The story of "Our Fathers" is not complicated. The whole play tells the ups and downs of five German young people in the torrent of World War II. From the perspective of Germans, it shows the war that profoundly changed the fate of people in Germany and the world. Not blindly provocative, or cheaply showing off "anti-war" feelings (of course, its narrative position is worth learning from Japanese counterparts, Miyazaki's voice does not seem to have become the absolute mainstream of Japanese literary and art circles), but as much as possible to maintain restraint The retelling of history is built on the basis of detailed historical data-the preparatory period for the whole play is as long as ten years. History, visited a large number of parties, and several leading actors also visited their parents. Their efforts have won the respect of many elderly people who have experienced war, and many elderly people have shared their private memories with them. The filming of "Our Fathers" traveled to many countries in Europe, with more than 150 hours of filming material. After a year of post-editing, this finely crafted "Our Fathers" was finally presented. With such a rigorous historical attitude and meticulous creative spirit, it makes sense that "Our Fathers" has achieved such success - think about those shoddy domestic anti-Japanese dramas, everything has a reason, and nothing will fall in the sky. cake.
The story of "Our Fathers" begins in Berlin in June 1941. Five young friends, three men and two women, know nothing (or know little) about the upcoming historical drama. They are each full of hopes for war and personal destiny. Looking forward to meeting in a tavern in Berlin - when the Soviet-German war had not yet broken out, and the Nazis had almost ruled the entire Europe, it was when their confidence was bursting that young people took to the front line, looking forward to the great cause of creating the "Third Reich". Meet again at this tavern after the war. In the next scene, the five young people gradually became haggard and withered - the most courageous Wilhelm became a cowardly deserter, and the most timid Friedheim became a murderous veteran. And died on the battlefield with a suicidal charge, the purest Charlotte became sophisticated and numb after witnessing too many lives and deaths, the singer Greta, who was the least concerned about the world, was shot by her own people for the crime of political incitement, and Victor, the most fearful Jew, was instead After all the catastrophe, nine dead. Four years later, only three of the five were left, and they were reunited in that tavern again. There was only a ruin in front of them—not just the ruins of buildings, but also the ruins of people's hearts, the ruins of life. 65 years ago, Rossellini used "German Year Zero" to describe Berlin at the end of the war - for the Germans, history seemed to be cleared, and the post-war era began anew, "Our Fathers". ” tells the story of how “German Year Zero” began.
Looking back at that period of history now, it is undoubtedly full of absurdities. Young people are inspired by beautiful lies, throw their heads and shed their blood for the illusory "grand" goals. As a result, their youth and blood have become a pile of historical "garbage." ". There is a dialogue at the beginning of the episode, Greta jokingly asks Charlotte: "What's behind the Third Reich?" The innocent Charlotte said: "Nothing, the Third Reich is eternal." Eternity? Faye Wong sang (and practiced) "nothing is immortal", and Karl Popper clearly pointed out in the book "The Poverty of Historic Determination": The theory of historical destiny is purely superstitious, scientific or any other No reasonable method can predict the course of human history. The "Third Reich" tried to monopolize the right to interpret history, and gave a certain "ultimate" historical purpose - this move, while digging its own grave, also dragged millions of German youths to die together.
They are all people from the past. When Germans examine the dark chapters of their own history, there will undoubtedly be deeper pain in their hearts, but isn't history the mirror of today? The suffering and humiliation of the fathers are the wealth of the children and grandchildren. As Lenin said: "Forgetting the past means betrayal", "German Year Zero" has reopened, but the new era did not come out of thin air, but was built on the basis of "Our Fathers" facing history and having the courage to self-dissect.
I don't know how our parents will feel after watching "Our Fathers".
(Published in "Literature and Art" in November 2013)
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