★ 2007 Oscar for best foreign language film on behalf of Norway
★ won the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Best Director award double
■ friendship ensemble
film begins with two friends, Philip and the Queen, standing face to face, in the same mailbox, while Throwing his own manuscript, waiting for the sliding of the door of destiny. The two people who are mirror images of each other and write each other are twins with deep feelings, but stand on the edge of separating them-what the manuscripts that determine the future itinerary will bring: success or failure, burning or extinguishing, or The separation between the two? Philip became popular with the publication of the book, but fell into a painful spiritual exhaustion in a passionate love; while Yili's manuscripts were not adopted, but he was more able to write quietly and slowly entered the literary world under exploration.
The story starts with an illusion and unfolds around the overlapping lives of the two. Philip, who is mad and depressed, and Yili, who writes with great concentration, are both pursuing their dreams. The happy time keeps reappearing, but the reality is familiar and unfamiliar. The two care about each other but secretly compete. Their confusion and searching, artistic experience and emotional experience are intertwined. Finally Philip was re-admitted to the hospital, and Yili left without saying goodbye and went to Paris to continue writing. The story ended with fantasy again. In a imaginary reunion, they smiled and watched each other's changes. They also discussed the news of the death of a favorite writer, saying that in this world, he has only two book fans.
■A ensemble of love
At the roaring rock concert, Philip counted down to 10, and at the moment when he counted to 0, Kelly turned his head and saw him, that moment they fell in love. The love between them, like his relationship with writing inspiration, was erratic and unbearably beautiful. In love, he suddenly encountered a car accident and it seemed that nothing happened, but after that, he could no longer write or fall in love. He had a mental breakdown and self-harm, but the doctor explained that he was sick because of a passion for love, and the two were forced to separate.
After he was discharged from the hospital, he kept searching for the lost inspiration and emotions, but he was hard to find. The two agreed to go to Paris again to find the last relationship, but he couldn't love anymore, and he stopped during sex. After separation, he continued to practice the "count down to 10" exercise, looking for the feeling of falling in love again and again. He closed his eyes on the bike and counted down, walked and watched the sun, counted down while taking the elevator, and finally walked to Kelly's office and told her that I love you. Kelly said, I'm sorry, I can't bear it anymore. His world collapsed again.
Finally, he and Kelly started the same countdown game again. When he counted to 0 again, Kelly finally told him to stop. This rest-like 0 is both the end and the beginning again.
Originally published in "Watching Movies·Midnight Show"
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