* This article was first published in ELLEMAN and also published in DeepFocus.
Puerto Rican director Miguel Arteta’s new work is too responsive and chilling. After the premiere, Vanity Fair gave such a title-the dark and hopeless "Bitteritz at the Dinner Party" is a "perfect" film for the United States under Trump's leadership.
After the screening, there was enthusiastic applause. Except for the excellent quality of the film itself, the dilemma faced by Bitritz in the film or the true portrayal of the next four years. After all, the success of the film cannot be separated from people's own destiny and social trends. The worries reflect the instinct.
"Bitlitz at the Dinner" tells the story of Bitlitz, a Mexican immigrant living in California. She was born in Mexico. After immigrating to the United States, she started from the lowest level of work, learned the skill of massage, and became a professional masseur. Bitritz has a long-term client who treats her like Casey, the noble wife of her family. Their personal friendship originates from Bitritz's meticulous care of Casey's daughter in the recovery period after illness. However, the social status and life experience are huge. The difference created an invisible but dangerous gap between them.
One day, after the massage, due to a vehicle breakdown, Beatrice had to stay at Casey's house, which happened to have a dinner that night. This meal is not simple. It is a social platform between the Casey family and business partners. It satisfies all people's illusions about luxurious, grandiose, empty and false gatherings. Such an environment made Bitlitz feel awkward and uncomfortable. Anger broke out when she learned that one of the guests was her "enemies." Displaced. However, the seeds of vengeance did not take root and sprouted. Instead, they were submerged by the sea and disappeared into the vast sea together with Beatrice's tired body.
The most touching thing about the film is the questioning of human nature and conscience. Bitlitz firmly believes that humans should respect life and care for the world with a sincere and warm heart. As a vegetarian, she contributes her meager strength to animal rights, and the experience of being hurt by others has never really destroyed her confidence in the goodness of human nature.
However, when the business tycoon proudly flaunts the pleasure of hunting, disagrees with the suffering of the workers, and pays homage to the affluent material life, Bitritz's kindness appears weak and insignificant. The contemptuous tone when talking about illegal immigrants at the dinner table is more closely related to the current political situation in the United States. Beatrice’s struggles and pains not only belong to her, but also to the tens of thousands of vulnerable individuals whose future is uncertain.
Fortunately, the ending of the film is not the lonely sea in the middle of the night, but returning to the quiet and peaceful river. A light boat is bathed in golden sunlight, and there is hope in the distance, so it is rowed in that direction. Even though we all know that the applause after the screening is filled with disappointment and helplessness, but the optimism at the end continues to call for strength and courage. After all, there are many other choices between despair and anger.
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