made a film about an old-fashioned immigrant story so interesting, and the background of events that really happened in history was so full of cold humor and brilliant wisdom. It is like a modern allegory with sharp metaphors everywhere, and like a social and historical picture scroll shining with a little sadness in the sharpness. The Italian film "Golden Gate" is full of bold and imaginative subversion in its image style. In its narrative structure, it is clear, clear and logical. Mute the picture, so that this film with an "epic" temperament is unique and shows its connotation in wanton swaying. Les is also known as a new generation of "Federico Fellini".
Martin Sr. praised Criales, saying he was "one of the few excellent creators who have made American immigrant films and cleverly avoided the origin of the Statue of Liberty." Indeed, the iconic statue did not appear in the film, but with the help of surreal imaginary techniques and ubiquitous allegories, the audience could know more about the appearance of the "new world" at that time and associate more with it. At that time in the United States, and even today, there is still a policy of despising the dignity of immigrants. The film highlights the natural solemnity in the absurd and humorous atmosphere, which seems to be more shocking than the deliberately pursued solemnity. The Silver Lion Award for the film seems to be a little too small.
In 1913, the Marcuso family, who lived on the island of Sicily, left their hometown and took a crowded ship with many immigrants to the United States, which represented a rich life. However, what greeted them was not an ideal new home with "a lot of milk to swim in", but a physical examination like a quarantine animal and a juvenile intelligence test to determine whether they met the quality requirements of the residents of the "new world". These immigrants, who have dreams of a better life, can only be checked helplessly and helplessly, answering questions simply and clumsily, and their eyes are full of innocence and confusion.
Marcuso's mother used to be a village witch doctor and had a certain status, but here, she had to be examined by women's private parts and asked some stupid questions. She asked those high-ranking inquirers - "What right do you have to judge us?", "You are not God." After such an extraordinary journey, the mother stopped talking, was given the unqualified reason of "stubborn thinking", and will be deported, but Pedro, the youngest son of Macuso who never speaks, speaks at this time, He expressed his heart for his grandmother, who asked them to stay here. Marcuso and the eldest son stared at Pedro the "mute" who was more stubborn than a donkey in disbelief, as if he and the witch doctor grandma had switched tongues.
The film consists of three parts. The first part takes place in Sicily. The rolling hills are covered with gray and white stones of different sizes. The villagers are guarding their barren and desolate homes, struggling on the edge of food and clothing. One day, an "opportunity" appeared in their peaceful and poor life. The strangers from the American continent brought some photos as evidence, spreading the legend of getting rich in the New World, telling them that great wealth and good luck are calling in the new world. them. The huge potato in the photo, the carrot as long as the boat, and the tree with coins on its branches... All these make people who are hungry, and Marcuso learns that his twin brother has already developed in the New World. This news Made him more and more impatient. At the beginning of the film, he and his eldest son used a unique way to bite the stone, climb to the top of the mountain, offer the stone, and pray for the heaven to show it. In fact, whether or not God has made it clear, he is going. He and his sons sold cute little donkeys and changed into a decent outfit, "to dress up like a prince and go to the new world."
The second part is at sea, where the accommodation conditions of the third-class cabins are quite bad, and their conditions are comparable to those of livestock transported by ocean. Before getting on the boat, the British girl Lucy played by Charlotte Gainsbourg finally appeared. When the Marcuso family had only shown their faces behind the set as required by the photoshoot, Lucy stood beside Marcuso's head, and she was with her. The family took pictures together, as if they were part of the family, and the setting for this photo is also interesting, the mother's figure sitting is reminiscent of the painting that was destroyed by Bean.
Lucy is a mysterious woman who travels alone in the dress of a lady, lives in a third class cabin, and is "relaxed" on the deck. From time to time, so-called gentlemen are interested in her, and the hillbilly Marcuso is no exception. At first Marcuso's mother did not like Lucy, but a sudden sea storm that can send people flying makes human beings vulnerable and united.
I admired the director's way of expressing the ship's arrival in the United States. It was foggy, and everything about the United States seemed cloudy and foggy. Marcuso asked himself in confusion: "Where is the United States?" Lucy replied: "We have already arrived. , right here." At this time, after observing and thinking along the way, Lucy chose the honest and honest Marcuso as her fiancé (a young lady without a fiancé was not allowed to enter the United States at that time), rather than Those lecherous gentlemen who are bright but unreliable.
The third part is also the most ironic and metaphorical part of the film. The land of dreams has arrived. Ellis Island, known as the "Golden Gate", is the door for European immigrants to enter the fantasy United States. However, this island It is more like a "cage" for immigrants, where they undergo various inhuman quarantine and IQ tests, and it is closed, all procedures are carried out in one building, and those who fail are here be deported. After bathing and changing clothes, young ladies gather in a place to be claimed by their "fiancé", but this seemingly legal procedure has the essence of buying and selling marriage. It is the American version of the "green card" in the early 20th century. When she was in her hometown, she was arranged as an American "husband-in-law" by a middleman, so the young and beautiful girl had to accept the bald and fat old man.
In the third part about the situation after arriving in the United States, there is no picture related to the Statue of Liberty in the camera, but the inscription on its base hit the audience's mind at this time - "Let me tolerate your exhaustion, you your sluggishness, and your body that longs to breathe free air; since the hometown has no way to make a living, has turned its back on you, the homeless, beaten up, why don't you come to me? I'm at the golden gate Light a bright light." This ironic metaphor is used here, and it is really a stroke of genius.
The film's image style and imaginary scenes are unforgettable: when Marcuso and his son were climbing on the deserted Sicilian wasteland, which was empty and bleak, except for stones and stones, the camera changed from a close-up to a long-range one. , this picture alone has already described the hard life of the villagers here; in order to coerce his mother to agree to emigrate, Marcuso buried himself in the soil and only showed his face. Sprinkling it on his face, he couldn't help but bloom with joy. This subjective and imaginary external performance can well explain the strong desire of the characters; in the film, this kind of exaggeration reveals rich and profound information. Imaginary can be seen at any time. The film has two imaginary images of swimming in milk. Once, Marcuso on the ship imagines himself and Lucy swimming happily in the ocean of milk, showing Marcuso's appreciation for the good life and beauty The yearning for love, the second time is at the end of the film, except for Lucy, Marcuso and their two sons, there are other immigrants who have been allowed to enter the United States. They are dipped in the ocean of milk and waving their arms, as if trying to find their dreams The appearance of the Central New Continent.
In addition to the wonderful shooting concept and extraordinary and agile narrative skills, the film also hides some passages that are like "homages" to the classics, which makes this film with a clear theme, rich ideas and strong expressiveness even more ancient. Weird. In addition, every scene in the film and every character's behavior are full of creative humor. Marcuso and his two sons look a little stupid, and sometimes even stupid and ridiculous. The elements are not superficial and boring at all, but the straightforwardness and simplicity of the Marcusos bring out the stupidity and nonsense of the questions raised by the censors, and also increase the irony of the film.
Charlotte Gainsbourg's performance just right to show Lucy's mystery and rich experience, long did not think that Jane Birkin's second daughter is so beautiful The beauty, especially on the deck, Lucy's smile to the Marcuso father and son who took off their hats to her, was full of subtle and blurred style, very charming.
( http://nicolew.blog.hexun.com/16740200_d.html )
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