The story uses repeated narrative techniques (it is said that the original novel is narrated along a single line by two narrators), causing unexpected suspense. For example, Akutagawa Ryunosuke’s novel "In the dense forest" was later adapted into the movie "Rashomon" by Akira Kurosawa. There is also Zhang Yimou’s "Hero" in this category. The same story is repeatedly told by different narrators in the text. Readers or viewers follow the limited perspectives of the characters to repair and change their understanding of the truth time and time again. Repeated corrections will make the recipient have a sense of distrust of the narrator of the story, and thus seek a more rational perspective on their own, or I was overwhelmed by the suspense of the uncertain story. In the first episode, from the perspective of the female pickpocket Sue, she talks about how she and the liar gentleman seduce the innocent and ignorant rich girl Maud, plan to abduct her and elope, and then design and throw her into a lunatic asylum to embezzle her fortune. However, the plan went smoothly to the end, and it was Sue who was pulled off the wagon by the doctor in the lunatic asylum. Then the second narrative with Maud's perspective began.
Maud did not grow up in deep boudoirs and did not know the world. She served as a secretary to the scholar's uncle since she was a child, and her uncle is a good-looking man, but has a habit of studying sex culture. Maud has been reading pornographic novels for his uncle and his alumni since childhood, and she has suffered from high society stereotypes. She’s abstinence education is a calm but rebellious woman. Later, he learned from gentleman that the marriage would bring him an inheritance of 40,000 pounds, so he and gentleman found a scapegoat, Sue, who first served as his maid, then eloped with gentleman and ordered Sue to enter the lunatic asylum instead of gentleman, and then share the inheritance with gentleman. .
On the other hand, Maud and Sue are in love with each other, but they are facing a strong patriarchal power represented by their uncle and gentleman. The two weak women stand in opposing positions under the control of patriarchal power. They can only each other. Use deception while accepting the torment of conscience and wasting true love.
When the two women told the same story, the story unexpectedly led to the third pole (if Maud and Sue are used as the first pole representing the positive side, and gentleman as the second pole representing the negative side)-Mrs Sucksby, Sue's adoptive mother is also Maud's biological mother. This is the second part of the story. The ultimate truth is only now revealed. Mrs Sucksby is the real mastermind behind the scenes. She intends to seize the common heritage that originally belonged to Sue and Maud and to recognize the mother and daughter of Maud. The female-male theme that has supported the story so far has transitioned to the emotional theme of women themselves. Finally, Mrs Sucksby sacrificed himself to save the two girls. Sue and Maud started a new life in the Briar Manor where the male authority was buried.
The film can be regarded as a wonderful and complete story. It is full of dramatic tension in the opposition between the brutal male-female trampled and deceived, the hypocrisy and the lifeless upper class-the mad and energetic bottom of London. But I prefer the first half of it. The two girls got love by accident during the intrigue. This is a mockery of men; betraying each other for self-preservation in the cracks is a vivid reproduction of the human nature of the cracks. After the introduction of Mrs Sucksby's context, the story is even more exciting, but it loses the integrity of the theme, and it is not just a story about Lesbain.
View more about Fingersmith reviews