dimensional rich, affectionate and interesting.
The end credits said that Chris, who was missing in the war, also fled to the United States, and learned about the filming of "Innocent 11" from the newspaper, and rushed to the crew to reunite with Oscar happily. Oscar has mixed feelings, "Everything is unbelievable like a dream." Whether they can get together or not is no longer important. The important thing is that they are both alive and well. This great luck and sweetness, I wonder if Oscar told the story of the children in this cruel war so moving, rich and affectionate?
On January 16, 2010, El Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes officially apologized for the government's serious violations of the human rights of unsuspecting people during the 12-year civil war, "I ask forgiveness in the name of the El Salvador government."
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