As the saying goes, "a good start is half the battle". I secretly thought that Aida's "Battleship Potemkin" had a beautiful beginning of "Man and Maggots" that made the subsequent "Odessa Step Massacre" "bright in spring".
When I read the chapter "Man and Maggots", I deeply admired Aida for being a Russian, this domineering metaphor, and the skill of cursing people without swearing, made me feel ashamed, and sighed that he had a solid foundation.
Although the movie uses pictures to express, the importance of lines cannot be ignored. Not only does Aida use a metaphorical montage (in the Odessa Step Massacre), but he also uses a very good metaphor in his lines.
Sailors and soldiers on the Potemkin were treated very poorly. They are not only the labor force and combat power of the ship, but also a tool for the officers to vent their emotions. What's even more ridiculous is that they have problems with even the most basic food and clothing, and suffer double abuse both physically and psychologically. I thought that at this time, they would revolt like Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, and they would respond to every call and kill this group of military officials. But unexpectedly, the endurance of the fighting nation is even higher than that of our Chinese nation.
But a person's endurance is ultimately limited. Until one morning, the sailors discovered that the wicked exploitative class had allowed them to eat carrion with maggots. The sailors couldn't take it anymore, and all of a sudden, they were furious and angry, and they found the officer's angry protest: We have enough carrion (our government is corrupt enough), this is not for people to eat (this life is not for people).
The commander called the doctor over to take a look. After all, he was someone who knew the common sense of hygiene and had a certain authority in what he said.
The doctor pretended to look at it with his small glasses and said: They are not worms, they are maggots, just wash them with warm water. (We are maggots, have to be gentle with us)
After this passage, the sailors are still protesting, but there are no subtitles in the film about what the sailors said. I reckon the sailors were saying: fart, old boy, it's maggots. Even if we don’t know medicine, we know it’s not good.
When one party provokes the other, it must respond.
The doctor said: Don't talk nonsense, they are not bad. (Our tsarist rule is leverage, don't talk nonsense)
The old boy next to him expressed his approval with an extremely twisted expression.
A metaphorical montage at the back is also extremely ingenious.
Although "Man and Maggot" is only eleven minutes long, it contains many treasures that are worth digging. Thinking about it carefully, this is the reason why this work can endure for a long time. After all, that's one fifth of the movie.
As a rookie who has just entered the film circle, it is really "I sing, I am ashamed and happy". (Not being self-effacing, I don't deserve it.??)
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