How can people see the darkness without lighting a match

Janie 2022-01-25 08:07:39

"Mysterious Child" convinced me that integrity and honesty are more important than artistic attainments. If we talk about the educational significance of movies, we are really learning how to be human through movies.

For a film, it is not difficult to establish a correct position and values, but whether this position and values ​​come from the author's inner obedience determines the honesty of a film. This is also the reason why China has not been able to make a hard and honest film like "The Change of the Son". The society we live in basically neither advocates nor allows individuals to question and resist the system. Of course, every system will not really like those who resist. The only difference is whether there is a possibility of admitting mistakes, or whether the rebels must be put to death.

In this film, we see the police station-appointed doctor, the hospital, the gracious electroshock therapy. Fortunately, lawyers are not appointed, otherwise what is the difference between California in 1930 and Shanghai in 2008? Could our story today be made into a movie in 70 years? I can only think so pessimistically.

A few days ago, I was chatting with a friend in Guangzhou, and I heard an argument that because China has a unique 5,000-year history in the world, from the perspective of probability theory, this history is bound to continue. Objectively speaking, this short period of history that began in 1949 is not a great turning point. China will soon return to the main river with a long history. The core of this argument is that the Chinese have solved so many problems with their own ingenuity, and there is no reason why they should not continue to solve them. This national wisdom is mainly reflected in the ability of the ruler, and also contains the philosophy of life of the general public. As the saying goes, the checks and balances of rulers and rebels have kept history going, but there were still so many people standing outside police stations and courthouses in the dark ages of 1930, if none of these people, or all of them, stood out. Disappeared, what about history?

So I'm more concerned with my personal position, rather than a historical view. How hard is it to do the right thing, empathize with the pain of others, and say no to wrongs that are imposed on yourself and others? There is no doubt that Eastwood is the loudest of these rebels, and so is Michael Moore, even if they get Cannes or an Oscar, they still are.

How can people see the darkness without lighting a match.

View more about Changeling reviews

Extended Reading

Changeling quotes

  • Christine Collins: Why would they do this?

    Rev. Gustav Briegleb: To avoid admitting they made a mistake when they brought back the wrong boy. Of course, anyone reading the newspaper with half a brain would see through it instantly. Sadly, that would exclude about half the readership of the Times. Mrs. Collins, I have made it my mission in life to bring to light all the things the LAPD wish none of us ever knew about. A department ruled by violence, abuse, murder, corruption and intimidation. When Chief Davis took over the force two years ago, he said...

    Chief James E. Davis: We will hold court against gunmen in the streets of Los Angeles. I want them brought in dead, not alive, and I will reprimand any officer who shows the least mercy to a criminal.

    Rev. Gustav Briegleb: He picked fifty of the most violent cops on the force, gave them machine guns and permission to shoot anyone who got in their way. He called them the Gun Squad. No lawyers, no trials, no questions, no suspensions, no investigations, just piles of bodies. Bodies in the morgues, bodies in the hospitals, bodies by the side of the road, and not because the LAPD wanted to wipe out crime. No. The LAPD wanted to wipe out the competition. Mayor Cryer and half the force are on the take: gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, you name it. Because once you give people the freedom to do whatever they want, as the Lord found in the Garden of Eden, they will do exactly that. This police department does not tolerate dissent or contradiction or even embarrassment. And you are in a position to embarrass them and they do not like it. They will do anything in their power to discredit you. I've seen it happen too many times to start going blind now. That's why I wanted to meet you, to let you know what you're getting yourself into and to help you fight it, if you choose to.

    Christine Collins: Reverend, I appreciate everything that you're doing and everything that you said, but I'm not on a mission. I just want my son home.

  • Dr. John Montgomery: He had two cavities that needed filling. He put up a fight, but I took care of it.

    Christine Collins: And?

    Dr. John Montgomery: Your son's upper front teeth were separated by a small tissue, a diastema. It made them sit about an eighth of an inch apart. The boy in that room has no such gap.

    Christine Collins: Can that change with age? Because that's what they're going to say.

    Dr. John Montgomery: In some cases, yes, it's possible. But the tissue between Walter's teeth prevents that from happening. You see, they can never come together without an operation to sever the tissue, and I can tell you right now that he has never had such an operation.

    Christine Collins: Would you be willing to put that officially in writing?

    Dr. John Montgomery: Pardon my language, but hell yes.